After rolling ourselves (and luggage) to the airport, we slowed down our rushed pace of the city and headed to the West Coast for a couple nights. Eric and I dream of living on the West Coast some day…it’s on our bucket list. We’ve been planning a visit to So Cal for about a year now, so when we saw a seat sale we figured it was a sign. The best part was that we booked it all with air miles, including our rental car. That was a sweet bonus! Neither of us have ever been to California before so we were pumped.
We booked our hotel once again with Hotwire and got a great deal on the US Grant Hotel.
We were really happy with the hotel. Excellent, friendly service and very clean.
The only thing we didn’t like about the hotel was the noise and single pane windows. It’s located right in the heart of the Gaslamp district (bars and a wild nightlife) and the noise carried through the windows a lot. We put the fan on high before bed and were able to sleep like babies, so it wasn’t a huge issue.
Maybe we’re just getting old.
We picked up some food for snacks and breakfasts to save some money since NYC sucked us dry.
We had a fridge brought up to our room (love that the hotel offered them!). Nut butter, hummus, brown rice cakes, chips, milk, etc. Eric got cereal for breakfast and I picked up some bulk oats, chia seeds, and almond milk and made vegan overnight oats. It worked out perfectly and was cheaper than eating out for breakfast. One thing I noticed right away about California is that the food is much cheaper than at home.
Reunited and it feels so good.
….all hail……BARNEY BUTTER!!!
I hadn’t made VOO in such a long time. I was on a Green Monster kick for the past few months and I forgot how much I LOVE vegan overnight oats. You don’t even need to measure if you don’t want to. I just eyeballed it and it turned out great both times! On the side, I had a package of protein powder mixed with almond milk in a water bottle. Not the best tasting thing in the world (or even easy to get that damn powder into the bottle!), but it worked well to keep my hunger at bay all morning long.
My take on eating while traveling is pretty simple. I try to eat a balance of wholesome foods for my main meals (and try new dishes) and then I indulge in some sweet treats and special goodies that I normally wouldn’t be able to try back at home. It all balances out, especially when walking for 6 hours or more each day! And if it doesn’t balance out, no big deal. Life is short.
Morning teas…I had green and Eric black tea.
The weather was picture perfect! Sunshine and an expected high of about 18C. We really lucked out with the weather on this trip…it was almost as if we were travelling in early Fall, not December!
Anyone in the San Diego area want to take us in for a while? Maybe 4 years? I’ll be your live in chef.
We explored Coronado Island to start.
It was just horrible….dirty….don’t go here.
heh…just kidding.
We saw the famous Hotel Del Coronado right on the beach! I checked the prices for this place and whoa baby, it’s expensive!
Along the bay, with nice views of the SD cityscape.
Then we headed to La Jolla which is only about a 10 minute drive from the downtown core. I’ve always heard that the West Coast is very laid back and it really is! How could you not be if you lived here?
La Jolla took our breath away. My Gosh!!!
We went to the Cove and saw the Harbour Seals! Oh my gosh, I just fell in love with them!!!
Seriously, what magnificent creatures. We watched them for at least 30-45 mins. It’s funny when they get in spats with one another!
heh this guy below was so cute stretched out on his back!! If that’s not a head to toe stretch, I don’t know what is.
Every time the water came up and splashed them they would raise their head and look annoyed.
When Eric and I started to make voices for them, we knew it was time to go. ;)
After exploring for the morning and early afternoon, we had a late lunch in downtown La Jolla at a cafe called Lean & Green. It is extremely vegan friendly with all kinds of options marked vegan on their menu! Definitely check it out if you are in the area. The owner is really nice too!
It was also picked as La Jolla’s best veg restaurant recently.
You can click on the menus below to enlarge.
My customized wrap was great! I stuffed it full with all kinds of veggies (carrot, roasted red pepper, avocado, cukes, tomatoes, red onion, artichokes, shrooms, etc) and hummus.
I had their veggie juice to go with it. Fresh veggie juice is such a treat when travelling. I’m too lazy to make it at home these days and I don’t find it very cost effective in the off season. Smoothies are my drink of choice when at home, but fresh juice all the way on vacation.
See you for Part 2!
PS- Today is the last day to enter the One Lucky Duck Gift Pack giveaway!
Hi Angela!
What a wonderful trip! Thank you for sharing it with us I was just wondering (maybe someone already mentionned it), why didn’t you mix your protein powder IN the vegan overnight oats instead of in plain water on the side? I do it all the time (mix it with the rest the night before) and you can’t taste a difference in texture. You are only left with a great taste of chocolate, vanilla or nothing if you use plain protein powder.
Enjoy the rest of your vacation!
Oh my gosh, Hotel Del Coronado! I was really young when my family stayed there, but weirdly that place (and Disney Land) is basically all I remember about our summer trips to San Diego! The hotel is so gorgeous! Oh yea, I now remember an awful sunburn I got on my back… I probably had blocked that one out.
I live in San Diego! Come live with me! I would LOVE a chef!!! ;)
(Glad you’re liking my city)
What a fabulous vacation you are on! I am so happy for you and Eric to be able to get away and enjoy a break from the daily grind, I know you have had some health stuff going on (I never saw anything after your ultrasound, BTW, but I am hoping you are doing well! You’ve been in my thoughts and well wishes since I read about it, and you look gorgeous and healthy in your vacay pics! Just as an aside. :) ). It’s kinda funny because I moved to NYC right after graduating college in May 2010 (and am still living here), and I went to college in So Cal, so I feel very attached to the places you are writing about on this trip. I miss the West Coast, and hope to move back some day. Not that NYC isn’t amazing! But it is expensive and I miss the sun and chill attitude of the West. Keep soaking up the glorious sun and making up voices for seals. :)
Welcome to sunny San Diego! I moved here 3 years ago and never looked back and these beautiful photos remind me of why I fell in love with the city in the first place. I will definitely have to try out the Lean and restaurant. Looks so good. I’m glad you enjoyed your time here.
That wrap looks amazing!
Ah man, if I would have known you were going to be here I would have asked you to come be my personal chef! I live in San Diego and it is glorious, isn’t it? La Jolla is amazing… when I first moved here I couldn’t believe it existed. Especially the tide pools.
Glad you liked i!
anytime heh ;)
I absolutely love Coronado Island! It’s so beautiful… and of course the seals are a plus ;)
Such a great choice to vacay! Gaslamp district is pretty wild and Coronado is a piece of heaven. Glad you enjoyed the chill-ness of the west coast and ate the fresh food!
If you want to move 2 hours up the coast to Orange County I’d take you in in a heart beat!! :) glad you’re having fun and enjoy the sun!
I live in San Diego! Glad you enjoyed it :)
“When Eric and I started to make voices for them, we knew it was time to go.” —- HAHA! That would have totally been me and my boyfriend, too! :)
Hi Angela,
Are you still in SoCal (aka San Diego)? If so, I’d LOVE for you to come by and visit our school, High Tech High. Our students have been reading your blog and studying up on the farm to table, fresh, veggie, vegan movement for some time and would LOVE to meet you and maybe do a little “interview”. Also, my teaching partner and I are HUGE fans of your blog and have made so many of your yummy recipes, it’d be an honor to have you visit our kiddos. Feel free to email me at the above email, if you are in town and would have time. We are located near the airport, so close to downtown. If not, enjoy the rest of your time – I LOVE living in San Diego — and you should check out Ranchos in OB for a great vegan mexican experience!!
I love that you went to Lean & Green! I brought a Groupon-type deal for that place months ago but they have really crappy hours so I still haven’t gotten to go. I’m going to have to make it a point to go before the end of the year. Glad you guys enjoyed San Diego!
Yea I wished they were open later than 4pm too….I hope you enjoy it!
I LOVE San Diego! A good friend of mine is stationed on Coronado going through SEALs training.
Make sure you make it to Seattle sometime, I think you’ll love it too! (thats home for me) =)
I just love Southern CA. It’s one of my favorite places to go. It just feels so different being there in comparison to living in N. CA. Have fun!!!
I dream of living in CA one day…I’m thinking Santa Barbara…amazing photos..thanks for sharing! :)
You’re in my hood…Welcome to Sunny San Diego! I think you’ll like the restaurant Spread in the North Park neighborhood, http://www.spreadtherestaurant.com/menus.php and there’s another vegetarian restaurant not too far from there called Jyoti Bihanga www.jyotibihanga.com/ (attached to a yoga studio if you need to get your yoga on!). If you are here on Wednesday my funky little town, Ocean Beach, is having a farmers market starting around 4 til sundown (there are GREAT farmer’s markets this weekend in little italy and hillcrest). Plus Ocean Beach has an incredible vegetarian Co-op market with deli upstairs with lots of vegan and raw salads and treats. Enjoy your trip! :) xo meredith meredithgnau.blogspot.com
angela-did you take that second picture? it is truly gorgeous!
Beautiful photos! I always get juice when I’m on vacation, too (or when I’m having a rough day). We don’t have a juicer but so I feel like it’s a special treat.