Number 6's Blog

This year we decided to visit some MLB parks.  Our plan was to start in the Bay Area, drive leisurely down the Coast  to the City Of the Angels, then to San Diego and wrap up the trip in Phoenix.

I usually lug my DSLR and a few lens along with me when we travel. However on this trip left them at home and snapped all the photos with my iPhone.  For more photos click on: June Baseball Album

Best ballparks

• Giants Stadium (AT&T Park) in San Francisco
• Padres Stadium (Petco Park) in San Diego
• DIamondback Park (Chase Field) in Phoenix

My favorite was Petco Park. They let dogs attend the games as long as they don’t wander from the outfield grass. Gwen’s was Chase Field because it is covered and she is dreaming of the day the Rangers open their covered park.

Best Restuarants

• Fish Market with many locations in the Bay Area
• Fog Harbor Fish House at Pier 39, San Francisco
• Cass Winery outside of Los Robles
• Cafe Roma in San Luis Obispo
• Reunion in Anaheim
• PrepKitchen Little Italy in San DIego

Hottest Day – 112 in Phoenix

Coolest Day – 68 in San Francisco

Trip Highlight

Meeting my cousin Leslie Olson and his family in Phoenix.  Their daughter, Sarah, actually made the visit happen.  Thanks Sarah.

Trip day by day timeline

2017-06-21: We ate at breakfast at Friday’s before the flight. Flew first class to San Francisco on 9AM flight.  Then lunch at San Mateo Fish Market.  It was as good as I remember. 

In San Francisco we are staying at Marriott Courtyard Union Square.  Weird hotel has no exercise room.  So we walked around the Union Square area.  Pretty much like I remember it.  A few blocks West of the Square by the hotel is pretty much run down.  Lots of shops around the square.  We are actually a couple of blocks from the Wyndham. 

For dinner we dined at the Daily Grill. Gwen had chicken pot pie and I had the meat loaf.  Doesn’t seem like food you would find in San Francisco.   Very delicious however. 

Topped off the night by watching Logan. Very different and dark.  There was oceans of blood unlike the previous X-men movies.  Don’t recommend it for children.

2017-06-22: Breakast at Sear’s Fine Food.  Very good. 

Oakland A’s game: Decided to take Bart. Good decision. For the cost of the toll over the Bay Bridge I’m a car Bart dropped us off at the Colliseum gate.

The game was not close. The Astros led 10-0 at the end of the 2nd inning to sweep the series.  We took Bart back to the City.  It has to be the noisiest train I’ve ever been on.

For dinner we broke down and decided to use the car. Drove down to Fisherman’s Wharf and ate at Fog Harbor Fish House. I had the grilled cod in a white beantomatogreens broth.  We tend to eat here every time we visit The City and it never disappoints.

2017-06-23:  Bereakfast at Lori’s. Mediocre!  Then we drove to Golden Gate Park to visit the Academy of Science. It houses an Aquarium and a Planetarium along with other exhibits.  Well worth the $35/person fee and the highlight of my trip. 

After the Academy we lunched at a salad joint in an adjoining neighborhood Pluto’s. Supposedly a chain but I’ve never heard of it. It was actually quite yummy.

Then to the hotel to rest before walking two miles to AT&T Stadium to watch a Giants game.  The stadium was beautiful. The setting was on the bay and the stadium itself was a blend of the old and new.  Of the stadiums I’ve visited I would place it number 2 to Cincinnati’s.

2017-06-24: Breakfast at the Daily Grill.  We wanted to try the Taylor Stree Coffee Shop but there was an hour wait there at 8:30AM. The Daily Grill was close by and we enjoyed Dinner there a couple of days ago. The breakfast was very good. 

After breakfast we packed up and drove to San Luis Obispo.  The first part of the drive was stop and go until right before Salinas. Turns out everyone in the Bay must drive to Monterrey or Carmel for the weekend because most traffic exited at the Monterrey exit.  We had lunch at the Cass Winery 10 miles outside of Los Robles. The detour was worth it.  Lunch was outstanding.  Along with lunch we sampled their wines and purchased a couple of bottles.

We finally arrived at the Hampton Inn in San Luis Obispo and spent the last part of the afternoon resting up, at least I did while Gwen did laundry.

We enjoyed dinner at Cafe Roma, a long time Italian restaurant in the Railroad District.  Then back to the hotel and watched a movie which seems to be our modus operandi the last few days. 

2017-06-25: Breakfast at Nautial Bean Coffee. The joint was full of Millennials so we fit right it.  Main fare was bagel sandwiches  which were delicious.

After breakfast we drove through Prefumo Canyon, over the hills, and through See Canyon to Avila Beach on recommendation of a couple we met last night at dinner. Very scenic and interesting drive and worth the extra time to get to the beach. 

We relaxed at the beach for quite awhile and then decided to drive up the Coast to see the Elephant Seals.  Took an hour but well worth the visit. I could watch those magnificent creatures for hours relax on the beach and flipping sand on their bodies from time to time.

On the way back we detoured into Cambria to walk the boardwalk and hopefully grab a bite to eat.  Unfortunately it seems the only restaurant in town closes at 3PM on Sunday.  So on to Morro Bay where we had fish and chips at Tognazinni’s Dockside Restaurant.  The fish was halibut which I’ve never eaten as part of the fish in fish and chips. 

Topped the afternoon off by strolling through downtown SLO.  There were the usual shops and restaurants but also an inordinate number of bars.  Then I remembered this is a college town – Cal Poly.  I didn’t think those future Phd’s had any time to drink.

2017-06-26: Breakfast at Big Sky in downtown SLO. Delicious with a Southwestern flare.

Drove to Santa Barbara. Pleasant drive. Lunch at a restaurant in Goleta called Jane where I ate a Greek Salad with lamb.  After lunch we drove around Santa Barbara. Check out Chaucher’s Books, drove through downtown. We then decided to head for the beach. Gwen directed us to a cemetery!  So I got us to the beach where we walked around for an hour or so. 

After the beach we checked in at the OTF where we will exercise in the morning.

We ate dinner at the Boathouse. Food was good but the view of the beach, the crowd on the beach, and the ocean was priceless.

Got back to a hot room so they moved us. The new room was cool but on the 1st floor. Unfortunately for us a group of 50 or so kids were at the pool and whoever was abo be us had lead feet.  Stopping for the night so will let you know in the morning how it turned out. (Turned out the kids did quiet down)

2017-06-27: Exercised for the first time in a week at the Goleta OTF.  Then packed our bags and headed out to Anaheim.  Everything rolled along fine until we hit LA traffic.  It was terrible as usual.  Staying at a Fairfield Inn in Anaheim and headed for the Dodger game tonight. 

Ate a late lunch at a local spot called Reunion. I know the word is overused but it was awesome.

Dodger/Angel game. Dodgers won 4-0.  We sat in Center Field.  The seats offered a different perspective on the game.  Dodger Stadium is now one of the older parks in MLB but still pretty nice. Parking was maybe 1/2 mile from our seats. I read once this is one of the cheapest places to watch a game.  Things have changed.  All the concessions are very expensive.

2017-06-28: OTF this morning was invigorating.  Just like all the OTFs we have visited it has more room than our Allen OTF.  Since then we ate breakfast and Gwen is at the local laundromat washing clothes while I’m in Starbucks.  Fair trade?

We had a late lunch at Reunion.  We had lunch there yesterday but it wa so good we came back today.  We then drove over to Anaheim Stadium early and walked about 1/2 mile to Rubios for a snack before the game.  Fast food Mexican Seafood but very tasty and surprisingly uncrowned.  That may have a lot to do with the nature of the stadium. Built in the 60s and surrounded by a huge parking lot instead of a neighborhood like some of the other stadiums we have visited.

Fairfield Inn Anaheim Hills: I would not stay here again.  It is a very large hotel with all the rooms opening to the outside just like a mid-60s Motel 6.  There was almost no toilet paper in the room and the bathroom sink was stopped up.

Angel-Dodger game. Angels won this one 2-1 in the 10th.  It’s an okay stadium. I’d rank it above Dodger’s stadium but well below the Rangers.  However, the Angels/Dodgers rilvary is quite lively.  If you ever get a chance to attend a freeway series do it.

2017-06-29:

• Breakfast: Corner Bakery
• Drove to Oceanside
• Lunch at Hello Betty
• Walked the pier
• Drove to Springhill Suites and checked in
• Drove into San Diego. Parked near the park for $20
• Snaclk/dinner at Barley Mash
• Watched the game – great ballpark

2017-06-30: Free day in San Diego.  Started the day with a workout at OTF.   After cleaning up we drove to Coronado Island for an early lunch at Migel’s Cucina.  After lunch we walked around the beach.  We attempted bike riding but the first place did not have any bike’s Gwen’s size. The second place only had bikes with coaster brakes which Gwen did not feel comfortable riding so we gave up and drove back to the hotel for a break while I finished monthly reports for Master Gardeners.  Then back into town.  We parked in Little Italy and walked a mile down to a bar Mike recommended. It was so dark and loud we just walked back.  For our evening meal we dined at Prepkitchen Little Italy.  Very good and very eclectic. 

2017-07-01: First day of July and we are driving from the California Coast where the temperature never goes above 80 to Phoenix where the temperature never goes below 80 this time of year.  We were greeted by 112 degree temperature upon arrival.

We are staying at the Hampton Inn-Midtown.  Outstanding hotel. Close to everything including the Metro which is within walking distance even in 112 degree hear.

Dinner with cousin Leslie Olson and his family – Linda, Sarah, and Robert. The other son lives in San Diego I believe.  Had an early dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory with them. Caught up on old times and discussed each other’s families.

Finally Diamondbacks/Rockies game at Chase Field.  We took the Metro to Chase field. Best alternative for ball games both their and the Suns basketball games which is next door.

2017-07-02: Flying home today. Sky Harbor Airport is crazy. Too crowded and not enough seats at any gate for the passengers before boarding.  Don’t come to this airport early.