Oasis in Sacramento

These past 4 weeks have been a crazy, beautiful, whirlwind!  Since summer school come to an end (thank goodness I don't have to teach for a few more weeks)  I have gotten in a lot of traveling... A LOT!  But more to come on my east coast adventures, this post is my post about the surprise birthday trip to Northern California planned by my amazing boyfriend!

From Sacramento to San Francisco my handsome dream of a boyfriend surprised me for the most amazing birthday trip to Sacramento and San Francisco!

I have only been to Northern California once in my life before this trip, but it wasn't the tourist/ exploration experience I wanted.  (I was on an AVID college road trip with the Junior class from the first high school I worked at... YAY chaperoning 60 plus 17 year olds)

Our first stop up north was Sacramento where I met some of him amazing and welcoming family members.  While there we visited old town Sacramento, enjoyed some backyard BBQ and played with LARGE house cats and LARGE dogs!  His family was so nice they researched restaurants that served Gluten Free options since I can't eat gluten =(  they also welcomed me as if I was one of the family and treated me with stories of my boyfriend from when he was a reckless little kid!

After a wonderful time in Sacramento he took me to San Francisco!  (I was not aware of where we were going the entire 8 hour drive from Southern CA to NorCal.)  We went to ALL of the tourist spots!  Well almost all of them.  We hiked the hilly streets to see Lambard Street!  Visited the Painted Ladies!  Explored The Fishermans Wharf!  at world famous ice cream at Ghirardelli Square!  Hiked through the Beautiful Golden Gate Park!  And ended the trip with a trip to an amazing food place called New England Lobster Market and Eatery where I had my first go at eating crab!  

Overall this was an amazing experience and Birthday present from an amazing man!

 

And that is what I call a Birthday to remember!

-Lauren Ashley