Spring Break in the Bay!

Spring Break has come and gone but here’s the lowdown on my latest getaway. My friend and I were planning a road trip for a while so San Francisco seemed like the perfect weekend escape!

The Drive:

My friend Rachel and I decided to drive out early Thursday morning to beat the traffic and make some stops along the way. We pulled out Google maps, drove up the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy1) and began our long trek up North. I absolutely love this drive because it’s so beautiful and scenic but WOW is it a long one!

Start & End Time with Stops: 6:30AM - 8:30PM: 14 Hrs Total

There’s little to no service on this route so bring your favorite mixtapes and have a paper map handy. Thanks to good company, lots of coffee, peach Red Bull (my newest addiction) and some old Kanye CD’s in the car we made it to our destination.

Check out our favorite pit stops below!

Madonna Inn:

This hotel is one of my favorite quirky places to visit in San Luis Obispo. The main building features an ornate floral dining room, gift shop, wine cellar, great food and much more. As the first stop on our long road trip, we parked and went to the cafe to grab some breakfast. The service was friendly and we split a huge portion of pancakes, fresh biscuits, and super savory corn beef hash which I highly recommend.

After fueling up, we decided to take some cute pictures and head down to the wine cellar and gift shop. Downstairs they offer a $15 tasting of their signature Madonna Inn wines. We decided to try them all but my favorite is still the White Zinfandel, which has a sweet strawberry flavor, perfect for sipping on a hot Summers day.

Places to Visit:

  • Elephant Seal Vista: We didn’t spend much time here but it was nice to get out of the car and catch the ocean breeze. We saw huge Elephant Seals tanning on the beach, living their best lives. It was the perfect place to regroup, crack open a Red Bull and watch nature do its thing.

  • Bixby Bridge: As huge fans of HBO’s show Big Little Lies, the Bixby Bridge is always front and center of the opening credits. It makes the perfect pit stop. We parked along the side of the road to take some photos and admire this architectural wonder. Surrounded by gorgeous scenery and dramatic views, driving over the bridge had me feeling my Reese Witherspoon fantasy.

  • Point Lobos State Park: We decided to pay the $10 free to drive into the park to get the best view of the cove. Each time you look, you see something new that draws you in. The park offers gorgeous ocean views, secluded coves, and beaches fit for a scene in The Little Mermaid. Enjoy a scenic hike along the cliffside and keep your eyes peeled for a whale sighting.

  • Carmel-by-the-Sea: After hours of driving, we decided to check out this small, quaint town. Full of boutiques, art galleries, and eateries, a leisurely stroll around town is part of the pleasure when visiting. After looking around, Rachel and I found a nice Italian restaurant, Napoli Wine Bar, where we ordered some delicious bites off from the Happy Hour menu. The garlic bread, mussels and clams were a standout.

What to do San Francisco:

One of my favorite cities to visit, I briefly lived in downtown during my college years where I made so many memories. The landscape is always changing but I’m glad a few of my favorite places are still around. There’s to many to name, I’ll have to do a separate blog post of my favorite SF spots but here’s a few to add to your list.

Eat & Drink:

I’m not going to lie, we mostly came to the city to eat great food (prepare for a food huge photo dump). I don’t usually do this but here is a compilation of photos from the places we ate in San Francisco.

  • Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu: Located in Japan town with a decent priced lunch menu. The meats were fresh, easy to cook and just melted in your mouth. I want to go back immediately. What more can I say?!

  • Golden Boy Pizza: I love the tagline “Where it’s hip to be square.” A couple of sweet New Yorkers paid for our slices which made it all the better. We ordered their famous Clam and Garlic pizza, which was totally delicious but you’ll need a pack of gum or two after eating.

  • Golden Gate Bakery: One of my MUST visit places in the China Town, Golden Gate Bakery is worth the wait. The Egg Tart is ridiculously good, perfectly flakey with a melt in your mouth egg custard. I regret only buying one.

  • Li Po Cocktail Lounge: Another favorite in China town, the Mai Tai’s are legendary and you should definitely get one. Anthony Bourdain approves!

  • El Farolito: My favorite burrito in the city, this place never disappoints and the burritos are always packed with flavor. Don’t let the long line deter you, it goes by quickly, I promise!

  • Souvla: Get the Frozen greek Yogurt with Baklava Crumbles & Honey! It’s perfect for a hot summers day and the best dessert without being to sweet.

  • Monroe SF: Come here on Friday’s for their weekly battle of the decades happy hour and dance night. $1 Cocktails start at 5pm and you don’t want to miss that!

We also made a few stops in Oakland to pick up some fresh food from the farmers market, eat Thai food and take some pics in this lovely green house.

Tomales Bay:

One of my favorite stops on the trip was the scenic drive up north which featured lots of green pastures, super blooms and cows. We stopped at Tomales Bay Oyster Company to pick up a dozen oysters each for $20 and headed to Bear Valley Picnic area to set up the perfect spread. It was my first time shucking oysters, which I got the hang of after a few tries. Can’t wait to show off my skills!

Wine Country:

On the last leg of our trip we stayed with family in Santa Rosa and spent a day driving through Napa county to get our wine on. Here’s a few of the wineries we visited.

  • August Briggs: The August Briggs tasting room is located in downtown Calistoga. We did the Pinot Noir flight for $15 which came with three wines from their tasting menu. My favorite was the Pinot Blanc which had a light, crisp fruit flavor that made it easy to drink and perfect for Summer.

  • W.H. Smith: Right next door is the W.H. Smith tasting room which also offered a $15 menu and three wines of your choice. This tasting menu included a selection of Pinot Noirs, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Our favorite was the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc "T" Brand which had notes of pear, honey-dew and lychee fruit that you can taste after each sip.

  • Korbel Winery: A brand I’ve overlooked numerous times in the wine isle but I was intrigued to learn more about its history. I’m so glad I discovered this winery because they give free tours and tastings. I highly recommend visiting the Korbel Winery because it’s so rich in history and you get to try flavors you wouldn’t find in your local super market. After many tastings, I chose a bottle of the sparkling wine called Sec, which I cannot wait to open on a special occasion.

St. Helena:

There are so many cute shops and restaurants here, it’s hard to not spend all your money at once. We stopped at The Model Bakery, where the English Muffins are praised by Oprah Winfrey and featured in her 2017 Favorites List. Oprah was darn right, these are the fluffiest, most perfect English muffins anyone could wish for. I took a few home with a jar of Meyer Lemon Marmalade. Check them out below with a few extra pics sprinkled in.

  • Napa Valley Olive Oil Company: Another great find. Taste test dozens of different flavor profiles and take home your favorite. I bought a bottle of the Peach Balsamic Vinegar and the Extra Virgin Tuscan Herb flavors which I like to mix together.

One of the best road trips I’ve taken in a long time, Rachel and I are dubbing it the “Artisanal Tour” and we’re hungry for more!