1/2 - Back from our college road trip - thanks to everyone for the great suggestions! We flew from bitter cold NJ into LAX where it was absolutely beautiful sunny weather (had been raining the week prior so good that we missed that). Couldn’t get a tour of UCLA so we self-guided ourselves around. Being that it was spring break, there weren’t the crowds expected. Lots of grad students though. Ate in the student union, walked around. Lovely day but I could see those hills/steps getting tiresome. Oh for the energy of youth, right?
After leaving, checked into the Radisson next to USC which gave us the chance to walk about campus (where they were not on break fortunately). Sat by the fountain in front of one of the libraries (have to describe which fountain because there are like a zillion) and just absorbed the laid-back vibe. Lots of colorful bikes and skateboards, smiling kids. Next morning, checked out “Jacks N Joe” (recommended by another CC friend) for breakfast - just short walk north of campus. Great breakfast and no line which I hear is rare. Then we strolled back over to campus and hung out waiting for our tour to begin. Dd taking pics at every fountain and just drooling over how pretty and look at this infinity pool, look at that building…she is in serious love now. Then, here’s the kicker, they had a farmer’s market in one quad.
Dd loves these things. She’s beaming. There are skateboards and bikes, someone selling bubble tea, people with dogs, frisbees, it was her nirvana experience. Literally, we were on campus 3 hours BEFORE the 3 hours of tours/info sessions/dept info sessions-dept tour. So that’s 6 hours of campus added to the hour the day before…and we had to check out the store and buy a sweatshirt, tshirt, mug…so add another hour. Really impressed with the USC tours - well versed and knowledgeable guides. Had to literally pull her off campus (and out of the store) in order to meet up with my CC friend for dinner. She is sold. (post note: after the trip we come home to a handwritten note from one of those tour guides thanking her for visiting and giving their email if she has any questions - I work in marketing so I am smirking at their sly and convincing personal touches here…bravo sir, well done).
LA traffic is something I’ve never experienced. I think it is like a mud run. It sounds fine and fun and all, but then you are trying to travel 8 miles and find that takes 2 superhighways chock a block with nut cases zipping across 5 lanes to get to their exit. By the end of my time in LA, I find that I am one of those nut cases.
Third day - Disney. OMG, girl must buy her sequined Minny Mouse ears immediately upon entering the park and keeps them on all day. I took my friend’s suggestion to uber it back and forth and thank god I did that, what a traffic mess. I would have been toast. We don’t do Disney - this is my girl’s first visit and only my second. It was just such a good day. Fast Pass is indispensable and we took in every big ride and some of the small ones (“It’s a small world” of course). We were there from 9am to 10:30pm, completely exhausted and happy to have the time with my youngest.
OK, now up the coast - drove to Santa Monica as suggested, but heavy fog was covering the pier and it was just cold. Took a quick look and then went to a diner near where we parked, Jinky’s. Really really excellent breakfast - don’t see great reviews on Yelp but damn, it was really good spanish-diner food - especially the special sausages - they must get from a butcher. Not some jimmy-dean crap. Anyway…we kept moving up the coast but the fog got in the way of most of the cool vistas unfortunately. Pepperdine view was alike a cloud. Traffic going up was SLOW…meandering thru the fog. We did take a quick side trip to UCSD - and everything I’ve read I understand now. Prime real estate and yet, the buildings are so much concrete and chain link fencing around the cliff overlooking the beach - I realize is for safety but is really a shame. Narrow steep steps leading to the beach came with warnings about erosion and danger of “unstable bluffs” with a picture of a rock falling on a stick figure. Campus was dead since it was break. We started back up to our destination - Cayucos and a near-beach airbnb. Fog followed us up the coast sadly.
After checking out the airbnb - went into Cayucos - had dinner at “Cass House” which was a really excellent farm-to-table. I highly recommend anyone in the area to check it out. The dining area is an open patio, with outdoor warmers. Just an excellent tapas kind of meal - everything designed for sharing.
Next morning - I booked kayaking through the dinosaur caves in Pismo Beach/Shell Beach. Still alot of fog but not as bad as the day before. It was alot of fun going through the arches and maneuvering your kayak. Saw sea birds, comorants, pelican, and harbor seals and seal pups. We kayak but in marshes or lakes, I should’ve brought dramamine because sea kayaking has an added factor of sea sickness from bobbing. Lesson learned.
Went into San Luis Obispo - really fun town to explore and some interesting restaurants - we sat outside at Cafe Luna by the creek - had great tapas. Checked into Quality Inn and Suites nearby town and close to campus - nice option for visiting, nicely arranged so rooms opened up to courtyard or pool area.
