Twotravellingtoques

Kimberley, Author at two travelling toques

How to Spend 48 Hours in Toronto

Jerry and I are not city people by any means. In contrast, give us the wide open green spaces and we’re happy. But for a little more excitement than corn fields and pastures, it’s always fun to spend 48 hours in Toronto.

Toronto is a city that’s very spread out. But the vast majority of the things you’ll want to see are in the downtown area. We only had 48 hours to spend in Toronto. So we mapped out our walking route ahead of time.

Then Jerry broke his foot. So as a result we had to condense the amount of walking we did.

The summer is the perfect time to visit Toronto. Besides the hot weather, being able to stay in student residences while they’re gone for a few months is an advantage. We’re in our early 50’s and saw plenty of others our age staying. So never think you’re too old. We picked the Chestnut Residence for it’s central location.

Right in the heart of downtown. A quick 2 minute walk to Yonge and Dundas square. And if you’re travelling by bus, the Greyhound depot is just around the corner. Or by train, a short 20 minute walk. Plus it included a decent buffet breakfast!

Since it was Sunday, we headed west on Dundas Street first to Kensington Market. Every Sunday in the summer they close a few streets off to cars. Then a lively and colourful market takes place in the streets.

We found a stall selling coconuts for some fresh coconut water to drink. Yum!

Next if you walk south on Spadina Ave it’ll take you through Chinatown. Where there is always an interesting array of goods for sale. I wanted one of the bonsai trees. But not bad enough to carry it around all day.

Keep walking south and you’ll find Graffiti Alley. A great spot for some cool photos of all the street art. This definitely adds some character to the neighbourhood!

Walking farther south brings you to the Entertainment District. If you plan on visiting the top 5 attractions, we recommend you purchase the CityPass Toronto . We did, and it was well worth it.

The CN Tower is Toronto’s most recognized landmark. For the brave souls, try the Edge Walk. I was doing well just to stand on the glass bottom floor.

Just around the corner is Ripley’s Aquarium. This is Canada’s largest indoor aquarium and it’s open every day of the year.

The Entertainment District is also home to the Rogers Centre. If you’re lucky you might be able to catch a Blue Jays baseball game. Another alternative is the Princess of Wales Theatre or the Royal Alexandra Theatre depending on their schedule.

For $3.25 you can do a single one-way bike trip with Bike Share Toronto. This was handy right around the corner from our hotel.

One of my favourite places to see in Toronto is Casa Loma. You can easily spend a few hours walking around this Gothic style mansion. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live in a place like this.

On the way back heading south just off of Spadina Ave on Bloor St West is Eva’s Original Chimney’s . They have the most delicious ice cream cones. The Hungarian pastries for the cones are baked fresh daily. Definitely stop in and try them. They even have vegan options!

I met on the steps of Old City Hall (just around the corner from our hotel) for a walking tour. Jerry opted out of this because of his foot. Therefore myself and 25 of my new friends went on the tour.

It was called the Old Town Toronto History Tour by the Tour Guys . The tour was interesting and lasts about 1.5 hours. It’s free, but they welcome tips for whatever you think it was worth.

It ends near the St Lawrence Market. Unfortunately the market was closed on the day we were there. We always love checking out the markets in a new city. And this one’s been in the city for over a 100 years. It’s a great way to meet some of the locals. And most importantly, you really get a feel for the town by visiting their market. Plus you can pick up some tasty lunch treats.

Heading east a few blocks will bring you to the Distillery Historic District. It’s called the Distillery District, but it’s more of an arts and culture scene. Plus there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.

Next I walked west on Front St and then south on Bay St to the Toronto Island Ferry dock where Jerry met up with me. Here you can take the ferry over to Centre Island.

This was our first time visiting the island and we absolutely loved it. It’s such a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We rented a couple bikes and toured around. There are several small islands connected by bridges that you can check out.

Then if you want to stay overnight on the island, you can rent one of the cottages or Bnb’s. There’s a good choice of beaches to relax on also. Or grab a drink and food at one of the islands restaurants. Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co seemed to be the most popular one. And had the best views of the city.

At night the Winter Garden Theatre around the corner from our hotel was showing the musical Grease.

If you have more than 48 hours to spend in the area, I’d recommend doing a two day trip to Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls For A Weekend Getaway

Niagara Falls is a spectacular year round destination. I was around 4 years old the first time I went. The city has changed a lot over the years. But the natural beauty of the Falls has remained. We made it a family tradition when our kids were growing up to take them to Niagara Falls every year for a couple of nights.

If you go in the off season( Nov-March), you can get some great rates on hotels. The city will be a lot less crowded. And you might even get to see the Falls while their frozen over. Although not all the attraction will be open.

Every New Years Eve, Queen Victoria Park adjacent to the Falls puts on a free outdoor concert to ring in the New Year. Followed by an amazing show of fireworks.

Niagara Falls has long been known as a honeymoon destination. And at the same time a touristy family vacation spot.

For the kids, there are 3 waterparks to choose from. I like the Fallsview Indoor WaterPark the best. It’s directly connected to 3 hotels. And the location can’t be beat. Right in the middle of the action and easily walkable to most of the attractions.

Clifton Hill area is where you’ll find souvenir shops, fast food, and activities like mini putt putt, bowling, Niagara Skywheel, arcade games, Guinness World Records, and the scariest haunted houses. Yes I screamed the whole way through!

One way to save some money is by purchasing the Niagara Falls Wonder Pass. It will get you access to the Butterfly Conservatory, Journey Behind The Falls, transportation around the city, as well as some other attractions.

If it’s your first time here, I’d definitely recommend a trip to the Imax Theatre. You’ll learn about the history of the Falls. And hear stories about all the crazy daredevils who have attempted to survive a trip over the Falls in a barrel.

Close by is the Skylon Tower. A ride to the top will only take 52 seconds in what is known as the yellow bug. You’ll see great views of the Falls from the observation deck. And if your staying for dinner at the top, the ride up is free.

For the adults there are two casinos, plenty of upscale restaurants, winery tours, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club, the Dragonfly Night Club, zip-lining over the Falls, helicopter rides and tons of hotels with heart shaped jacuzzi’s.

Our favourite place to stay is the Embassy Suites by Hilton . Complete with a buffet breakfast and happy hour drink tickets with snacks every day. Parking at the hotel is expensive though. So we recommend parking just down the road at the Casino. Then the price is $5 upon exiting Monday to Friday. And $20 if you leave on the weekend.

After your finished checking out Niagara Falls, I’d recommend taking a drive along the water to the quaint village of Niagara On The Lake.

Is A Trip To Alcatraz Really Worth It?

I have always had a fascination with Alcatraz. From watching Clint Eastwood’s “Escape From Alcatraz”. To the Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery movie “The Rock”. The whole ongoing mystery did they survive or not. Are they soaking up the sun somewhere in Mexico?

So when we decided to take a trip to San Francisco, the number one excursion on my list was to see Alcatraz. And it did not disappoint. So if you can nab some tickets, definitely go!

Just make sure to start looking early. Three months before our trip I checked online and they were all sold old. After looking every few days for tickets, a date that would work for us opened up. If you can’t find tickets online, the other option is to get to Pier 33 early in the morning and line up for last minute tickets. Every day they release a certain amount.

The only way to get to Alcatraz is by taking the ferry over from Alcatraz Cruises. Just head to Pier 33 located near Fisherman’s Wharf on Embarcadero Street. There will be a sign with your ferry departure time on it to start lining up behind.

You are required to arrive 30 minutes before your departure time. The earlier, the better your chances of getting a seat on the upper deck of the ferry. This is also the best place to get some great pictures of the San Francisco skyline as you pull away.

The ferry ride over only takes about 15 minutes. Then your group will meet in an area for a quick briefing from a Ranger.

After you’ll walk up a hill and have the option of watching a short video on Alcatraz or you can just start your tour.

When you get to the top of the hill, you’ll enter the main prison door. Here they’ll hand you an audio player for your self guided tour.

After picking up your audio headset, you’ll notice the prisoner shower area.

Then you’ll walk through an area where the prisoners received their prison uniforms.

The best time to get to the island is early in the morning before it gets too crowded. Give yourself a couple hours on Alcatraz to have time to listen to the whole commentary and extra time to wander around after.

We found the audio commentary to be very well done. You can stop and pause it at any time. Then restart again when your ready to carry on.

The day we were there, the former prisoner William Baker was doing a book signing for his Alcatraz #1259 book.

Then when you are ready to leave, just make your way back down to the ferry dock. There is a schedule posted letting you know the daily departure times.

The tour might be a little pricey, but definitely worth it. Another one to check off the bucket list!

A Scenic Drive Through Mendocino County

We started out on a Saturday morning by picking up a rental car in San Francisco. Then headed north over the golden gate bridge into Mendocino County.

Luckily missing any early morning traffic. It’s a beautiful and slow going drive along Highway 1. There are plenty of beaches and hiking areas to stop at along the way.

The weekend seemed to be the time for locals to take their sports car out for a drive. Definitely a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

You’ll first pass by Muir Woods. It’s an incredible sight standing among the gigantic redwood trees. All averaging over 600 years old.

The roads are very winding up and down the mountain. But there are plenty of opportunities to stop for pictures. Never a boring drive with views like this!

The day we were there was extremely windy along the coast. So windy I had a hard time getting the car door open. The waves in the ocean were crashing against the shore, so we didn’t see anyone out on the water.

After 3 hours of driving and stopping, we made it as far as Bodega Bay. A great place to go for lunch is the Fishetarian. The owner is an avid fisherman who sells the freshest seafood around.

There are so many great items on the menu, it’s hard to decide. They even have vegetarian options. And the sweet potato fries are the best!

Our next stop was the town of Mendocino. Even though the population is less than 1000, it was a booming little place. With cute shops lining the streets, and a perfect location right on the coast.

The television show Murder She Wrote was filmed here. If you have time, you could go for a hike or visit the beach. Mendocino Headlands State Park surrounds this tiny town.

Once you get this far north, your sure to see awesome vehicles like this one. Mendocino area is a popular hangout for hippies.

By dinner time, we made it to our final stop for the night Fort Bragg. The distance was 171 miles total. And google maps will tell you it takes 3.5 hours. But give yourself plenty of time to stop and see some of the sights along the way. We were 7 hours driving and could have used more time.

One of the point of interest in Fort Bragg is Glass Beach. Residents years ago used to throw their trash over the cliff as a dumping spot. But nature has beautified this problem. With the crashing waves on the shore over the years, it as smoothed and broken down the glass into tiny attractive pieces.

Our AirBnB for the night was a loft complete with a fridge, microwave and fireplace. It’s situated about 10 minutes north of Fort Bragg. But it was perfect for us since we were still heading that way.

We woke up early on our second day intending to drive through the Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

But upon arrival, we noticed most of the park was closed off due to a marathon taking place. So we made a stop in Leggett to see some other redwoods.

We decided to take Highway 101 back south since we were short on time, and it’s a much faster way back to San Francisco.

Driving on Highway 101 you’ll see winery after winery. The director Francis Ford Coppola owns one along this route. But since we had a plane to catch, we had to leave the winery tours for another time.

A Fairy-Tale Weekend on Mackinac Island

Have you ever arrived in a town and knew you were going to love it at first glance? That’s the way I felt about this fairy-tale island called Mackinac Island when we first visited 12 years ago. And again this year for our anniversary.

It’s one of those places that you say “If I ever win the jackpot, I’m buying a house here”.

Mackinac Island is located in the state of Michigan off the upper peninsula. To get here you will need to take a ferry. There is a designated parking area to leave your car for free on the main land. We chose Star Line Ferry’s faster hydro-foil jet ferry for our trip. Round trip will cost you $26 U.S. It’s a quick 15 minute ride over.

The first thing you’ll notice when you get off the ferry is that there are no cars on the island. It felt like stepping back in time before the automobile was even invented.

The main mode of transportation is a bicycle. I think everyone owns a bike or two here. Tourists can either bring their own over on the ferry for an extra $10, or rent one on the island. There are plenty of bike rentals to choose from. All charging around $8 an hour, or $55 for the day.

It’s a great way to get out of town and see the whole island. Overall, there are over 70 miles of paths and trails to bike on. The distance around Mackinac Island is only 8 miles, but the scenery around the water is gorgeous. Like this Arch Rock formation located in the Mackinac Island State Park.

In the distance you can see the Mackinac Bridge that connects the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan.

If bicycling isn’t your thing, there are other options to get around like hiring a carriage. Or if your brave enough you can drive your own buggy. There are also stables to rent horses.

You can take one of the historical walking tours of the town. The houses were all built in the Victorian style. This one looks like a giant doll house.

Mackinac Island has a lot of history for a small place. You can explore Mackinac Fort where they have live re enactments every day.

Take a tour of the Mackinac Island Butterfly House. With species from all around the world

There are several family owned hotels, BnB’s or condo’s to stay at on the island. One of the most famous hotels is the Grand Hotel . This hotel first opened in 1887 and has been a popular place to stay ever since. Even if you don’t want to splurge for a night here, it’s worth it to bike over for a look. Non guests can dine in one of their restaurants, or relax with afternoon tea in the parlour.

We stayed at the Murray Hotel located on the Main Street, and just a short walk from the ferry.

I would pass on the breakfast offered at the hotel unless it’s included in your rate. There are better options to be found on the street. My favourite thing about this hotel is their nice over sized hot tub and deck to relax at.

There are quite a few restaurant options. We ate at Horn’s Gaslight Bar and Restaurant one night. After 8:30, they have live entertainment. Another popular option was the Pink Pony which also had nightly musicians playing.

Our second night we ate at the Seabiscuit Cafe. Great food at very reasonable prices.

And don’t forget to pick up some fudge before you leave. The many fudge shops sell pounds and pounds of fudge every day. With each one demonstrating how its made while giving out free samples.

Discover the Beauty of Bath UK Today

While we only had a short 3 days in London, we decided to take a trip to Bath UK. Also I’d heard so much about this town and was looking forward to seeing it in person.

The National Express bus is about your most affordable option. I’ve seen tickets for less than $3 round trip. Just make sure to book as far in advance as you can. Each way will take around 3 hours. On the way, you’ll notice Windsor Castle to the left.

I fell in love with Bath as soon as we arrived! All of the buildings in town are a beautiful honey colour. Each built in the Georgian architectural style. Any new buildings built must follow their strict guidelines to keep with Bath’s style.

The Circus was built in 1754. A perfect example of Georgian architecture. You could sit in the centre of it and just imagine what living here would have been like in the 1700’s.

The Bath Abbey with seating for 1200, is still used for religious services and concerts to this day.

The Pulteney Bridge crosses over the Avon River. Walking along the bridge you’ll see elegant shops on each side. From the outside, you’d never even know the shops existed.

The Roman Bath’s are probably the main reason most people visit this town. They give you headphones to wear, so you can listen to the commentator in any language. You’ll learn about the history of when the Roman’s occupied Bath.

I was surprised to learn, you can even rent out the Roman Bath’s for parties and weddings.

Something you need to try in Bath is a Sally Lunn bun. It is a large bun served hot right out of the oven with butter. The history of making them goes all the way back to 1780.

Bath has an open top, hop on hop off bus tour that will take you to all the main sites. The whole tour takes about an hour and cost $20. Since the town is easy to get around, I’d recommend taking one of the free walking tours.

The mayor of Bath will take you on a 2 hour free tour of the town. You just show up at the Abbey Church Yard at 10:30 & 14:00 any day of the year.

If you love to shop, you won’t be disappointed in Bath. There are plenty of specialty shops and high end stores to suit everyone.

Make sure to wander down the side streets. Some of the best hidden gems are tucked away waiting to be discovered.

We loved our short stay in Bath. You won’t be disappointed if you ever get the chance to go!

How to Spend 24 Hours in Glenwood Springs Colorado

Situated about 41 miles from Aspen Colorado is a town called Glenwood Springs. We chose to make this a stop for the night to break up our train journey from Illinois to California. There is so much to see and do in this small town that we’d recommend staying longer if you have the time.

As soon as you get off the train you’ll notice how clean and quaint the town is. Glenwood Springs is located in a valley along the Colorado River. Look in the distance and you’ll see these dramatic reddish coloured cliffs.

The whole town is very walkable and has some really cute boutique stores. We saw a few sweet shops selling treats like chocolate, fudge, candy and ice cream. Book stores, a candle shop, galleries featuring local artists, and several restaurants and pubs.

Our favourite restaurant was The Lost Cajun. From the moment you walk in the door, the staff make you feel like family. They will prepare you the freshest Louisiana style food around. With items like seafood gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and fried catfish. Delicious!

We had our very first beignets (fried pastry donut topped with powdered sugar) here. After we asked the waitress what it was, not being from the south.

This small town of close to 10 000, has been known for their hot springs for over 100 years. Glenwood Hot Springs is the largest hot springs in town. A stay in this lodge includes a hot breakfast and unlimited access to their hot springs.

We went to the newer hot springs called Iron Mountain Hot Springs . This one includes several smaller pools at varying temperatures. The best choice if your looking for a quieter more intimate atmosphere.

In the winter Glenwood Springs becomes a popular ski resort for families. But in the summer, the town really comes alive with an abundance of outdoor activities.

There are several outfitters available to help visitors plan their day. Mountain biking, paragliding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, ATV tours, fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, and caving are all possible in the surrounding area.

And if your still looking for something to do, you can check out the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. A tram will take you to the top of the mountain. There you’ll find several rollercoasters, and other thrill rides. All with an amazing view of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado River in the distance.

While we were waiting for our train to arrive, we met a retired man at the station. He told us how Glenwood Springs has become a popular location for retirees. Because of it’s proximity to Aspen, and how they offer free bus transportation for seniors age 65 and up. Plus with all the therapeutic hot springs in town, who can blame them!

Riding the Rails on the California Zephyr Amtrak Train

There seems to be something nostalgic about riding the rails. I remember in grade 5 listening to my teacher tell stories about hopping on trains and riding for free. And all the fascinating places he described that he’d visited. As a 10 year old, that seemed like the perfect life. Just wandering from place to place like a hobo with your knapsack.

Gone are the days when that is even legal. But surprisingly you can still find some very economical deals.

A few months back, I came across an article about the Amtrak trains in the United States. I found if you travel coach and not in the high season, you can find some decent prices.

I hadn’t been on a train since high school. On a grade 12 French exchange trip, the class road the Via Rail train from Ontario to Quebec for a 12 hour journey. The time seemed to fly by. Jerry hadn’t been on a train since high school either.

So after checking out our options, we decided on the California Zephyr. This trip is considered to be one of the most scenic rides in the U.S. In 51 hours it will take you from Chicago, Illinois to Emeryville, California. You will go from Illinois through Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and on to California. Then Amtrak will shuttle you by bus to downtown San Francisco in about 40 minutes. While your waiting on the train at Union Station, we recommend that you check out the Legacy Club Lounge.

We went in early May which is still considered the off season. So the cost per person came to $136 U.S. for coach seats. Unless you choose to hop off at different stops for the night. Then the cost increases slightly. Or if you decided to splurge on a Roomette, the cost would jump to $706. But the Roomette’s also include all meals and a private bathroom complete with a shower.

We chose to go coach and get off in Glenwood Springs , Colorado for the night just to break up the trip. It was a nice switch up after trying to sleep on the train. And after 24 hours we appreciated the shower at the hotel.

Once we boarded the train, we were impressed with the amount of legroom and space we had. We loved how the seats came with a footrest to stretch out on. And an outlet at every pair of seats to keep your laptop charged.

There is a viewing car near the centre of the train. The first half of the journey from Chicago to Denver, there was always a seat available. But once we got into the more scenic Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas, people seemed to “camp out” there all day. We found our own personal seat just as good for taking pictures and watching the beautiful scenery go by.

There are 5 bathrooms per car situated in the lower area. These are shared with both the upper and lower level. The first half of our ride, we found them to be fairly clean. Although they could use a renovation, they were definitely passable. The second half (a 27 hour ride), you didn’t venture in near the end of the trip unless you had to.

Some of the Amtrak trains will allow you to bring a bike on board. This requires a reservation and costs anywhere from $5 to $20.

Something fairly new is being able to take your small cat or dog on board for $25. The pets can’t weigh more than 20 pounds or the trip be longer than 7 hours. Be sure to reserve ahead. They have a maximum of 5 pets per train.

The food available on board is fairly expensive. There is a dining car for breakfast, lunch and supper. And also a cafe car where you can pick up quick snacks and drinks like coffee, soda, muffins, chips, hot dogs and breakfast sandwich’s.

We brought our own nuts, chips, granola bars and cookies for a snack. And opted to buy breakfast on board each day. It’s nice to sit in the dining car at least once on the train. They will seat you with other passengers. So you get a chance to meet your fellow train travellers. We met a nice couple from Wisconsin, and another couple from England who were on a train journey circling the U.S. Before we boarded each day, we purchased a pizza to eat for dinner. We saw people bringing coolers on board full of food.

Overall we have mixed reviews on our train journey. We were lucky the trains both times were only half full. So at night we could have two seats to ourselves and stretch out. Definitely a lot easier to sleep than on a plane. But the wining and crying two year old twins a couple seats back from us kind of ruined the peacefulness of the ride. Be sure to bring earplugs. They will also come in handy if your seat mates snore.

Our saving grace was our iPads. We pre loaded them with a few Netflix series. Then binge watched them to pass the time. Or downloading some audio books ahead of time would work. I saw some people with a deck of cards, crossword puzzles, knitting and even one guy with his checkers waiting for anyone to join him in a game.

We brought some comfortable sweat pants to change into at night. I wouldn’t recommend pyjamas, although you will see some that do wear them. I was glad to have a blanket and pillow with me too. It can get kind of chilly on board. Especially at night.

Travelling by train isn’t exactly a quick way to get somewhere. But compared to a plane, you have a lot more freedom to walk around. And a decent baggage allowance. You get to see scenery you otherwise wouldn’t. The environment is very safe. And best of all you’ll meet some interesting characters!

The Legacy Club Lounge at Union Station in Chicago May 16, 2017 May 19, 2017 Travel Tips Kimberley 2 Comments on The Legacy Club Lounge at Union Station in Chicago The general waiting area at Union Station can get really noisy and crowded at times. The day we were there all the seats were gone and people had to sit on the floor or stand. But there’s an even better option while your waiting on your train. Head on over to their Legacy Club Lounge located in the south west corner of the great hall. It’s like being a coach class passenger and getting first class service!

So for $20 per person, you can relax in a nice quiet space. Especially great if you have a few hours to kill or need to get some work done.

We went there and were wowed by the space. It was virtually empty and came with very comfortable chairs and loungers. Their hours are from 9 am to 9 pm. For this price you get free high speed internet and a charging and laptop station.

Refreshments included coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soda, water, juice and even beer or wine at certain times. They also have a selection of snacks to munch on such as peanuts, chips, granola bars and cookies.

The bathrooms were spotless and came with disposable razors, toothpaste, hair styling gel, and moisturizing face cream.

If you want to watch TV, they had plenty of those disbursed around the room. Or even PS4 and Wi to keep you occupied. The only thing missing was a shower and you could make yourself right at home!

And if this wasn’t enough, also included was priority boarding. Plus a personal escort right to your train car. Definitely worth the cost to us!

Our Tour Of Facebook Headquarters

If you drive about 45 minutes south of San Francisco you’ll find a small city called Menlo Park. Situated in Menlo Park is the main Headquarters for Facebook. With an address named what else but 1 Hacker Way.

The only way to receive a tour of Facebook is by knowing someone who works there. Luckily for us, our nephew Adam is an employee.

Our first impression of the place was of how huge it was. So big that we actually went to the wrong building to meet Adam. Right now there are two main buildings. While construction is on going for a third to be built.

The building we first arrived at was the original one. This building covers the size of two football fields. Definitely a place you could get lost in.

After we checked into the visitor centre, we had a comfy lounge to wait in. Complete with a help yourself to any drinks fridge.

Once Adam arrived by bike (since he works in the second building), we were off on our tour.

Walking around on the grounds is like touring a small village. Complete with trees, benches and walkways. And a massive amount of people heading in all directions.

Since it was lunch time when we arrived, our nephew asked us what kind of food we’d like to eat. We were blown away by all the options. We chose pasta and had a delicious selection at the buffet. And once again a fridge full of sodas, organic juices, specialty teas and waters. Outside not far away was a smoker cooking meat for the barbecued foods section.

After lunch we stopped by the Facebook clothing store. I picked out a T-shirt souvenir, then we continued on our tour.

Of course we couldn’t leave out dessert! So we headed over to the ice cream parlour. There you have your choice of several flavours. Complete with a help yourself toppings bar. And if ice cream isn’t your thing, there are many other squares and treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. The most amazing part was that it’s all on the house for any employees and visitors.

Then it was time to head over to see the building Adam works in. For staff, they have the option of jumping on a bike to go between buildings. Visitors can take the shuttle or walk.

What surprised me with the interiors was how quiet it seemed. Even though you can talk all you want. The sound didn’t seem to carry.

The ceilings are very high inside with all open duct work creating an airy feel. No tiny cubicle’s for anyone. Just wide open area’s to create the next big idea!

This second building comes complete with an outdoor garden oasis on the roof. We walked around admiring all the beautiful flowers and trees.

There are different gazebos and benches to sit at all over the roof. Such a great idea for the employees. Just bring your laptop outside and enjoy the warm sun, while not getting behind on your work.

Over in this building we also found a smoothie bar. Plus different areas that have baskets full of things like granola bars, chocolate bars, and various other snacks to get you through the day.

If you ever get the chance to visit, jump on it. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour here. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip to California.

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