I will eventually recap my entire birthday trip.
It just might take until my next birthday.
I posted our Golden Gate bridge urban hike, but after that we packed up and headed south down Highway 1, the scenic route down the coast of California. It’s a beautiful trip – if you ever have a chance to make the drive, DO IT!
Day 1: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and Salinas
We started out not quite as early as we meant to. I had a conference call and opted to hit the gym for an hour. I may have had some things to sweat out.
When we got on the road, Vegas presented me with a print out about things to see and do along the drive. I happily read it on our way out of town with a tasty snack. Bacon almonds, FTW.
Not more than an hour down the road, we stopped in Half Moon Bay for lunch. Well, we meant to stop for lunch. We got a little distracted by some goats first.
Do the baby goats come with the lease?!
Then we really were headed to lunch… until we passed a cute little winery called La Nebbia. (Side note: nebbia means fog in Italian.)
After a tasting and with bottle of sparkling wine in tow, we finally went in search of food.
I found my spirit animal.
Our lunch spot was a great find. San Benito House Deli is a tiny sandwich shop right along the main drag. They make their breads fresh; I don’t think I need to tell you that the olive-walnut bread was to die for.
There isn’t seating inside, but they had a gorgeous deck area with a guy playing covers on a guitar. It felt like a dream.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH5hcSbBGMe/
Tip: their sandwiches are HUGE. Unless you’re starving, order just a half or split one with you partner-in-crime.
I sort of wanted to sit there all afternoon, but we had much to see! About an hour dow the road was out next stop: Santa Cruz.
It took us a bit longer because we had to keep pulling over to take pictures. The California coast is breathtaking, and worth the drive alone!
Once we landed in Santa Cruz, there was no question about what we would do. It’s home to California’s oldest surviving boardwalk, The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
I jumped out of the car and half ran to the entrance. I’ve never been to a boardwalk so big! It’s not a “thing” in Georgia.
They had live music on the beach, roller coaster, and other fair rides. We were more interested in the games though. They had all the old school stuff like ski ball, Donkey Kong, shooting, and the game where you try to toss rings in a cup floating in the water.
Vegas found the perfect game for me: Spider Stompin’. (I HATE spiders.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH5zr2cBwFT/
When it was time to leave, we had a handful of tickets to redeem. They offered the usual variety or crap you don’t need.
Vegas chose playing cards and Tootsie Rolls. I was happy with the fish she gave to me after winning the afore mentioned ring toss game.
Next stop was to our sleeping location in Salinas. The following day we planed to hike in Big Sur, but there aren’t a lot of options for places to stay right there… unless you want to spend $600 a night. We roll with Marriott points.
There were a few more coast stops on the way down. I swear there’s a view point turnoff ever quarter of a mile!
You have to be really careful driving. People are going slow to take in the view, or because they’re lost, or they just want to turn off for pictures every quarter of a mile.
OR, if you’re like us, you need to stop to buy roadside cherries, honey, and avocados.
FIVE AVOCADOS FOR 99¢. Whole Foods been ripping me off! On sale 3 for $5, my ass. *grumble grumble*
We also passed a ton of cabbage and strawberry patches. I had no idea so much produce was grown that close to the water! I bet developers salivate over all this wide open space.
About 50 minutes later, we were in Salinas. It was getting late and we were hungry for dinner. Plus it was my actual birth DAY! The lady at check in recommended her personal favorite, a little Italian place called Gino’s Fine Italian.
Apparently everyone in town agreed with the lady because they were packed! We were lucky enough to get in and we weren’t disappointed. Vegas even declared her lasagna the best she’s ever had! (This is not a small compliment coming from her.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH6JlFBB5S0/
We. Were. Stuffed.
But not so stuffed that I turned down my free birthday dessert. Nonna’s Cassata Cake. It was pound cake drizzled with marsala wine, layered with whipped marscapone mousse, and topped with imported chocolate ganache. OMFG – it was even better than it looks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH7sx3oBJLe/
At the end of day 1, my birthday, we went to bed like happy little piggies. I slept a long, hard sleep. It was one of those nights you don’t even remember falling asleep.
Stay tuned for day 2 – hiking in Big Sur!
[Tweet “Highway 1 Road Trip Play-By-Plan: Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz #fitfluential”]
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I’m still having impure thoughts about that cake.
Have you ever been to a boardwalk?
What’s the last thing you bought from a roadside stand?
You are right, your cake does look good! Anything Marsala drenched in my books is a win!
I love going to the pier or Boardwalk – Brighton, South of London, was my favourite. Collecting tokens and then seeing what random crap you could get with them was the best part. We used to see who could get the tackiest for their lot!
I’d love to see what one is like in London! One of these days I’ll get up there!
OMG that dinner/dessert sounds amazing!!! Much better than the Five Guys I ate on my birthday in a massively hungover state.
And yes, I’ve been to Venice Beach Boardwalk. Literally the worst place I’ve ever been in my life.
Haha! That sandwich soaked up a bit of a hangover.
I’ve never been to Venice Beach… I’ll continue to avoid it.
What a perfect way to celebrate being alive!!! I drove the coast many years ago – all the way from L.A. to San Francisco – and it was amazing!! I would love to do it again someday and take more time and more stops along the way. Just stunning!!!
Isn’t it? I kept saying I wished we had more time. Hopefully we’ll be able to do it again. I want to see the northern part too – apparently north of SF is awesome.
I was going to talk about the cheddar bacon almonds, and then the baby goats, and then the Nemo and Tootsie Rolls, and the avocados (WTH??) and then the dinner…. DAYUM
Yes to all of it. You need it in your life.
Sounds like the perfect birthday- you and Vegas have so much fun together. We drove the Pacific Coast highway last year during our NW trip but we ended in San Francisco- it would be cool to see everything further south, such a beautiful highway.
We want to do the NW portion! There’s just too much in the world to see… we need to win the lottery!
P.S. I tried to comment on your blog but it never would show up… did it go to spam? Loved the post about your dad. xo
Avocados were five for $1. That’s insane. Please tell me you bought 5.
Vegas knows how to do birthdays. I can just imagine one day when you have children what their parties will be like.
I wish I’d bought 50. UGH.
And shut yo mouth!
I’ve been to that boardwalk! It’s like Chuck-E-Cheese at the beach. Jealous of that avocado stand. Whole Foods has been ripping us off indeed. Can’t wait to read about your Big Sur hiking adventure. I should “revisit” my Cali coastal trip from 2 years ago but all my pics are of me and my d-bag ex. So probably best not to post them on my blog. Glad you had a good time on the coast.
It IS like Chuck-E -Cheese!!! I was thinking that as we played endless games of ski ball.
I laughed out loud at the d-bag ex. I have travel pics like that too. *sigh*
Great trip. Keep the updates coming. Does Venice Beach have a boardwalk? I can’t remember but if they do, I’ve been on it (obviously a long time ago). I think we bought honey last at a roadside stand. I want some of the avocados for 20 cents!!!!!
Someone above you commented that Venice does… i’ve never been though.
That’s it. Next road-trip north we’re eating in Salinas.
Who knew there was such good food there?!
I’m so glad you had a good time! I’ve never been on a road trip, or at least not one that wasn’t one-way and didn’t involve hurrying up to get to our destination. That sounds like so much fun, especially for your birthday!
It’s been something Vegas has taught me to love. I still remember those miserable drives to and from Arkansas and Atlanta as kids.
I seriously think if you and I took a road trip……… Yeah. You know what I am going to say. The shit that would ensue. Hot damn, we would need a camera crew to follow us because it would be EPIC!! I mean… More epic than your BDAY road trip….. TBD
I can’t argue that. Someone really should make a reality show about us. Like Real World, the immature, poop joke adult years.
OOH wow, I was totally just living vicariously through you as you were going on your trip. You are such a traveler, that you make me tired. I love traveling, but I’m also kind of a homebody, so the home-body(ness) often takes over. I usually go on a big trip once a year, but at least I get to travel through you. California is one of the most gorgeous places to drive through. I kind of salivate over the fields of oranges and fruit and veggies, because Colorado just doesn’t have those. I love the mountains here, and when I’m in California, I just marvel at all the growing there. It’s so glorious!
AND AVOCADOS were 5 for $0.99? That is UNHEARD OF HERE! Please box some up and send them to me.
If I could spend my life traveling, I would! I tried to convince Vegas to sell everything and live in an RV. She didn’t exactly say no… just that we couldn’t do it right now. Fingers crossed…
That said, Colorado is one of my favorite places in the world! I LOVE skiing! I’ve always wanted to go to the Aspen Food & Wine Festival too. One day!
I so wish I’d bought more avocados… if only they didn’t go bad to quickly!
Isn’t the Hwy 1 Cali coast drive SO amazing?! It’s just gorgeous every where you go. So, when I lived in the Bay Area, I was just like 45 mins from Santa Cruz & close to where Driscoll Farms strawberry farms. There’s some awesome countryside and farming around there! The super cheap local avocado stands are the best.
I’m still shocked at all the land so close to the ocean that’s used for farming. I bet developers pass that and drool!