SCAM ALERT - if someone that looks like me replies to you in the UA-cam comments asking you to text them, this is not me. Please be careful out there folks. It’s only me if it has the verified tick next to my name ✅ Appreciate you all 💜
Did you enjoy the food in SanFrancisco? It's quite a pricey city, but I love the restaurants (it's a bit like Vegas to me: you can find almost any cuisine you like and it's all good) and there are quite a lot of beautiful spots. Also, it's quite cool, which is actually nice in the summer --- per Mark Twain: "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
Oh yeah, I've picked up a couple of those scammers before. I enjoy messing with them occasionally. I was "engaged" to Vince Gill once. He said he would get a divorce and marry me. Sure, Vince Gill is going to divorce Amy Grant and marry me. I believe that one! He got hopping mad when I donated money to one of Vince's charities and didn't send it to him. We are no longer "engaged". I'm sure Amy is relieved.
@@SherryAnnOfTheWest Just got a reply from whoever it is. I'm very suspicious , so I reported him/her/it to Yahoo. I hate the low lives who are scammers. They are below pond scum. Thank you for letting us know.
Golden Gate Park was built on land that was originally covered with sand dunes. The park was designed and built by William Hammond Hall and John McLaren (who was born in Bannockburn, Scotland). Believe it or not, Vermont Street in San Francisco is even more crooked than Lombard Street. It's less well-known because it's not as pretty, and it's not as easy to get to. There's an annual Big Wheel race down Vermont Street where people ride tricycles down the steep hill. The holes in the redwood trees were caused by fires. These trees can survive having their insides partially burned out. If you look closely, you can see the charring. The clover-like plants in Muir Woods are redwood sorrel. They're a type of oxalis, not closely related to clover. At 13:56 you can see a banana slug on the face of the log. This type of slug is common in redwood forests, and is the official team mascot of the University of California at Santa Cruz. At one point someone tried to make it the California official state mollusk, but the bill didn't make it through the legislature. John Muir did have Bay Area connections. He lived in Martinez, across the bay from San Francisco, and his house is now a historic landmark. He may not have had anything to do with Muir Woods, but he did help convince Congress to turn Yosemite into a national park. He wanted to do the same for Hetch Hetchy Valley, right next to Yosemite, but it was turned in to a reservoir to supply water to San Francisco. I wish you'd had a chance to have some Mexican and Chinese food while you were in San Francisco.
Jeff Lichtman - First off, I loved your post. Skipping over the first part of it (for no reason), but as at by the second part, you began to discuss slugs and politics, all of which I concur, or at least, understand. As well, I usually don't expect such wisdom from anyone, let alone you. I mean no personal offense to you, but it is a pretty sticky wicket, being just a round about way of saying I dig what you say. In New York, I forget if it is the Manhattan Bridge, or the Brooklyn Bridge, but they are in sight of each other, and altho not as large, are of a similar design as the 'Golden Gate' bridge. On the Manhattan side, of whichever bridge, one of the two main stanchions that this bridge is 'suspended' by, is just floating on sand (underwater, and not solid bedrock, as typical of such bridges). As well, what you say about the hollow of redwoods being fire burnt, the native Indians knew (and thus, some white folks know), that fire cures wood of rot, better than not. Charred wood is a sort of 'antibiotic' to a tree, and the Indians knew that a charred post embedded in the ground, lasted far longer than one that wasn't. People (the smart ones), still do so to this day.
I'm 50 and spent the first 20 years of my life in San Fran. I've since lived in several other cities in the US, and in my mind none of them beats SF for beauty. Due to the cost though, I'll never go back except to visit. Makes me a bit sad. I'd love it if I could afford to live there.
100% agreed. I lived in San Francisco for 15 years starting in my late 20’s and left for the same reasons. I visit at least once a year to see my friends. SF has the best combination of City, Nature, Cuisine, Culture, Historical Significance and Technology that it is incomparable to any other US city. People like to dog it because of the Homeless problem but most of them are not from SF and go there for the services and because our mental health system is terrible.
What is the biggest problem with San Francisco? I live in Midwest and it’s portrayed as homeless pooping all over the streets, very horrible political leadership, and super expensive taxes and living expenses. Will it ever turn around?
@@jbs454 You pretty much answered your own question. It's a small peninsula with extremely mild weather that used to be liberal, diverse, and inclusive. Then it became these things in name only. They kicked out half the black people, in 1970 Census records show there were around 100,000, by 2020 there were 50,000. Despite the politicians chant BLM as if they actually care. With Silicon Valley it became super-gentrified. Rich techies from around the world came and bought out the houses of the people who live there. The people who lived there became homeless and many remain on the street. In that whole region, they try to avoid building houses because houses are bad for the environment. As a result the cost of houses for many, many miles skyrocketed. Since the pandemic, people had the chance to work from home, so a huge number of people left their tiny SF apartments for big suburban homes that cost less. Now the city is experiencing a massive collapse of businesses.
Yes, I don't like it when people say stuff like "why would you have such and such kind of food in San Francisco? It's not going to be authentic to that region or country!" What people don't realize that because San Francisco has such a great reputation as a restaurant town and because San Francisco and the Bay Area are so diverse you get so many people from all over the US and the world who have moved to rhe Bay Area and started restaurants serving the cuisine from where they came from. I am here because my parents immigrated from China and moved to the Bay Area for better ecomomic opportunnities and most of my American born friends were not born and raised in the Bay. They were born and raised in another part of the US. They moved to the Bay Area for better economic opportunities.
The nicest thing about living in San Francisco is that you walk up and down so many hills every day that you can pretty much eat anything you like… and because so many people move there from all over the world you can get any kind of food your heart desires. ❤️ I’m so glad that you got to see it on a beautiful sunny day they are very rare. 😂
Lived there for a year upstairs at my dear Uncles bar! I was 17 and had a BLAST!!! It was in the Haight/Ashbury district. My mom always thought it was named that because everyone ‘ hated’ a guy named Ashbury… my maiden name is Muir… great Scots-Irish ancestors in Appalachia… proud of my heritage! Clan Muir♥️❣️🙋♀️☮️🎶🧜♀️
Welcome to America!! I know it’s not your first trip to our country❣️Just enjoy yourself!!! Keep out of political banter, be kind, and you’ll be just fine! I’m glad you’re visiting!!!♥️❣️🕉☮️🙋♀️
Firstly completely agree with you about keeping an open mind when traveling, commenting or just life in general. I'm also though really glad you got to visit Muir Woods. It's certainly one of my favorite places on earth and so I'm very glad again you enjoyed it too. It's a special place. Thanks as always for sharing your adventures Shaun!
After being here for two decades, I'm thankful that you two shared your experiences here and I got to re-see my city through new eyes. Glad you enjoyed yourselves and I hope you two get to re-visit just the Bay Area and Northern California at some point in the future.
Shaun, thanks for setting the tone that you are enjoying the journey! I’ve been to San Francisco the food was phenomenal and the places to visit where nice. Like all places in the world, eat the cherries and spit out the pits! Enjoy the journey!
James - just to be the dick, they are 'pits', more than 'seeds', altho a pit might be considered a seed, but no all seeds are considered 'pits'. Just playing around with your head, but that's close to true.
Wow, such a short period of time you spent here in San Francisco, but I'm impressed with how much you accomplished in that short space of time. Very happy you did go to Muir Woods too! So rest up, and hopeful we will see you soon.
@@shaunvlog Thank you for taking me along with y'all across the Golden Gate Bridge Shaun and Teka. I lived a few years in Southern California [Ridgecrest, Kern County] and the farthest north I went was to Monterey Bay, near San Francisco, but not close enough to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Monterey Bay was very nice. We encountered a big seal (sea lion?) there at a boat ramp, just sunning itself [we got up really close to it, thought about trying to pet it, but since we're rather fond of our fingers we thought better of it.] This was along Fisherman's Wharf back in September of 1995. Greetings from eastern North Carolina, USA.
Muir Woods is great. You definitely just scratched the surface. There's a lot of things to put in your mouth in SF. It's a foody city. Next time, do the un-tourist thing and get Burmese food, Chinese soup dumplings, visit Oakland/Berkeley, etc. I lived in the SF Bay Area for 9 years and only recently left. In 9 years, never ran out of unique things to do.
Well, if you get back there, Fort Point underneath the GG Bridge is a great place to see. Go get a Burrito out on Chavez and 25th Avenue. Also, even though it is touristy got to go to Fisherman's Wharf and up Jefferson Street to Aquatic Park. It still has some good eating places to go to.
John Muir is a very important part of California history. Back in the early 2000s the US Mint started a series of "state quarters" featuring designs from each state. California's has the image of John Muir overlooking El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
For those of you inspired to make a trip to SF, one of the lesser known attractions is Fort Point, a Civil War era brick fort located literally under the south end of the Golden Gate. You get there from Crissy Field at the Presidio. Admission is free, it's a step back in time and the views are fabulous. The Fort guarded the Golden Gate but never saw any military action. SF is many many different cities all existing together. It constantly changes, and every era leaves a remnant that is absorbed into the city fabric. I don't like cities, much prefer the natural lands, but if I have to live near one, SF is it.
Hi Shaun, I’m from Illinois but have been to San Francisco many times. Was there this past February. First trip anywhere since Covid. You are right about the trees. The camera doesn’t do them justice. You have to see them to appreciate them.
I grew up near SF and was taken there often as a kid, I also lived there for a little while when I was 18-19 and absolutely loved it. I live just north of the city now and San Francisco is a great place to go for the day or evening, there's so much to do and see. I always feel lucky that I live so close. I'm glad you got to experience it, too.
I really enjoy your videos. I think you do a lot more justice to the places you visit than many other vloggers I've seen. I love San Francisco, the architecture, the gardens, the different neighborhoods. I've been there several times, but I live on the east coast and I haven't been out there for a few years. I'd love to visit again one day. Homelessnes? Poverty? Unfortunately, they are found in most urban areas. It's a very sad reality. I don't think of San Francisco as controversial, although because the city is thought of as one of the more left-leaning cities in the country politically, it is often a target of people with a different political perspective. But considered just as a tourist attraction, it certainly is one of the most beautiful cities in the US and definitely worth spending a couple of days to explore it. Loved your Muir Woods photography, by the way. Looking forward to your next video.
I can appreciate the fact that you want to taste food in every area of America that you go. 2 years ago we took a trip to Scotland, and the first thing I wanted to do was taste Haggis! My wife found out what was in it, and she wanted nothing to do with it, although I have to admit, I thought it was quite good! I had Haggis pie in a restaurant that was recommended to us in Edinburgh, it was wonderful! Enjoy your trip to America! 👍🇺🇸 BTW, John Muir was very influential in preserving natural woodlands in America, and in particular, creating Yosemite National Park.
We were in Edinburgh a couple weeks ago. Haggis was also on my must-try list, so we made sure to order it at the very first restaurant we went to. Fortunately my entire family enjoyed it even after learning what is in it. We ended up eating it several different ways before we left.
@Franco Chi-Town was my home 🏡 for 14 yrs (at the time in 2011) I have mixed emotions about it .now I live in TB (Tampa Bay) I felt more at home 🏡 there than in Chi- Town
Very nice, Shaun. I appreciate that there are Brasilerios still in San Francicso. Nice community indeed. Thank you for the tour and your experiences. I lived there for 22 years, always loved it. Hope to be in Scotland one day. Happy and safe travels.
Living here in the Bay Area, I hope you return because indeed not enough time being here 2.5 days. Most of us don’t even go into the City because there is so much to do outside of it. Be sure to visit Monterey and drive asilomar beach. Then drive highway 1 Big Sur, 101 to LA stopping in Santa Barbara. Skip highway 5.
Yes Big Sur and Monterey, Salinas, the Santa Lucia mountains rising steeply above the jade-green ocean, pearly white sand dunes in Pacific Grove, Carmel, Watsonville artichoke capital of the world, majestic Monterey Pines dripping fog in the night, sculptured Monterey cypresses. Another unparalleled spot of California beside my favorite San Francisco, Ojai and Sonoma County.
@@glendabarton45barton48 yes home sweet home! My favorite in all of CA is central coast. Recommend visiting Carmel Village plus the Pinnacles National Park in Soledad and wine tasting in the Salinas Valley and in Paso Robles. A quick stop is Paso’s downtown is lovely too.
I’m so glad you enjoyed San Francisco! I’ve lived here for 54 of my 72 years, and I’m not tired of it yet. What a good idea on your friends’ part, to take you to Muir Woods - it’s such a beautiful place. One thing that’s sort of amusing for me in your videos is that you don’t project on your face what your opinion is going to be, so when you ask yourself the question, “So what did I think of ________?” I never know whether you’re going to say it was great or it was rubbish! 😄 When you come to this area again, I hope you’re here in the late spring and can go to Yosemite.
Lived, worked and loved in San Francisco. Miss all the great ladies from the financial district and weekend runs near the Presidio. Beautiful, unique, colorful and world class city
Glad you enjoyed San Francisco and the big California trees. Another Great Scot - Robert Louis Stevenson was married in San Francisco and wrote about it and California as well.
Shawn: So happy that you are visiting the city where I was born 90 years ago - in a home at the foot of Twin Peaks. We went up theer to fly kites. Such wonderful memories. The city has gone through lots of changes over the years and my memories were of a city that II Loved to live in. Enjoy your visit! .
Hi Shaun, I really enjoyed your take on San Francisco. It is amazing to see this beautiful city that literally rose from the ashes after the earthquake of 1906 which sparked fires that burned for 3 days!
Please go to 00:48 in the video to hear my explanation of why San Francisco has become controversial as a topic - the vast amount of comments i received in previous proved as much. Thank you for watching 😀
Shaun, as a local, I'm glad that you told the approach of visiting San Francisco with an open mind and no preconceived notions and I'm glad you seem to have enjoyed your time here. I agree that you believe wherever visit for the first time regardless of the location it's a good rule of thumb to live by in general. That's how I approach life when I am going somewhere I've never been before or interacting with people I've never interacted with before! God bless and have a great day and keep up the good work with the videos.
There is nothing any more controversial about San Francisco than any other American city. Every city has issues with homelessness and crime, whether the city's politics leans left or right. I live in the red state of Arizona and we have those problems here too. Of course, right wing internet commenters will tell you it's all because of "Commie-fornia" because they are mature adults and childish name calling is what mature adults do.😂
@@lauriemartin490 Exactly. People who don't even live here thinking they're experts about this city because they saw some idiot on a certain brainworm channel whining about it. Maybe they should turn that energy onto the plights of their own areas and communities.
@@lauriemartin490 The fact that you had to go out of your way to say "right wing internet commenters" shows that what said commenters have had to say is right. San Francisco is a lost city run by careless Democrats who don't care about the vast rise in crime and social collapse. Nowhere in any red state is anything comparable to that going on. Also, the faulty cities you'll find in "red states" are Democrat-run.
Bro, I used to live in Martinez, which is a small city in the San Francisco East Bay, across the Bay from San Francisco. John Muir's home is in Martinez. The house is still there and is designated as a California National Historical Landmark, which means it is protected forever snd can't be torn down.
@@shaunvlog Yup. Such cool history and beauty here! I agree. You will have to let me know if you do come back to the Bay Area in the future for another visit. I'd love to meet you . I really like your videos and you attitude about the world and about life.
I love seeing our big beautiful country through your eyes! We have a bit of everything and we put it all out there for everyone to to experience- warts and all! 😉 Cheers from Southern California !! 🌴🌞🌴
I have been to San Francisco, and I loved it. I recommend going to the top of Twin Peaks at night. The views with all the lights around the bay are incredible
Shaun - I so much appreciate that you came all the way down the US West Coast, and saw a sampling of the unique natural beauty and positive upbeat outlook of the people here. Up here in Seattle, SF isn't controversial at all, unless someone says it's the "most beautiful city on the West Coast' ;) We love it and share the optimistic perspective that with a little human decency, we may all someday be able to deal with some of those pressing social issues.
Fun little factoid about Golden Gate Park - before it was a park, it was sand dunes. Then it became the dumping ground for all the horse manure generated by transportation before automobiles became common. The park started out literally organically fertilized!
Hi Shaun and Teka! I'm originally from "the city" aka San Francisco and when I visited North Berwick in Scotland, my husband and I got lost trying to find Tantallon castle by foot and happened to stumble upon a wooded area called The Glen after the famous John Muir. Just thought that was a cool story to share!
Shaun, I’m loving the laid-back tone to your travel videos! I love Sausalito! During the mid 1970s and 80s you could get an airline ticket from LA to San Francisco for just $30!... so I visited there a lot. I’d spend a few nights in the city, then a few nights in Sausalito. It’s like a mini version of San Francisco; very charming and with less expensive food and accommodations.
Hi Shaun lived half my life in San Francisco. Although it's too expensive for me to live there,I LOVE the City. I lived everywhere there. 3 places in the Haight, North Beach, 3 places in the Mission (the Latino area), Visitation Valley, Bernal Heights, the Marina, the Tenderloin....you name it. SF is always so electric, the most unique City,a City of sparkling air and light, of romance and history, surrounded by water and inhabitated by artists and the creative, it's also a mysterious City, and it loves it's eccentrics. Real San Francisco natives are some of the nicest people and some have a weird accent that sounds New York. It's the City that's welcoming and tolerant of differences, that's why I love it in spite of it's problems. The natural beauty is unmatched. There are some great new parks there a rooftop park several blocks long floating above the City with exotic plants, a new park down at the Presidio with great landscapes.So much to do and discover in SF. The air is like sparkling wine. When I was a kid we drove across across the Bay Bridge at night and the City was like a sparkling castle reaching to the stars or a Christmas tree with lights. She's like an elegant woman sparkling with jewels. When I come from the Marin side of the GG Bridge, it appears to me like the island of Avalon, swathed in violet mist like a dream. Sometimes an enormous tsunami of fog rolls a great wave over the GG Bridge. Sorry I'm going on and in but I get tired of San Francisco hate, particularly prevalent on Fox News lol. Most people who live there for any length of time end up loving it. I live close now in Sonoma County another gorgeous place. Two books that have fascinating history and places you want to see are: "Cool Gray City of Love - 49 views of San Francisco" by Gary Kamiya. And "Spirits of San Francisco - Voyages Through the Unknown City" by Gary Kamiya. I lived right on Haight St. for the longest.
At 12:44, what you call a cave-like area is called a Faery Ring and they are quite common to Redwood trees. When a stand alone redwood is in danger of burning, she starts a ring of shoots from her roots to make a ring around the main tree hoping they will grow after the fire is out. We used to have controlled fires to grow more trees, but because of the horrendous fires we've had over the last three years, the trees aren't able to grow. There is a fire right now in Yosemite Park that is threatening our giant redwood Sequoias, one in particular that's been growing since before Jesus (BC/CE)! California is in desperate need of three years of El Niño rain. We've had three years of El Niña droughts and it's disastrous for all. We do have a disproportionate amount of homeless people in California than other states. Many think it's because we don't care, but that's not true. We are a "Sanctuary State." We welcome all here and give them aide as much as is possible. That means we have a massive amount of people here from other countries who can't get jobs and yes, the cost of rent is ridiculous! No one, but the price gouging owner of the rental property knows why they can charge such enormous amounts for rent.
I'm glad that you had such great weather when you were in SF. A quote that is attributed to Mark Twain is, "The coldest winter I've ever felt was the summer I spent in San Francisco." I hope and imagine that you are heading down to my area, Southern California.
Some of my reasons for watching Shaun's vlogs. First, you take us everywhere with you! I have seen some incredible footage from some of the incredible places around Europe, Brazil, and America! Next, the food! Who cares if you don't go to some high-end restaurant? It is nice to see you eating like most of us Americans tend to eat when on vacation. Next, the nature stops! I didn't even know the Glenn Muir Woods even existed. What a fantastic place to see, and you took us on that walk with you! Finally, your generous spirit towards the people and places you visit. Maybe you would call it acting like a typical tourist, but the fact that you generously share your experiences with the world is incredible. So, please keep those vlogs coming? Thanks!
Most people who “hate” SF are people who have never visited or have but only did the touristy things. SF is truly one of America’s most beautiful cities and it’s a shame a lot of people scoff at it simply because it doesn’t align with their political views. With that said, it does have its problems but the problems it has is just a symptom of the overall state of the nation (e.g. homelessness, income disparity, etc.). The big cities are usually the first to feel the brunt of these things so it’s pretty easy for someone who doesn’t live in one to criticize.
I love to visit San Francisco (and California). There is so much to offer in terms of tourism and natural beauty. With the cost of living what it is there, however, I don't think we could ever live there. You hit a lot of the highlights on your trip, though I didn't see Fisherman's Wharf. I've thought before that I'd hate to live on Lombard street, and have tourists driving down it all the time. I'm sure there are many accidents. 😆 Edit: This is probably in the past, but if you're driving South you should stop in Carmel. Cute little beach town. Route 1 down the coast also has gorgeous views.
Thank you for sharing San Francisco! It is very beautiful and a great place to visit! Muir woods looks lovely! I wonder if they are less busy in the winter. Stay safe. Love to Teka 🤎
Another Scottish connection with San Francisco is the cable car system. A Scottish mining engineer named Andrew Hallidie came up with the San Francisco cable car system. I'm not sure why San Francisco is considered a controversial city. I know that certain "news" outlets like to focus on the city's negatives and those negatives certainly exist. But I would guess that most people that heap hate towards SF, have never actually been there. The truth is, it is a great American city that is suffering from growing pains and has some issues that need to be solved. Also, it is a beacon of capitalism. San Francisco proper has a GDP per capita of $228,118. That is second to no one, any where. I go to San Francisco at least once a year and I love it.
Agree - those who throw around the words ‘socialist’ and ‘capitalist’ have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s the most capitalist place I’ve been. It’s a great place and my hope is for more people to be open minded
Great views. Loved it. I understand the burnout feeling. I hope you got some good rest. That Ghirardelli Chocolate is my all-time favorite. I love it. Good choice!
Hi Shaun. On your video First Impressions of San Francisco, at 4:10, it showed you crossing the Carquinez Bridge. This bridge is actually just 10 miles (16 km) from John Muir’s house. Just a fun fact that I wanted to share with you because you seemed a little sad that Muir Woods was not directly associated with John Muir.
I love San Francisco. I used to live in Chicago, and then Boston, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, and Vienna. Now I live in Los Angeles, which is different from any of the other cities I've lived in. In fact, when I moved to LA in 1997, Los Angeles didn't really even have public transportation (although now it does). So, years ago, when I craved to be in a "REAL" city with an actual subway, I would take my family to San Francisco, which is the most like a city back east that I can find within a thousand miles of LA. San Francisco has great food, well defined neighborhoods, fantastic architecture, amazing museums, great theater & opera, a rich history that you can see on every hill. And it has that "all-important" public transportation system based on old fashioned cable-cars alongside ultra modern subways. And SF feels like a "Real" City, and it is is beautiful. So San Francisco scores extremely high on on my "Great Cities" checklist. However SF is very expensive to live in, so I never even considered it.
I am enjoying your vacation videos so much! Some of the places are where I just took my family this month (Redwoods state park, Oregon coast). Keep up the good work and get some rest!
Shaun, I know you are back home by now. Stopping by a beach side town on your way to LA would have been a great "spa day" rejuvenation. Just sitting on the Pacific Coast and doing nothing does a body, mind, and soul a great deal of good.
Thank you for giving our city a try! There's so much glorious architecture, stunning vistas and diversity of culture and things to do that The City not just the "controversy" some make it out to be. It has the American city problem of poverty and transience, sure, but I live near Union Square and I never have felt completely unsafe. If anything, you're far more likely to get pick pocketed or a car break in then anything violent. That said, seeing you seemingly enjoy every little bit you took in (maybe...minus the cheesecake, hah) was so nice to see! We hear so much of the negative, it's nice to have some positive light on the place we live.
My favorite city on the west coast. My favorite on the east coast is Boston. They are very similar. This video is great. You met my sister in SF and wished me a happy birthday on a video she sent.. Thank you so much. That meant a lot to me. You covered a lot of ground in this video and did a great job showing the beauty of SF. What great weather you had.
Ever since I was little and saw a travelogue (circa 1950's) on TV about San Francisco, I wanted to visit that city. When I was a teenager and heard Scott McKenzie's song, San Francisco", I continued to dream. But I'm not sure now. There are an awful lot of those glass skyscrapers, which take away some of the charm. But I'm glad you had fun! BTW - I did NOT intend to repeat my reply to your pin! Something screwy is happening, and I apologize.
Shaun, since you seemed to be obsessed with bears (😄) you should check out Patrick Conley's channel. Don't let it give you a false sense of security, but I think you'll enjoy Patrick's daily visitors on his porch while he sits there and records them, including mamas with babies. That said, SF looks like a gorgeous city! I'm in Illinois where we (I) enjoy the cornfields and farms outside of Chicago. Thank you so much for taking us on your trip! I wish I could travel around the country and the world. Stay safe, take care, and as always, welcome to America! 💞
I mentioned Patrick's channel in the community post, when he said Asheville might be along the way ! 😆 I know how he relishes the idea of a bear encounter!
Love the beautiful views, thank you so much for what you said about being open minded concerning different locations in the states, we appreciate your kindness. You and your wife are a true delight. Take Care, love your videos.
California is like a different country in itself. I loved it when I was there. The clubs are the best places to play too. In San Francisco and LA and the whole state. Anything you want you can find. And the music is great. I hope you like it.
That reminds me that a fellow from Minnesota came to live in Cali for 20 years. He said it was so strange and exotic to him. I guess since I was born here I'm used to the ambience.
We were a whole separate country, briefly. I think it lasted nearly a month. But, you can still see the vestiges of that in our flag, which says "California Republic."
The California coastline is unbelievably beautiful. You got lucky with the weather in S.F. It was so sunny and clear! Hope you continue down the coast, but also hope to see you get inland to Yosemite, Mammoth, Sequoia/Kings Canyon. Wonder how much you’ll be able to see once you get down south, and if you’ll even have time to get into San Diego. There’s too much too see, that’s for sure. You’ll have to come back!
Shaun, if you haven't been to Boston, you should go. It's very very similar to SanFran in that it feels like a cross between London and NYC. It also has TONS of early American history.
You found unusually good weather in San Francisco. No fog? Warm and comfortable weather? Unheard of! Edit: A shame you couldn't get further north into the Wine Country. Some of the best wines in the world, much to the chagrin of the French.
If ever you find yourself back in the Bay Area, you might try the Wine Train tour - a train excursion to a number of notable vineyards, without needing to drive.
I lived all over the City and the fog could be daunting in the summer. Supposedly Mark Twain said "the coldest winter I ever spent was the summer in San Francisco!". Although I've also heard he did not actually say that. I global warming is making SF warmer. I love in Santa Rosa which gets hot which I love. But I also love the mournful dirge of the foghorns and night and the giant tsunami of fog rolling over the GG Bridge. The best weather in San Francisco is after summer which is often locked in a huge fogbank. Indian summer is the hottest.
When I was a kid growing up in California we used to be able to sit in the trees the railing fence was not there. It was an awesome place to play and spend the day. Have you seen the petrified Forrest yet?
I really enjoyed this video. I am over on the East coast and will probably never go to visit, but this trip shows so much. Hope you enjoyed your visit.
My family has been in California since the 19th century gold rush. My great-grand-uncle designed the lighting for that 1915 Exposition you mentioned. I think you do a good job of capturing the essence as much as is possible in a short visit. For instance, eating Creole food here: California is populated by people who came from other states and other countries, and they brought their cuisines with them. You were right to call the Painted Ladies Edwardian. Though the style may be Victorian, most of the older buildings in San Francisco date to soon after the 1906 earthquake, since the resultant fire nearly leveled the city. You lucked out in your view of the bridge. Both times I climbed that hill I got a view of tippy-tops of bridge peeking from a solid blanket of fog. I think the controversy you saw in the comments is largely a reflection of the great polarization in this country as a whole. Like Texas, California is something of a lightening rod for it, though in both cases it's based as much on myth and stereotyping as on reality. I hope you'll give yourselves a rest day. When you're traveling to somewhere you don't know if you'll ever go to again, it's tempting to try to cram as much as possible into your time there. But you can only absorb so much before it all starts to run together. It's exhausting. Better to skip some things and take a rest day, or the latter part of your trip will be a blur that you're too tired to enjoy. Even if that means missing out on some of Los Angeles, the suburbs of which are my home territory.
I live in San Francisco, when did this City become America’s most controversial City? Do you mean America’s most Liberal City? Of course so is Portland OR and Seattle. 🇺🇸
Shaun loved your post on San Francisco. Seemed like you enjoyed Golden Gate Park. Thought you might be interested to know the father of the Park was John McLaren born in Bannockburn in 1846. He is one of the most famous and beloved figures in San Francisco's history. Before McLaren's work, the area that became the park was nothing but miles of sand dunes. In his lifetime he planted over 2 million trees, and insisted the park contained no "Keep off the grass " signs. He was appointed Park Superintendent in 1887, a job he held for 56 years. At the mandatory retirement age of 60 the City changed the city charter so that his job was made a life appointment. He work in the park and lived in McLaren Lodge his home in the park that the city gifted him until he died at age 96. As part of his funeral his body was laid in state in the City Hall Rotunda.
I love San Francisco! I'd totally live there if it wasn't so expensive and it hadn't gotten so weird lately. It'll all work itself out and get back on track someday. The architecture is what draws me to that magical place.
I'm surprised people tell you to not visit the place. Due to the high taxes, cost of living, crime, and politics I wouldn't want to live there myself, but I wouldn't mind visiting the place. There's a lot of history and national parks in CA.
The food at Creola looked fantastic and delicious. Yeah...John Muir. I graduated from John Muir College, University of California - San Diego! And the trees are even bigger at Sequoia National Park!
I live 270miles north of San Francisco, and, while I have my opinions about certain facets of San Francisco... Shaun is right - it's got its high points. Shaun - I also know that "plumb run out of steam" feeling on a long trip! Glad you enjoyed San Francisco! I hope you take/took Highway 1 down the coast rather than the super-boring Interstate 5 route down to Los Angeles! Looking forward to the next episode!
Beautiful Shaun! Those views of Muir Woods were gorgeous. I'm so loving these vlogs. I know it's been some time since you actually filmed this so I hope you were able to rest up. 😉
So my first thought when I saw this clip was, "good luck with that", as San Francisco has a rather notorious reputation currently. But I like what Shaun said about looking at the city through a tourist's eyes and not making political judgements. Yes, San Francisco has some big problems right now but it is one of the great cities in the US, beautiful parks, amazing architecture, art, history and diversity. I'm glad his visit was a positive one and hope that all visitors have a good experience.
I grew up in the Bay Area, and can say that it has changed a lot in the last 40 years, both for the better and for the worse. I left because I knew I would never be able to afford my own home if I stayed. Sometimes I still miss it, though.
See...you want to learn more about John Muir, you should have come to Wisconsin. When his family immigrated to the US, they settled in Portage, Wisconsin which is now a National Landmark. He also attended University in Madison! That said, I'd love to get to San Francisco someday. As evidenced by your experiences and video, it's such a beautiful city.
@@sallyintucson - Good for you, but that’s the only place that the so called bad reputation is coming from. And of course the Mindless viewers of that garbage that repeat it without ever having been there to know the truth for themselves.
Happy you visited Muir Woods. I recommended it. People have a hard time believing when you tell them you can walk and even drive through the trunk of a tree.
SCAM ALERT - if someone that looks like me replies to you in the UA-cam comments asking you to text them, this is not me. Please be careful out there folks. It’s only me if it has the verified tick next to my name ✅
Appreciate you all 💜
Did you enjoy the food in SanFrancisco? It's quite a pricey city, but I love the restaurants (it's a bit like Vegas to me: you can find almost any cuisine you like and it's all good) and there are quite a lot of beautiful spots. Also, it's quite cool, which is actually nice in the summer --- per Mark Twain: "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
Oh yeah, I've picked up a couple of those scammers before. I enjoy messing with them occasionally. I was "engaged" to Vince Gill once. He said he would get a divorce and marry me. Sure, Vince Gill is going to divorce Amy Grant and marry me. I believe that one! He got hopping mad when I donated money to one of Vince's charities and didn't send it to him. We are no longer "engaged". I'm sure Amy is relieved.
Yes, he replied to me and I reported him to YT.
Thank you for letting us know, most don't!
@@SherryAnnOfTheWest Just got a reply from whoever it is. I'm very suspicious , so I reported him/her/it to Yahoo. I hate the low lives who are scammers. They are below pond scum. Thank you for letting us know.
Golden Gate Park was built on land that was originally covered with sand dunes. The park was designed and built by William Hammond Hall and John McLaren (who was born in Bannockburn, Scotland).
Believe it or not, Vermont Street in San Francisco is even more crooked than Lombard Street. It's less well-known because it's not as pretty, and it's not as easy to get to. There's an annual Big Wheel race down Vermont Street where people ride tricycles down the steep hill.
The holes in the redwood trees were caused by fires. These trees can survive having their insides partially burned out. If you look closely, you can see the charring.
The clover-like plants in Muir Woods are redwood sorrel. They're a type of oxalis, not closely related to clover.
At 13:56 you can see a banana slug on the face of the log. This type of slug is common in redwood forests, and is the official team mascot of the University of California at Santa Cruz. At one point someone tried to make it the California official state mollusk, but the bill didn't make it through the legislature.
John Muir did have Bay Area connections. He lived in Martinez, across the bay from San Francisco, and his house is now a historic landmark. He may not have had anything to do with Muir Woods, but he did help convince Congress to turn Yosemite into a national park. He wanted to do the same for Hetch Hetchy Valley, right next to Yosemite, but it was turned in to a reservoir to supply water to San Francisco.
I wish you'd had a chance to have some Mexican and Chinese food while you were in San Francisco.
Jeff Lichtman - First off, I loved your post. Skipping over the first part of it (for no reason), but as at by the second part, you began to discuss slugs and politics, all of which I concur, or at least, understand. As well, I usually don't expect such wisdom from anyone, let alone you.
I mean no personal offense to you, but it is a pretty sticky wicket, being just a round about way of saying I dig what you say.
In New York, I forget if it is the Manhattan Bridge, or the Brooklyn Bridge, but they are in sight of each other, and altho not as large, are of a similar design as the 'Golden Gate' bridge.
On the Manhattan side, of whichever bridge, one of the two main stanchions that this bridge is 'suspended' by, is just floating on sand (underwater, and not solid bedrock, as typical of such bridges).
As well, what you say about the hollow of redwoods being fire burnt, the native Indians knew (and thus, some white folks know), that fire cures wood of rot, better than not. Charred wood is a sort of 'antibiotic' to a tree, and the Indians knew that a charred post embedded in the ground, lasted far longer than one that wasn't.
People (the smart ones), still do so to this day.
I'm 50 and spent the first 20 years of my life in San Fran. I've since lived in several other cities in the US, and in my mind none of them beats SF for beauty. Due to the cost though, I'll never go back except to visit. Makes me a bit sad. I'd love it if I could afford to live there.
100% agreed. I lived in San Francisco for 15 years starting in my late 20’s and left for the same reasons. I visit at least once a year to see my friends. SF has the best combination of City, Nature, Cuisine, Culture, Historical Significance and Technology that it is incomparable to any other US city. People like to dog it because of the Homeless problem but most of them are not from SF and go there for the services and because our mental health system is terrible.
What is the biggest problem with San Francisco? I live in Midwest and it’s portrayed as homeless pooping all over the streets, very horrible political leadership, and super expensive taxes and living expenses. Will it ever turn around?
@@jbs454 You pretty much answered your own question.
It's a small peninsula with extremely mild weather that used to be liberal, diverse, and inclusive.
Then it became these things in name only. They kicked out half the black people, in 1970 Census records show there were around 100,000, by 2020 there were 50,000. Despite the politicians chant BLM as if they actually care.
With Silicon Valley it became super-gentrified. Rich techies from around the world came and bought out the houses of the people who live there.
The people who lived there became homeless and many remain on the street. In that whole region, they try to avoid building houses because houses are bad for the environment. As a result the cost of houses for many, many miles skyrocketed.
Since the pandemic, people had the chance to work from home, so a huge number of people left their tiny SF apartments for big suburban homes that cost less. Now the city is experiencing a massive collapse of businesses.
Yes, I don't like it when people say stuff like "why would you have such and such kind of food in San Francisco? It's not going to be authentic to that region or country!" What people don't realize that because San Francisco has such a great reputation as a restaurant town and because San Francisco and the Bay Area are so diverse you get so many people from all over the US and the world who have moved to rhe Bay Area and started restaurants serving the cuisine from where they came from. I am here because my parents immigrated from China and moved to the Bay Area for better ecomomic opportunnities and most of my American born friends were not born and raised in the Bay. They were born and raised in another part of the US. They moved to the Bay Area for better economic opportunities.
Exactly. My brother worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants in the area. This is where a lot of talent is.
San Francisco is also known for human feces and used needles on the sidewalk. Btw I am also a Californian.
The nicest thing about living in San Francisco is that you walk up and down so many hills every day that you can pretty much eat anything you like… and because so many people move there from all over the world you can get any kind of food your heart desires. ❤️ I’m so glad that you got to see it on a beautiful sunny day they are very rare. 😂
Lived there for a year upstairs at my dear Uncles bar! I was 17 and had a BLAST!!! It was in the Haight/Ashbury district. My mom always thought it was named that because everyone ‘ hated’ a guy named Ashbury… my maiden name is Muir… great Scots-Irish ancestors in Appalachia… proud of my heritage! Clan Muir♥️❣️🙋♀️☮️🎶🧜♀️
Welcome to America!! I know it’s not your first trip to our country❣️Just enjoy yourself!!! Keep out of political banter, be kind, and you’ll be just fine! I’m glad you’re visiting!!!♥️❣️🕉☮️🙋♀️
Firstly completely agree with you about keeping an open mind when traveling, commenting or just life in general. I'm also though really glad you got to visit Muir Woods. It's certainly one of my favorite places on earth and so I'm very glad again you enjoyed it too. It's a special place. Thanks as always for sharing your adventures Shaun!
Shaun, if you love John Muir and big trees, you should visit Yosemite! That is the place that captured his heart and for good reason.
After being here for two decades, I'm thankful that you two shared your experiences here and I got to re-see my city through new eyes. Glad you enjoyed yourselves and I hope you two get to re-visit just the Bay Area and Northern California at some point in the future.
Shaun, thanks for setting the tone that you are enjoying the journey!
I’ve been to San Francisco the food was phenomenal and the places to visit where nice.
Like all places in the world, eat the cherries and spit out the pits!
Enjoy the journey!
James - just to be the dick, they are 'pits', more than 'seeds', altho a pit might be considered a seed, but no all seeds are considered 'pits'. Just playing around with your head, but that's close to true.
@@dobiebloke9311 Enjoy life. Take care!
@@user-xm5le5ok2r - ?
Wow, such a short period of time you spent here in San Francisco, but I'm impressed with how much you accomplished in that short space of time. Very happy you did go to Muir Woods too! So rest up, and hopeful we will see you soon.
Absolutely fantastic! What a beautiful spotlight on a beautiful city! Glad you're able to rest up after your journey before the next one!
Thank you very much Patti 😊
@@shaunvlog Thank you for taking me along with y'all across the Golden Gate Bridge Shaun and Teka. I lived a few years in Southern California [Ridgecrest, Kern County] and the farthest north I went was to Monterey Bay, near San Francisco, but not close enough to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Monterey Bay was very nice. We encountered a big seal (sea lion?) there at a boat ramp, just sunning itself [we got up really close to it, thought about trying to pet it, but since we're rather fond of our fingers we thought better of it.] This was along Fisherman's Wharf back in September of 1995.
Greetings from eastern North Carolina, USA.
Muir Woods is great. You definitely just scratched the surface. There's a lot of things to put in your mouth in SF. It's a foody city. Next time, do the un-tourist thing and get Burmese food, Chinese soup dumplings, visit Oakland/Berkeley, etc. I lived in the SF Bay Area for 9 years and only recently left. In 9 years, never ran out of unique things to do.
The lighthouse at Drakes Bay is a good one too. Is the Tonga Room still there?
@@pyrovania Yes, the Tonga Room is still at the Fairmont.
Well, if you get back there, Fort Point underneath the GG Bridge is a great place to see. Go get a Burrito out on Chavez and 25th Avenue. Also, even though it is touristy got to go to Fisherman's Wharf and up Jefferson Street to Aquatic Park. It still has some good eating places to go to.
John Muir is a very important part of California history. Back in the early 2000s the US Mint started a series of "state quarters" featuring designs from each state. California's has the image of John Muir overlooking El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
For those of you inspired to make a trip to SF, one of the lesser known attractions is Fort Point, a Civil War era brick fort located literally under the south end of the Golden Gate. You get there from Crissy Field at the Presidio. Admission is free, it's a step back in time and the views are fabulous. The Fort guarded the Golden Gate but never saw any military action.
SF is many many different cities all existing together. It constantly changes, and every era leaves a remnant that is absorbed into the city fabric. I don't like cities, much prefer the natural lands, but if I have to live near one, SF is it.
I totally found it one Time just looking for a place to park and relax for a few minutes. I've only been to s.f. a couple times but always had fun.
I LOVE San Francisco. BEST Blues bars EVER!!!!! So many fun and interesting things to do in San Francisco.
Hi Shaun, I’m from Illinois but have been to San Francisco many times. Was there this past February. First trip anywhere since Covid. You are right about the trees. The camera doesn’t do them justice. You have to see them to appreciate them.
Thanks, Teka, for helping put and doing some fabulous filming!
I grew up near SF and was taken there often as a kid, I also lived there for a little while when I was 18-19 and absolutely loved it. I live just north of the city now and San Francisco is a great place to go for the day or evening, there's so much to do and see. I always feel lucky that I live so close. I'm glad you got to experience it, too.
I really enjoy your videos. I think you do a lot more justice to the places you visit than many other vloggers I've seen. I love San Francisco, the architecture, the gardens, the different neighborhoods. I've been there several times, but I live on the east coast and I haven't been out there for a few years. I'd love to visit again one day.
Homelessnes? Poverty? Unfortunately, they are found in most urban areas. It's a very sad reality. I don't think of San Francisco as controversial, although because the city is thought of as one of the more left-leaning cities in the country politically, it is often a target of people with a different political perspective. But considered just as a tourist attraction, it certainly is one of the most beautiful cities in the US and definitely worth spending a couple of days to explore it.
Loved your Muir Woods photography, by the way. Looking forward to your next video.
I can appreciate the fact that you want to taste food in every area of America that you go. 2 years ago we took a trip to Scotland, and the first thing I wanted to do was taste Haggis! My wife found out what was in it, and she wanted nothing to do with it, although I have to admit, I thought it was quite good! I had Haggis pie in a restaurant that was recommended to us in Edinburgh, it was wonderful! Enjoy your trip to America! 👍🇺🇸 BTW, John Muir was very influential in preserving natural woodlands in America, and in particular, creating Yosemite National Park.
We were in Edinburgh a couple weeks ago. Haggis was also on my must-try list, so we made sure to order it at the very first restaurant we went to. Fortunately my entire family enjoyed it even after learning what is in it. We ended up eating it several different ways before we left.
SF was my home for nine years. With all it’s issues, I still feel at home there and it’s still my favorite American city.
Hope you enjoyed your trip.
@Franco
Chi-Town was my home 🏡 for 14 yrs (at the time in 2011) I have mixed emotions about it .now I live in TB (Tampa Bay) I felt more at home 🏡 there than in Chi- Town
@@mikhailabunidal9146 great. It would certainly be a boring world if we all had the same likes and dislikes.
Very nice, Shaun. I appreciate that there are Brasilerios still in San Francicso. Nice community indeed. Thank you for the tour and your experiences. I lived there for 22 years, always loved it. Hope to be in Scotland one day. Happy and safe travels.
Living here in the Bay Area, I hope you return because indeed not enough time being here 2.5 days. Most of us don’t even go into the City because there is so much to do outside of it. Be sure to visit Monterey and drive asilomar beach. Then drive highway 1 Big Sur, 101 to LA stopping in Santa Barbara. Skip highway 5.
Yes Big Sur and Monterey, Salinas, the Santa Lucia mountains rising steeply above the jade-green ocean, pearly white sand dunes in Pacific Grove, Carmel, Watsonville artichoke capital of the world, majestic Monterey Pines dripping fog in the night, sculptured Monterey cypresses. Another unparalleled spot of California beside my favorite San Francisco, Ojai and Sonoma County.
@@glendabarton45barton48 yes home sweet home! My favorite in all of CA is central coast. Recommend visiting Carmel Village plus the Pinnacles National Park in Soledad and wine tasting in the Salinas Valley and in Paso Robles. A quick stop is Paso’s downtown is lovely too.
I’m so glad you enjoyed San Francisco! I’ve lived here for 54 of my 72 years, and I’m not tired of it yet. What a good idea on your friends’ part, to take you to Muir Woods - it’s such a beautiful place.
One thing that’s sort of amusing for me in your videos is that you don’t project on your face what your opinion is going to be, so when you ask yourself the question, “So what did I think of ________?” I never know whether you’re going to say it was great or it was rubbish! 😄
When you come to this area again, I hope you’re here in the late spring and can go to Yosemite.
Lived, worked and loved in San Francisco. Miss all the great ladies from the financial district and weekend runs near the Presidio. Beautiful, unique, colorful and world class city
So glad you had a great visit here! I love my city, and love watching others enjoy it.
Glad you enjoyed San Francisco and the big California trees. Another Great Scot - Robert Louis Stevenson was married in San Francisco and wrote about it and California as well.
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is about 80 miles north of San Francisco. He built a vacation cabin there, which is still standing.
Love the tour... this is an amazing city, with big city problems that are not all that unusual. Glad you are enjoying yourself!
Shawn: So happy that you are visiting the city where I was born 90 years ago - in a home at the foot of Twin Peaks. We went up theer to fly kites. Such wonderful memories. The city has gone through lots of changes over the years and my memories were of a city that II Loved to live in. Enjoy your visit! .
Thank you very much Margaret - appreciate the kind words and for sharing your story. It’s great to have you here 😊
Hi Shaun, I really enjoyed your take on San Francisco.
It is amazing to see this beautiful city that literally rose from the ashes after the earthquake of 1906 which sparked fires that burned for 3 days!
Please go to 00:48 in the video to hear my explanation of why San Francisco has become controversial as a topic - the vast amount of comments i received in previous proved as much. Thank you for watching 😀
The most controversial thing in this video was the white chocolate. :D.
Shaun, as a local, I'm glad that you told the approach of visiting San Francisco with an open mind and no preconceived notions and I'm glad you seem to have enjoyed your time here. I agree that you believe wherever visit for the first time regardless of the location it's a good rule of thumb to live by in general. That's how I approach life when I am going somewhere I've never been before or interacting with people I've never interacted with before! God bless and have a great day and keep up the good work with the videos.
There is nothing any more controversial about San Francisco than any other American city. Every city has issues with homelessness and crime, whether the city's politics leans left or right. I live in the red state of Arizona and we have those problems here too. Of course, right wing internet commenters will tell you it's all because of "Commie-fornia" because they are mature adults and childish name calling is what mature adults do.😂
@@lauriemartin490 Exactly. People who don't even live here thinking they're experts about this city because they saw some idiot on a certain brainworm channel whining about it. Maybe they should turn that energy onto the plights of their own areas and communities.
@@lauriemartin490 The fact that you had to go out of your way to say "right wing internet commenters" shows that what said commenters have had to say is right. San Francisco is a lost city run by careless Democrats who don't care about the vast rise in crime and social collapse. Nowhere in any red state is anything comparable to that going on. Also, the faulty cities you'll find in "red states" are Democrat-run.
Bro, I used to live in Martinez, which is a small city in the San Francisco East Bay, across the Bay from San Francisco. John Muir's home is in Martinez. The house is still there and is designated as a California National Historical Landmark, which means it is protected forever snd can't be torn down.
Aahhhh man I’ll need to come back and see that! Such a cool history
@@shaunvlog Yup. Such cool history and beauty here! I agree. You will have to let me know if you do come back to the Bay Area in the future for another visit. I'd love to meet you . I really like your videos and you attitude about the world and about life.
Thank you for showing the city the way it is.
I love seeing our big beautiful country through your eyes! We have a bit of everything and we put it all out there for everyone to to experience- warts and all! 😉
Cheers from Southern California !!
🌴🌞🌴
I have been to San Francisco, and I loved it. I recommend going to the top of Twin Peaks at night. The views with all the lights around the bay are incredible
What a beautiful country. It's so great to have a chance to browse such a great place in the US.😀👍👍
Shaun - I so much appreciate that you came all the way down the US West Coast, and saw a sampling of the unique natural beauty and positive upbeat outlook of the people here.
Up here in Seattle, SF isn't controversial at all, unless someone says it's the "most beautiful city on the West Coast' ;) We love it and share the optimistic perspective that with a little human decency, we may all someday be able to deal with some of those pressing social issues.
Glad you are enjoying a truly remarkable country. Americans are proud of it and love sharing it.
Stunning images, well-edited and narrated. Thanks, Shaun.
Fun little factoid about Golden Gate Park - before it was a park, it was sand dunes. Then it became the dumping ground for all the horse manure generated by transportation before automobiles became common. The park started out literally organically fertilized!
Hi Shaun and Teka! I'm originally from "the city" aka San Francisco and when I visited North Berwick in Scotland, my husband and I got lost trying to find Tantallon castle by foot and happened to stumble upon a wooded area called The Glen after the famous John Muir. Just thought that was a cool story to share!
Ah, Sarah, you are from The City! Happiest of travels. 😊
I'm an American and have never been to these places. Thank for the tour.
Shaun, I’m loving the laid-back tone to your travel videos! I love Sausalito! During the mid 1970s and 80s you could get an airline ticket from LA to San Francisco for just $30!... so I visited there a lot. I’d spend a few nights in the city, then a few nights in Sausalito. It’s like a mini version of San Francisco; very charming and with less expensive food and accommodations.
Hi Shaun lived half my life in San Francisco. Although it's too expensive for me to live there,I LOVE the City. I lived everywhere there. 3 places in the Haight, North Beach, 3 places in the Mission (the Latino area), Visitation Valley, Bernal Heights, the Marina, the Tenderloin....you name it. SF is always so electric, the most unique City,a City of sparkling air and light, of romance and history, surrounded by water and inhabitated by artists and the creative, it's also a mysterious City, and it loves it's eccentrics. Real San Francisco natives are some of the nicest people and some have a weird accent that sounds New York. It's the City that's welcoming and tolerant of differences, that's why I love it in spite of it's problems. The natural beauty is unmatched. There are some great new parks there a rooftop park several blocks long floating above the City with exotic plants, a new park down at the Presidio with great landscapes.So much to do and discover in SF. The air is like sparkling wine. When I was a kid we drove across across the Bay Bridge at night and the City was like a sparkling castle reaching to the stars or a Christmas tree with lights. She's like an elegant woman sparkling with jewels. When I come from the Marin side of the GG Bridge, it appears to me like the island of Avalon, swathed in violet mist like a dream. Sometimes an enormous tsunami of fog rolls a great wave over the GG Bridge. Sorry I'm going on and in but I get tired of San Francisco hate, particularly prevalent on Fox News lol. Most people who live there for any length of time end up loving it. I live close now in Sonoma County another gorgeous place. Two books that have fascinating history and places you want to see are: "Cool Gray City of Love - 49 views of San Francisco" by Gary Kamiya. And "Spirits of San Francisco - Voyages Through the Unknown City" by Gary Kamiya. I lived right on Haight St. for the longest.
At 12:44, what you call a cave-like area is called a Faery Ring and they are quite common to Redwood trees. When a stand alone redwood is in danger of burning, she starts a ring of shoots from her roots to make a ring around the main tree hoping they will grow after the fire is out. We used to have controlled fires to grow more trees, but because of the horrendous fires we've had over the last three years, the trees aren't able to grow. There is a fire right now in Yosemite Park that is threatening our giant redwood Sequoias, one in particular that's been growing since before Jesus (BC/CE)! California is in desperate need of three years of El Niño rain. We've had three years of El Niña droughts and it's disastrous for all. We do have a disproportionate amount of homeless people in California than other states. Many think it's because we don't care, but that's not true. We are a "Sanctuary State." We welcome all here and give them aide as much as is possible. That means we have a massive amount of people here from other countries who can't get jobs and yes, the cost of rent is ridiculous! No one, but the price gouging owner of the rental property knows why they can charge such enormous amounts for rent.
Great tour. So happy to know you're enjoying your trip. So much to see here in the States. I look forward to your next video
I'm glad that you had such great weather when you were in SF. A quote that is attributed to Mark Twain is, "The coldest winter I've ever felt was the summer I spent in San Francisco." I hope and imagine that you are heading down to my area, Southern California.
Some of my reasons for watching Shaun's vlogs. First, you take us everywhere with you! I have seen some incredible footage from some of the incredible places around Europe, Brazil, and America! Next, the food! Who cares if you don't go to some high-end restaurant? It is nice to see you eating like most of us Americans tend to eat when on vacation. Next, the nature stops! I didn't even know the Glenn Muir Woods even existed. What a fantastic place to see, and you took us on that walk with you! Finally, your generous spirit towards the people and places you visit. Maybe you would call it acting like a typical tourist, but the fact that you generously share your experiences with the world is incredible. So, please keep those vlogs coming? Thanks!
Most people who “hate” SF are people who have never visited or have but only did the touristy things. SF is truly one of America’s most beautiful cities and it’s a shame a lot of people scoff at it simply because it doesn’t align with their political views.
With that said, it does have its problems but the problems it has is just a symptom of the overall state of the nation (e.g. homelessness, income disparity, etc.). The big cities are usually the first to feel the brunt of these things so it’s pretty easy for someone who doesn’t live in one to criticize.
I love to visit San Francisco (and California). There is so much to offer in terms of tourism and natural beauty. With the cost of living what it is there, however, I don't think we could ever live there. You hit a lot of the highlights on your trip, though I didn't see Fisherman's Wharf. I've thought before that I'd hate to live on Lombard street, and have tourists driving down it all the time. I'm sure there are many accidents. 😆
Edit: This is probably in the past, but if you're driving South you should stop in Carmel. Cute little beach town. Route 1 down the coast also has gorgeous views.
Thank you for sharing San Francisco! It is very beautiful and a great place to visit! Muir woods looks lovely! I wonder if they are less busy in the winter.
Stay safe. Love to Teka 🤎
Another Scottish connection with San Francisco is the cable car system. A Scottish mining engineer named Andrew Hallidie came up with the San Francisco cable car system.
I'm not sure why San Francisco is considered a controversial city. I know that certain "news" outlets like to focus on the city's negatives and those negatives certainly exist. But I would guess that most people that heap hate towards SF, have never actually been there. The truth is, it is a great American city that is suffering from growing pains and has some issues that need to be solved. Also, it is a beacon of capitalism. San Francisco proper has a GDP per capita of $228,118. That is second to no one, any where.
I go to San Francisco at least once a year and I love it.
Agree - those who throw around the words ‘socialist’ and ‘capitalist’ have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s the most capitalist place I’ve been. It’s a great place and my hope is for more people to be open minded
Great views. Loved it. I understand the burnout feeling. I hope you got some good rest. That Ghirardelli Chocolate is my all-time favorite. I love it. Good choice!
My mom was raised in Merced ( in Central California) which is 90 miles south of Yosemite. In the 1940s she went to John Muir Elementary School.
Hi Shaun. On your video First Impressions of San Francisco, at 4:10, it showed you crossing the Carquinez Bridge. This bridge is actually just 10 miles (16 km) from John Muir’s house. Just a fun fact that I wanted to share with you because you seemed a little sad that Muir Woods was not directly associated with John Muir.
I love San Francisco. I used to live in Chicago, and then Boston, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, and Vienna. Now I live in Los Angeles, which is different from any of the other cities I've lived in. In fact, when I moved to LA in 1997, Los Angeles didn't really even have public transportation (although now it does). So, years ago, when I craved to be in a "REAL" city with an actual subway, I would take my family to San Francisco, which is the most like a city back east that I can find within a thousand miles of LA. San Francisco has great food, well defined neighborhoods, fantastic architecture, amazing museums, great theater & opera, a rich history that you can see on every hill. And it has that "all-important" public transportation system based on old fashioned cable-cars alongside ultra modern subways. And SF feels like a "Real" City, and it is is beautiful. So San Francisco scores extremely high on on my "Great Cities" checklist. However SF is very expensive to live in, so I never even considered it.
If you’re going to San Francisco remember to wear some flowers in your hair.
Scott McKenzie, San Francisco. Year 1967.
Love that song from my youth!
I am enjoying your vacation videos so much! Some of the places are where I just took my family this month (Redwoods state park, Oregon coast). Keep up the good work and get some rest!
Shaun, I know you are back home by now. Stopping by a beach side town on your way to LA would have been a great "spa day" rejuvenation. Just sitting on the Pacific Coast and doing nothing does a body, mind, and soul a great deal of good.
Thank you for giving our city a try! There's so much glorious architecture, stunning vistas and diversity of culture and things to do that The City not just the "controversy" some make it out to be. It has the American city problem of poverty and transience, sure, but I live near Union Square and I never have felt completely unsafe. If anything, you're far more likely to get pick pocketed or a car break in then anything violent. That said, seeing you seemingly enjoy every little bit you took in (maybe...minus the cheesecake, hah) was so nice to see! We hear so much of the negative, it's nice to have some positive light on the place we live.
Glad you took some of my suggestions for SF , at least I didn't steer you wrong. Keep on Trucking!😎👍🤙
The only reason why some people that dont like SF is because of political reasons. I love it here and will never move out.
My favorite city on the west coast. My favorite on the east coast is Boston. They are very similar. This video is great. You met my sister in SF and wished me a happy birthday on a video she sent.. Thank you so much. That meant a lot to me. You covered a lot of ground in this video and did a great job showing the beauty of SF. What great weather you had.
Ever since I was little and saw a travelogue (circa 1950's) on TV about San Francisco, I wanted to visit that city. When I was a teenager and heard Scott McKenzie's song, San Francisco", I continued to dream. But I'm not sure now. There are an awful lot of those glass skyscrapers, which take away some of the charm. But I'm glad you had fun!
BTW - I did NOT intend to repeat my reply to your pin! Something screwy is happening, and I apologize.
Very nice tour of San Francisco, Shaun. Thank you!
Shaun, since you seemed to be obsessed with bears (😄) you should check out Patrick Conley's channel. Don't let it give you a false sense of security, but I think you'll enjoy Patrick's daily visitors on his porch while he sits there and records them, including mamas with babies.
That said, SF looks like a gorgeous city! I'm in Illinois where we (I) enjoy the cornfields and farms outside of Chicago.
Thank you so much for taking us on your trip! I wish I could travel around the country and the world. Stay safe, take care, and as always, welcome to America! 💞
I mentioned Patrick's channel in the community post, when he said Asheville might be along the way ! 😆 I know how he relishes the idea of a bear encounter!
I was just watching some of Patrick's videos yesterday! lol
Love the beautiful views, thank you so much for what you said about being open minded concerning different locations in the states, we appreciate your kindness. You and your wife are a true delight. Take Care, love your videos.
San Francisco is easily my favorite city in the US! Such a beautiful, unique, and charming city.
California is like a different country in itself. I loved it when I was there. The clubs are the best places to play too. In San Francisco and LA and the whole state. Anything you want you can find. And the music is great. I hope you like it.
That reminds me that a fellow from Minnesota came to live in Cali for 20 years. He said it was so strange and exotic to him. I guess since I was born here I'm used to the ambience.
We were a whole separate country, briefly. I think it lasted nearly a month. But, you can still see the vestiges of that in our flag, which says "California Republic."
The California coastline is unbelievably beautiful. You got lucky with the weather in S.F. It was so sunny and clear! Hope you continue down the coast, but also hope to see you get inland to Yosemite, Mammoth, Sequoia/Kings Canyon. Wonder how much you’ll be able to see once you get down south, and if you’ll even have time to get into San Diego. There’s too much too see, that’s for sure. You’ll have to come back!
Shaun, if you haven't been to Boston, you should go. It's very very similar to SanFran in that it feels like a cross between London and NYC. It also has TONS of early American history.
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) once said "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco!"
You found unusually good weather in San Francisco. No fog? Warm and comfortable weather? Unheard of!
Edit: A shame you couldn't get further north into the Wine Country. Some of the best wines in the world, much to the chagrin of the French.
Yeah we got lucky in that front - it was a very cold wind mind you
Spencer Battery and the Marin Headlands were common, favorite hangouts when I lived in the area.
If ever you find yourself back in the Bay Area, you might try the Wine Train tour - a train excursion to a number of notable vineyards, without needing to drive.
I lived all over the City and the fog could be daunting in the summer. Supposedly Mark Twain said "the coldest winter I ever spent was the summer in San Francisco!". Although I've also heard he did not actually say that. I global warming is making SF warmer. I love in Santa Rosa which gets hot which I love. But I also love the mournful dirge of the foghorns and night and the giant tsunami of fog rolling over the GG Bridge. The best weather in San Francisco is after summer which is often locked in a huge fogbank. Indian summer is the hottest.
When I was a kid growing up in California we used to be able to sit in the trees the railing fence was not there. It was an awesome place to play and spend the day. Have you seen the petrified Forrest yet?
I'm so happy you enjoyed your time here! You did so much! I would like to visit Scotland myself.
One of the top US cities to visit! Washington DC, LA, Chicago, NYC among others in that class.
I really enjoyed this video. I am over on the East coast and will probably never go to visit, but this trip shows so much. Hope you enjoyed your visit.
My family has been in California since the 19th century gold rush. My great-grand-uncle designed the lighting for that 1915 Exposition you mentioned.
I think you do a good job of capturing the essence as much as is possible in a short visit. For instance, eating Creole food here: California is populated by people who came from other states and other countries, and they brought their cuisines with them.
You were right to call the Painted Ladies Edwardian. Though the style may be Victorian, most of the older buildings in San Francisco date to soon after the 1906 earthquake, since the resultant fire nearly leveled the city.
You lucked out in your view of the bridge. Both times I climbed that hill I got a view of tippy-tops of bridge peeking from a solid blanket of fog.
I think the controversy you saw in the comments is largely a reflection of the great polarization in this country as a whole. Like Texas, California is something of a lightening rod for it, though in both cases it's based as much on myth and stereotyping as on reality.
I hope you'll give yourselves a rest day. When you're traveling to somewhere you don't know if you'll ever go to again, it's tempting to try to cram as much as possible into your time there. But you can only absorb so much before it all starts to run together. It's exhausting. Better to skip some things and take a rest day, or the latter part of your trip will be a blur that you're too tired to enjoy. Even if that means missing out on some of Los Angeles, the suburbs of which are my home territory.
I live in San Francisco, when did this City become America’s most controversial City? Do you mean America’s most Liberal City? Of course so is Portland OR and Seattle. 🇺🇸
Shaun loved your post on San Francisco. Seemed like you enjoyed Golden Gate Park. Thought you might be interested to know the father of the Park was John McLaren born in Bannockburn in 1846. He is one of the most famous and beloved figures in San Francisco's history. Before McLaren's work, the area that became the park was nothing but miles of sand dunes. In his lifetime he planted over 2 million trees, and insisted the park contained no "Keep off the grass " signs. He was appointed Park Superintendent in 1887, a job he held for 56 years. At the mandatory retirement age of 60 the City changed the city charter so that his job was made a life appointment. He work in the park and lived in McLaren Lodge his home in the park that the city gifted him until he died at age 96. As part of his funeral his body was laid in state in the City Hall Rotunda.
I love San Francisco! I'd totally live there if it wasn't so expensive and it hadn't gotten so weird lately. It'll all work itself out and get back on track someday. The architecture is what draws me to that magical place.
I'm surprised people tell you to not visit the place. Due to the high taxes, cost of living, crime, and politics I wouldn't want to live there myself, but I wouldn't mind visiting the place. There's a lot of history and national parks in CA.
Jobn Muir’s home and ranch is across the bay in Martinez CA. Preserved as a national historic landmark.
Absolutely beautiful, you showed me areas of San Francisco I didn't know existed. Food looked wonderful.
The food at Creola looked fantastic and delicious. Yeah...John Muir. I graduated from John Muir College, University of California - San Diego! And the trees are even bigger at Sequoia National Park!
I live 270miles north of San Francisco, and, while I have my opinions about certain facets of San Francisco... Shaun is right - it's got its high points.
Shaun - I also know that "plumb run out of steam" feeling on a long trip! Glad you enjoyed San Francisco!
I hope you take/took Highway 1 down the coast rather than the super-boring Interstate 5 route down to Los Angeles!
Looking forward to the next episode!
Beautiful Shaun! Those views of Muir Woods were gorgeous. I'm so loving these vlogs. I know it's been some time since you actually filmed this so I hope you were able to rest up. 😉
So my first thought when I saw this clip was, "good luck with that", as San Francisco has a rather notorious reputation currently. But I like what Shaun said about looking at the city through a tourist's eyes and not making political judgements. Yes, San Francisco has some big problems right now but it is one of the great cities in the US, beautiful parks, amazing architecture, art, history and diversity. I'm glad his visit was a positive one and hope that all visitors have a good experience.
I hear you on being wore out. Sometimes you just have to take a day or two and just unplug, rest and wind down.
I live in SF. I have a picture of my boys (now 28 and 30) in front of that tree with the opening.. Crazy!
To get excellent background on John Muir, I recommend watching "Ken Burns: The National
Parks: America's Best Idea."
I grew up in the Bay Area, and can say that it has changed a lot in the last 40 years, both for the better and for the worse. I left because I knew I would never be able to afford my own home if I stayed. Sometimes I still miss it, though.
See...you want to learn more about John Muir, you should have come to Wisconsin. When his family immigrated to the US, they settled in Portage, Wisconsin which is now a National Landmark. He also attended University in Madison!
That said, I'd love to get to San Francisco someday. As evidenced by your experiences and video, it's such a beautiful city.
I was born in the bay area and you have been to more places than I have ever been. Nice video Shaun.
Mark Twain once wrote, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
San Fran has gotten a bad reputation due to the news. I’ve never lived there but friends have. I guess there’s good and bad things about any big city.
Not the news. Fox News, and other ultra conservative news outlets.
@@maxwonder5908 I don’t watch that nonsense.
@@sallyintucson - Good for you, but that’s the only place that the so called bad reputation is coming from. And of course the Mindless viewers of that garbage that repeat it without ever having been there to know the truth for themselves.
John Muir's own house is in the Bay Area and it's a National Park. It's worth a visit and it's in Martinez
Happy you visited Muir Woods. I recommended it. People have a hard time believing when you tell them you can walk and even drive through the trunk of a tree.