Me and my honey definitely did not want to take a "staycation" this year. I think they could get a bit boring, I mean really, I take a staycation every weekend, don't I? Yeah gas is high, especially in California, but who does not deserve a little rest and relaxation with nature? We decided to take a weeklong camping trip up the California coast. Boy, was it amazing! I don't think I have seen so many different animals on a vacation in my life! And mind you, my parents took us on two to three week long camping trips every year when my brother and I were littleuns. Of course back then we had a trailer. This time around we took the trusty ol' tent, and my car...
We drove up Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) most of the way. This has got to be one of the most gorgeous highways ever! There were so many places to stop off and look at the rolling hills, beautiful mountains, craggy cliffs and expansive ocean.
I planned the vacation only a week ahead of time. Hee hee... I know, it was so scary planning on such short notice! We started out driving in Santa Monica and drove all the way up to Santa Barbara to this small campground called Gaviota the first day.
Gaviota State Beach: Campsite, Sideways stone, Sunset, More Sideways Stone, Pelican.The following day we went to Solvang, a nice little Dutch town with lots of touristy places and activities and then we drove up to San Simeon. San Simeon is home to the lovely Hearst Castle. We went there because I knew my honey would love it. He was not as fortunate as me as a child and he did not get to go traveling like me, so I try to show him things that I have already seen and that I know he would love. Even I learned all kinds of new things! The last time I took this trip I was 11 years old! We found out that W.R. Hearst even owned zebras at his castle and we saw the descendents of those zebras grazing by our campground! It was so strange, yet exciting to see African animals in California...
Solvang & San Simeon State Park: Windmill, meatball sandwich with mashed potatoes and pickled cabbage, the Red Viking Restaurant in Solvang, random sea creatures at San Simeon.
Hearst Castle & San Simeon: The Neptune Pool, Castle gardens, the creepy indoor pool, The Castle from afar, zebras, elephant seals.We next drove up to Big Sur; which was recently devastated by massive fires. Thankfully the fires did not destroy the town, and I cannot help but think that nature was doing its job as it so often does. I forgot that there are so many cliffs here and winding roads! The pine trees next to the ocean baffled me! We ate at a nice little lodge called the Fernwood Resort. They had great homemade food and bloody mary's.
Pacific Coast Highway & Big Sur: A viewpoint, the burnt mountain from our campsite, more viewpoints.Then we went off to the Redwoods via Monterey. We took the 17 Mile Drive in Carmel and then we stopped at Cannery Row (made famous by one of my favorite authors) and visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Let's just say that I think everyone should go here to learn about conservation, animals, the ocean and sharing among so many other things. What a wonderfully educational and fun place this aquarium is.
The 17 Mile Drive: Spanish Bay, Bird Rock, Bird Rock rock, Ghost Tree, a Cypress.
Monterey Bay: Canadian Geese, Jellies x 3, Penguins, Cannery Row.The Redwoods were nice, we drove up this tiny, twisty road just to stay at our campground, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, which was outside of Santa Cruz. It was so beautiful and foresty, but some rascals, or more specifically, raccoons somehow got into our ice chest at night and snatched our bread! But I guess that's my fault for being too lazy to put the bread back in the car...
San Jose & San Fran: Winchester Mystery House and Alcatraz from Fisherman's Wharf.The next day we got up and went to see the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose and then drove up to San Francisco and had dinner at Neptune's Palace on Pier 39 on the Wharf. I had not been to San Francisco since I was about 9 years old, and I must say that I loved Fisherman's Wharf! I only wish we had more the 5 hours to spend there. We did have to get going to out last destination, Fremont Peak State Park, before our long 6 hour drive home!
San Francisco & San Jose: Coit Tower, Player Piano, Sea Lions, view from Fremont Peak, Apple Farm in San Jose.All in all we had a wonderful trip. It was very relaxing not to think about work, even if it was for a brief week. If anyone wants a new trip to take I recommend taking one up the California Coast, even if you have kids, I did this one with my parents when I was about 6 years old!
