CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP
Hi friends! I know, it has been a long time since we took this trip, but the guide is finalized, so enjoy! Our 9 day road trip/vacation took us through Northern California, starting in L.A. It was SO much fun! We wanted to focus our trip around wine country, but also cross some things off the bucket list. We ate what we wanted, drank what we wanted, and did what we wanted which was so freeing, but I am DEFINITELY ready to get back on track with food and fitness! We flew into L.A. and stayed there for a few days with some family friends before making our way up the coast. We stopped in Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Monterey (I know, big little lies), Napa, and ended in San Francisco. We hit a lot of places in a short amount of time, so we just did the main things trying to still have some free time! I definitely would have loved a longer trip, so we could've stayed at places for a couple of nights, but next time, right? ;)
We didn't go out to eat in L.A. because we stayed with some family friends that REALLY know their way around a kitchen. We didn't do much other than Orangetheory and an evening trip to Malibu. I have been wanting to stop in Erewhon so we went to the one in Calabasas :)
Santa Barbara:
We took a day trip to Santa Barbara! Such a cute town! We started it off with an Orangetheory workout in Goleta then drove to town.
Beach: We went to Hendry's beach before heading to get some food after the workout! This was one of my FAVORITE beaches we stopped at because it was a dog beach. Which means doggies running around, chasing toys, and swimming in the water.
Food:
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company- My boyfriend and I both wanted fresh seafood like the WHOLE trip, so we used Yelp like it was our job! This place was highly rated, but I wasn't a huge fan. It was at the very end of Stearns Wharf, so it overlooked the ocean, but we had to fight off seagulls and pelicans the whole time which took away from the experience. I ordered shrimp ceviche (which was underwhelming), but Kelly ordered the freshest and most delicious oysters! We split an appetizer of coconut shrimp because those are my weakness and ehhhh.
Overall rating: (6/10)
Drinks:
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.- LOVED this place! It was amongst a few shops that were brick with outdoor seating and ivy growing alllll over the buildings. It was ADORABLE. I'm not a huge beer drinker anymore, but we both ordered Hoppy Poppy which was a GREAT IPA. Perfect for a post OTF workout! You can order food from any restaurant around and bring it to the bar. Such a cool concept! I could've spent hours there!
Overall rating: 8/10
Recommendations:
Boathouse- this place was adorable! It was right at the entrance of Hendry's beach. If it wasn't 10 A.M. it would have been such a cute place for happy hour.
South Coast Deli- I asked someone for a MASSIVE salad recommendation, and this was the option they provided. Definitely wish I would've gone here!
La Super-Rica Taqueria- Recommendation for tacos from a taco fanatic!
Brophy Bros- When Kelly and I both mentioned seafood, this place was mentioned often. It looked a little nicer than what we wanted, but again, I wish I would've listened and gone here for some salmon!
Paso Robles:
Coffee:
Spearhead- Our favorite way to start the day is with coffee. What kind? That depends on the day. I have recently discovered I am an espresso girl. Kelly usually sticks with black iced coffee or a cappuccino. So, I ordered an americano and Kelly got a cappuccino. This place was right in the middle of downtown. It was ADORABLE. You could watch the people in the back roast the coffee beans, which I think is pretty dang cool. The coffee was not better than the atmosphere.....
Overall rating: 6/10
Food:
Fish Gaucho- This place was highly recommended to us. Again, searching for seafood on Yelp, this place appeared at the top. We walked around the downtown square looking at menus of the restaurants, and this place had a line out the door. So obviously, we chose to eat here. It was upscale Mexican. They have fresh seafood options for the day so LOVED that. We started with a salsa trio order (salsa rojo + avocado tomatillo + piña jicama pico de gallo). I loved all the salsas, but I could survive off chips and salsa. Kelly ordered fresh ahi tuna tacos, and I ordered the sea bass a la carta (served over roasted corn & heirloom cauliflower succotash + fresh herb-infused olive oil+ fresh seasonal micro greens). The tacos were AMAZING. The sea bass was too pan fried for me. It didn't taste fresh enough, but the vegetables were dang good.
Overall rating: 7/10
Wineries:
Calcareous Vineyard- This was our FIRST vineyard of the trip! It was recommended to us by a friend not for the wine but for the views- which did not disappoint! We didn't really know what to expect other than a glass of wine after a long drive! So definitely successful. The tasting room was gorgeous, on the top of a mountain with a 360 view for miles! The wines were definitely not the best of the trip, but $20 for 6 tastings was a great deal!
Overall rating: 6.5/10 (views were 8.5/10)
J.Lohr Vineyards and Wines- Oh my goodness. Tied for the best experience at a vineyard this trip. I want to go back. Our sommelier was so knowledgeable which made the tasting that much better. She explained the climate and the wines so well, showed us how to taste, and best of all, she paired a few with food which DEFINITELY made a difference in the wine. It was about a 15-minute drive from our Airbnb, and we drove through the vineyards on the way which fascinates me to see miles of grape vines. We ended up buying 2 bottles of wine: 2017 Paso Robles Fog's Reach Pinot Noir and 2016 Paso Robles Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon. The cabernet was one of my favorite tastes of the trip.
Overall rating: 8/10
1102 Speakeasy- So this wasn't a vineyard, but it was one of the coolest parts of the trip! It was this small, quaint, old school speakeasy hidden in downtown Paso Robles. They had some of the weirdest (in a good way) drink selections, and the best part, cellphone use was frowned upon! Such a cute date spot.
Overall rating: 8/10
Monterey
Food:
Passionfish- One of the best meals we ate (this started the string of amazing meals, actually). This place was on a cute downtown street and was highly rated... for a reason! You walk in and there's a glass wall full of wine bottles. It was a small restaurant, but they had massive windows, so you didn't feel too closed in. Their menu features "fresh sustainable seafood, slow-cooked meats, and local produce." We started off with 2 appetizers: smoked trout ceviche tostaditas with cashew pesto and a spicy salsa brava & a sea scallop perfectly seared with a caper-raisin-walnut relish on top of an artichoke risotto cake. Both were amazing, but the scallop was one of the best bites of the trip. It was a texture lover’s dream. For dinner, Kelly got the arctic char with a red curry vinaigrette, buttered parsnips, soubise, and pickled onions. It was good but not amazing. I ordered the spoonable 12-hour lamb breast with Meyer lemon tajine and goat cheese sauce. I am a sucker for lamb (might be one of my favorite proteins), and goat cheese is my favorite cheese, so it was a match made in heaven. The lamb is so tender they don't give you a fork or a knife because it melts in your mouth. I need to go back to Monterey just for this meal.
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Alvarado Street Brewery- This place was recommended to us by my brother who goes to Monterey for 3 weeks every year, and it was such a cool place. There was an outdoor beer garden, regular seating, and a large bar. We kind of stumbled upon this place because I was craving a very specific breakfast which actually turned into lunch by the time we arrived! Kelly ordered the Mai Tai P.A (which was there recommended IPA.) This IPA was so refreshing (I stole a sip ;)) I ordered their roasted Brussel sprout plate that had bacon, honey, red onion, balsamic, and pecorino on top! This was my breakfast, so I took off the cheese and added a fried egg. Pretty. Dang. Good. They served it in a cast iron skillet (with a little too much oil on the bottom), but the flavors were on point! I wish we would've had more time in Monterey, this would have been a GREAT dinner spot; it was on a string light street in downtown.
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Drinks:
The Inn at Spanish Bay- The first thing we did when we got to Monterey was check-in, and the second thing we did was drive to The Inn at Spanish Bay. Again, recommended by my brother, this amazing hotel had an outdoor area with benches and fire pits (which weren't lit unfortunately, I was freezing) and a bar. We grabbed a drink outdoors overlooking the golf course and ocean and just relaxed. It was a little pricey, but vacay amiright? Definitely a great experience!
Overall rating: 7/10
Fisherman's Wharf- This was on multiple lists of things to do in Monterey. It wasn't anything exciting... kind of a tourist spot, but a great starting location for our walk along the.... Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. This is an 18-mile paved trail that weaves along the coastline. There were multiple openings for sea lion spotting’s which I loved! We parked near Fisherman's Wharf and walked 2 miles round trip to and from...
Cannery Row- Again, this was on multiple lists and was touristy, but a little more historic! It was a great destination and a turnaround spot to head back towards the car.
Napa Valley:
This was BY FAR my favorite part of the trip. Absolutely loved Napa... I loved the town, the food, the wine, everything. I want to go back! Let's start with the food....
Food:
Zuzu: This was the best meal of the trip. Hands down. It is a "Spanish inspired" tapas restaurant which was the perfect welcoming to Napa. Be prepared to drop some money on your meal because you'll want to try everything on the menu with a few glasses of wine because well, you're in wine country! Their menu is seasonal so nothing we ordered is on there anymore. We ordered:
Artisan Cheese Board
Charcuterie Board
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Mascarpone *
Arugula and Peach Salad *
Grilled Octopus *
Lamb Chops
Seared Pork Cheeks & Braised Tongue *
Andalusian Pot de Creme *
Pastel de Tres Leches with Caramelized Bananas
*favorites (even though it is hard to decide)
Overall rating: 9/10
Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill: Both Kelly and I seek out Mediterranean restaurants. It is one of our favorite types of food! This place was highly rated on yelp, and when you checked in, you got a free hummus appetizer! We sat outside because the weather in Northern California is amazing, so the rating is very much based on atmosphere. We both decided that if we're going to spend that much money on Mediterranean it needs to be better. They tried to alter the true Mediterranean flavors too much, in my opinion! They also have a seasonal menu so based on memory, we ordered:
Warm Hummus with smoked paprika, EVOO, pine nuts, and grilled pita (I am a sucker for pita, but it wasn't grilled enough. It almost tasted raw in the middle)
Fresh House made Dolma- this was where I felt they tried to do too much with the seasonings
Branzino
Short ribs *
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Oxbow Public Market: This is my kind of place! It was an upscale, indoor, Farmers Market. (Atlantans- think a smaller, more foodie version of Ponce.) Before you get to the market, there is a place called Gott's Roadside. If we had another day, we would've eaten here because of recommendations, but we were in desperate need of an AMAZING charcuterie board. I loved walking around looking at different vendors and the restaurants. We landed on a place called:
Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant: Loved this place. It was at the very end of the market. There was a bar, a cute wine shop with different, fairly cheap, and highly rated wines, lots of different cheeses and meats. On the menu, you could either pick from one of the many charcuterie boards, or if you wanted, you could create your own board from their cheese and meat options... GENIUS! One of the best charcuteries we've had, and we have had a lot.
Overall rating: 8/10
Bouchon Bakery: This was a must for a person that loves food as much as me! Mostly because it is one of Thomas Keller's restaurants. We drove to Yountville to see the town for a few hours. This is where we were planning on staying, and it would have been awesome. Definitely a day destination because the town was so cute. It was in a small shop with an outdoor patio next to it. This assortment of pastries and breads are enough to make your mouth water. It is so small and crowded that you can't wait too long to make a decision. To be honest, if it wasn't famous, we probably wouldn't have gotten anything. We ordered:
Chocolate Croissant- chocolate was nonexistent, but the pastry was great!
Chocolate chunk cookie
Strawberry Danish
Fruit Tart *
Overall rating: 6/10
Wineries:
We weren't in Napa long enough to go to a bunch of wineries, but we made it to two!
Conn Creek: Pretty outdoors, but the wine tasting was nothing compared to J.Lohr. I chose this place because I kind of wanted to go to a winery of a bottle that I have had before, so that is how we landed on Conn Creek. Definitely will do more research next time before we hit Napa, so we have more options.
Overall rating: 6/10
Mumm Napa: Ummmm I would've gone here 5 days in a row if I had 5 days! Not only was the wine amazing, but they had an outdoor patio that was shaded and so peaceful. It is sparkling wine which was a refreshing change of pace from the heavy reds. Instead of getting a flight, we each got a glass then split another glass. We ordered:
Brut Reserve Rose- VERY good but wasn't the best sip of the day.
Sparkling Pinot Meunier *- I've never had a Meunier, but I am a fan now.
2010 DVX Reserve *- we splurged on this, and it was so good we almost bought a bottle. One of the best things I've ever drank.
Overall rating: 8.5/10
San Francisco
Food:
Resolute: Super cute wine bar we went to on the way to the airport. We had about an hour to kill, and I wanted one more glass of wine and a charcuterie. Stumbled upon this place, and the charcuterie board was just as good or even better than the board in Napa! You could choose the amount of cheese and meat you wanted, and which ones you wanted. They had the most amazing selections including the chevre which is the reason why it was the best board.
Overall rating: 8/10
Pressed: After following a bunch of ladies from California on Instagram, I HAD to try Pressed Juicery to see if it lived up to the hype. To be honest, it kind of disappointed, but I think it was situational. We biked to a Pressed that didn't have the "freezes”, so we had to bike to another one, inside a mall, that was out of the chocolate flavor and half the toppings. So, we couldn't get what we wanted, but it was still pretty good. It would be amazing, if they had chocolate! I love the ingredients in all of their things. Definitely a guilt free treat.
Overall rating: 7/10
Mixt: After all the food of the trip and the prep for a red eye home, we were both craving a MASSIVE salad. I saw this place in Kale Junkie's San Francisco food guide, so I had to try it. I ordered the Beetnik with mixt greens, arugula, roasted golden beets, avocado, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, shaved fennel, savory herbs, and lemon dill dressing. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Kelly ordered the Orchard with kale, mixt greens, grilled chicken, Applewood smoked bacon, apples, sharp cheddar, avocado, toasted almonds, savory herbs, balsamic vinaigrette. Both were so dang good!
Overall rating: 7/10
Elephant Sushi: Purposely saved the best for last. This was our one BIG meal in San Francisco, and we did not hold back one bit. We wanted sushi in San Francisco and ended up at this place recommended by a local. It was very small, but we sat at the bar. At first, we weren't too pleased, but it ended up working out because we got 3 extra tastes for free! We ordered:
Sea Bass Sashimi appetizer *
Uni Tama Nigiri*
Basil Salmon Nigiri*
Red Dragon Roll
Spicy Hamachi Roll*
Ya Man Roll
White Out Roll
Free taste: toro and hamachi belly nigiri
Overall rating: 9/10
Union Larder: We were on a 45-minute wait for Elephant Sushi, so we walked to Lombard Street then had more time to kill. This was one of the coolest places across the street from Elephant Sushi. Definitely what I would want a bar to look like if I owned one. I ordered a glass of wine and sat by the window. It was a warm environment which was nice for the chilly outdoors. They had some amazing looking charcuterie boards as well, but we were saving up for Elephant Sushi.
Overall rating: 8/10
Charmaine's: Damn, I love a good rooftop bar, and this was it! It was definitely the spot because we had to stand in line to get upstairs for about 20 minutes. Once we got upstairs, views of the city were amazing. It was super crowded, but I had a great dirty martini, and Kelly had an Old Fashioned with bourbon that I am still dreaming about (Russell's bourbon whiskey).
Overall rating: 7/10
Cityscape: We were in full vacation mode. Post elephant sushi and walking around the streets, we wanted to grab one final drink to end our last night in California. This was actually the bar in our hotel, and it was a better view than Charmaine's. Ceiling to ground windows overlooking the light up skyline with the Bay Bridge in the distance. The service wasn't the best, but the company and views made up for it.
Overall rating: 8/10
Golden Gate Bridge:
This was our one big adventure in San Francisco, of course! We had our car parked in a garage for 24 hours, so we ubered to City Bike rentals, got a map, and headed out on our bikes for the day. We biked about 4 miles towards the Golden Gate Bridge and locked our bikes up near the start. We didn't want to bike across due to crowds, winds, and the hike on the other side. We ended up walking 6 miles round trip which was rough but worth it. We walked across the bridge to the famous vantage point, hiked to the top, and saw some of the most breathtaking views. The fog started to roll in the closer we got, so I was worried we weren't going to be able to see it. But it made for a better picture!
After we picked up our bikes on the way back, we biked to Pier 39, saw the famous sea lions, then biked to Pressed. We were exhausted after, but we had a long flight that day so who cares!
Biking the bridge was the way to go!
Overall rating: 8/10
It was a long trip with lots of activities. I definitely would love to settle in each of those places for more than one-night next time, but I wanted to check a lot off my bucket list, which I did proudly! I am dreaming about going back to California soon. Let me know if you do anything and enjoy your travels! <3
Ally