We spent the next several hours enjoying the beach, engaging in obligatory beach activities (we must

In late August a group of us spent a Sunday in Pacifica, California . I'd have done this post earlier but somehow or another Lisa didn't manage to upload magnolia hotel denver all the pictures magnolia hotel denver until just recently, so I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
My brother-in-law, magnolia hotel denver RS, currently engaged in a battle with kidney cancer, grew up in Pacifica and has fond memories of this small coastal town. Our decision to visit Pacifica was for him, to allow him to relive some memories of a better time in his life.
Before that weekend, my only tryst with Pacifica had been a sort of impromptu magnolia hotel denver beach party one cold weekend afternoon during my San Francisco State days. A group of us ended up on a foggy beach with several packs of Kent cigarettes and a case of beer. Our exploration of Pacifica did not really extend beyond the bottom of our beer cans and the tips of our smokes.
Pacifica is a coastal town located between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay . Take note would-be visitors – Pacifica is a Northern California coast town, which means that it spends most of its life cloaked in fog and 50-60 degree temperatures. Our destination that day – the Lighthouse Hotel and Pacifica's famed Rockaway Beach .
The Lighthouse Hotel - located at the end of Rockaway Beach Ave, the main drag through the little knot of shops and restaurants that form the bedrock of commerce at Rockaway Beach – is a somewhat weather-beaten magnolia hotel denver structure magnolia hotel denver that doesn't quite live up to the freshly painted, sun-drenched image in the brochure. The rooms have sort of a too -lived in look about them, but for a one-night stay and a beach front location, I wasn't complaining. There's also a Holiday Inn Express a stone's throw or two down the beach, which looks like it may be a little magnolia hotel denver newer, and perhaps, just perhaps , a little better cared for.
Given the motivation magnolia hotel denver for our visit, we did not go to Rockaway to get our party on. The plan was 24-hours of beach combing, eating, relaxation and reflection. Upon arriving we grabbed some food at Rock'n Rob's , located a vacant hotel patio, magnolia hotel denver and ate a quick lunch. After tossing our bags in the room we went to check out the beach. It was a windy day and the water was like ice, so naturally the kids went straight for the ocean.
We spent the next several hours enjoying the beach, engaging in obligatory beach activities (we must have a dozen bags of rocks, magnolia hotel denver shells and sea glass from beaches nationwide) before retiring to the hotel hot tub.  As the weather continued to cool and it became time to think about eating again, we decided to make dinner really simple and have pizza delivered to the hotel from one of the local joints. We all gathered in my mother-in-laws room and splayed ourselves across the two queen-beds, munching pizza and watching TV.  However, the next time I visit Pacifica, (and there will be a next time) I'd like to check out Nick's , which is right across the street from The Lighthouse Hotel.  I'm not saying I'll take part in the dancing, but I can definitely get behind the drinks, dining and ocean views that Nick's has to offer. Oh, who am I kidding? After a few drinks I ll get behind and on top of the dancing. But I digress.
Later that night, Lisa and I took a stroll further down the beach and came across a gentleman tending to a little fire in a little cove while waiting for his wife to toddle over from the Holiday Inn. Apparently she had not been feeling well, and he d been tending the flame for over an hour. We got to chatting and enjoying his fire.  He and his wife were from Sacramento, and discovered Rockaway Beach and Pacifica several years ago. Prior to their discovery, when they wanted some beach time they would make the drive down the coast to Carmel and Monterey. He told us they like Pacifica not only because it s much closer, but because it s more secluded and still remains largely undiscovered.
The next morning, magnolia hotel denver a few of us decided to have breakfast at the on-site restaurant, The Ristorante Portofino . Being a Monday morning, the place was pretty empty; however the lack of diners did nothing to speed up the service. We must have stood there for five minutes waiting to be seated. Then, because we asked for a window seat, (why not, right??) we had to wait for them to clean a table. Several times during magnolia hotel denver breakfast I got up to refill my own coffee cup from the waiter's coffee station. The wait time did give me a chance to take a walk, and snap some pictures of a nearly deserted Rockaway Avenue.
After breakfast, check-out, and the joy of packing and loading the car, we made the short drive south on Hwy 1 to check out Linda Mar Beach , a popular surfing spot.  But RS informed us that, much like Cubs and White Sox fans, those who grow up in Pacifica form strong allegiances magnolia hotel denver to either Rockaway Beach or Linda Mar. Being a Rockaway boy, RS stayed true to his alliance, and watched magnolia hotel denver the rest of us explore the beach from the car.