So, we are going back to San Francisco – just two weeks after our last visit! I love The City – the laid-back vibe, the colorful people and locations, the sense that it is both old and new at the same time. My siblings and I have grown up in and out of this place, seen the changes (good and bad in our opinion), and been bolstered by the pieces that have remained the same.
My brother, sister and I bought tickets to the Festival Fright Nights at the Winchester Mystery House for Halloween, and we decided to take a whirlwind tour of the Bay Area. My sister and I had already planned to see a concert featuring Hoobastank, Hinder, Seether and Staind in Sacramento (what a wonderfully interesting mix of bands). We planned the trip around the concert, so the next day we met my brother at the Sacramento airport and drove into The City.
We arrived in San Francisco early enough for lunch but forgot one key factor…FLEET WEEK! It was a madhouse! For those unfamiliar with Fleet Week, it's an annual celebration of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, featuring visiting ships, military demonstrations, public tours, and spectacular aerial performances. Fleet Week is actually a wonderful event, with opportunities to tour visiting ships and enjoy military demonstrations.
And yes, that's Marine Corps, pronounced core, not corpse—even at Halloween! 😂
We saw parking prices starting around $80—and climbing into the outrageous! Part of our entertainment that day was watching people invent parking spaces where none existed—and then argue over them! 😂 We drove around the streets near Pier 39 for what seemed like FOREVER before we gave up and drove out to Chinatown and parked there… for far less money. We then purchased cable car tickets and had a marvelous time riding the rails…I mean the cables down to Fisherman’s Wharf.
We had some Boudin’s Bakery sandwiches on excellent San Francisco sourdough bread. Just outside, within our view at the bakery, we witnessed the Blue Angels perform right above our heads. We enjoyed a display of skill and power that left us breathless, with the historic Alcatraz prison and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge for the backdrop.
We explored the wharf, cooed at the sea lions at the Pier and rode back to Chinatown for some shopping. We headed out, arriving in Alameda with time to spare to keep an appointment at The USS Haunted Hornet: The Devil's Sea (or in keeping with my brother’s off-beat sense of humor the USS Wasp).
The historic aircraft carrier is now a floating museum with a fascinating military history—and a reputation for being one of America's most haunted ships! Commissioned during World War II, the USS Hornet later played an important role in the space race, recovering the Apollo 11 astronauts after their historic Moon landing in 1969.
The Halloween experience played on the ship's haunted reputation, adding a few theatrical touches to its already eerie atmosphere. 😉 Ghouls, ghosts and pirates welcomed you for a quick tour of the ship in all its haunted gory…glory. The ship itself added plenty to the atmosphere. Narrow passageways, steep ladders, raised thresholds, and darkness made the experience creepy even without the ghosts!
It was a relatively quick tour, but absolutely worthwhile. I would love to return for a more in-depth exploration of the floating museum.
We continued to San Jose, where we'd booked a cute, reasonably priced hotel near Santana Row, a popular shopping and dining district just minutes from the Winchester Mystery House.
After checking in, we headed to Festival Fright Nights for our timed entry around 8:00 p.m.
We'd splurged on VIP tickets, and wow, did they deliver!
The event offered several haunted experiences, including an opportunity to add access to a séance and an interactive attic tour. We had about three hours before closing and made the most of every minute.
Creepy, entertaining, and exactly what we'd hoped for!
By the time we finally crawled into bed, we were exhausted!
The following morning, we packed up and headed to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose for one final historical adventure. I have a deep and abiding love for Egyptian history.
My brother and sister, on the other hand, have a deep and abiding love for me—which is probably why they agreed to another Egyptian museum! 😂
We explored the gardens, admired the ancient Egyptian artifacts, and wandered through the museum's recreated tomb.
By the time we finished, I was more convinced than ever that Egypt belonged near the top of my travel bucket list.
With one final historical adventure behind us, we turned toward home.
Two haunted attractions, one historic aircraft carrier, a mansion full of mysteries, an Egyptian museum, the Blue Angels, cable cars, and more sourdough bread than we probably needed. All in one whirlwind weekend!
Was it a little crazy? Absolutely.
Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat! 😂❤️
The Holly Abroad Way — A Few Things We Learned Today
Check the event calendar. A major festival like Fleet Week can completely change your parking and sightseeing plans.
Be flexible with transportation. Sometimes parking farther away and taking a cable car is the better adventure.
Book Halloween attractions ahead. Popular events often use timed entry, and special experiences may require separate reservations.
Consider the VIP splurge. When you're trying to fit several attractions into one evening, shorter lines can be worth the extra expense.
Know your comfort limits. Historic ships and haunted attractions may involve steep stairs, confined spaces, darkness, and uneven flooring.
Leave room for unexpected experiences. Watching the Blue Angels over San Francisco wasn't the original plan, but it became one of the highlights of the day.
