delightful discoveries! Well, at other times, walking down hidden alleys can lead to less-than-delightful discoveries, or danger, or dream destinations, delicious desserts (that is my sweet tooth talking), or diversions.
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This goes towards Six Word Saturday, where I participate in an on-again, off-again manner, but I love peeking in whenever I get the chance!
Walking Down Hidden Alleys Leads to….
Auto-rickshaws and Umbrellas
This is one of the beautiful alleys I walked past without entering, not because I did not want to (I truly did) but we had to get somewhere else and saw this on the way. Since it is in San Francisco, and here to stay, we plan to explore this alley – Umbrella Alley is its name – another day (maybe our next drive to the city).
On researching it, I realized that this is just one of the many Umbrella Alleys around the world, and had an “of course duh” moment! So many insta-pics with umbrellas showering on the photographer in various parts of the world. This realization is definitely a result of trying to find out more about this alley.
While San Francisco’s Umbrella Alley is gated and open only during the day (with recommended donations to support the artists and muralists who decorate the alley – suggested $5 for adults and $3 for children), from what I understand, many other umbrella alleys are open always and free to wander under and through! I will also be checking this one in Redlands (SoCal) in a future trip there.
Other Alleys and Related Reads
- Carmel-by-the-Sea is charming, quaint, and full of secret alleys waiting to be discovered. I sighted a few of them when I visited there last month with my girlfriends for a long-overdue-girls-time-together! And we loved them all.
- Discovering Local Wonders: A Trip to Awesome Balmy Alley
- My son’s college town of San Luis Obispo has the famed Bubblegum Alley (I know I have a photo somewhere in my archives from one of our many trips there). Is it gross? Kind of but also weirdly cool! My DH opted to stay out on the main street while we went through miles of bubblegum walls (or it seemed like that to mommeee)
- Read this heartwarming picture book – Across the Alley – when you get a chance.
- And this sweet surprising read for children titled, well, The Alley by Eleanor Estes with illustrations by Edward Ardizzone (for 8 – 12 years, and up)
And Now, the End of This Post
Dear reader, what do you when you encounter secret or hidden alleys on your journeys? Do you walk down them to explore? Do you think to yourself, I will come back to check this out? Or do you turn around and walk away? Your favorite alleys so far (secret or hidden or any which way)?
I love a good alley. These are pretty! You never know what you’ll find if you go down hidden paths. We got back from Scotland and there were so many of them.
These alleys are so cool looking. I loved all the photos.
I love this! It is so amazing what you can see around some alleys. That one with the balloons is really neat.
I still have yet to come across one of these beautiful alley ways! I would love to see an umbrella one some day!
I grew up where alley ways had the city dumpsters for each neighborhood. We used to ride out bikes down the alley. It was basically a dirt road. I don’t care to go down many alley ways these days.
It is nice to go off the beaten path or find hidden spots to enjoy. I’ve seen some alleys with hanging umbrellas that I would like to check out. I also enjoy Penny Lane in Rehoboth, DE.
I love finding beautiful corners and hidden alleys, I always stay a bit, take a photo and post it on insta. 🙂 Sometimes, I get lost on purpose.
It’s so delightful to find discoveries in alleys! Some roads/alleys are safe in LA and some are not though.
It’s wild how many Umbrella Alleys there are! San Francisco’s sounds unique with its gated access and donation system. Can’t wait to explore the one in Redlands too!
These alleys are nice! They are just the perfect photo spot. I wouldn’t mind taking an alternative road if I get to discover surprises/ secrets like this.
The alley looks amazing, This is something that I would love to do in my back patio.