Shae, Truffles and I spent mid-December 2021 to mid-March 2022 in California, doing a loop around the state.
It was interesting being back in the state as we’d lived there for four months more than a decade ago. I’d liked SoCal’s weather and general vibe and so thought I’d love our entire time in California.
As it turns out, I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. It’s not that I disliked our time in California – it just wasn’t as amazing as I thought it was going to be. It also didn’t help that staying there for three months is very expensive, with gas prices in particular being astronomical at the time.
Still, we had some fantastic times there and found a couple of places that I loved far more than I would’ve expected to. Here’s a list of our favorite – and not-so-favorite – things from our two months in California.
Favorite Accommodation We Stayed At
Stephen – I think I’ll have to go for The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. It’s in a great location in the Gaslamp Quarter, had nice staff, we got upgraded to a room with a Peloton bike and it was a great use of the Marriott free night certificates we redeemed for our stay.
Honorary mention goes to the Hyatt Palm Springs. The hotel is very dated, but it’s pretty good value when paying for the stay with points and it’s in the perfect location for exploring Palm Springs.
A second honorary mention goes to the Staybridge Suites Temecula. We booked that literally at the last minute after having problems with the Airbnb we’d booked an hour away from there. This hotel was also great value when redeeming points compared to how high cash rates were during our stay and was a far better accommodation option than that Airbnb I’d originally booked.
Shae – Oh man… it’s so hard to choose but I’d probably say the Hyatt Regency Monterey with a very close second to the Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. While the Hyatt resort was a little bit frustrating for the elevator situation (there wasn’t one in every section, so we had to walk around and around to get in and out and no luggage carts available as a result), I loved that we could’ve had a pet suite right out on the pet area and that it was close enough to bike to the sea front where so much great marine wildlife lived.
Favorite Meal
Stephen – This one’s easy – the French Dip Deluxe from Boudin in San Francisco. It was so delicious that we both got it again before we left San Francisco.
Shae – Oh man. There was so much good food. But for me, separate from Stephen, I went to Barton G with my friend Mary for my 40th birthday dinner. That was sensational.
With Stephen on the road trip more officially? It’s probably tied between Boudin and, don’t judge me, Taco Bell Cantina in Pacifica. What!? I know I know. But a) I do love Taco Bell no matter what anyone says and b) the view was unmatched for any Taco Bell which made it a really fun experience.
Most Disappointing Meal
Stephen – Without a doubt, the Indian meal we got while in Irvine. We love curries, but both our dishes were bland, flavorless and not at all spicy.
Shae – Yup. Definitely the Indian Meal.
Favorite Free Activity
Stephen – La Brea Tar Pits. The museum on-site is something you have to pay to enter, but most of the stuff to see there is outdoors and is free to visit.
Shae – Elephant Seal Vista Point was hands down my favorite free activity. I loved driving along the Pacific Coast Highway too. And the Cable Car Museum was a treat in San Francisco… Ok, that’s more than one thing… No wait… the Hollywood Sign hike… No… the Sea Lions at La Jolla!!! Ack! There’s too much to choose from!
Favorite Paid Activity
Stephen – There are so many things I could choose for this section. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, wine tasting in Temecula, Alcatraz Island, riding along on the side of a cable car in San Francisco and more. You know what? I can’t choose, so all of those!
Shae – How can I choose???? Probably GoCars in San Francisco last July with Mary because it was adventurous and really fun. But the Temecula wine tastings are really fun. I’d go back to Channel Islands National Park in an instant as well.
Favorite Pet-Friendly Activity
Stephen – Visiting all the pet-friendly wineries in Temecula. It was nice that we were able to bring Truffles along with us so that we could relax and enjoy ourselves.
Shae – Ooh I did love the wineries but for me it was probably Huntington Beach Dog Beach. Truffles just loves a good beach and after enjoying the cotton candy before it just made for a perfect road trip day
Least Favorite Activity
Stephen – SeaQuest Folsom. We’d gone there because I’d gotten Shae a porcupine petting experience for Christmas, but you’re not able to pet porcupines there right now. The animal habitats were also fairly small and basic, so it’s not something we’d have supported financially had we known.
Shae – 100% SeaQuest Folsom. Booooo!
Favorite Hike
Stephen – I don’t think I really hiked while we were in California, so I guess the closest I could come to answering this category would be walking through the redwoods on Avenue of the Giants.
Shae – The Hollywood Sign hike is tied for me with the Smuggler’s Cove hike.
Favorite Quirky Thing We Did
Stephen – Driving through the Chandelier Tree in Leggett.
Shae – Finding sea glass at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, CA. My mom loves sea glass and I learned a ton of interesting facts about it which is weirdly very specific.
Oh, I also did goat yoga which was fabulously funny and fun.
Favorite Memory
Stephen – Going wine tasting in Temecula. We had such a fun and relaxing time there and it was days like that where I realize how fortunate we are to be able to travel full time and experience that kind of thing.
Shae – Oh man – all the people we met up with and got to see as well as the marine life along the coast. But hands down it was meeting our new friends Mike, Mark and Piper in San Diego. I heart them, we met up with them 3 times total in our 2 weeks in SD and I love getting to text with them still.
Funniest Moment
Stephen – Shae laying down in sea lion poop in order to get good photos of them.
Shae – Definitely the sea lion smiles I captured with my camera.
Thing We Most Regretted
Stephen – Spending a month in LA and not really doing much while we were there. I wish now that we’d only stayed there for a week or two and spent longer in San Diego or Temecula.
Shae – It’s very specific to me, but wiping out on my bike in Vallejo the day after Christmas. It messed up our plans for sea kayaking with my mom for my Christmas gift (although I got to go later without her) and 4.5 months later my knee is still not entirely better.
Also, going to SeaQuest Folsom. I wish we hadn’t given them any money.
Something We Missed And Want To See
Stephen – Yosemite National Park. We were passing by there when some roads were still closed due to snow, so we’d love to return during a warmer time of the year.
Shae – I’m sad we missed Yosemite too, but for me I’m sad to have missed the Academy Award Museum in LA, taking hubs to the Channel Island National Park, Disneyland and not getting our dates together in time to try and get on The Price Is Right (we tried 10 years ago and just made it into the audience – I was ready to try our luck again and maybe win an RV and a brand new car!).
Our Biggest Surprise
Stephen – How much I enjoyed San Diego. I really enjoyed its relaxed but fun vibe, its great weather and how walkable the city is.
Shae – How much more I enjoyed San Francisco with nice weather. I was “eh” on it after a foggy time in July but it was much more pleasant now.
My California Drinking Game Would Be…
Stephen – Take a drink when you see how much it costs to fill your car up with gas. It’s not really a game, but it will help dull some of the pain.
Shae – Bahhaha! I almost said something about gas prices too for this, but then saw Stephen’s answer! Instead, take a drink when you see a Tesla. You’ll be dead of liver failure in a few days I reckon.
Summary Of California In 10 Words Or Less
Stephen – Great place to visit but so so so so expensive
Shae – Beautiful animals, weather and scenery but too costly to live.
California Cities We Visited In Order From Favorite To Least Favorite
Stephen – San Diego/Carlsbad, Temecula, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Monterey, Vallejo, Los Angeles, Fort Bragg, Carpinteria, Roseville
Shae – Monterey, Temecula, San Diego/Carlsbad, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Francisco (it’s just too foggy too often and makes my anxiety so bad with the constant concern about earthquakes), Carpinteria, Vallejo, Fort Bragg and Roseville.
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