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!
What a great post and so happy you had a great day in my hometown, the day AFTER I left to go on my own lil vacay :)
The waves and the surfers…it wouldn’t really be the sharks but the COLD water!! that scares me. When I got Scuba dive certified in that ocean, right there off La Jolla Shores, about 7 years ago…I almost quit so.many.times. Every weekend, I vowed it was my last b/c the water was so cold. Even a 7mm wetsuit isn’t even warm enough. I give it up to surfers who just hang out in ice baths…for hours!
And Mexican food…I give it up to anyone who writes a Mexican-themed blog b/c taking pics of it has never come easy to me :)
beautiful sunset pictures! I love san diego and would die to go back. And I think the meal looks great, Mexican food is never usually the most photogenic but it’s definitely one of my favorites.
Those are some beautiful pictures! Thanks for the fun update :)
Oh wow, the beach at sunset looks gorgeous!!! I am the same as you on the surfing front – would LOVE to learn how but I have a shark fear to. And yes, that photo – it’s definitely one for a frame! ;)
Angela!!!!!!!!!!! How long are you here for? I moved here to San Diego in Feb this year from Philadelphia and I lived in La Jolla (with a ton of roommates) when I first got here, and now I am about 20 minutes from La Jolla (and about 5 mins from downtown) in an area called South Park near Hillcrest. I’d love to meet you at Evolution Fast Food (raw food drive through and restaurant) or Juice Kaboose (on Fay Ave in La Jolla) or Spread, or Veg-N-Out! There are SO MANY vegan places here, it’s incredible. If you have time to meet up let me know! So excited that you are checking out San Diego for the first time! It’s amazing here. XOXOXO – Lauren
hey Lauren, Aww I would have loved to meet you! We went home last weekend sadly! I wish we were still there…maybe I could have moved in with you? haha. We will def. be back someday….
I’ve only ever been to San Diego for work so I’ve never been able to see it as a visitor. I love the seals :) Mexican is always the most repulsive looking stuff but man, it tastes good!
The birds are Sand Pipers! They are super fun!! Loved the pictures of all your travels! San Diego is a favorite place of mine!
Great pictures! Looks like fun!
San Diego is one of my favorite places in the States. I’d so much rather be there right now than in this cold weather!
That beach is beautiful! And although dinner wasn’t the most photogenic, it still looks really tasty. I love that you were able to get vegan enchiladas!
I can’t believe you are in San Diego! I hope you are having a wonderful time so far (I live in S.D =D) and if you’ll be here on Saturday make sure to check out the Little Italy farmers market!
heh we left last weekend unfortunately! will def be back someday :)
What a gorgeous beach! I always loved seeing the seals when I lived in San Francisco, but man were they stinky! ;)
Dinner looks delicious, despite not photographing well!
San Diego is SO beautiful. A guy on my floor is from there and hasn’t been home since August. So hard to fly out there! I’m glad you’re having a good time, chica! The sand is literally making me miss the beach more than lyfe
Sandpipers! And those nachos look amazing! I’m definitely gonna have to try those when I visit my parents in SD next week. Ranchos is one of their favorite restaurants.
Okay, the more pictures I see from La Jolla, the more I feel like that needs to be my next vacation destination! Gorgeous pictures!
Ahhh, La Jolla, so nice. I remember renting Segways and touring around as a newlywed with my husband. Love it there, I recall the restaurants being sooo good. Would love to go back. Thanks for sharing!
Great post. San Diego looks beautiful! To answer your question, those “roadrunners” look like sandpipers to me.
yep, they’re sandpipers! :) did you happen to see how they dip their bills into the sand to find food? i love the san diego area. my cousin lives there–so jealous!
ahhhh sandpipers!!! They are amazing….I think I saw them dipping into the sane too :)
Amazing photos of the scenery! What a beautiful sunset and on the ocean…spectacular!
Those vegan enchiladas sound great, but that’s like a catering plate!
Wow, I can’t believe how gorgeous those photos are!