Hotel California

Apologies for the hiatus, we just got back from 10 days in sunny California where the temperatures were below 75 and the humidity was 0.  In spite of this lovely weather that one could certainly get used to, it was almost refreshing to step off the plane and back into the sticky New Orleans heat.

We had such a great trip! We left from LAX, drove 5 hours North to the South entrance of Yosemite National Park. There we spent three days hiking three very different paths. we saw things we have never seen anywhere before and I challenged myself to some serious heights.

Day 1: Biking and hiking around the valley floor

The valley floor with Yosemite Falls in the background 

The bridge in the distance is where we started our bolder climbing journey to the base of the falls

Day 2: hike to Sentinel Dome and the Fissures at Taft Point

The view from the top

on our way back down 

The Fissures:

         

Day 3: hiking Mariposa Grove where the Giant Sequoia trees live

Giant trunk from underneath

Giant pinecone 

Giant trees 

Giant drop

After our hike we drove the 4 hours south to Santa Barbara, CA via a pit stop at Bass Lake for awesome burger @ The Forks. With my mom and sister we rented an adorable little house on a quiet street a few blocks from the beach. This part of our trip was extremely relaxing and we didn't take too many pictures, not even of the great meals we ate. Here are some highlights:

The Beach

The Harbor

                           

Oysters at Brophy Brothers 

Saw some old friends,

met some new friends.

Santa Barbara Wine Country  

Bridlewood Estate Winery Tasting

Roblar Tasting

Coquelicot Tasting Room

On our way back from wine country we stopped at this mountain gem. Cold Spring Tavern was established in the 1860's as a stage coach stop and then was later purchases by a family in 1941. We went on Sunday, their most popular day. Aside from a cover band playing 80's rock, Sundays are special because they serve up their famous tri tip sandwich pop up style in the back of the main restaurant.

The Santa Barbara Mission:

Outside of the Mission was remnants of a chalk art competition

Last Day in Venice Beach:

Before catching our evening flight out of LAX (the rest of the family had already left), C and I bummed around Venice Beach for the day eating tacos and enjoying street art.