Posted on by John Iwawaki

ESCAPE to the Golden Gate

A whirlwind tour through the Golden Gate and Marin Headlands area…

It was a beautiful day by the Bay. This trip has been a rainy one the past few years, so we enjoyed the chance to be out in the sunshine. About 50 of us started out from DeJean with a full itinerary. Our first stops were Lombard Street and the Palace of Fine Arts. We didn’t get to see the wild parrots—after all, they are wild–but both spots are always great for us to see.

We moved on to Fort Point in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s always fun to walk the dark hallways, look out over the ocean and bay, and see the history of the place. But the highlight this year was seeing A WHALE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US IN THE BAY!!! It didn’t stay long, but it was a special moment for sure!

After lunch, we walked to the first tower on the Golden Gate Bridge, and then drove across it to the Marin Headlands. We got a great tour of the Marine Mammal Center, and got to see some animals we don’t normally get to see there. It’s too early for the elephant seals that fill the place in the spring, but there was a fur seal and a blind sea lion, and we were introduced to all the things that go on at the Center.

Our final stop was Battery Spencer above the bridge. We enjoyed the spectacular views, explored the ruins, and just hung out with each other. A little smoke in the air made the sunset amazing, and we called it a day. Thanks to the several chaperones for making this logistically challenging day happen!

It’s been a great start to the year, and we’ve got a fantastic group of kids, so we’re looking forward to 2018! Check out the video if you have a few minutes.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and a prosperous new year. Thanks for your support, and we’ll see you soon!

Many more photos and videos from the day are here!