That's exactly what AJ and I did in late March 2015, and let me tell you it was a giant slice of heaven. Brace yourself - I am about to wax poetic, as I am known to do from time to time on this here blog.
I was already expecting a great trip. But this one surpassed my hopes on so many levels, I am now counting it as one of the best trips of all time. We purposefully tried to keep this one simple - no big plans, no jam-packed days, light on coordination and details, all intended to keep focus on enjoying the place and the company of each other. Indeed, we did it right.
That was our doing, but Mother Nature had to play her part too. And good grief, did she. We we're graced with weather that bordered on perfection, light crowds, spring wildflowers a'poppin, scenery that dropped the jaw, and wildlife akin to what's expected in Alaska. No joke.
Note - we had two wildlife highlights: watching a whale hopscotch up the coast, leaping out of the water about every 20 seconds an uncountable number of times; and an up-close-and-personal sighting of California condors, the highly endangered and largest bird in North America that is becoming a conservation success story. I've never seen one before, and now I can say I've seen about 10 percent of their population in the wild.
Layered on top of that, AJ and I stayed in two of most romantic little bungalows EVER. Jeez loueez, it was like another world. One was the Big Sur Inn, a complex of outbuildings clinging to the side of a redwood encrusted canyon; the other a little cabin we happened upon in wine country, surrounded by craggy oaks, views of the vineyard, and a black lab puppy dog to keep us company. TOO MUCH!
I traveled down to CA a few days before AJ, heading out to Point Reyes National Seashore to go backpacking and visit some old haunts. I then picked up my lady in San Jose, and we headed south to the Big Sur coast to camp and hike. We departed the coast at the southern end of Big Sur and hit up Paso Robles wine country, finishing the trip camping in Pinnacles National Park. The trip was easy, and is highly recommended.
See below for pictures, and you can always see more on my Flickr page.
The Point Reyes Peninsula, one of the CA coast's stunning features. Did you know this landmass started in Mexico and is now north of San Fransisco? Its true.
My campsite in the green green hills of a springtime CA.
The beach in front of my campsite.
Beach rocks.
Crash-a-splash!
Some springtime color.
Gettin my backpack on.
Hiking out of Pt Reyes took me into the forested woodlands of the Peninsula.
I headed out the next day to the Peninsula's point.
The view of the outer coast on the Point Reyes Headlands is simply stunning.
Stoked to be out and about on the Pacific.
I saw whales every single day on this trip - one of them passed right through this scene.
Time to get AJ! So I left early enough to catch the sunrise over San Fransisco...
...along with a handful of a few other lucky folks. Alcatraz is the island you can see.
The City through the cables of the Golden Gate.
Got my girl, so we split for the coast.
Yep - just what the doctor ordered for the soul.
Julia Pfeiffer State Beach.
Can you believe this beach has PURPLE sand?! It does.
My lady friend enjoying the sunset on a near-perfect temperatured evening.
Whale watchin - leaping whales were seen.
Soakin in the rays.
Goodnight, sun!
Our next destination, Andrew Molera State Beach.
The view looking down the coast - classic Big Sur.
Getting up on the bluffs - more purple sand!
Coastal hike details.
The trail going through crooked oak woodlands.
For this hike, you had to ford the Big Sur River.
We checked into the Big Sur Inn for the evening, probably the most romantic place in the whole wide world.
Our room, up the stairs.
Our room, Top Antique.
The library at the Big Sur Inn.
A pre-dinner drink with an amazing view.
The legendary Nepenthe Restaurant, perched about 1000 feet above the Pacific Ocean.
Seeing as it was 70+ degrees outside, we dined al fresco - with an enormous view.
The oak trees and the sunset.
The next morning, the fog was thick as we drove down the coast....
...but it gave the water an eerie, gorgeous turquoise color.
Before we headed inland, we had to stop and look for moonstones at Cambria...
...and check out all the elephant seals as the fog burned off.
We then headed over the coastal mountains to Paso Robles. That's Point Conception in the distance, just north of Santa Barbara.
J & A at Lone Madrone Cellars.
AJ at Daou Cellars.
The view from Daou.
Wine country details.
Our uber-charming bungalow in wine country and surroundings.
After a bit of tasting, we headed further inland to Pinnacles National Park. I've never been, even though I've passed the exits on the 101 and the I-5 for years and years and years.
Gorgeous red rocks dominate the place. Feels very wild wild west.
Truly unique landscape in the middle of nowhere.
The colors and details of Pinnacles.
Afternoon light on the spires.
And the coup de gras - California condors. Cherry on top of a fantastic trip.
