With Love, Indian Shores

I love a good travel adventure - sleeping in train stations, getting my pack ready, and stumbling across the globe. However, lately I have been wanting nothing more than to lay on the beach in the good ole' USA.

I love many international destinations and sometimes I am guilty of forgetting it, but with views like this - we have it pretty great too!

I landed on the red-eye in from California and landed just in time to grab the 7:00AM to Tampa. Or so I thought - BUMPED. That is what I get for #deltabratting on the Fourth of July but it never hurts to try - especially when I am in the airport anyways!

At 10AM I got the last seat on the MD88 and I was beach bound to meet my best Midwest (and every where else for that matter) friend, J.

We landed in Tampa and drove directly to our little house on the coast. Spending the next few days in Indian Shores to celebrate the Fourth the best way we know how...

with FIREWORKS over the ocean

and 'MERICAN flags in our drinks

Our only plan for the long weekend was to catch every last ray of sunshine, swim in the waves, and to play every night in downtown Clearwater.

  

Finally, I am no longer embracing the pale that is 2013. 

  

We had fresh, rosy cheeks but unfortunately many of our afternoons ended like this. Determined to tan, I was the last chair on the beach.

But it gave us extra time to play. We explored John's Pass Village and walked the boardwalk, stopping for drinks, and watching the boats along the way. 

When the sun was ready to socialize again, we caught the trolley into downtown Clearwater to experience the action and crowds of people enjoying their last bits of summertime freedom. I like to avoid shoes on holiday - and in my real life as often as possible so check out Frenchy's Rockaway Grill for dinner where you can stumble off the beach for drinks, food, and a great time.

It is located directly on the beach with the usual fare and great drink specials. I quenched my thirst with multiple cucumber infused vodkas as the sun quietly sloped below the horizon.

After the pregame dinnertime rush, we were feeling a bit *crabby*

So we set off to Shepard's, a nightclub and outside pavilion along the causeway. We even made it backstage where I was able to put my experience of "band-aid" to good use. Who knew that all those years my father made me haul around and set up his high-hats and cymbals would be good skills to have.

My favorite stop was a simple dive bar across the street from our weekend home in Indian Shores called, Muhaffa's. The ceilings were covered in bras, the jazz band was old, the bathrooms had shower curtains for doors, and the ceiling was caving in. Every turn took you farther and farther into the cave that they called the bar.

It is the best place. It was the best vacation and I am bronzed and happy.

Even if I spent the night in the Tampa airport and finally caught the last flight into Atlanta. Definitely worth it.

Off to my new job tomorrow... can't holidays last forever?

I did it all in a series of really wonderful dreams

Though a bit of my heart was left in San Francisco, the rest was left on the rocky coast line of Highway 1.

PCH is a trip that is completely your own. Drive it fast with the top down, twisting in and out of the mountains, down to the farmlands, and back again to the sea.



Or drive it slow and get lost along your way. Take in every hidden driveway, the seals, sunset, the quirky roadside towns, and rustic lodges that can blur into the passing redwoods.

Stop to hike every chance you get into the forest. Some of my favorites were at Ragged Point, where the cliffs allow you to venture to the surf and pristine beach.

Or hike just to glimpse at the beauty of Pffifer Beach. This place alone makes the trip worth the flight, the drive, the steps.



You cannot reach the beach but you can climb on the cliffs above it and hike to the edges of the world.

We stayed at Pffifer Beach for much of the afternoon - taken by its beauty, learning about the history, and getting lost in the waves. There once was a house that stood on these cliffs and we hiked to the old foundations of it. It would be amazing to live here, completely taken in by the sea each day.

We drove the Pacific Coast Highway without an itinerary and only the wish to have the quintessential road trip experience - I wanted my feet on the dash, windows down, singing at the top of my lungs as I sped down the California coast line. Other than that, surprise me world!

Surprise me it did with pit-stops along the way. Half-Moon Bay was located just south of San Francisco and we stopped for sandwiches and cold drinks in the garden in the center of downtown.

I could have stayed in Half-Moon Bay much longer, with its pretty shops and quaint small town charm. But we had to remember to keep driving, as behind every turn is a new adventure and the beautiful view of the coastline we were so craving.

Halfway down the coast we stumbled upon Gorda Springs as the sun was setting on the ocean. A town that popped up along the side of the road and only consisted of a gas station, a small café, and these few small rooms - it looked as great as any where to stop!

A good thing to know before setting off on your own PCH adventure - there are not many rooms or opportunities for lodging. It is rustic, primitive, and quiet out here. The radio will be in and out so be ready to lead those sing alongs yourself and cell service is non-existent, so come prepared.

But the views are amazing - we could throw rocks into the ocean from our door frame. We sat on the porch into the night and drank wine and talked watching the sea life swim lazily by along the shore.

We stumbled over to the roadside diner and split fajitas with the resident cat and celebrated my birthday without phone service, television, or a massive party. It may not be much but out here you don't need much and that is the point.

The next day we continued South, stopping at the Elephant Seal Rookery in Piedras Blancas to watch the seals.

  

You can almost walk directly to them as they sleep and throw sand about.  Although they look lazy here, the beach was full of commotion.



They squabble and fight, they swim and wade into and out of the water.

They are entertaining to watch - and listen to. This handsome fella would not stop bellowing as he wiggled his way up onto the beach besides these ladies.

But unfortunately, someone else thought they were entertaining (or delicious) to watch as well and I snapped this lurking off shore.

Be safe, my new elephant seals friends!

After being mesmerized all morning by elephant seals, we slowly got back in the car. I had hoped to make it to as far south as Los Angeles but the coast beckoned and I couldn't drag myself into the city just yet. I turned back into the safety of the woods to see the coast one more time.

We spent the next days lazily driving the same path North. We dipped our feet in the water and enjoyed lunch high on the cliffs.

Only on the Californian coast can you drive from the beach to cliffs high enough for it to be only us and the birds in a moment.



Thank you PCH - my soul is refreshed, my mind is clear, my heart is open.  

Think I should turn back South again?

Dinner with sea otters and yoga with seals

Monterrey, California caught me completely off guard. We were on our way back North to San Fransisco and decided to spend one last night on the ocean.

I love spontaneous travel decisions because without them, I would never know what a perfect little beach side town Monterrey is. 

After spending the past few days in the woods of Big Sur I was ready for a nice dinner and hotel stay. We booked a night stay at Monterrey Hotel, around the block from Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, it is  located in the historic downtown area. The hotel was quiet and charming with switchback hallways that you could easily get lost in. 

For dinner we walked to Fisherman's Wharf and after getting a great recommendation from our hotel staff decided to try Domenico's on the Wharf where we enjoyed seafood, seafood, seafood. 

 

 Wood grilled salmon and shrimp straight from the bay we sat above.

 

We even had an extra guest that was a complete show off by catching his own meal from the marina - but we let him stay around to enjoy the evening with us anyways.

 

We stayed late, chatting with the waiters that wanted to know everything about "Walking Dead" (being that it is filmed in Georgia) and enjoying wine on the deck.

We also couldn't look away from our entertainment. They looked a bit lazy but they never quit pushing each other over the side or jumping flippers first into their pile of friends. 

The next morning we awoke for a greatly needed early morning run down Cannery Row. This area takes you along the beach and through the first canneries, or what is left of them, that helped the area boom.

 

 Everyone in Monterrey was active - from the bikers peddling past on the ocean front trails, the paddle boarders exploring the calm bay, and we even caught a glimpse of a AM yoga session in the harbor.

Serious skills here!

Monterrey definitely put me in a zen like state as well - off to Trader Joe's and back on the road again...  
 

You are now free to move about the country.

This all started as a travel blog (those many months ago) and FINALLY I am getting back to my roots and #deltabratting across the country.

I love every bit of traveling, even all the boring tidbits - the packing, the train ride to the airport, and the anxiety of getting on flights. I am happier sleeping on the floor of the airport when I have spent the day getting bumped from flights than sitting at home. But that is how I have traveled from the beginning and that is how I hope to always travel. I am embarrassed to admit the amount of tears that I will shed the day I am too old to stay at a hostel.

This trip came from bittersweet circumstance - my job was ending but it gave me a week to vagabond about before transitioning into my new role. I knew I NEEDED to head West but wasn't exactly sure where I would end up. Hiking the Narrows, seeing S perform in Vegas, drinking until twilight in Napa, or all of the above. All I knew was the West was calling me home.

I ended up in beautiful San Francisco and though I am prejudice to many other cities around the world, it quickly shot up my list of favorites after a few blissed out days. This is one of my favorites from crooked Lombard Street looking out to Alcatraz.

We were blessed with amazing weather - warm with no fog. If you are familiar with SF you know this view is quite peculiar!

We spent Saturday playing tourists - enjoying all the activities you secretly love but know you shouldn't. We watched the seals lay in the sun off of Pier 39. If you want a good shot - go early to miss the crowds and all the touristy shops (no one secretly loves those).

Sweet guys may even pose for a shot with you

America's Cup is being held in SF this summer, an annual yachting match with teams from countries around the world. Trials are to begin this week and last through September, so with yachts coming and going and sound stages being erected; by afternoon Fisherman's Wharf was littered with people.

Wanting to stay as long as possible near Italian yachting men (right?!) I lingered near Fisherman's Wharf and stumbled upon a Farmer's Market and one can never say "no" to a Farmer's Market.

Plums, Avocados, Artichokes...



 Beets, Grapes, Radishes....

The Ferry Plaza market is held each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in front of the Bay along the Embarcadero. On Saturdays, food trucks and chefs from around the city setup stalls to serve fresh, delicious meals.

After grabbing some fresh goodies and a good meal, we made our way to Golden Gate Park.

If you are feeling adventurous, walking the bridge is exhilarating, especially on a day with views like these

Walk the bridge South to North to have the wind at your back (yes, it makes a BIG difference), a restroom at the end, and bring a coat. Just trust me, it is cold up there!

 The next morning after a full day of sightseeing, I could not leave SF without one last important stop. The Painted Ladies - and where the sitcom Full House was filmed! Don't judge me.

Seven of the houses lining Alamo Square have been coined the "Painted Ladies" but all of the houses in the area have amazing Victorian architecture and intricate details. I want to live in a house this beautiful one day and a city this mesmerizing.

It is true.. I left my heart in San Francisco!