California Traveling

Big Sur

If you had to describe yourself with a few words, what would they be? Mine would be active, minimalist, vegetarian, traveler.

Being active lets me experience amazing adventures as we travel, such as hiking intense paths with a view that leaves you speechless or kayaking 17 miles to see a coast that is not accessed by road.

Sequoia Natl Park

Being minimalist allows me the funds to make regular travel a priority.

Being vegetarian gives me the opportunity to search for unique, nourishing restaurants.

I’m a traveler. I love the planning, execution, and all the adventures that are waiting for me.

We moved to California 10 months ago. Before we had an address to call home, we started traveling and haven’t stopped.

Here are several California spots we’ve visited: Big Bear, Santa Monica, L.A., Disneyland, Laguna Beach, Ojai, Rancho Cucamonga, Dana Point, Kingsburg, Fresno, Desert Hot Springs, Joshua Tree, Redondo Beach, Tehachapi, Manhattan Beach, Huntington Beach, and San Diego.

We recently adventured out on a 16 day, 2132 mile road trip (with a toddler, babywearing is our secret).

We visited: Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon, Fresno, Yosemite, Monterey, Big Sur, San Francisco, Petaluma, Fort Bragg (not the base - it is a Glass Beach town), Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas and back to Fort Irwin. The road trip was great! We learned from visiting the mountains, ocean and city that we are beach people. We love our daily dose of Vitamin Sea.

Check out a few of our pictures from the places we visited along our road trip:

Big Sur, CA 

 

Ft. Bragg Glass Beach

 

 King's Canyon

Lake Tahoe

Monterey

I want to focus on sharing our favorite spot with you - Monterey.

When we first arrived to Monterey, we were traveling from Yosemite. We had been through three national parks and were craving a Whole Foods. With a quick search to see if Monterey had one, we were already excited to reach this destination for a yummy lunch and kombucha.

We stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. As we unloaded and walked in we already felt at home with the ocean right in front of us. We arrived at just the right time and received a free upgrade to an ocean view.

We got to the room, unpacked and were ready to enjoy the view, which we did for a bit (but we have a toddler, so we went out to explore).

Our routine was to wake up, Yelp a healthy organic breakfast spot, run there with the B.O.B. jog stroller, eat breakfast and run back or to the play park.

We found some amazing places to eat in Monterey: The Wild Plum Cafe & Bakery, El Cantaro Vegan, and Happy Girl Kitchen Company were our favorites.

We walked the town, drank tea with a book during nap time, biked 8 miles along the town path, visited Denice the Menace Park, and emerged ourselves in the beach town vibe.

Tourist highlights include the aquarium, 17 mile drive, and Big Sur is about a 45 minute drive away.
 

From all the places we have visited while living in California here are our favorites: Monterey, Ojai, Manhattan Beach and Big Bear.

In 10 months we have had 31 road trips and 2 airplane trips (to Austin and New Mexico). I’m already brainstorming our next trip. We travel not to escape life, but for life to not escape us.