SF's wildest part: Bay to Breakers 12K

Activity: Bay to Breakers 12K race in San Francisco

Rating: 3.7 of 5 stars, with high variance depending on who you ask

Website: http://zapposbaytobreakers.com/

Cost: $60 to enter online via Zappos (2015 host) OR about $15 dollars if you work in a Bay Area company and pay through work

Details: One of the most famous days in SF has to be Bay to Breakers. I  had heard about it for years and it was finally the time to experience it myself. There seems to be two parts:

Part 1: Runners. Over 100 years of races.

This is the group of people, including myself, that were willing to run a race starting at 9am in costume. This is not a novelty in SF if you know how many people like to celebrate, exercise, and stand out all at the same time.

Traditions include tortillas in the air to be caught and thrown back up like frisbees. Extreme costumes are a must. Nudity is rampant. The "salmon" are an intense group of well dressed fish that swim against the current of the race.

Best costumes included an entire boxing ring with two fighters, Chruch of Wheels rollerskaters, and Oompa Lompas.

Part 2: The partiers

On the course of the race there are residential areas with house parties. These parties have what looks like people who started drinking before 7am. Mostly young adults, the parties start early and are aggressive.  A few people tried to sneak in the race while drinking, but the police caught on quickly this year and escorted them away. Apparently that was atypical in prior years.  

The runners may finish the race, but the partiers consider it a marathon. The entire day was flooded with people in costume bar hopping, running or walking the race at all times of day. 

The city did have an excitement and commitment to an even that I had only correlated to the antics during the World Series win. 

Overall, it was a good run with good friends that completed the race as Shark week. I was "Saturdaze" get it :). I am glad that I participated in the race, but I would have to warn small children and sober adults to sit this one out. 

Recommended for: adults, > 21 and runners

Zip-lining: Puerto Rico adventures continued

Zip-lining coming out of the rainforest

Zip-lining  to the next stop!

Activity: Zip-lining in Puerto Rico Rainforest & Butterfly/Bird Habitat

Rating: 4.3 of 5 stars

Website: http://canopytourpr.com/

Cost: $125/pp via website for three hours including pick up. Discounted tickets available through hotel booking

Details: The tour started in the animal habitat. We saw a variety of colorful parrots (white, green, red, etc.) that were friendly, but not enough to touch. There was also a butterfly room before entering the bird sanctuary which was larger than expected.

From the animal habitat we took a short trip in a cable car to the top of the jungle. We had already put on the equipment including harness and helmut so we were ready to go from as soon as we arrived at the top. 

There were a total of 10-12 zip lines with the last one being the fastest. Some were rather short and others were slower and longer. Based on your body weight and how well you listen to directions you could go faster or slower. 

There was no real trick except to know when to slow yourself down as you approached the platform. If you stopped too early you had to pull yourself to the platform (annoying, but not too challenging). If you did not slow down then the assistant on the other end would catch you or pull down the rope to slow you down (see video). 

This experience felt very safe, actually much safer than my first attempt in Costa Rica where they let customers fly upside down. I missed that part, but I guess not everyone is a thrill seeker. 

Recommended for: All ages that are not afraid of heights. 

Living the yacht life on a budget

Activity: Boating in Puerto Rico

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Website: http://castillotours.com/index.html

Cost:  ~$90/per person including pick up at hotel, lunch, drinks, boat ride, and drop off at hotel

Details: We booked this group package through our hotel La Concha during our stay in Puerto Rico. We went to celebrate our friend who was getting married and we wanted to do a group activity, but it was difficult coordinating with something that everyone could enjoy at a reasonable price. Then we read the details on the all day boating experience.

The process was convenient because they picked us up at the hotel on time. We arrived at a dock, selected fins, and paid the remainder of our tickets (after deposit at hotel). While on the boat the crew immediately offered us beverages as we set sail. Although the weather started off with a drizzle, by the end of the day it was warm enough to enjoy the water. The boat included lunch and unlimited drinks. Customers could chose to relax on or off the boat or snorkel during the two stops.  My group snorkeled and then had fun attempting an underwater photo shoot!

Overall, I had a great experience and the staff was friendly (including the guy waving at the end of the video). 

Recommended for: couples, young adults, friend groups, birthday party

Camping at the Boonville Beer Festival

Everyone knows I love a good super hero theme!

Being outdoors is one of the best parts of living in the Bay Area. In May my friend took me to the Boonville Beer Festival in Mendocino County Fairgrounds. What/Where is Boonville might you ask? Why would you camp at a beer festival? Well let me explain.

We decided to camp because Boonville is about an hour and a half from SF. As it was starting to warm up the thought of a no-fog saturday was very enticing. So my friend packed up the Zip car and we were on our way to camping. We got there the night before the festival and set up camp. It was only $15 pp to camp per day and you were charged in cash at the entrance to the Mendocino County Fairgrounds. You know when you arrive because there is a painting of an apple riding a horse/dog. Apparently there is a Mendocino county fair with rodeos and apples. That I will investigate at a later date. 

Back to Boonville- camping was not as crowded as I anticipated for 11pm arrival. There was plenty of space in the open field. Some people had arrived much earlier- you could tell by the set up they had including a big screen monitor projecting music videos- and had taken the "better spots". The part that was missing from a traditional camping experience was the bonfire. There were no fire pits, so unless you brought your own - NO FIRE! Our group got settled in and hung out until it was past the time we could tolerate the cold. 

The next day was nice and sunny. We woke up, made breakfast, and prepared for the festival (made pretzel necklaces). Around noon they let in the VIP tickets and around 1pm everyone else was allowed to enter. There were several tents with local craft beers, an indoor area with craft beers, and some food stands scattered about. The ticket included a small tasting cup where you could go back for your favorites or try some artisanal beers. The most unique included one that tasted like hot chocolate (just not hot) and another that tasted like jalapeño. The food was pretty good and the music set the scene well. I would describe it as good for groups of friends to hang out. Apart from the small yet vocal bachelorette party, everyone was pretty friendly. 

After a full day in the sun our group made our way back for snacks, naps, and some kickball. I would like to say it was pretty low key, but there were some beer enthusiasts that took the party a little late. So if you are the type that considers camping a calming experience with nature I suggest you only stay 1 night. In my opinion it was not too bad that it was loud and it was easy to avoid participation if you were looking to relax.  I would recommend going at least for the day if you are into non-crowded craft beer events!

Until next time. Stay tuned.

'Shooting the sh!t' at the gun range.

At the gun range shooting a revolver in slow motion

Apparently I am much better at duck hunter than I am at shooting a gun in real life.

As a family friendly Saturdaze activity we went to the outdoor shooting range. I assumed I was going to have a good shot, but it is harder than it looks. I had read somewhere (in a Law & Order episode) that guns had kickback so I expected some force from the gunshot. I guess I am not as strong as I think because the first time shocked me. I ended up overcompensating for the sensation that the gun was going up that I was just shooting the dirt and not the target. I guess there is room for improvement.

My dad and brother were much better, but to be fair they had been going for several years. I guess my invitation was lost in the mail... Invited or not, I had a great time trying the revolver and the automatic gun this time around. I stood the entire time while others in the gun range sat and had a stand for their weapon of choice. In this particular range most people brought their own firearms and purchased the day pass to shoot. You may be able to tell from the dirt and metal targets that this was not the most state of the art range. I did like it because the owner made an effort to teach me the proper stance and where to look to improve my aim. 

Overall, I feel a little more patriotic and a less inclined to pursue a career in law enforcement. But don't take my word for it. Try it out and see what you think!

Until next time. Stay tuned. 

Girls can race cars too!

Racetrack at Stockton 99 Speedway

Video of me and the professionals

When it comes to racing cars leave it to the professionals!

Now that the disclaimer is in writing I can elaborate on the details of my race car experience. I signed up for a shotgun ride for a few laps at the Stockton Speedway. I chose this location because it is the closest to where I live, but there are many other tracks across the country through the same company that look just as good if not better- Rusty Wallace Racing. 

After a 1.5 hour road trip with the song "ridin' dirty" in my head, I arrive at the Stockton speedway. I have to admit finding the track was the most difficult part of the day. After driving down a dirt road I arrive at my destination. I am greeted by a lady to check in reservations that include driving the cars and riding in the cars.

Driving the cars involves a short training session. After the training session you put on all the gear- jumpsuit, head cover, helmet and head under the only portion of shade for your vehicle to arrive. Although you make a reservation for a specific time, you still have to wait your turn to drive the cars. Once your car is back from another driver using it, you and the other drivers line up. There was a maximum  of 5-7 drivers on the track at once and you are not allowed to pass each other. For the thrill seekers go first, for the anxiety ridden get the last car. For the most part everyone went slowly as they made their way through the turns. Only one gentleman did not drive properly and ruined the clutch of the car. Despite his poor driving everyone was safe, the only thing hurt was his ego. 

For those of us that chose to shotgun a ride we also started by putting on the racing uniform. I have to say that it was incredibly hot with all the gear in the car-- much hotter than I had anticipated. When your driver is ready you hop in the car through the window since the doors do not open. Then there is someone to help buckle you in and secure the neck brace- (another reason it was SO hot). The benefit of going with someone experienced is that you are the only car on the track and you can go faster than if you were driving with the other novices. I do think it is worth it to try out both experiences, so that leaves driving for another Saturdaze!

The ride itself went quickly. That shouldn't be shocking since it is a race track. Then there was time to get water and watch some other drivers before calling it a day. 

If you are interested there are seasonal deals through Rusty and other companies. Before Father's Day they are promoting 60% off driving rides! Other times of year may be discounts as well, just ask or look at discount sites. I highly recommend trying it at least once!

Until next time. Stay tuned.

Rock climbing: fun for all levels

Indoor rock climbing

Indoor rock climbing

Planet Granite has a fun introductory rock climbing class for new members. It is an hour long and you learn the proper rope technique to go up the rock wall and to spot a friend while they go up. After about 30 min of training you take turns going up the beginner wall. The class gives you a day pass to continue practicing  even after the hour long class. They have a variety of walls based on difficulty so you can work your way up to the hardest. They also have an area where you do not need a harness and you can free climb.

Before you leave they offer promotional deals for a membership. A membership includes the rock wall and access to their gym. I booked my first class through a Groupon offer and they still honored any additional discounts. 

I chose Planet Granite over Mission Cliffs because of the discounted class, location (right by the water in Presidio), and nice instructors. Although I have heard great things about both companies, from experience I can say Planet Granite  is worth a try.

Until next time. Stay tuned.

Hiking: beach, trees, and waterfalls the best of SF

Alamere Falls is one of my favorite SF hikes so far. In a previous post I mentioned this hike was highly recommended and I finally had a chance to go. 

The hike starts in Bolinas and is about 4.5 miles each way from the parking lot. It is not a loop so roundtrip it comes out to 9 miles. The hike is relatively flat by SF standards. My friends from NY who went on the hike with me would disagree and felt slightly misled by the word "flat", however a SF native would understand after one too many grocery trips up a steep hill that this hike is pretty flat.

The views are gorgeous! The trail starts in a parking lot where you can leave your car and immediately veers to a hill overlooking the water. After a few miles you are in tall trees with vegetation (3rd picture). Right before the waterfall you have another beautiful view of the ocean (4th picture). Then the final part is a steep hike down the side of the mountain to get to the beach. The side is eroding so it is slippery (5th picture), but it is not long so no need to worry.

As the reviews all mentioned I would pack layers, bring plenty of water, bring a snack, and eat a full meal before the journey. We stopped at the Grove for a hearty brunch before heading out. It was delicious and filling but we still needed some snacks.

Additional Reviews:

• Everytrail
• Bay Area Hiker
• Trip advisor (>4 stars out of 5)
• Yelp (>4 stars out of 5)

Until next time. Stay tuned.

16 things Batman can and can't do on a Saturday in Buzzfeed community

Pre race photo session

Batman can get a clean cape at the dry cleaner

Batman can make friends with law enforcement

Batman can't cut the line at Walgreens

Batman can't use Apple products

If you have not worn a costume for an entire day (not halloween) then I recommend trying it. I started the day at the Super Run where my friends and I ran a 5K for charity.  The Super Run is exactly like what it sounds, hundreds (maybe thousands?) of people dress in a full costume and run around Crissy Field. The Super run calendar is online here and includes dates for: Dallas, Chicago, LA, Las Vegas, Philly and many more! 

I dressed in a full batman (batgirl) unitard including a hood and gloves. I even found a man in a full Batman costume that I took pictures with. Overall, people were very committed to the costume and the best part was watching young children participate and get very excited by the costumes and props. 

After the race my friends and I stopped for a coffee in the Marina at which point multiple people asked to take a picture with me. This was only the beginning. It was hilarious to see people's reactions.  I thought it was so amusing that I acting like it was just another Saturday doing errands. 

The results were that I figured 8 things that Batman could do and 8 things Batman could not do. For the full list including pictures checkout Buzzfeed Community section. The pictures above are the highlights.

Things Batman can do:

1. Take pictures with fans
2. Ride the Muni to brunch
3. Make friends with the police
4. Get dry cleaning done
5. Go shopping for #tight clothes
6. Get a coffee
7. Go to the gym in costume
8. Jaywalk

Things Batman can not do:

1. Cut the line at Walgreens
2. Shop for home decor
3. Use Apple products
4. Get money at ATM
5. Get a psychic reading
6. Eat donuts
7. Get a manicure
8. Shop for eyewear

Hope you enjoyed the trials and tribulations as Batman. Until next time. Stay tuned.

Sailing in Sausalito: Breezy like Sunday morning

too cold for comfort :)

I was really looking forward to sailing from Sausalito around the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, I did not chose the best day. I think i jinxed myself since it was an odd coincidence that the  first adventure not to go smoothly was also the first adventure on a Sundaze...All so suspicious.

I arrived early Sunday am ready for a nice day on the water with Bay Breeze Charters. Although, the company did warn about cold wind and potential rain, I did not think it would happen during the trip. The forecast looked gloomy with low chances of rain. Apparently, this was one of few days where the weather in SF was nicer than Sausalito- go figure!

We started the trip with mimosa, hot chocolates, tea, and blankets. I have to admit the view was beautiful as we sailed to the bridge. About 3/4 of the way through the trip to the furthest point it started to drizzle. Based on the video you can tell that it was also pretty windy. 

Once we got close to Alcatraz and the city we headed back. In total the tour was about 2.5 hours, 45 minutes of which was raining. I  can not fault the company for the inclement weather and they did emphasize to come prepared. However, I will say that the allure of a day on the seas is entirely dependent on the weather and to make sure to book at during peak season. 

• Pros:
  • Nice view
  • Friendly crew
  • Punctual adevnture
• Cons
  • Website booked far in advance 
  • Owner was unfriendly
  • Did not take calls for questions
  • highly dependent on good weather

Despite the mixed review for this trip, I am still optimistic that the next time will be much better!

Stay tuned.

Unique work outs that are fun and affordable

SF Surfset at the beach

SF intro to aerial silk

LA anti-gravity aerial yoga

NYC Row house picture repost:@transformingmommy

I am constantly looking for new workouts that are both challenging and achievable. When I signed up for ClassPass I was excited to try new routines. Below is a short story of the most unique work outs I have tried in SF, LA, and NY!

San Francisco

1. Left Coast Sweat: Surfset at the beach: this workout includes a surfboard, two balls and some ropes to tie it together. The surfboard lays on the balls so that when you stand on the board it moves to simulate waves based on your body weight and positioning. I first tried a class in the Marina (Sweat Republic) and enjoyed it. I thought it would be much more fun to do it outdoors the second time. Luckily it was a gorgeous day which made the workout even better.

• Type of exercise: squats, push ups, lower body, plank

• Unique moves: mix of yoga moves and surfing techniques. Think downward dog meets duck dive.

• Length: 1 hour

 2. Aspen Aerials- this was a great class because it was small and the instructor paid a lot of attention to each student. We were all first timers in the class. We started with some warm up exercises on the floor including planks and then moved to the silks where we learned about 6 moves

• Type of exercise: upper and lower body. When done properly: lower body, as a novice: upper body

• Unique moves: mermaid

• Length: 1 hour, 15 min

Los Angeles

1. Coolhotyoga: Antigravity aerial yoa- yes, more circus moves. This one was slightly easier since everyone had their own station to practice with rather than using the silks. 

• Type of exercise: mostly yoga type moves with some opportunities to flip upside down

• Unique moves: chandelier (pictured above)

• Length: 1 hour, 15 minutes

New York

1. Row House- This was the first time I tried a rowing class. It felt very much like a spinning studio with loud music and an instructor yelling commands. I mean that in a good way actually, the instructor did come around to make adjustments. He also made it challenging for the veterans in the group by encouraging us to go faster than our previous time. There is a monitor on the machine that allows you to tell Rows per minute to benchmark your progress. Additional workout benefits of rowing here.

• Type of exercise: upper body mostly but your legs are tired from pushing your weight when done properly

• Unique moves: floor work off the machine was included such as side planks and push ups

• Length: 1 hour

And yes I  have a lot of black sport leggings and white workout shirts :)

Until next time. Stay tuned.

Brooklyn Brewery: winter warm up

In the four years I lived in NYC I had never been to a brewery, including the more famous- Brooklyn Brewery. I had been meaning to cross it off my bucket list before moving, but I didn't get around to it. So on a winter trip to NY I went back to the list of things I missed and Brooklyn Brewery rose to the top.

This winter in NY was particularly long. When it is cold for months it can me tempting to stay indoors and avoid exploring. However, there is no excuse for a missed Saturdaze, the show must go on- rain or shine or sleet. 

In preparation for my trip I looked into a few venues to check out. 

1. Brooklyn Bowl- Bowling/live music venue that has food and beer. This is fun at night when there is a live band so I wanted to hold off on this. It is actually very close to Brooklyn Brewery
2. Brooklyn Boulders- Indoor rock climbing gym in Brooklyn (clearly). This popular place was booked weeks in advance so I did not get a chance to go. Don't worry indoor rock climbing will still happen on another Saturdaze, just you wait!
3. Brooklyn Brewery- This clearly one the day. I had intended to make it in time for the tour, unfortunately I was late and there was a line outside to get in.
4. Wythe hotel- Great views of the city from the roof. So I hear second hand through pictures.

Brooklyn Brewery ended up being the clear winner because it was easy to invite friends to catch up (lots of open space) and I didn't risk the weather. As I mentioned above it would have been great to go on a tour (and I have heard great things), so maybe next time.  I have to say the venue was cool, although as expected it was loud and the lines were long. The tokens did help speed up the process.

I have to say it was good to be back in the BK!

Until next time. Stay tuned.

Learn to fly in an hour or less

Learning to fly was an incredible experience. I booked a class through BelAir International with an online discount. The class included an hour flight for two people on a small charter plane. It was also about 30-45 minutes from San Francisco which made it very convenient. 

When I arrived we went through safety checks including: fuel gauge, propeller, etc. It was helpful to ask questions directly to the pilot in a private setting to feel comfortable before take off. 

During the flight the pilot gauged how well I was learning and gave me additional responsibilities. For takeoff I was allowed to steer the plane to the runway with the pedals similar to a car. Then once we got to over 2,000-4,000 ft elevation I was able to use the controls to steady the plane and make turns. The 30-40 minute flight seemed longer than I expected given that we got to see a variety of landscapes- sea and mountains. 

The lesson was a perfect combination of learning and feeling in control, while still feeling at ease that the pilot could take over at any point. I did get some selfies in while flying the plane.

Bel Air International has a few options for first time flyers. Other tours include: Half Moon Bay, Golden Gate & Alcatraz, and Crystal Springs. The most appealing was the sunset tour over the golden gate bridge. I will save that for the next trip!

Until next time. Stay tuned.

Theme parks: tips & tricks

After a six year hiatus from Six Flags it was time to get back in the theme park game. I had grown up going to Six Flags Magic Mountain and I had no idea there was one so close to the city (SF). Granted it is much smaller than I remember but a day trip is still fun if you do it the right way. 

The worst part about amusement parks:

1. The lines. They can take up to 2 hours for 1 ride of 30-90 seconds! 
2. The ticket price. Theme parks can cost almost $70 pp which can be expensive for a family or group
3. The food. It is expensive and incredibly unhealthy. Although Funnel cakes, dippin dots, and frozen lemonades are a tasty tradition, they are not a good when combined with roller coasters.
4. The temperature. Most people go when school is not in session, so if you live in CA you probably went when it was over 100 degrees

The solution:

1. Arrive on time- yes, this is as obvious as it sounds. However, most people still do not arrive as soon as it opens. It makes all the difference! The park opens around 11am and the ride technicians offer double rides until 2pm. Because the park is not very busy not only are the lines shorter (about 15 minutes each), but you get to go twice in a row. Double the value.
2.  Book online- Tickets are usually expensive. However, if you book in advance online you can save $25 per ticket. The caveat is that you have to make sure you attend the day you sign up for and everyone has to register so they can not be resold. However, this should not be a problem if you plan in advance. It can even be a few days in advance and still get the discount. 
3. Pack snacks! Even if you do not like soggy sandwiches that you probably sat on during the ride, bring a bar that you can keep in your pocket or purse. The earlier you arrive the earlier you will have finished all the rides so you can leave the theme park for a decent meal. 
4. Avoid peak season- If you do not want to go when it is very crowded or very hot then avoid peak times. Again, this is obvious, but not so obvious that people are actually doing it. Schedule in advance in late February or early March (before Spring break) and you can cross off 2 & 4. Just make sure you check the rain forecast before going in January/February to avoid rain showers in line. At least we have the CA drought to thank for something. I went in February and it was nice and sunny. 

Some other important tips:

• Bring some cash for lockers. They no longer allow bags on the ride. Keep a few dollars and your locker combination and you do not have to go back and forth to your locker during the day. We forgot to pack cash and had to ask a stranger to open our locker to repay them. Whoops.
• Go pro is no go. Well if you get caught. 
• You can and will lose your sunglasses. Be careful to hold them. Even in jacket pockets they come lose. 

Enjoy the ride!

Until next time. Stay tuned.

How to do Lake Tahoe skiing in a day from the bay

My biggest deterrent to learning to ski is the cold weather. I hate being horrible at something new while shivering. Luckily (for me) this year Tahoe was very warm. Most people were disappointed by the ski season this year in Tahoe, but not everyone is complaining. 

Another deterrent to go to Tahoe for a weekend is getting there and planning where to stay. I found the bay area ski bus that solved both of my problems. I didn't have to drive or find  a place to spend the night. I also did not have to get a group together to convince people to split the cost of a house. 

The bay area ski bus company allowed me to purchase: the bus ride round trip, ski lesson, and ski equipment. You can purchase each component separately if you do not need a lesson or have your own equipment. 

The entire trip was pretty seamless apart from the 5am departure. Once you get settled on the bus you can sleep until you are about to arrive. At that point the bus leaders offer you pastries, bagels, and juice. Once you arrive at the mountain you are welcome to take the free shuttle to any of the main ski lifts. For a beginner it was great because it was not crowded. I arrive to pick up my gear where they sized by boots then I leisurely walked to my lesson. There were plenty of adults who had not skied before which eased my fear that I would be in a class with children. 

At the end of the day we went for some snacks and a beverage at the ski lodge then headed to meet the bus where the staff was cooking hot dogs, hamburgers, and turkey burgers. They also had snacks, cookies, and wine. The latter encouraged the majority of people on the bus into a deep sleep on the way back while those who managed to stay awake watched a movie. 

Because the trip was hassle free and included snacks I would rate the experience two thumbs up!

Until Next Time. Stay Tuned.