Super Bowl, rollercoasters and Pacific views in California’s City by the Bay
A PHONE app that delivers snacks and beers on demand to your seat?
“’Appy days!” I shouted, as I high-fived the fan next to me.
I could even check how long the queues were at the loos. And it helps avoid disputes as there is in-built video replays.
The San Francisco 49ers game with the Seattle Seahawks had not even started and the state-of-the-art Levi’s Stadium already had me wowed.
We’d started the afternoon at the Red Zone Rally for a spot of tailgating — essentially getting tipsy and stuffing ourselves with BBQ food.
Just a stone’s throw from the stadium, it is an 18,000 square foot venue with an all-inclusive food and drinks package before a game.
It’s also a theme park for fans with its own rollercoaster. I’d highly recommend a ride on the neck-cracking Flight Deck but try before you fill up — for obvious reasons. Back in the stadium, which tonight hosts the Super Bowl, the national anthem finished, three fighter jets buzzed over the crowd and the game began.
My knowledge of American Football rules and the players, including Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, wasn’t great but it didn’t take long to catch up.
The two teams have an intense rivalry but proud Seahawks fans watched amid the 49ers, ribbing each other and waving their flags.
Nothing like an Arsenal v Spurs match then.
The following day we visited Bodega Bay, a beautiful fishing village and a perfect spot to relax.
It is just an hour and a half from San Francisco and was the setting of Alfred Hitchcock horror The Birds.
The old schoolhouse from the film is still there and is a great place to take a “running from the birds” photo.
And diehard Hitchcock fans will relish the chance to pop into the Bodega Country Store, which is home to the largest collection of Alfred Hitchcock memorabilia.
I stayed at the Bodega Bay Lodge, which blew me away with its Pacific views and outdoor hot tub, nestled by reeds and a firepit. The lodge is ideally located for exploring Sonoma County’s 400 wineries among the wild coastline and towering redwoods.
For art, food and booze lovers (I’m among the latter two) one of the most talked-about destinations in wine county is The Barlow, a hub of wineries, breweries and restaurants in downtown Sebastopol.
I visited the aptly named Paradise Ridge Winery, overlooking the Russian River valley and after sampling Sonoma County’s finest wines, gins and beers it was time to head to the “Golden City”.
As we crossed San Francisco bay with the thick fog clearing, I could hear Sean Connery booming in my head: “Welcome to THE ROCK!”
Alcatraz is a creepy place with a weird magic about it.
I had a vague knowledge of the island but the personal audio tour gave an in-depth history of the former prison.
You can play and pause at your own pace and really get a sense of what it would have been like with authentic sounds of banging cell doors and voices of past inmates. One thing I had not expected from the prison, however, was the stunning view of San Francisco and the bustling metropolis, so close yet so far away.
Apparently prisoners could hear laughter from the city’s bars when the wind blew in the right direction.
Fortunately our stay on Alcatraz was a lot shorter than most prisoners’ and we were soon heading back to the mainland to pick up some bikes and cycle over to the House of Air for a trampoline workout.
I must admit that I wasn’t too excited about jumping up and down with a wine hangover . . . but it only took me a few minutes to get into it.
And it turned out to be a superb hangover cure.
Revitalised, we jumped back on our bikes and headed off to one of the most iconic bridges in the world.
Cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge was a highlight of the trip. On a clear day there are great views of the city skyline.
For our last afternoon we went on a food and drink tour around Dogpatch. Once an edgy, working-class neighbourhood, it is now a trendy mix of urban wineries, breweries and BBQ joints.
A great way to explore is with Walk SF Tours as you not only benefit from their wealth of local knowledge but also a mouth-watering selection of locally produced food and booze en route.
As I headed to the airport with a great taste in my mouth there was one final treat to look forward to — flying home in the biggest passenger plane in the world.
The British Airways Dreamliner is THE way to fly.
I’ve never been able to sleep on planes but this was a totally different experience.
Smart lighting and vastly cleaner air meant I managed to get at least a few hours kip.
And as I lay there dreaming . . . I realised I left my heart in San Francisco.
Go: San Francisco
GETTING THERE: British Airways flies twice daily to San Francisco from Heathrow, with returns from £595. See .
STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Kimpton Buchanan are from £170 a night (). Bodega Bay Lodge has rooms from £137 a night (bodegabaylodge.com).
MORE INFO: See ; ; .