Going back to Cali

Back to Cali for her, first time for me. First time putting my feet in the Pacific Ocean. First time seeing the Golden Gate Bridge. Actually, it was the first time I've traveled past the Texas border. Lindsay has spent enough time on the West Coast to consider California her second home. I had a lot of catching up to do. 

Things I learned in Cali:

1. The Golden Gate Bridge is really as stunning and majestic, albeit really pretty touristy, as they say it is. It's worth the trip to see it. 
2. San Francisco knows food and drink. 
3. It's not as warm in Northern Cali as us East Coasters want to think it is. 
4. California is wicked fun, but I am an East Coast girl at heart and always will be
5. No one from Cali uses the word "wicked"

The Cali trip was definitely a bit of a whirlwind. Fly in to San Fran and spend the night in the city with somewhere around 60,000 other people who are there for a business conference. Drive to San Jose and spend some time with Lindsay's friends. Drive to Santa Cruz, put my feet in the ocean and see the most amazing sunset. Head to Los Gatos and spend the night with another of Lindsay's friends. Fly home. Whirlwind is an understatement. 

One night in San Fran was not enough. It went sort of like this... Nap, eat, drink, nap, drink, nap, drive to San Jose. We ate dinner right across the street from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, which was beautiful. I wish I could remember the name of the restaurant because their White Truffle Oil Mac and Cheese was killer. 

After wandering around the pier, running into the craziest drum circle ever created which involved swinging monkeys and snakes (not real), we stumbled into a little place called Fog City. Per usual I asked the bartender to make me his favorite drink from the menu. If you are ever stuck on what to order at a bar, just ask the bartender to make his favorite. I've never been disappointed. In this case, he made me what Lindsay and I consider to be one of the best alcoholic beverages ever created, The Fog City Milk Punch. It's a combination of Bourbon, Brandy, Rum, Citrus and Spices, Lemon, Sugar, and Clarified Milk and tastes like Heaven.

Another spot to check out in San Fran is Route 101 Bar. You aren't going to go there for the decor, the drinks, or the food (I'm not even sure they serve food). You will go there because you can watch an obscure Al Pacino movie, drink cheap beer, listen to Johnny Cash, and play Twilight Zone Pinball. What's not to love?

San Jose was a little more relaxed than San Francisco, mostly because we were there for 2 nights verses 1. Also the point of this portion of the trip was for me to meet a few of Lindsay's West Coast friends, check out San Jose State and just kind of relax. 

If you are looking for a good drink in San Jose, check out 55 South on First St. It's a trendy little hipster-esque bar with bar tenders who specialize in craft cocktails like The Un-Pink Lady (fresh raspberries, Gin, Applejack, fresh lemon juice, house made Grenadine, egg white, and mint) and Benton's Bacon Old Fashioned (Bacon Fat Infusion Buffalo Trace, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, and an orange twist). They serve the drinks with giant ice balls, reminiscent of golf ball sized hail. My drink was served with an ice ball, a basil leaf, and the comment from the bar tender that the drink was for "The L Word".

While in San Jose we decided to do something unusually touristy for Lindsay and I, we visited The Winchester Mystery House, a slightly kitschy 160 room mansion built by Sarah Winchester in 1886. Said to be haunted, you can now take a guided tour of the mansion and property. If you are lucky enough to get the same awkwardly humorous tour guide that we had you will not be disappointed. His laugh will terrify you way more than any ghost story.

After San Jose we took a quick trip to Santa Cruz. I've driven a lot of places, up and down the East Coast from the tip of Maine to Orlando. I love the scenery of a good drive. California doesn't disappoint in this aspect, although I'm mostly assuming that's because we weren't stuck in traffic.

While in Santa Cruz we check out RED restaurant and bar. They have Bloody Mary's that are basically a meal in itself, couches, a fireplace, and Truffle Oil Fries. Enough said.

And then there was the beach.

I can’t tell you exactly how to get there. There’s no street number or big sign. There’s simply a tiny  parking lot somewhere off California State Route 1  about 3 miles North of Santa Cruz with a small path that crosses a railroad track. But if you can find it, that little path will drop you off on a cliff overlooking one of the most beautiful ½ mile stretches of Pacific Coastline that you can find. If something doesn’t move inside you when you stand on a cliff like that, overlooking the ocean, watching birds fly by as waves crash against the rocks you are basically dead inside.

The best part of being on a pretty hard to find beach means it’s essentially secluded. There were two surfers, a few people walking along the beach, and a naked guy sunbathing. I should mention this was a clothing optional beach, an activity we did not participate in. Not this time anyway.

If you ever get the chance to find this beach, go back for the sunset. If you have the chance to be there with the love of your life, like I was, consider yourself lucky. Watching the sun set over the Pacific ocean on a secluded beach with a heart full of love is not a bad ending to the day.

The rest of the trip was fast and furious. Drive to Los Gatos. Visit a friend. Dinner. Drinks. Nap til 3 am. Drive back to San Francisco to catch an early morning flight home. My girl and I are No Limit Soldiers.