Road Trip USA 2022
From Napa Valley to San Francisco
Today’s destination is San Francisco. On the way there, we’ll take a short detour through Napa Valley.
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is known for its wine production. Over 300 wineries have established themselves in the region. The first of these has German roots, as it was founded in 1861 by the Prussian Charles Krug. However, I didn’t research the local wineries in advance, since we aren’t wine experts. But if you’re more interested in that and want to participate in a tasting, you should book it beforehand. It doesn’t seem possible to do so on the spur of the moment. We still stop briefly at the Charles Krug Winery and enjoy a short tour of the estate. It’s quite nice, as there are still a few older buildings here. However, it doesn’t have that truly relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere you’d expect from European wineries. It seems to be “just” an industry here as well.
Speaking of industry, the entire region is also known for growing fruits, vegetables, and nuts. If you drive through this area and keep your eyes open, you’ll quickly see who’s mainly working on the harvest. We see for ourselves how people of Latin American descent, in particular, are literally dashing across the strawberry fields to harvest the fruit. It makes it all the more sad to see how the U.S. government treats these people today (2026).
San Francisco
We’re slowly approaching San Francisco. If you’re coming from the north, the first thing you’ll see is the Golden Gate Bridge. To get a full view of the bridge, with the city in the background, you’ll need to exit Highway 101 in time.
The latest exit is 442 “Alexander Avenue.” After that, you’ll have to drive across the bridge and pay the toll.
Golden Gate Bridge Toll: There is a toll for crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. This toll is only charged when entering the city. Unlike in 2004, however, it is no longer possible to pay on-site. Therefore, make sure to register your vehicle online in advance. I took a look at this recently (04/2026) and found that there are many registration options. I would recommend using the One-time payment with advance notice. Here you can enter the dates you’ll be in San Francisco, the rental car’s license plate number, and your credit card information for payment.
By the way, the toll was $5 in 2004, $8.80 in 2022, and will be $10 in 2026.
For the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s best to enter the following locations one after another as your destinations:
Being able to enjoy this view of the Golden Gate Bridge together with my parents ❤ makes it a very special moment on this fantastic trip.
Now it’s time to drive across the legendary Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. But the driver shouldn’t get too distracted, because right after the bridge, you’ll need to make a sharp right turn if you want to catch one last glimpse of the bridge from the south. This is where the former Fort Scott with its gun emplacements is located. Here you can park for free and enjoy a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Just a few minutes away is Bakers Beach. Here, too, you can park for free and have direct access to the beach with another great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Here you can also test how cold the water is, even shortly after midsummer.
Now we’re heading toward Chinatown. That’s where our hotel is located, the Royal Pacific Motor Inn, which I picked out specifically because it has parking - something that can be problematic and, above all, expensive in the city.
On the way, though, we’re making a quick detour to Alamo Square. The rows of houses there are also among the most photographed, and I associate them with my first visit to San Francisco in 2024.
From here, we continue on to Lombard Street, which we naturally have to drive down. Here, you also get your first impression of just how hilly the city is.
For dinner, I find a nice restaurant (Betty Lou's Seafood & Grill) just a few meters from the hotel. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. The three of us pay $155, including a bottle of local wine. Afterward, we round out the evening at Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe with a cocktail. That’s easy enough, since there’s no shortage of bars in the area.
