Sunday Afternoon in Seal Beach

Located between Long and Huntington Beaches is a tiny seaside town called Seal Beach, CA. Unlike it's neighbors to the north and south, this quaint ocean city is much more laid back and sleepy. There is still plenty to see and do, but it's not as hectic.

I recently had brunch with my friends which made for the perfect Sunday afternoon. We pulled up at 9am and found free parking right away, then leisurely walked the pier before enjoying a delicious meal at The Hangout. The food was reasonably priced, served with a smile, and enjoyed with a mango mimosa and ocean view.

After brunch we strolled along Main Street that is lined with adorable boutiques and candy shops. I picked up some pretty jewelry, along with tasty treats before calling it a day.

It was so nice to enjoy the weekend at a slower pace. Are you a fan of sleepy Sundays are do you like to emphasise the fun in Sunday FUNday?

Driving From Southern California to Carmel

Bucket list item accomplished! I've lived in Southern California my entire life but had never driven up the coast to take in the Golden State's incredible seaside. This weekend it finally happened and it was magical.

The drive really isn't bad at all. Traveling from the Orange County area to Carmel-by-the-Sea (just past Big Sur, within Monterey County) is roughly 360 miles and six hours with light traffic. That may sound like quite a trek, but when you have a breathtaking ocean view, it's an adventure that passes by quicker than you'd like. If you want to stop along the way, expect travel time to be up to 12 hours - our journey was about 11. But again, it's a scenic drive and we made many stops so the time flew. It can get quite foggy but I heard October and November are clearer months. Keep that in mind when planning your trip.

When embarking on your drive, my tip is to head out early to beat the traffic. Leaving before 7am allowed up to reach Morro Bay before the lunch rush. Morro is small and it appeared that any of the restaurants would provide a great view. Grab a seat outside and enjoy the ocean breeze and the big famous rock.

About 45 minutes north of Morro Bay is the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery - an absolute must! While the busiest season for these seals to migrate to this region is January through May, we still saw a bunch of them spread across the beach. Try to spot the long elephant-like nose that the males have. It's free to park and view these huge marine mammals. You can spend as little or as much time as you'd like here. We probably took half an hour.

After we left Piedras Blancas we ventured up the coast 46 miles, occasionally stopping at vista points along the way, until we got to the Big Sur area to see McWay Falls. Located within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, you can select to pull into the lot and pay $10 or park along the road for free and walk in. There will probably be cars along the road that'll help you know you've arrived. The walk to the viewing area is about 10 minutes in and 10 minutes out and not too difficult, although there are some slight inclines and a few stairs. Once you get to the falls you will be in awe. If you can time to get here after mid-day you'll have better lighting for taking pictures. It was still a bit bright when we visited but I was able to get some good shots - although photos don't do this beach justice!

Definitely stop at McWay Falls and allot yourself about an hour. I cannot stress this enough. It was my favorite stop the whole trip and will be well worth your time!

Continuing up Highway 1 for 30 minutes, we came across the infamous Bixby Bridge that's one of the most photographed bridges in California. It's quite gorgeous and another great photo opp. Again, you'll see cars lined along the road after you cross the north end. Pull over and take a few snaps.

Another half an hour and you'll be in Carmel. We made it just in time to check into Hofsas House to catch the tail end of the sunset from our balcony. A perfect ending to a beautiful one-day road trip!

Come back Wednesday for a recap of Monterey and Friday for info on our stay in Carmel at Hofsas House.

Newport Beach, California

Earlier this week I made my way out to Newport Beach to take in a sunset. It's so gorgeous and peaceful.

If you ever visit SoCal, or live here and aren't in on the secret, north Newport is a great beach to visit for the free parking. Here's how to get there from the 55 freeway:

The 55 fwy south ends and turns into Newoprt Ave.

Follow Newport Ave. and take a right on Superior. 

Right after you pass Pacific Coast Highway make a right on River Ave. (small side street)

You can park anywhere you find a spot, at the very end of the street there are a lot of spaces.

It's a residential neighborhood and there are some restrictions on certain days, but if you get there early/late enough parking is free and fairly easy to find.

Beautiful Orange County Beaches

Every fall I get insanely jealous of the rest of the country who gets the real autumn experience. Cool temps, pumpkin patches, pretty leaves. We have all of those things, but on a very small scale. Instead of being bitter that we're STILL hitting 90 degree temps into October, I'm going to focus on the positive - the beautiful beaches of Orange County. I mean, right in my backyard there is the Pacific Ocean, sandy beaches, and palm trees galore. If I can't have a cozy fall, incredible weather and breathtaking sights aren't so bad.

I recently took a trip down PCH to explore beaches that I normally don't visit. I grew up going to Huntington and Newport that are known for surfing and lots of beach to lay out on. Picturesque SoCal. But the stretch between Newport and San Diego are smaller and rockier, with a lot of private beach access. AND, unfortunately a recent hurricane in Mexico made for large waves which engulfed what little beach real estate there usually is. Regardless, each stop on our adventure was so gorgeous.

So I give you my fall - San Clemente, Dana Point, and Lauguna Beach!

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