We checked out some Sea Lions hanging out near Pier 39 and Reed absolutely thought they were fantastic! They were pretty neat and Reed and Millie both perfected their Sea Lion 'barks' and kept at it for several hours. Pier 39 had about everything a tourist could need but since we were there at about 7:30am, not much was open. We were able to get a second breakfast which allowed us to sit down and figure out what we wanted to do the rest of the day.
We decided to keep heading west along The Embarcadero with no real destination in mind. By this time, shops were starting to open which surprised me. I didn't think anything would open until 10 but I guess they are used to early rising visitors. We made it to Fisherman's Grotto and found a really neat 'arcade' museum. It was full of antique games that would have been found at fairs and carnivals. Think of the ancient fortune teller machine that turned Tom Hanks from an 8 year old to a grown up in the movie Big.
At this point, the kids were ready for a nap and so was I (but I didn't get one). We all took the kids back to the hotel and mom and Arnetta stayed with them while Rick and I kept walking around to figure out what to do when they all woke up. We had 2 great discoveries...1) The Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory and 2) The Hyde Powell Cable Line. Rick and I had a little chocolate and then headed back to get the kids. We had a great lunch/supper at an Irish Pub and then headed back with everyone to Ghirardelli Square for some more chocolate. Did I mention that you get a free piece every time you walk in the door? I think Rick was in heaven.
The cable car turn around was on our way back to the hotel so we figured we would ride it up the hill to the cable car museum, then back down and make it back to the hotel by 7. Well, although we knew there would be a wait in line to get on, it took a little longer than expected. The kids had fun watching the cable cars turn around and enjoyed chasing the pigeons all around. As we were waiting in line, I was wondering how late the museum would be open because it was almost 5pm.
My suspicions were confirmed when we traveled a little way and the driver announced that we were at the museum but it closed in 3 minutes. We thought the line ended there and would just turn around and go back. It didn't and so we got to keep going up and down some really HUGE hills which took us through part of China Town and over Nob Hill. We had to get off at the end of the line and get back in line to get back on a car to take us back to where we started. This line moved pretty quick but we discovered, almost too late, that not all the cars went back to the turnaround by our hotel. We waited, and waited, and waited for the right car to come so we could go back. We waited well over and hour and we were not the only ones wondering if we were going to get to go back or not. One finally came but we were sadly informed that although it was the Hyde Powell line, it was only going as far as the museum (which was closed) and then had to go to the garage. So we waited some more and finally got on the right car, going the right direction that was going where we needed it to go.
It was getting pretty late and cold at this point so we were pleased to get a seat inside. We finally made it back, then had a few blocks to walk to the hotel. We were all exhausted at this point and never saw anything as wonderful as our gorgeous beds at the Sheraton.
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