Our First Day in San Diego Day 9

About five years ago, we had mapped out a whole different California trip than the one we actually took. We planned landing in San Francisco, spending a few days road tripping in a vintage convertible all the way down the coast. Hitting all the major attractions and cities along the ride then stopping in San Diego for a few days. We even planned out a whole new trip a second time, two years ago, going in reverse up the coast in a giant SUV from San Diego to Seattle!! But. Such is life and as other travel opportunities arose, we had always postponed this California trip. Then when my husband brought it back up last year, I was not going to let it go by again. We just went for it, editing it down to what we really all wanted. So if you have been following along, or not, we came up with landing in LA then driving with stops to San Diego, in a normal SUV!

Absolutely happy that we got to make this trip happen this year. And this trip allows us to go back to California to finish our original plans.

Notice that San Diego was always a destination point? Well, go look! I have dreamed most of my adult life about San Diego; even if I had never been before. Weird, I know, but there has always been this draw. Maybe because my genes are direct from Sicilian, where it’s hot, desert-like weather combined with the ocean and an easy going-ness? Who knows, but I think it may be due to the fact that I am growing tired of Boston’s ten minute Summers, and fifty year Winters. I mean, who needs this much time out of the sun and in the gloom!!?? Not this bird!!

Ok, I will stop sounding like I am 75yo. :)~

Day 9! Woo! We made it to San Diego!

We sadly left Anaheim at 11AM. We said goodby to Disneyland and made a bee line straight to La Jolla, which was an hour and a half away. We knew our room would not be ready, but we took off in our bathing suits with hopes that we could make it to enjoy the beach. My husband is such a sweet person, he changed all the drive coordinates this whole trip so we could drive along the coast (EVEN ON OUR LAST DAY DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT! I know he is pretty awesome). He even took us on a fifteen minute drive after we got to La Jolla just to see some of the ocean. Explanation… Where we were driving the whole time was not vistas of the ocean so much, but of cliffs as high as buildings! The ocean was in the distance, but the cliffs were so impressive it didn’t matter where the ocean was. IT WAS SO COOL!! Everything so far was perfect, and I already felt so at home.

We rolled up to the La Jolla Shores Hotel. This hotel is very pretty, and in such a convenient location, close to the smaller downtown area of La Jolla, and with parking beneath the building. It is built in the Spanish style, most likely in the 70s; lots of brown tiles, fountains, piazza in the middle. It was also located right on the ocean. The view was spectacular! As soon as we arrived, we checked in (rooms not ready) and ran straight to the beach. Ahh that sand, how much do I miss it!

We got into our rooms not too long after we hit the beach. So we each took turns to check it out and put some stuff away. We finished up at the beach at around 7PM, then went to hang out at the pool/hot tub for a bit. The pool was a real decent size, and the hot tub was fun. The kid swam a long time, and my husband and I sat in the hot tub. Which was so hot that I didn’t want to get out. The jets were in the perfect spots, the timer was over 15 minutes for sure and all the kids stayed away. Man, I miss that hot tub.

One of our traditions on beach trips is to eat a meal on the beach if we can. Keeping it casual. We grabbed some drinks from a local liquor store then take out from the Taco Stand in downtown La Jolla. This place rocked and was hella-busy! We got a mix of burritos and tacos. Everything was amazing, so big!, and their salsa was one of the best I have had in a long time. Totally a must eat spot when you are in San Diego..we know there are a couple of locations in the area.

This day turned to night so quickly! We were having such a great time laughing and snuggling up that before we knew it the clock said midnight. So, off to bed we went. We had another big day ahead of us!