After our energizing lunch at Lean and Green Cafe, we explored downtown La Jolla and all of its of shops and cafes. Very cute and laid back!
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Then, we headed over to a popular look out point in La Jolla with 360 views of the city and surrounding area.
…and back to the beach!
We realized the sun was about to set, so we raced over to the ocean to try and get some pictures before the sun went down. Sunset lighting is a photographer’s dream! Everything glows :)
There were these cute little birds that we called ‘roadrunner’s’ because they would SPEED RUN across the sand…I’m pretty sure they could outrun me! Anyone know what kind of bird this is?
meep meep!!!
These guys were a bit more chilled out and wondering what the commotion was all about…
There were so many surfers out taking advantage of the waves and lots of women surfers too. So bad ass. I would love to learn to surf, if I could get over my shark fear!
After booting it about 10 minutes, we finally made it to the look out point for a sunset pic. :)
By sunset, there were a ton of seals on the shore and on the rocks. At least 100 or more. It looked like they were retiring for the night! It’s so cute how they all snuggle up close with one another.
After watching the sunset, we headed back to the hotel and decided where to go to dinner. We decided on a Mexican place called Rancho’s.
A peek inside Rancho’s fun decor.
The restaurant has meat, vegetarian, and vegan options…and I even think some gluten-free options too.
We started with the organic blue corn nachos with black beans, guacamole, pico de galo, and Daiya cheese. Both of us quickly claimed them to be the BEST NACHOS EVER! Quite a claim, I know. If you overheard us you would have instantly thought we were nuts because we could not stop talking about them.
Can you see how the nacho chips are flakey and layered?? They were incredible!
I think we managed to eat about half and then had to stop eating so we wouldn’t ruin our appetite!
Eric ordered the chicken and beef enchiladas for his main:
And I ordered the vegan enchiladas with green, mole, and red sauce. One was packed with avocado, another with roasted eggplant, and another with beans.
Don`t judge a book by its cover. ;)
We couldn’t get over how huge the portions were! I could barely finish half my plate.
I must say, this picture wins for OSG food photo of 2011.
Eric said I should submit it in a photo contest, heh.
If that picture doesn’t make you want to eat there, I don’t know what would.
We finished the night with a lil nightcap!
Biscotti Giveaway Winner
A big congrats goes out to Stephanie W for winning the biscotti giveaway! Stephanie, I have emailed you to collect your info. Congrats!
I love Mexican food places. They sure know how to give you your money’s worth! And they tend to be some of the cheapest options around. Okay, I mostly just love places that offer cheese-less and gluten-free options!
Beautiful pictures as always, and the food looks amazing!
Just wanted to comment on the biscotti recipe from the last post, but it was full. I have made biscotti for years as Christmas gifts. Since I am now vegan for health reasons, I was trying to figure out what else to make. Thank you for posting the recipe, I can’t wait to make it!
Sounds like a great trip! That food looks amazing!!! You should try to recreate the nachos so we can all make them ourselves!
Ahh I looove La Jolla! I haven’t been there for a few years, but it’s absolutely beautiful. So glad that you were able to head out to SoCal! I definitely would love to live there someday instead of this bitter cold in Chicago! lol..
LaJolla is one of my happiest places on earth. I love it there. We went to San Diego in 2008 for my best friends wedding and ended up spending most of our non-wedding oriented time in LaJolla! I keep asking to go back.
Wow! Beautiful photographs…hard to pick a favourite…but I do like the sunsets.
The Vegan Enchelada’s look delish…blown away by the portion size!
What an awesome trip you seem to be having! I’ve never made it down to San Diego before, but it definitely looks like a place I want to go, and soon. I’m so sick of this crappy Oregon weather we’ve been having lately. A little California sun would be nice.
Your enchiladas look tasty to me, despite the somewhat foul picture. Mexican food doesn’t always photograph well, but it sure does taste great! Have fun
HOW do you find all of these great vegan-friendly restaurants while you’re traveling?! My boyfriend and I are heading to Chicago over New Year’s and I would love to try some amazing restaurants that we can both enjoy. Any tips?
Also, I can’t believe you found a Mexican place with dairy-free cheese! I still haven’t tried Daiya yet…I live in a small town that doesn’t sell it, but I can’t wait! Your food looks delicious!
usually I use http://www.happycow.net/ !
I LOVE RANCHO’S! it’s so good :) as are your photos. photographing during sunset is my favorite!
I love enchiladas!! And those nachos look AMAZING!! I like to make vegan nachos at home- we don’t have any restaurants close by that make them. love Mexican food <3
Wow, beautiful sunset pictures!! love the seals :) those nachos look muy DELICIOUS!
I love your pics and San Diego is such a beautiful place! You should make it up to LA sometime too! Did you have a chance to check out George’s in La Jolla? It’s such a great restaurant, one of my favorites there!
Hahah I think the food looks good! Great pictures :)
The photos are amazing! Thanks again for contributing so much amazing stuff to the World Wide Waste. :)
I absolutely LOVE sand pipers! :) Everytime we see them at the beach, I just want to grab one, cuddle with it, give it kisses, then send it on its merry little way.
The enchiladas look SO incredible!! These posts are making me want to plan a trip to California ASAP!
your beach pictures are gorgeous! also I believe the little birds are sandpipers. cute, right? I hope you had a good vacation! Sure sounds like you did. :)
Amazing photo, the seals on the rock! Glad to have found your blog, great photos, fun posts and healthy vegan food!
I think they are either sanderlings or sandpipers. I love how I’m commenting on this blog for the first time about birds and not something vegan related haha! I’m taking an Ornithology class in college so I was pretty excited about this. Love your blog and am sooo excited to try the biscotti! Before I went vegan I ate my mom’s biscotti and I can’t wait to eat it again. Mmm!! Happy travelling!!
Thanks Jilian!!
What beautiful photos! And holy yum, those vegan enchiladas sound amazing.
That meal looks amazing…I can’t believe how insanely big the portions are. I need to eat in San Diego !
I totally agree about wanting to learn to surf but being too scared of the sharks. I know it’s irrational but I can’t help it!
I love those little birds! I’m pretty sure they’re called Snowy Plovers, I used to see them all the time walking on the beach :)
That pile of nachos & plate of enchiladas looks awesome! I might have to make mexican food tonight now – yum!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful pics. I really want to try to recreate your vegan enchiladas–they look amazing!! Also, the pic of you walking along the beach with the sun beginning to set is so very pretty :)
The pictures you managed to capture on the beach are absolutely gorgeous.
I love living on the west coast- I can’t imagine living anywhere else!
And Rancho looks amazing! It’s so hard to find good mexican restaurants that offer vegan options. Next time I’m down in San Diego I’m definitely going to have to make a point to eat there!
That food looks ah-may-zing! The “layered, flaky” nachos might be the kind I like to make at home when I need to use up old tortilla wraps to make space in the freezer ;) you just cut the wrap into triangles, spritz lightly with spray oil, sprinkle on any seasonings/spices you want and then bake in a low-medium oven until lightly browned and crispy (5-10 mins). I’m sure you could make blue tortilla chips that way with blue corn wraps if you can find them! Either way it makes for really savoury, flaky chips and you can add any flavours you want.
Your Mexican meal looks so good! I love making Mexican at home, but I haven’t eaten Mexican at a restaurant in years… they don’t seem too popular in our area! Do you recommend any in the Burlington/Oakville/Milton area?
Gorgeous photos (of the sunset)! And those nachos look divine. I think I need to make some rawchos! The enchiladas look delish too
What.The.Hell. You all are (were?) here in SD, and even RIGHTDOWNTHESTREETFROMME (at Rancho’s. I live at the end of 30th street a few blocks from there.). Surreal to see pics of my favorite places on your blog. Also it cracks me up that you said the weather is good, because we’ve all been complaining like a bunch of wussies. ;) Glad my hometown treated you well! :)
Just came in from the first ice climbing day of the season only to see your warm beach shots. Wish I could just jump between the two climates with a twitch of my nose.
PS took your Last Minute energy bars. Delish!
Wonderful pics! The Mr wants to learn to surf and probably will in Hawaii. I’m hoping to do kiteboarding eventually.
Yu totally deserve a vacay and I’m glad your having a great one!
You won’t happen to be coming to LA, will you? We have some great vegan places. ;) Please?
That Mexican food looks so good! I really miss good Mexican, it’s near impossible to find in Sweden, even the ingredients to make it yourself are hard to find – my kingdom for a can of chipotle peppers!
It’s so funny how you’ve been to really cool places that I have never heard of yet I am from there. Although I live up north from there in San Diego. It’s interesting seeing a tourists perspective, because a lot of local (including myself) don’t always realize how lucky they are to live in such a beautiful place.
Thanks for sharing your photos of your trip. I’ve been to San Diego once and I just loved it! I try to make the LA Area at least once a year! It sounds like your having a blast!!
Omg, Cali is so beautiful! Seriously, those views put the Jersey shore to shame! Oh well… living in PA will keep me going there haha. I guess I can’t be too sad since I still have a beach close enough.
I’ve never been to SD, I’ve only visited LA and the surrounding areas… I need to get back out there, your pics are amazing!
Your pictures are gorgeous!
I believe the bird is a sandpiper. There are multiple varieties so I’m not sure which variety.
:^)
Angela – I live in San Diego and seeing your pictures and appreciation for our town inspires me to get out and enjoy it even more! Thanks for sharing your trip and pointing out some great places for even us locals to try! You should definitely try surfing sometime; I like to tell people I am “learning” even though i have been learning for 7 years now! No difference, still a great thrill everyone should at least try. And plus, I don’t think a vegan would be very tasty to a shark, so you should be safe! Safe Travels!
Did you take up everything cali had to offer medicinal wise?? ;) I hear they have good vegan treats!
I’ve been reading your blog for forever it seems, but when I saw you were here visiting my home, made me want to say hello! My hubby and I had our Thanksgiving dinner at the Hotel Del, it was amazing. Loved your pix!
AH! I loved seeing your pics. I use to live in SD and Rancho’s was one of my favorite restaurants. I lived in Ocean Beach and was right around the corner from Ranchos. Mmm. Now I’m craving Mexican. Too bad there is nothing near as good in CT.
So I live in Texas, and there are so many Mexican restaurants….. and it is not easy to create vegan food there. Most places use chicken stock to cook the rice and I’ve even found places that put cheese or cream in the beans. Just a heads up on that one. Also I’ve always called the fast little birds sandpipers… I spent a good deal of my childhood chasing them down beaches in Florida.