An Exciting Two-Day Business Trip to San Francisco
Ahhh! What kind of blogger am I? Three skipped posts!? Please forgive me, but the past few weeks have been super busy and let’s not forget that I’m a Marketing Program Manager by day and a blogger by night, and sometimes my nights are just too busy to sit down and write a post. With all of that said, I appreciate you sticking with me. Let’s get on with it…
The main reason I was unable to share a usual Tuesday entry last week is because I was in San Francisco! Youth Marketing Connection took me along on a very exciting business trip (more on what that business is in a moment). While it was a quick trip, it was jam-packed for me, as I wanted to see as many sights as I could. Keep reading to follow along as I recap my San Fran adventures!
After an early morning flight and catching up on a few emails, it was time for lunch in the city. I found this super cute place called Lemonade. With locations throughout Northern and Southern California, this healthy seasonal salad/sandwich joint felt like a good place to try. I went for the Herb Grilled Chicken Sandwich (with mozzarella, basil pesto aioli, + arugula) and a side of the Gemelli Pasta + English Peas with pea shoots, English cucumbers, feta, baby spinach, mint, red pepper flakes, + cucumber dressing). This was served with a side of chips, and I ordered a refreshing Blood Orange Lemonade to go with it. Everything was really good, especially because I was able to enjoy it outdoors in the California sunshine
at the Yerba Buena Gardens.
Once I fueled up from my morning travels, it was time to explore. We were staying in the Financial District and there were so many fun things to see nearby. On Powell Street, tourists would hop on and off the San Francisco cable car system. It was cool to see the cars go zooming up the steep hills with people hanging off the side railings. Such a classic San Fran sight! With my co-worker Mary as my tour guide, I also walked down to the Embarcadero and walked through the Ferry Building market. I was too overwhelmed by sights and smells to choose anything to take home with me, but the market was fun to explore. We walked along the pier to Rincon Park, where a giant bow + arrow sculpture shoots into the ground. It also provides a spectacular view of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge.
From there, I took an Uber over to The Painted Ladies. One of the most photographed spots in San Francisco, this may look familiar to those of you who watched Full House. The Tanner family can be seen having a picnic in front of this rainbow row of houses in the opening credits (see GIF above). The park across the way, Alamo Square Park, is worth strolling through once you’ve taken a photo!
Another quick Uber ride and I was in Golden Gate Park. Now, let me just say that Golden Gate Park is a big undertaking. There is SO much to do and see there, so I recommend selecting a few specific spots on the map that you want to hit. I didn’t know this at first, so I just kind of wandered and that was nice too. I attempted to go to the Conservatory of Flowers, but it was sadly closed. Instead, I walked around the outdoor gardens and happened upon a lily pond, the National AIDS Memorial Grove, and the music concourse (pictured above). The fountains and trees were so beautiful, and it was very quiet and peaceful. After exploring for an hour or so, I headed back to the hotel to wind down with The Bachelorette premiere.
Now on to day two – the big day! The photos above leave no surprise, but YMC signed Sephora Collection for a college program this 2019-20 academic year. We visited them at their SF headquarters for a kickoff meeting to discuss goals and ideas for the program. It was a super productive conversation and I can’t wait to get rolling. Quick shameless plug: If you’re a current college student and interested in applying, create an account on YMC’s student portal, The Hub. The application will automatically show up under “opportunities” if you’re at one of our program schools!
After the meeting, we headed back to the hotel and up to the top floor for celebratory drinks and snacks at The View Lounge. The name definitely doesn’t lie at this stunning bar and lounge with sweeping windows that put the whole Financial District on display. We ordered a delicious cheese and charcuterie board and house-made chips + scallion dip. For something sweet, we went for the banana chocolate almond crunch, which was delicious. They also had a mocktail called “Something Purple,” which was a yummy mix of lavender syrup, ginger ale, cranberry, and house citrus. I highly recommend checking out The View if you get a chance.
I had such a wonderful time in San Francisco with the YMC team. I’m so grateful to be able to travel for work and explore new places. Looking forward to my next trip, where ever that may be!
