Oh, what an adventure our Southern California vacation turned out to be! Let me take you on a journey through our last-minute change of plans and all the amazing moments we shared with our family and, later, just Andrew and me.
So, originally, we had our hearts set on Lahaina, Maui, for our family vacation. But due to the tragic wildfires, we were forced to switch gears at the last minute. Thankfully, we’re a pretty adaptable bunch, and we decided on Southern California. Huge shoutout to my mom and dad for making this trip happen – they’re the real MVPs.
We set up camp in the San Diego area, and let me tell you, the place we stayed was so fantastic that we hardly wanted to venture out. But when we did, it was memorable. One of our highlights was a hop-on-hop-off tour in San Diego, which took us all around, including the iconic Coronado. That tour was an absolute gem, and I can’t recommend it enough. Oh, and speaking of gems, we stumbled upon our new favorite SoCal coffee spot in Coronado – Better Buzz. If you’re ever in the area, it’s a must-visit!
We also made a family trip to La Jolla to see the seals and sea lions. The sheer number of them left me in awe. And trust me, the hike in La Jolla is a must-do; the views were jaw-dropping.
After our family headed back home, Andrew and I stayed a few extra days, just the two of us. We kicked things off by visiting the Riverside area, where Andrew grew up. It was my first time there, and we had a blast revisiting his old houses and the church he attended.
The rest of our time was a coastal extravaganza! We hopped from one charming beach town to another, and let me share our favorites in order from top to bottom:
- Huntington Beach
- Dana Point
- Newport Beach
- Coronado
- La Jolla / Laguna
- San Diego
- Carlsbad
- San Clemente
- Long Beach
- Seal Beach
- Oceanside
I know you might not care about our rankings, but it was so much fun putting this list together. And who knows, if you’re planning a Southern California trip someday, this might help you decide where to soak up the sun.
All in all, our vacation was an unforgettable mix of family bonding, exploring stunning places, playing way too much pickleball, eating good food, and lots of coffee. It’s these moments that make life’s adventures so special. 🌞✈️🌴
I don’t normally bring my big camera on vacation, but decided to bring it along to just take some pictures for fun. Enjoy some of the beautiful views that we got to experience!
