California Trip

Back in January Gunnar gave me a surprise anniversary/birthday trip to California.  He got us Wicked tickets at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood and then we explored up and down Hwy 1 the rest of the trip hitting different beaches, castles, and mountains. 

Lucille Ball's home...

John Wayne at the Chinese Theater.  His foot was smaller than mine!!

Santa Monica Pier

I saw Wicked about 10 years ago in London and have always wanted to see it again and Gunnar had always wanted to explore Highway 1 up the coast of California so for our anniversary and my birthday he made both happen.  (our anniversary and my birthday are 13 days apart).  We flew into LA on my actual birthday, got up the next morning and did a bus tour of the city and surrounding area.  Our guide was pretty cool and seemed to truly love LA, Hollywood, and the whole area and culture.   We made it back to our hotel barely in time to get dressed and head to the theater. 

Sooo good!  *sigh*

Gunnar rented a convertible Mustang and the next morning we cruised up Highway 101 onto Highway 1 and up to Hearst Castle.  Through the mountains and along the beach...so beautiful!

Moonstone Beach

It was drizzly and overcast the first afternoon we went to Hearst Castle.  Kinda made it spooky and awesome!  But we couldn't see the view which we had been told was amazing...

The next day was my favorite day of the whole trip.  We got up early, went for a run along the boardwalk, had breakfast, went down to the beach and had some individual time with the Lord and then had time together, we really needed some reconnecting time, explored the beach some, drove to the Elephant Seal beach, went back to the Hearst Castle and had some Hearst Ranch Beef Burgers, took another tour, explored the grounds, then finally headed down the coast to our next stop, Pismo Beach. Wyatt grew up in this area until he was in 8th grade and his mom is from there so they had given us several hole in the wall restaurant recommendations and places to see.  We ate at this cute little cafe one night and a burger joint another day that we would have never found on our own but turned out to be sooo good!!

Ancient Roman Columns

Morro Bay

Morro Rock

On our last full day we slept in, ate at this seaside restaurant, spent some time reading over looking the water, drove along the coast exploring, stopped at several beaches and shops, got coffees, walked around and just took in the shops, and beaches.  We drove down to LA that night and stopped in Santa Barbara on our way.  We would have hit LA right at rush hour and no one wants that so we stopped and spent our last evening around the Santa Barbara pier before heading into LA later that night.

Avila Beach

Santa Barbara Pier

We stayed on the pier and watched the sunset which was BEAUTIFUL.  Santa Barbara is surrounded by mountains and the sunset turned them a gold vibrant pink.  After dark, we went back to the Mustang and drove it onto the pier to eat supper.  We had both left our wallets in the car and had no money with us!  Gunnar ate A LOT of seafood on this trip.. He was a happy man.

 Gunnar had taken care of all the childcare arrangements before we left.  They were with Sara and Wyatt the first day, Mom picked them up that evening and they stayed with my parents over the weekend, then Mom took them to my in-laws Sunday night and they stayed there until we picked them up Wednesday evening.  

They just really had a bummer time ;) I was slightly apprehensive to leave them so long especially Kit but knew it was much needed time for Gunnar and me.  We really wanted to get a trip in together before we had another nursing baby and couldn't anymore for a while.  We needed some extended time alone and I am so glad he made it happen.