I totally forgot to talk about the rest of my time in Modesto! Honestly, there’s not really much to do in that city, so we went to San Francisco on Saturday.
Before I get ahead of myself- it took almost 12 hours to get there! This was also probably the worst day of my sickness, so I was miserable. I literally got out of the car once and had no energy to get back in, even to sit down. It was bad.
We drove through a place where my dad used to camp when he moved here as a kid. The lake was disappearing! It was really weird to see.
By the time we got to my uncle’s, we had worked up an appetite! Remember how I said that I could very well end up at a steakhouse? Well, we ended up at a fish restaurant instead. You know what there is for a vegetarian to get in the way of an entree at a fish restaurant? Nothing! So I made do with eating everyone’s sides.
I ended up eating beans, French fries, hushpuppies (SO GOOD), and fried okra! It was my first time trying fried okra and hushpuppies, and I loved them both.
Sorry for the bad lighting- I just had to get a picture!
Dessert was peach cobbler- also a first. It was amazing, and I definitely need to recreate this!
My dad obviously had no problem finding something to eat.
We took the BART into San Francisco the next day. I love public transportation!
We had tickets to Alcatraz. I had never been before- so exciting!
I felt like I was in Shutter Island when we were approaching 
This is about the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge we got from the ferry. One day I WILL run across it!
We took a self-guided tour. It was really interesting- I have a fascination with prisons (weird?)
It was so cold!!
We walked to the Ferry Building and looked around. Foodie heaven! We walked through the outdoor fruit and vegetable stalls…
Sampled some jam (I wish I could remember the flavor! It was from the Frog’s Hollow store inside the building)
And ate some chocolate!
For dinner, we went to a really good Italian restaurant (carbo loading!) I got a plain cheese pizza, but it was heavenly. You can’t go wrong with pizza!
My post-race eats were pretty amazing- my uncle made hummus.
He also made Thai beef and Szechuan green beans- I obviously didn’t eat the beef!
On the way home on Monday, we stopped at Moaning Cavern Park.
We took a walking tour. It’s hard to see in this picture, but we climbed down over 150 feet. It was a hell of a workout getting back up!
On the drive back home, we could see snow on the mountains…
…which turned into snow on us! I have never seen snow fall before, so I pretty much started screaming at the top of my lungs for my dad to pull over. It was a really light dusting, but it was SNOW!
Random question-
Fried food- yay or nay? All my dad could talk about was how full he was after eating so much fried food on Friday night, but I loved it! I think everything tastes better fried, honestly.
You’ve never seen snow fall?? I think you need to come to New England.
There are certain things that I’m ok with having fried but for the most part, it does make me feel a bit sick.
Love some fried food! My favorite are cheese sticks, yum!
Fried food is fine but I dont like a whole lot at one time. My fav would have to be fried chicken. Yum!
Oh I’m so jealous — San Fran is really high up on my must-visit list!
Fried food is usually totally a nay for me, but when I’m somewhere new I’m all about trying new things, so I usually have a few fried things
yay for so many pictures! for real im terrible about taking pics when im away!.. fried food is a nay for me.. i truly dont enjoy it and it turns me off!
I’ve never thought much about prisons, but Alcatraz would be very cool. I’m not a big fried food fan. Never really was actually. About the extent of it for me is the occasional French fry but it had better be a darn good one!
What a fun trip! And this is such a weird coincidence, but I just watched a National Geographic documentary this week on prison gangs–it can really be fascinating stuff! I’ll be honest–it’s rare that I eat fried food, but I love it when I do
Sweet potato fries and fresh onion rings are a special treat, and boy do I love ‘em when I get a taste!
New to your blog, great post. Once you mentioned the hush puppies and fried okra I was fantasizing (guess you know my thoughts on fried food) as I used to live in New Orleans. We’ll be in california this summer, I may include Alcatraz now. Staring at a snow covered mountain, I can’t believe you saw your first snowfall, the best.
What a fun trip! I have always wanted to see Alcatraz, so jealous! Fried food, I could take or leave it. Not something I crave often….
NEVER seen snow – crazy!! I got fed up of the sight of it here this year, although we never get it really bad in the UK.
I’ve got a morbid fasination with prisons too. My favourite is Kilmainham gaol in Dublin – I’ve been 3 times and have dragged various friends and family there with me too – my poor Mum has been twice. I’d love to go Alcatraz. I really enjoyed Shutter Island for the same reason.
I kind of agree that anything fried tastes good, but it does leave me feeling a bit yucky, so it’s a nay for me really.
Looks like so much fun!
Oh my goodness, I love fried okra so much!
All the eats look amazing and it sounds like such a fun trip (minus the illness, of course). I like fried foods on occasion, but I try to limit my intake. Also, I prefer if it’s “homemade” fried food (done at home) than in a restaurant because it feels less greasy!
Your dad looks like the coolest person ever.
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How fun! i have always wanted to go to alcatraz, that stuff intrigues me! Yummy food in this post!
I’ve give up on fried foods, they just don’t sit well with my stomach anymore lol
Ha! Congrats on your first snow fall! I grew up in upstate NY so I have seen my fair share, and do not miss it =) Too cold!
Nay on fried food
I’m just not really into it. Southern food doesn’t really do it for me! Give me a burger and I’m set
I’ve never had hushpuppies or fried okra either! Neither are easily found in Australia
Looks like you had a wonderful little trip!!
Fried okra!! I used to practically live off that stuff.
Alcatraz is so cool. We went there while touring San Fran last year. Hearing how those guys snuck out and seeing the holes and everything was so cool!
Haha, I love how excited you look over the snow! I loved San Fran when I went there in high school, but I definitely wanna go back. I loved the Ghiradelli store and free samples.
deep fried oreos = love
Sorry to hear about your trip! And the story about the disappearing lake made me so sad …
It can be hard to be a vegetarian sometimes! Although I’m not, due to my multiple food intolerances I know what it feels like not to be able to get something to eat that works for you. BAD THING!
Anyway, I absolutely *love* San Francisco! I’ve been there once, and cried when I left. Want to go back! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for the fried foods … They taste good, but make me feel awful. So I better not eat them. Roasted is a nice alternative, fortunately.
Personally, frieds foods are mostly nay for me. I can do without fried chicken, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks. However, if you hand me fried okra, fried pickles, or fried Oreos, all bets are off!
fried food is yay and nay according to the day! usually nay haha. but i tried fried okra once and it was gooooood! what a lovely trip Kate~~yayyy thanks for sharing. I felt like I was there hehe
Hushpuppies – HECK YES. Fried okra – OH MY GOSH, YES!!! But most other fried items with the exception of sweet potato fries, no thanks.
You fit in so much awesome stuff on your trip! I want to run the golden gate bridge too, but man is it so windy on that thing. I walked it down and back and was tired from that alone, haha.
I love fried food. The only reason I don’t eat them so often is because its not healthy.
Ok, FIRST time eating hush puppies, fried okra, AND peach cobbler?! You need to come to Tennessee and let me show you a thing or two when it comes to Southern cooking! I practically grew up on fried okra! LOVE it!
I rarely ever eat fried foods, but there are a few that are just worth it! Like fried okra…and pierogis!
Looks like you had a great time! Love the pics!