To be honest, Stearns Wharf was kind of a let down. We walked along the wharf in search of dinner options our first night in Santa Barbara, and we were not too impressed. If you are looking for a good place to get food, then I would suggest walking along the Santa Barbara Harbor and … More Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf
This year on Christmas, we decided to do something that I have never done before, which was have a non-relative cook for Christmas. Instead of hosting the holiday at our place, or traveling back to Chicago to spend the day at a relative’s home, we drove up to Santa Barbara for a few days. Since … More Christmas at the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore, Santa Barbara
I assume anything with “Disney” in the title is associated with lots of money, so when I heard there was something associated with Disney for free I was immediately suspicious. However, I still had to investigate when it is basically in my backyard. In Sherman Oaks, California, a town in the valley above Bel Air … More “That’s From Disneyland” Pop Up Exhibit
People who live outside of Southern California tend to view Hollywood as the center of Los Angeles and as the location where all of the movie magic happens. When I was younger and living in Chicago, I thought as a child that Hollywood Blvd was where all the celebrities could be seen walking around in between … More Hollywood Blvd (Walk of Fame)
Sometimes picking a town and simply driving around can lead to new discoveries. When driving through Carmel Valley, without any actual plans, we drove past Folktale Winery and after lunch decided to check it out. We assumed it would be a more formal winery and that there would be a gift store of some type … More Folktale Winery and Vineyards
When traveling on a budget, my family likes to play the “stay in a cheaper hotel and then pretend to stay in a fancier hotel” game. Just because you are not staying at a resort, does not mean you cannot enjoy the property for an afternoon. The best way to do this is eating at … More Lucia Restaurant (Bernardus Lodge)
I never actually tried the food at Big Sur Bakery, but it is the thought that counts. Mostly I wanted to share photos from this little stop along Highway 1 because I found it adorable, I encourage you to stop by this restaurant to actually try the food, and I think these photos perfectly encapsulate … More Big Sur Bakery
Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea, and Big Sur are all filled with beautiful scenery and lend themselves to great outdoor activities. However, I was warned before my first visit that the weather is not always the best for outdoor sightseeing. I learned this the hard way when it rained all day on the Saturday I was visiting Monterey. … More Monterey Bay Aquarium
A trip to Big Sur would not be complete without a stop for lunch at Nepenthe, the restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean off the Pacific Coast Highway. After driving along the coast, it is nice to stop for lunch at Nepenthe where you can enjoy looking out over the side of the cliff without worrying … More Nepenthe
While the drive from Monterey to Big Sur might not be the typical length of a traditional road trip, this iconic portion of Highway 1 in California deserves a “road trip” title. Many people add this as a part of their full road trip that they take along Highway 1, but I would argue that … More Monterey to Big Sur Road Trip
