Max and I rang in the new year with a trip to California and had the best time getting our toes in the sand and exploring different areas to possibly call home this summer. When we arrived at the airport, Max surprised me with a convertible mustang for the week! The perfect way to cruise the pacific coast highway and kick off our trip!
For a place that "never rains", we had our fair share of rainy days but we didn’t let it slow us down. We put the top down between rain showers and cruised from Laguna to Long Beach and everywhere in between. We found some great apartments inland, a few beachy neighborhoods we could see calling home, and fell in love with Corona del Mar.
We had to check out Crystal Cove Park, and discovered the beach cottages are even more charming in person as in the pictures. Believe it or not, we even discovered an “Alabama bar” in Laguna Hills and were shocked at the number of Alabama fans, students, and alumni cheering on the Tide in the peach bowl (so random but so fun).
We stayed in Laguna Beach and rented the Foxglove Studio at Arabella Laguna; it was clean, charming, and in the perfect location. We were one block from the beach and heisler park. The landscape and views were just incredible! There are tons of cliffs and rocks and tidepools and the most beautiful aloe plants, cactus, and succulents you've ever seen!
We had great food! Our favorites were the amazing California breakfast at Anastacia Cafรฉ and the incredible sushi at Sushi Laguna. This place is totally low key and we discovered it randomly late one night. We pulled up a seat at the bar to watch them make the sushi rolls, shared a pitcher of Sapporo, and ate some of the best sushi we’ve ever had!
We ended our trip on a cool rainy day, and a trip down the Balboa pier where we saw a seal splashing around in the water - showing off for the fisherman. Even on a stormy day, this place sure is beautiful.
We can’t wait to make another trip West, and hopefully find the perfect little beachy rental and my dream job!
Suggestions or connections appreciated.
This will be quite the adventure and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds!
