J and I had a four-day weekend and decided to take the opportunity to get out of town for two days. Since we both have been to large parts of the Californian Coast, but not the stretch between Monterey and Half Moon Bay, we decided to make Santa Cruz our destination.
We had a hotel close to the beach/boardwalk and while the whole area is a little cheesy with the amusement park and all the rides, it reminded me a bit of the Santa Monica Pier, which I still miss on a regular basis.
The weather was beautiful and it had been a while since we were at the beach, so that was a special treat. I always love to be at the ocean.
We walked around and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. The view was just amazing.
We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant on the Pier and then went back to the hotel. I was a little bit disappointed, because I wanted to take some kick-ass night photos of the lit amusement park, but by the time we left the restaurants, all the rides were closed already (and therefore, the lights out). Bummer!
The next morning after breakfast, I insisted that I needed to ride the gondolas. It just looked way too much fun to enjoy the view from above the heads of everyone else. It was a short 10-minute glide over the beach, but we had a nice view from up there!
Before heading home, we drove up Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay in order to enjoy a little bit more of the beautiful view of the ocean.
Other good things this weekend:
sleeping in ♥ a letter in the mail ♥ take out ♥ fresh sheets ♥ crafting ♥ licorice ♥
How was your (long?) weekend, peeps?
Ti
February 23, 2012 at 5:23 amNever been to Santa Cruz; love the photos! I also miss Santa Monica pier and the promenade!
Maribeth
February 23, 2012 at 5:53 amFabulous! I got to see Mandy and spend time registering for baby things at BabiesRus!!!!
Holly
February 23, 2012 at 7:02 amSanta Cruz looks beautiful – someday I’m going to make it to California :) Our long weekend was filled with cleaning, purging and packing – we’re hoping to rent out our condo so we can buy a house in the next month or two :D
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
February 23, 2012 at 7:50 amWhat a fun little trip! When you said gondolas, I was thinking Venice and water … photos from above wasn’t what I expected. Ha! Now you’re making me crave chips and salsa … and it’s not even lunchtime yet!
Chrissy
February 23, 2012 at 10:09 amLooks wonderful – love all the pics! The two of you are such a cute couple! I agree with all the things that happened…they all sounds awesome! xxx
Bri Rios
February 23, 2012 at 10:45 amLove the picture of you and your husband, you look great!! Plus the beach pictures are gorgeous :)
chantilly
February 23, 2012 at 11:37 amugh, this looks like my absolute perfect day! it’s been so long since i’ve been to an amusement park. x
Amanda
February 23, 2012 at 12:00 pmThis post has made me SO homesick. I was basically raised in Santa Cruz (my grandparents lived there) and I think almost all my carefree childhood memories are on that stretch of coast. I can visualize me and my sister and cousins playing in that very stretch of sand and riding every. single. ride. at the Boardwalk over and over :)
Holly
February 23, 2012 at 1:35 pmThese photos are sooo gorgeous. Ahh… I hope to one day visit the coast of California! I’m glad that the two of you had a nice little getaway! I’m now craving some Mexican food… hehe!
Jadyn @ Dutch.British.Love
February 23, 2012 at 2:39 pmSo beautiful! I love California and have been several times, but never to Santa Cruz. Love your photos! You make me want some Mexican food!
alyx
February 23, 2012 at 4:17 pmOh my gosh, Santa Cruz looks awesome. I so would not mind being on a sunny beach right now…
Jessi
February 23, 2012 at 5:36 pmSounds like a great trip! And I love the photos, great one of you and J.
isabella057
February 23, 2012 at 7:18 pmWow! Santa Cruz is really a great place to visit. I wish i can visit this place someday. And i hope that the two of you had a great time visiting Santa Cruz. I love all the photos you have here specially the sunset looks amazing. Thanks for sharing this to us.
Cait
February 23, 2012 at 10:24 pmGorgeous photos! It looks and sounds like a really great trip.
kim {notcrazy}
February 24, 2012 at 2:57 amaww, what a fun weekend-trip. i wish i was that close to the californian cost, i love the ocean! <3
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
February 25, 2012 at 5:59 amWow, what a beautiful little get away. You are fortunate to live in an area of the country where there is so much to see/do just a short drive away! That is one downside to living in the midwest – nothing is really close together so weekend getaways are tough, unless you fly!
Vivikare
February 25, 2012 at 7:06 amIt looks beautiful there. Amazing view from the gondolas though I think I may have been too chicken to go on a ride on them! Sounds like you had a fantastic weekend. Glad to see a bit more of J on the blog lately too. ;)
Melissa
February 26, 2012 at 11:26 amYour pictures are beautiful, looks like you guys had a great time!
terra
February 26, 2012 at 12:43 pmOh my goodness!! These photos – I want to visit the California coast SO BAD!! It looks absolutely breathtaking!
YnnaRada
February 29, 2012 at 12:26 amWhat a fun trip you have here. I love all the photos that you have, specially the sunset looks magnificent. Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventures in Santa Cruz.
Erin B. Inspired
March 1, 2012 at 8:18 pmHow fun! Looks like you guys had a great trip. :)
Jen
March 8, 2012 at 8:10 amSuch beautiful photos, what a great treat. I miss the ocean.