It was only the 2nd day, but we needed a rest

Because we had walked up a ridiculous amount of hills by this point in the trip, I suggested we spend Sunday morning at the Exploratorium. With free parking, we decided to drive and although their lot was already full (shocking), we found plenty of free spots on the street. The Exploratorium was just what we needed - we played with each exhibit and learned about sound waves, magnets, engines, and so much more.

We took our time and just had fun. When the valet brought us our car earlier that morning before we left the hotel, he told us that we should go to the free jazz festival on Filmore Street. We smiled and thought, "avoid Filmore Street at all costs," which probably stems from years of living in Louisiana and knowing "avoid parade routes" and "avoid Tiger Stadium."

It's perhaps funny, if you like irony, that the place I suggested we get a to-go lunch from ended up being on Filmore Street. Let me explain: before we left for the trip, I had read David Lebovitz's recommendations for San Francisco (since he didn't let us down in Paris) and marked the locations of his suggested restaurants, coffee shops, and bars on a printed map. The lunch idea was Citizen Cake, and on my map it appeared to be on Sacramento Street near Filmore Street, not on Filmore Street.

Obviously we did laps trying to find a parking spot until Bogdan finally pulled into a no parking zone, stopped the car and said, "just go and meet me back here." Like a good NOLA girl, I elbowed my way through the crowds masterfully and quickly. With lunch in hand (and a cupcake and a macaron, it was Citizen Cake after all) we drove to Golden Gate Park to have a picnic.

We ended up eating lunch (and dessert) while watching old men in white outfits play a rousing game (match?) of lawn bowling. We later drove through the Presidio with the idea of checking out the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field, and the waterfront, but when we asked for directions from a cop on a horse he told us, "good luck finding a parking spot." We were so done with the car and the crowds, so we just went back to the hotel to unwind and have a quiet evening.