Day 21: San Francisco to Anaheim

It was a sad day leaving San Francisco. Not only were we leaving the beautiful city by the bay, but also it was our last morning with the delicious cinnamon rolls on the hotel's complimentary breakfast line. 

The drive today wasn't a long one by the map, but we were met with traffic as we neared Los Angeles that added hours to the journey. Students passed the time through the first half by catching up on sleep that was much needed after their previous day in the city. After lunch in Buttonwillow, California, the group enjoyed the entertaining banter of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston in "Just Go With It". This lasted just long enough to get us to the edge of L.A. where we were greeted by slow traffic. Let's just say the students got a good sense of the reality of living around a big city.  

Around 6PM we arrived at the Anabella Hotel just outside Disneyland. The group enjoyed some free time before dinner during which some students went for a dip in the pool.

Dinner was held at Dave and Buster's, a restaurant with an upscale arcade inside. The students ate eagerly so to get more time playing the games. They played Guitar Hero, Skee Ball, Racing, and FruitNinja (to name a few). Some preferred to get an open table and enjoy some dessert. 

After collecting their prizes from the arcade, the crew is heading back to the Anabella to get some rest. Tomorrow they will be heading to Disneyland or California Adventure so they will need lots of energy!

Day 20: San Francisco

Today we went to prison. Not just any prison, but the most famous in the country, Alcatraz. 

Early this morning, we journeyed from Fisherman's Wharf to Pier 33 where we embarked on the Alcatraz Island Ferry. This 12 minute, 1.5 mile ferry ride, took us to the island that ruthless men once feared. Alcatraz was the first maximum security federal-penitentiary in the country and was home to some of the most notorious criminals of its time. To the men sent there, Alcatraz was the end of the line. 

The prison was open from 1934 to 1963 and was later closed because it was too expensive to maintain. During that time, there were approximately 1545 inmates to pass through the walls and 36 attempted escapes. 

While on the island, the crew followed the Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour that brought the history of the prison alive. We heard the voices of actual inmates and correctional officers as they told stories of that era. 

Perhaps the most fascinating part of our visit to Alcatraz was meeting one of the former prisoners, Bill Baker. He was a car thief, escape artist, and most frequently, a fraudulent check writer. Bill Baker spent 4 years at Alcatraz, beginning at the age of 23. He has been in and out of prison his entire life dating up to 2011. Several people in our group bought his book titled "Alcatraz #1259" and got it autographed! 

For the remainder of the afternoon, the crew had free time to explore San Francisco. They split into groups of 5 or more and visited places such as Union Square, the Painted Ladies, the California Academy of Sciences, and Ghiradelli Square.

Tomorrow we are headed to Anaheim! 

Day 19: San Francisco

The crew was greeted by an extremely late morning by Grand Western Tour standards (9:45am). After indulging in a delicious continental breakfast complete with freshly made cinnamon rolls we boarded the bus to explore the city. A step-on-guide escorted the bus through the city. She educated the group on the different districts that make up San Francisco, the history of the city including past earthquakes, and the different cultures that are prominent throughout. 

About halfway through the tour we reached the top of Twin Peaks, the highest point overlooking the city. The crew enjoyed taking some pictures before allowing the cooler air and most to chase them back onto the bus. 

 

Our guided tour continued through the rest of the city toward Golden Gate State Park. At the end of the tour we were dropped off on the south side of the Golden Gate Bridge. The group walked across the bridge from San Francisco to Saulsalito on the north side. The wind was blowing the fog across the bridge as we walked making the temperature seem even cooler, but not spoiling the sights.(The girls did struggle to continue to see the sights through windblown hair, however)

Upon reaching the north side of the bridge the bus met us as took us into the heart of Saulsalito. This small town is built on the cliffs overlooking the bay with a marina housing sail boats on the blue water below.  The crew spread out for lunch and a small amount of free time in this area before loading the bus back to Fisherman's Wharf.

Once back at the hotel, the large group of 52 split into smaller groups of 5 or larger to meet with the leaders regarding free time in the area tomorrow. The groups seem pretty well matched and excited for all the possibilities of things to do in town. We will update you tomorrow on their free time explorations!

Dinner was had at a restaurant in China Town which the group walked to. The walk gave the students a good Intro to the area and allowed them to see some places they may decide to come back to tomorrow. Dinner was served family style with large bowls of rice, chicken dishes, and noddles, finished off with Green Tea ice cream. We ate well and it is safe to say the walk back was slightly slower than the walk going. 

Hopefully they will recover from full-stomach syndrome before heading to Alcatraz in the morning. 

Day 18: Gold Beach, OR to San Francisco, CA

Day 18 of the Grand Western Tour began with an early departure from Jot's Resort in Gold Beach, Oregon, as we headed for San Francisco. We are officially over halfway through the trip and are excited for the coming week in California!

Immediately after crossing the Oregon state line, we drove onto the famous Redwood Highway or US 101. During our ride, we stopped at a few locations where we explored the notorious Redwoods that can reach up to a stunning 427 feet tall! By far, the best stop was in Humboldt Redwoods State Park at the Avenue of the Giants. This scenic highway definitely lived up to its name. The crew had a great time exploring and climbing the ancient trees.

About half way through our drive, we stopped at Benbow Lake State Park to enjoy some fresh air and eat delicious sandwiches from Fred Meyer. 

As we arrived in San Francisco, we drove across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Excitement filled the air as we took in the awe-inspiring view of the Bay. Once we were settled in our hotel, we went to dinner at In-N-Out Burger and had free time around Fisherman's Wharf. We had a great introduction to San Fransisco and can't wait to explore it more tomorrow!