Road Trip, Day 2 & 3: California

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West Coast Road Trip Part 3 (View Part 1, Part 2)

We left Oregon early & made our way down to California.

Northern California landscape

Our first stop was a drive through The Avenue of the Giants, through acres of giant Redwood Trees.

Redwood Trees in the Redwood Forest, CA

Redwood trees in the Redwood Forest, CA

Treehouses and bears at the Redwood Forest, CA

I think we had this mixed up with the Sequoia National Forest.  When we got to the Redwood Forest, we were a tad disappointed.  The drive was beautiful but we were expecting the Sequoias.  My family & I had spent some time in Sequoia National Park when I was a kid & I remember the forest being much more awe-inspiring than the Redwoods!

We continued to make our way down to San Francisco & stopped at the overlook before the Golden Gate Bridge.

Golden Grate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

Leonids on Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

Leonids on Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

After paying the toll to cross the bridge, we made our way to the hotel. We ventured out an hour after checking in/resting to explore the pier & get dinner. We also drove down Lombard Street.

Windy Lombard Street in San Francisco, CA

Windy Lombard Street in San Francisco, CA

I would hate to have a house on that street! Imagine all the traffic it gets!

Sea Lions on the San Francisco Pier, CA

Sea Lions on the San Francisco Pier, CA
Look at him preening.

Sunset on the San Francisco boardwalk, CA

Sunset on the San Francisco boardwalk, CA

Alcatraz Island.  I wish we had more time to do a tour of this but we had to cut our trip a day short because of Easter.
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA

The next morning we got up early & headed to Great America!
Great America, San Jose, CA

Roller coaster at Great America, San Jose, CA

Cartoon caricature of Leonids from Great America, San Jose, CA

We left around noon to explore more of the San Francisco Pier.  We visited the aquarium, explored the stores and visited Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum.
Sharks in the San Francisco Aquarium, CA
They let you touch the baby tiger sharks! I stuck my hand in figuring it would be the only time I’d ever willing touch a shark.

Jelly fish in the San Francisco Aquarium, CA

Shark in the San Francisco Aquarium, CA

Tropical fish in the San Francisco Aquarium, CA

Underwater moving sidewalk in the San Francisco Aquarium, CA

Fish in the San Francisco Aquarium, CA

Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum
Wax figure of Axis of Evil Tojo, Hitler, Mussolini at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Jesus and the Last Supper at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Rambo and Leonids at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Of course he had to get a photo with the Rambo exhibit!

Wax figure of Pope John Paul at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Wizard of Oz at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Elvira at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Elizabeth Taylor at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Einstein at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Johnny Depp at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of Denzel Washington at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Wax figure of former President Bill Clinton at Madam Tussaud's Museum, San Francisco, CA

Madam Tussaud's wax figures of English Royalty Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth in San Francisco, CA

That concludes our 3 day road trip along the west coast. We spent all of the 4th day on the road back home to Washington!

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