My Favorite Year
Feb. 19th, 2010 11:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bunchofgrapesDo you have a favorite year? You know, that one year where everything seemed to click and all the memories of that year were great? That one year you wish you could relive over and over? Mine was 2003.
I'd never been to California before but in 2003, I flew bicoastal five times. Four of the trips were to Los Angeles but one was to the Bay area and Monterey. The L.A. trips deserve their own post so for now I'll just blog about my first trip to beautiful Northern CA.
My boss and I flew JetBlue into Oakland, rented a car, and drove down to Monterey. We had an office in Monterey so this was actually a business trip that we extended for a few days. Neither one of us had been to CA so there was no way we weren't going to take some time to see the sights, especially when the sights are so beautiful. And then of course there's the food.
I love Monterey and have been dying to get back there if only to eat at Fishwife again. Best. Calamari. Ever. We didn't make it to the aquarium, which is another reason to go back, but the thing I remember the most, besides all the otter and sea lion sightings, was the vibrant purple field of moss rose. It was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. We took the 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach, down to Carmel. It rained the entire way but we didn't care. We even stopped in the pouring rain to catch a glimpse of a breaching whale.
On the trip back to San Francisco we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping every so often to take pictures of the incredible scenery or walk along a stretch of beach or check out a lighthouse. We got to San Francisco on Saturday and stayed at this lovely boutique, Hotel Vintage Court, until our flight out on Monday. I think we did every touristy thing in San Francisco: chocolate at Ghirardelli, rode cable cars, saw the sea lions, Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe, lunch at Fog City Diner, etc. But the best part was heading across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.
Once we got across the bridge we noticed a park that looked like it offered great views of the city. And did it! We really only meant to check out the views of the bridge but we realized we could go even higher. Eventually we drove to the top of the mountain and parked the car. My boss decided to hang out on a bench and nap while I hiked up to the very top where no cars were allowed. It was amazing up there. The first thing that struck me was the quiet. The wind was blowing, the trees were rustling and any minute I expected to see Lassie and Forest Ranger Corey Stuart emerge from the woods (I'd have jumped Forest Ranger Corey Stuart because he was a hottie!). But the views from the top of that hill were beyond spectacular! I could see the bay and the Pacific and Muir Woods all from one spot. The Golden Gate Bridge looked tiny from up there and San Francisco was a compact dot on the horizon. Oh, and did I mention it was the perfect blue sky April afternoon? I took lots of pictures but it was the kind of place that you just can't capture with a camera. You had to experience the calm and the air and the view. It's definitely one of my top 10 happy places.
Our intention for going to Sausalito was to eat at Scoma's, which we eventually did. We were told to hike up to the Gables Inn (I think that was the place), get a table at the rooftop restaurant, order a drink, and admire the view. However, after being at the top of the mountain, the only thing the rooftop had going for it was alcohol. We headed back to San Francisco later that afternoon, did a little shopping, a little eating, a little driving down Lombard Street before heading out the next day.
Every year I have this dream of taking that trip to Monterey again but this year I'm determined to make it happen. I have a friend I'm trying to convince to go with me but so far she's dragging her heels. I know she'd love it if she'd go so wish me luck in talking her into it. I'd really love to have another favorite year.
I'd never been to California before but in 2003, I flew bicoastal five times. Four of the trips were to Los Angeles but one was to the Bay area and Monterey. The L.A. trips deserve their own post so for now I'll just blog about my first trip to beautiful Northern CA.
My boss and I flew JetBlue into Oakland, rented a car, and drove down to Monterey. We had an office in Monterey so this was actually a business trip that we extended for a few days. Neither one of us had been to CA so there was no way we weren't going to take some time to see the sights, especially when the sights are so beautiful. And then of course there's the food.
I love Monterey and have been dying to get back there if only to eat at Fishwife again. Best. Calamari. Ever. We didn't make it to the aquarium, which is another reason to go back, but the thing I remember the most, besides all the otter and sea lion sightings, was the vibrant purple field of moss rose. It was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. We took the 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach, down to Carmel. It rained the entire way but we didn't care. We even stopped in the pouring rain to catch a glimpse of a breaching whale.
On the trip back to San Francisco we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping every so often to take pictures of the incredible scenery or walk along a stretch of beach or check out a lighthouse. We got to San Francisco on Saturday and stayed at this lovely boutique, Hotel Vintage Court, until our flight out on Monday. I think we did every touristy thing in San Francisco: chocolate at Ghirardelli, rode cable cars, saw the sea lions, Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe, lunch at Fog City Diner, etc. But the best part was heading across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.
Once we got across the bridge we noticed a park that looked like it offered great views of the city. And did it! We really only meant to check out the views of the bridge but we realized we could go even higher. Eventually we drove to the top of the mountain and parked the car. My boss decided to hang out on a bench and nap while I hiked up to the very top where no cars were allowed. It was amazing up there. The first thing that struck me was the quiet. The wind was blowing, the trees were rustling and any minute I expected to see Lassie and Forest Ranger Corey Stuart emerge from the woods (I'd have jumped Forest Ranger Corey Stuart because he was a hottie!). But the views from the top of that hill were beyond spectacular! I could see the bay and the Pacific and Muir Woods all from one spot. The Golden Gate Bridge looked tiny from up there and San Francisco was a compact dot on the horizon. Oh, and did I mention it was the perfect blue sky April afternoon? I took lots of pictures but it was the kind of place that you just can't capture with a camera. You had to experience the calm and the air and the view. It's definitely one of my top 10 happy places.
Our intention for going to Sausalito was to eat at Scoma's, which we eventually did. We were told to hike up to the Gables Inn (I think that was the place), get a table at the rooftop restaurant, order a drink, and admire the view. However, after being at the top of the mountain, the only thing the rooftop had going for it was alcohol. We headed back to San Francisco later that afternoon, did a little shopping, a little eating, a little driving down Lombard Street before heading out the next day.
Every year I have this dream of taking that trip to Monterey again but this year I'm determined to make it happen. I have a friend I'm trying to convince to go with me but so far she's dragging her heels. I know she'd love it if she'd go so wish me luck in talking her into it. I'd really love to have another favorite year.
