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Living on the East Coast, it can be really difficult to visit the West Coast for a couple of reasons: it is far, it is expensive to fly, and you need a chunk of time for it really to be worth it. I could fly to Orlando for three days and think that I spent enough time there, but I could never fly to San Francisco on a three day weekend and believe that it was well worth my time. First it takes between 5 to 9 hours just to get there depending on layovers, then on the way back there is a three hour time change, but we'll call that null and void since you do get three hours in your favor on the trip there. So already you are down an average of 14 hours, which is half a day and the other half you need to sleep so out of all that traveling, you only get to spend two days at your West Coast destination.
With all that said, I've only visited the West Coast two times. But, from the two times that I've been there, I've loved it! About a month ago, I made my first stop in Seattle to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Seattle totally blew my socks off! I had no idea that Seattle was such a cool city. The best part was the Market.
I saw the fishermen (in the orange suits you've seen on TV) throwing the fish from one guy to the other. You can't go to the market without eating. All that food is enough to make your stomach eat itself. I had a fresh Salmon sandwich and it was delicious. I was a bit distraught that I had just recently given up desserts for lent because there was this one dessert shop that had to-die-for looking cream puffs, and not to mention they were about the size of my fist. Right outside the market, I was very excited to see the first ever Starbucks. I must say, the first shop was quite petite and I would have passed it by if I had not been looking for it. The space needle was very impressive as well and I got this awesome photo of it. I didn't go to the top, but I'm sure the view would have been amazing.
On Tuesday (two days later), I was off to California! I had visited San Francisco on my last venture to the West so this time, I just had to check out SoCal. I spent three days in San Diego, and I loved San Diego. The San Diego Zoo is a must see. Lydia and I stared eye to eye with the animal that inspired ET. It's true, Steven Spielberg went to the San Diego Zoo to find the perfect animal to base his most famous alien on. It turned out that he choose a turtle, a Galapagos turtle. Check out a face of one of these turtles and you'll definitely see the resemblance.
The polar bears were my favorite exhibit. They were playing in the water when we arrived to the exhibit and you could really tell how enormous these animals really are! They look so cute and cuddly, but I won't be getting in the cage with them anytime soon.
After our day trip to the world-famous zoo, we went to Coronado, a town just over the bridge from San Diego, which had a more quaint, neighborly feel to it. We saw a guy who was driving with a pilot helmet on, no joke. I think he was trying to simulate Tom Cruise from Top Gun. It was quite hilarious.
Now to my favorite part of San Diego: the seals in La Jolla. It was the most perfect day; no clouds in the sky and about 65 degrees. The scene was like a photo taken right out of a postcard. Down below on the beach, where the tourists couldn't go, lay seals sun bathing in the hot rays of the sun. They didn't seem to notice all the people gathered to watch them. There were seals of all ages and I particularly liked watching the adult mothers with their pups. The pups never left their mother's side. Just beyond the beached seals, the ocean splashed into the earth to make picture perfect waves. Serenity. Ahhh. I took so many pictures of this extreme gorgeousness.
After being awed by the seals, the scenery, and the amazing oceanfront houses, we went to the famous Torrey Pines golf course, also in La Jolla. I had to slip into the golf shop and buy my dad an early father's day present (he is an avid golfer). It was fun to pretend that I was a wealthy golf connoisseur. Although I'm not sure I tricked anyone!
You didn't think I could go to SoCal without going to LA, did you? We stayed in this fabulous hotel in West Hollywood - Le Montrose. We walked the Hollywood walk of fame; we strutted down Rodeo Drive; we ate Cupcakes at Sprinkles; we partied on Santa Monica Blvd; and we waited in the endless LA traffic!
My favorite part of LA was reconnecting with a good friend that I made in Spain while we studied abroad there about 3.5 years ago. I coincidentally scheduled my trip during her birthday weekend so we went out to celebrate and I definitely re-lived some of the great times that we had in Spain.
I can't say enough about how cool it is to reconnect with old friends, especially those who came into your life during one of your most cherished and memorable times of your life. I hope that I will see my West Coast chica again very soon!
My West Coast week-and-a-day rendezvous was amazing! I wonder where my next adventure will take me...
With all that said, I've only visited the West Coast two times. But, from the two times that I've been there, I've loved it! About a month ago, I made my first stop in Seattle to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Seattle totally blew my socks off! I had no idea that Seattle was such a cool city. The best part was the Market.
I saw the fishermen (in the orange suits you've seen on TV) throwing the fish from one guy to the other. You can't go to the market without eating. All that food is enough to make your stomach eat itself. I had a fresh Salmon sandwich and it was delicious. I was a bit distraught that I had just recently given up desserts for lent because there was this one dessert shop that had to-die-for looking cream puffs, and not to mention they were about the size of my fist. Right outside the market, I was very excited to see the first ever Starbucks. I must say, the first shop was quite petite and I would have passed it by if I had not been looking for it. The space needle was very impressive as well and I got this awesome photo of it. I didn't go to the top, but I'm sure the view would have been amazing.
On Tuesday (two days later), I was off to California! I had visited San Francisco on my last venture to the West so this time, I just had to check out SoCal. I spent three days in San Diego, and I loved San Diego. The San Diego Zoo is a must see. Lydia and I stared eye to eye with the animal that inspired ET. It's true, Steven Spielberg went to the San Diego Zoo to find the perfect animal to base his most famous alien on. It turned out that he choose a turtle, a Galapagos turtle. Check out a face of one of these turtles and you'll definitely see the resemblance.
The polar bears were my favorite exhibit. They were playing in the water when we arrived to the exhibit and you could really tell how enormous these animals really are! They look so cute and cuddly, but I won't be getting in the cage with them anytime soon.
After our day trip to the world-famous zoo, we went to Coronado, a town just over the bridge from San Diego, which had a more quaint, neighborly feel to it. We saw a guy who was driving with a pilot helmet on, no joke. I think he was trying to simulate Tom Cruise from Top Gun. It was quite hilarious.
Now to my favorite part of San Diego: the seals in La Jolla. It was the most perfect day; no clouds in the sky and about 65 degrees. The scene was like a photo taken right out of a postcard. Down below on the beach, where the tourists couldn't go, lay seals sun bathing in the hot rays of the sun. They didn't seem to notice all the people gathered to watch them. There were seals of all ages and I particularly liked watching the adult mothers with their pups. The pups never left their mother's side. Just beyond the beached seals, the ocean splashed into the earth to make picture perfect waves. Serenity. Ahhh. I took so many pictures of this extreme gorgeousness.
After being awed by the seals, the scenery, and the amazing oceanfront houses, we went to the famous Torrey Pines golf course, also in La Jolla. I had to slip into the golf shop and buy my dad an early father's day present (he is an avid golfer). It was fun to pretend that I was a wealthy golf connoisseur. Although I'm not sure I tricked anyone!
You didn't think I could go to SoCal without going to LA, did you? We stayed in this fabulous hotel in West Hollywood - Le Montrose. We walked the Hollywood walk of fame; we strutted down Rodeo Drive; we ate Cupcakes at Sprinkles; we partied on Santa Monica Blvd; and we waited in the endless LA traffic!
My favorite part of LA was reconnecting with a good friend that I made in Spain while we studied abroad there about 3.5 years ago. I coincidentally scheduled my trip during her birthday weekend so we went out to celebrate and I definitely re-lived some of the great times that we had in Spain.
I can't say enough about how cool it is to reconnect with old friends, especially those who came into your life during one of your most cherished and memorable times of your life. I hope that I will see my West Coast chica again very soon!
My West Coast week-and-a-day rendezvous was amazing! I wonder where my next adventure will take me...