La Jolla

La Jolla is a magical place. We stayed in a gorgeous rental house just steps away from shopping, restaurants, and the beautiful ocean. My favorite part of where we stayed was that we walked everywhere! It was so nice not to have to load everyone in the car for every single meal.

Each morning, I went on a walk down to La Jolla cove. I either exercised, read, or just enjoyed the beautiful weather and quiet time. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. One morning I even got within just a few feet of a seal and her baby!! It was amazing.

A seal and her pup. I wanted to reach out and hug them!! 

We also went on a segway tour which was extremely dorky, but took us to places in La Jolla we may have not otherwise seen. We stopped outside of Mitt Romney's house, so now I know which neighborhood I want to live in! ;)

We ate at the Brockton Villa for breakfast twice during our trip. Their french toast is incredible!! My sisters also loved their cinnamon roll pancakes and their waffles. I definitely recommend eating here. There are great views of the ocean and it is a local favorite.

Streetcar donuts.

We also ate at Streetcar Donuts, which was a fantastic experience. First of all, how cool are the square-shaped donuts?! Secondly, they were all delicious. They have an extensive menu (they are also famous for their fried chicken and biscuits) and I wish we had been able to go back and sample more. The favorites of the group were Vanilla Bean, Fruity Pebbles, Cinnamon Sugar, Original Glazed, and Peanut Butter. I personally thought they nailed the simple glazed donut. SO GOOD.

We enjoyed brunch at the La Valencia hotel one morning. The La Valencia is a gorgeous 4-star Spanish style hotel that was originally built in the 1920s. Everything was gorgeous! I ordered the pancakes and was not disappointed.

Now, here is a list of some of my favorite La Jolla spots.

1. Duke's La Jolla - great seafood and a really cool atmosphere

2. Whisknladle - one of the BEST meals I've ever had. Get the butternut squash ravioli! Trust me! 

3. George's - kind of touristy but you can't beat their ocean views. Make sure to book a reservation during the sunset!

4. Puesto - fresh and delicious Mexican food. Everyone loved their tacos/bowls. 

5. Fresh Produce - contrary to the name, this is not a place for fresh produce. It's a really cute store, and although some of the stuff is very mom-ish, there are some hidden gems! 

Misty morning walk by the beach.

Thanks for the memories, California! 

The whole fam outside of George's. Spending time with them is the best.