one of my intentions with frisco mama is to personally check out hotels in the city to determine how child-friendly particular locations are for families, and write about them.
sunday night i was invited to stay at the argonaut hotel, part of the kimpton hotel group. it is smack in the middle of fisherman's wharf, a good location for keeping kids entertained.
parking is tricky and expensive, but dan (who has really, really good parking karma), scored a spot across from the two old-school rowing (and swimming) clubs, where the more stalwart local souls actually swim in the bay.
we checked in and the kids were immediately welcomed and allowed to dig into a treasure chest for a little gift. they chose these weird, squishy little pink pigs that feel cool when you squeeze them.
mom and dad were welcomed with — cocktails!! we gathered with other guests including two massive saint bernard dogs in front of a crackling fire in the stylish and comfortable lobby, sipping a most delicious toddy made with jim beam and hot cider. a concoction, i might add, that could take the chill off the coldest summer day in frisco.
we had dinner at the blue mermaid, argonaut's restaurant and chowderhouse. i had their signature chowder, very rich, very delish. dan had a seafood trio entree and the kids had fish 'n chips and mac 'n cheese.
our was on the third (top) floor and was tricked out in a nautical theme, with porthole mirrors and other maritime touches, and looked out over aquatic park and the powell/hyde cable car line. it was carpeted (great for little ones) and had exposed brick walls and steel beams across the ceiling, keeping with the character of the building that was built as a cannery warehouse in 1907. we had two king-sized beds, a flat screen tv, and a little writing desk. it was cozy and charming.
kimpton provides lots of other niceties for children including stroller rentals, safety kits, and activity lists. and the staff must be treated quite well, because they couldn't be nicer or more helpful.
next morning, we decided to throw ourselves into it, and embrace being tourists in our own town. breakfast was at the iconic buena vista cafe. we stuck with regular coffee rather than the renowned irish coffee for which the buena vista is famous. it is cute and old timey, and our waitress was pleasant and accommodating, splitting up orders of french toast and a denver omelet before they reached the table, (so much easier and less cluttered when serving kids...)
we wandered around aquatic park up to ghirardelli square, then put the morning's activity to a vote — cable car ride or hyde street pier ships.
the pier won, and we had a great time aboard the balclutha, peeking into the captain's quarters, the ship's galley, pantry, officer's quarters, and the much less glamorous lodgings on the crew deck. we watched a movie on the balclutha's history while sitting on burlap sacks in the ship's hold, and found a huge, orange tabby sleeping on a bunk in the bow.
outside on the pier, there are cell phone tours that can be dialed up with information on the area's architecture, history, and inhabitants. i thought that's was pretty cool and learned about the streamline moderne art deco buildings that are scattered around the waterfront. the tugboat and steam ferry were closed for various repairs, it being off-season and all, but the wharf was so lovely and quiet on a monday morning in january, making up for the closures.
i love this part of fishermans wharf. it can transport you to another time, when the maritime trade thrived here, and there is far less kitch and cheap plastic trinket shops then a few blocks to the east. it still maintains s bit of old frisco with the brick warehouses, vintage ships, the crab shacks, and the locals' swim clubs on the bay.
