Five Star San Francisco Getaway

I’ve been waiting to be able to tell you about our trip home to California in June, and finally I can. We spent so much time with family and friends, but for three very special days I was able to treat my mom and sister to a perfect little staycation in San Francisco at the Four Seasons Hotel.

I grew up in the Bay Area, about an hour south of San Francisco, visiting the city rarely until I moved there to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. During that time I spent very little time at the tourist attractions, and I now know how much I missed out on.

We drove to the city on a weekday morning, braving the one way streets and general chaos that is maneuvering a vehicle in any city. Pulling into the Four Seasons San Francisco, we knew that our five-star experience would erase any and all stresses that we had up until that point. The valet gentleman knew all of our names as we exited our vehicle, welcoming especially vibrantly Jack and Zoe. These two are seasoned travelers at this point and immediately recognized the special attention-and I as the parent certainly appreciated it.

We were surprised by a beautiful spread of snacks, desserts, and even a birthday cupcake for yours truly. The attention to detail and the fact that they remembered that I had briefly mentioned “birthday weekend” was truly a delight. The kids immediately found their pint sized terry bathrobes and tested out the beds with their very specialized, learned expertise.

We rested in the room for a bit, soaking in the huge bathtubs and prancing around the room, snacking on guacamole and Pellegrino-allowing ourselves to feel spoiled and taken care of and relishing in the moments. A few hours later we walked down to the embarcadero and played in the park near Cupid’s Span, chatting with the locals until it was time to head back at dusk.

The five of us snuggled up in the king sized bed that night, armed with popcorn for a special viewing of Rio that served as a bedtime story. We all slept so well tucked into the ultra soft sheets on the beds that the Four Seasons are known for.

The following morning, a huge breakfast came to our room, complete with children’s pancakes and the very best almond croissants that I’ve ever tasted. We filled our bellies and headed out for the day across the Golden Gate Bridge for an afternoon in Sausalito at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The hotel had even packed us a lunch to take with us on our adventure: Peanut butter & Jelly, carrot sticks and oatmeal cookies for the kids, and smoked turkey sandwiches for us adults. Traveling with children isn’t easy, but if you find a place that will make every step of the way fun and simple, you are sure to have a fantastic time. The museum was fantastic as well, the perfect place to take young children. Jack still talks about our trip over the “big red bridge” and playing at the Curious George exhibit.

That night, the five of us dressed up and went for dinner at Seasons Restaurant, located in the Four Seasons San Francisco. Our table was perched in the corner of the grand room, five stories up and peering over the gorgeous city. Although this is an upscale dining experience, the children were welcomed and handed their own menus complete with crayons. The food was fantastic, the service was kind and full of smiles, the wine was excellent and the dessert blew us all away.

Jack and Zoe got to make and decorate their own sundaes while the adults had the chance to enjoy a rare and real conversation. That night as we tucked in to the luxurious beds, we closed our eyes feeling spoiled and completely grateful. It’s been years since we’ve spent three consecutive days together without the typical life commitments getting involved.

We woke early the next morning for another adventure on the cable cars to Fisherman’s Wharf. This is something that I always wanted to do as a resident of San Francisco, but simply never took the opportunity. What a fantastic way to experience such a spectacular, breathtaking city.

If you haven’t ever visited San Francisco, make sure that you do and do not, I repeat do not skip a venture down to Fisherman’s Wharf. The food and sights are fantastic… The city by the bay at it’s very best.

Vacation should be about spending special moments with your loved ones. Vacation means taking a reprieve from the daily stresses of life, from bills and worry and messes. I have had the opportunity to do this with my husband and children on various occasions, but it’s been years since I’ve spent quality time with my mom and sister. It was one of the very best times we have spent together, and a memory that I will always hold dear to my heart.

San Francisco is a glorious city in and of itself, but travel accommodations have all the potential to make or break an experience. I was impressed by the graciousness and kindness of the staff at the Four Seasons Hotel, and appreciated every single detail that made traveling with my small children that much easier and so much fun for everyone.

For more photos and coverage, please visit my post at the Four Seasons blog, Have Family Will Travel.

I was not compensated for this post, however our hotel accommodations were taken care of by the Four Seasons in exchange for coverage on my personal blog and Have Family Will Travel. All opinions are my own.