A Trip to The San Francisco Zoo

Cody loves animals and has been dying to take a trip to a zoo for a while now, so we decided it was time to go. We chose the San Francisco Zoo. We went on a Sunday, arrived around 11:00am and the zoo parking lot was already full and closed. Pro: we didn't have to pay for parking. Con: we had to park four blocks away and walk. And of course, I had forgotten to grab my tennis shoes out of my car when we switched to Cody's so I had to walk around the whole day in thin flip flops. We made it to the zoo though and that is what matters. Once we got inside we perused the gift shop, grabbed a map, and headed off on our adventure.

We followed the map and signs and walked through each area, taking our time and enjoying the stroll. Cody was especially excited about the baby gorilla that we saw. (I'm not much of a gorilla fan, but for a few minutes the little guy was actually kind of cute.) Following our true cliche habit, we saw a cart and bought a pretzel to share. And oh hey, I had no idea, but they sell beer at the zoo!

The zoo itself is pretty big, so we did a lot of walking. We went around the entire park, and by the time we were done we were tired and hungry so we stopped at the Leaping Lemur Café for a late lunch. The food wasn't too bad, I ended up getting chicken strips, Cody got a chicken sandwich, and we felt like being kids so we both got chocolate milk. After that we headed home. But not before buying a couple of souvenir shot glasses for our collection. It was such a nice outing and we were able to spend some wonderful quality time together.

Healthy Side Note: Activities like this are a great way to sneak in some physical activity. Sure, you're just walking, but covering that large of an area has got to burn a few calories right?

Here are a few tips we have for a trip to the zoo:

1. Check the zoo's hours, admission prices, and parking fees before you go.
2. Make sure you know how to get there. (Or use your GPS like I always do.)
3. Wear comfortable shoes. Seems like common sense, but I had mine ready to bring with me and forgot them when we left.
4. Put on sunscreen. Especially on your face. You're walking around outdoors a lot and even with clouds overhead, it's an easy way to get too much sun exposure and possibly a sunburn. Gotta protect that skin!
5. Make sure you have cash for parking in case you do decide to use the zoo's lot. Many parking lots only accept cash.
6. Grab a map as you enter. This way you'll know where you're going, where you can get food, and where the restrooms are located. I can't tell you how many times Cody and I needed to refer to our map during our trip.
7. Bring a camera or make sure your phone has room on it to take some pictures.
8. Take your time and enjoy it. Leave enough time to be able to take it all in and enjoy your trip. You may need to stop and rest, or stop and eat, and you should allow time for that so you won't feel rushed.

So…we found a mirror at the SF Zoo…photo op! Lol

Giraffe!

Mama and Baby Gorillas!

Polar Bear!

Penguins!

Tigers are such pretty animals.

We were able to see two young tigers resting right up against the glass!

Young tigers cuddling.

Restaurant Review: Dorn’s Breakers Cafe

Located on Market Avenue, in Morro Bay, California, right next to The Blue Sail Inn, and one street up from the embarcadero, is Dorn’s Breakers Cafe. This place is perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve been going their for years, and let me tell you, it is always my first and last stop before leaving Morro Bay. I could eat there every day and not get sick of it. They have amazing breakfasts, top notch mimosas, the best clam chowder I’ve ever had with the freshest, most delicious bread to go with it, and some amazing chocolate mousse.

Let me just give you a few quick reviews of some of their dishes:

French Toast - It’s to die for. Perfectly sweet with a soft, but not soggy texture. SO yummy.

Pancakes (I like the chocolate chip ones) - Very tasty, but be sure to bring your appetite!

Mimosas - Strong enough to know you’re drinking champagne, but not too strong. Probably some of the best mimosas I’ve ever tasted. Great addition to your breakfast.

Hot Chocolate - This place has the best hot chocolate ever. Topped with some fantastic whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Perfect to sip in that cool bay breeze.

Omelets - Perfect way to start the day. Always cooked to perfection and filled just right (I hate when omelets are over filled and way too messy looking). My favorite is the bacon and cheese.

Clam Chowder - The best I’ve ever had. It’s the perfect consistency, not to thick, not to thin. None of that watery business. I love to dip their bread in it, that’s the best. There is nothing like Dorn’s clam chowder. Nothing. I honestly can not rave enough about it, and any words I would use to describe it would not do it justice. You simply have to try it yourself. It’s my ultimate comfort food. (Sorry I don’t have a picture of the chowder, I don’t know how I haven’t taken one! I will add one in next time I go.)

Fish & Chips - I’ve never had these, because I’m not fan of fish, but Cody ate them all up and said that it was the freshest fish & chips he’d ever had.

Chocolate Mousse - Very rich, but so worth the calories. Perfect way to end a light lunch. Great for sharing. It’s thick, but not too thick. Seriously delicious. My favorite dessert in the city.

Besides the food, the view is amazing. Dorn’s overlooks the embarcadero as well as the bay. They have both indoor and outdoor seating (some of the outdoor table have small fire stone pits in the center). When I took Cody he loved the feel of the place and thought the view was awesome. The staff is great, and it’s still family run as far as I know. I would definitely recommend stopping at Dorn’s if you’re ever even near the area. It’s worth the trip.

Breakfast fruit platter!

Hot Chocolate!

Chocolate Mousse!

Mini fire stones on the outside tables!

Chocolate Chip Pancakes...I eat mine from the inside out lol.

Day Trip to Morro Bay

Morro Bay, California holds a special spot in my heart. My grandfather began the tradition as a child by going on fishing trips there with his father and continued it by marrying my grandmother in San Luis Obispo and honeymooning in Morro Bay. After that, my grandparents took their kids there at least once a year, and their kids did the same. Members of the family that owns Dorn’s Breakers Cafe knew my grandfather by name, as did the owners of The Blue Sail Inn, and The Galley. I’ve been going to that town since I was a baby and it feels like my second home. I know it like the back of my hand and just one wiff of the air can instantly put a smile on my face. The clam chowder and bread at Dorn’s is my ultimate comfort food, and feeding popcorn from Crills to the squirrels at Morro Rock is completely normal for me. Morro Bay is easily my favorite place in the world. There’s just something about it.

I had never taken a boy to Morro Bay before. Granted, it is about 3-4 hours away from where I live, but it can easily be turned into a day trip. So the main reason I had never brought anyone there before is because of how special that place is to me. But there’s just something about Cody, he’s just as special. And I knew in my heart that he would love and respect the town just as much as I did and appreciate it the way my Grandma taught me to. You see, Morro Bay is a little fisherman’s town. And in this day and age its hard to find a kid or young adult that wouldn’t roll their eyes and want more action. But Cody is different, and he loved it.

As I took his hand and led him down the embarcadero I was instantly at ease. Within minutes he was in love. I’m telling you, there is something about the atmosphere and the smell and the air in that place that just changes your entire mood. I took him to Dorn’s for lunch first, of course, because that is always my first stop. Then we walked down the embarcadero and looked in all of the little shops, I showed him the giant chess board at the center, and we stood on the pier and watched the boats. After that, I took him to Crills, where we bought some taffy and a bucket of popcorn. We then headed out to the rock. Now, some would head to the beach other side of the rock, but my family and I have always preferred to park the car by the rock looking out into the bay, watch for sea otters, and feed the squirrels. These squirrels are pretty dang friendly, and will gently take a piece of popcorn right out of your hand. Cody was in awe. We relaxed and enjoyed the view until it was time to leave for dinner.

I decided to take Cody to F. McLintocks Saloon & Dining House in San Luis Obsipo for dinner because who doesn’t want to go to a Saloon for a meal?! That place is so fun and has great food! He had such a blast. It was honestly one of the happiest days of my life. I was in my favorite place with my favorite person. And the fact that Cody had such a wonderful time was more than just the icing on the cake.

* Check out our review of Dorn’s Breakers Cafe
* Stay tuned for our review of F. McLintocks Saloon & Dining House!

Kisses in Morro Bay!

The smokestacks

Feeding the squirrels!

The embarcadaro and Morro Rock

Looking out at the bay

Morro Rock

Sunset