June 4th, 2017
Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone! I hope you had a blast enjoying to outdoors with good food, friends and family! It was my 23rd birthday a few days ago and the first time in 5 years I hadn’t been spending it with George on a beach somewhere (tragic I know). Well, one of my greatest friends in the whole world and someone who feels like an older sister to me gifted me a plane ticket to go out to Cali to spend a long #MDW with G!
I couldn’t believe she had done that and before I knew it I was packing for a flight the same day! Good friends are hard to find but when you do my goodness keep them close and love them hard. Xoxo Nine 😉
I Landed at The San Jose airport on Thursday evening just as George was finishing up with football activities for the night. We decided we would dedicate this long weekend to simply exploring. Exploring our new and future home and trying to take in as much of it as we could together, before we actually had our own address there. We went to the movie Baywatch Thursday night in a theater with recliners. Honestly every theater should be built with recliners as seats it just makes all of it that much more enjoyable. Friday we were finally able to get a rental car and drive around freely. We went to Santa Row which is a popular outdoor shopping center with fun bars and restaurants and live music. George bought an entire new wardrobe from H&M (guys if you’ve never shopped at H&M before you’re seriously missing out) + (if he can find plenty that fits him, everyone can). We ate at this fun Asian inspired restaurant called Sīno. The decor was beautiful and fun and we were seated at this large leather red sectional couch. It almost had a TAÓ night club feel. Absolutely every single dish we ordered was spectacular, even the red house wine ;).
Friday night we met a friend in the town of Los Gatos and went to a bar called LGBG (Los Gatos Bar & Grill), had a few drinks but weren’t there too long. It was a great time to explore a near by town with a group of friends. Saturday we took the Cal train into San Francisco which was about an hour ride. Honestly wayyyyyy easier to maneuver than I had expected. Round trip tickets were only $15 and before we knew it we were off to a Giants game. Prior to the Giants game we wanted to find a bar close to the stadium. We stumbled upon this bar & bowling alley right across the street from the stadium called Lucky Strike. We ordered sooooo much food and bowled for an hour. We always used to go bowling in Iowa City so it was fun to do it out there on a much larger scale and at an awesome bar.
From left: Trent, me, George, Nick, Cj behind the Giants stadium overlooking the water
We sat in the outfield directly behind the third base line. Our tickets were $9 and we were right in the fun of it all. Up behind us there was every possible food stand you could think of. We got mile high nachos and devoured them! Note to self, always pack layers when going into the city!!! It is ALWAYS about 15 degrees colder than San Jose and wayyyyyy more wind! Not going to lie we were cold! The view of the bay on the back side of the stadium was absolutely breathtaking! There were so many boats in the water from sailboats to yachts of people watching the game waiting for home run balls to fall in the Bay. San Francisco you have a few new Giants fans on your hands after this night!
Your newest super fans! 😉
Sunday we drove up and down the infamous Highway 1 that runs the length of the California coast! Absolutely beautiful! We started in San Jose and our first stop was Half Moon Bay about 52 minutes NW of San Jose. Half Moon Bay was a quaint little fisherman town with sailboats as far as you could see. Also, note so self…… pack ALOT of layers if you’re going north and to the coast. We were not prepared for this as it was even more cold than the night before at the Giants game. We had to stop at this surf shop and buy all new clothes because we were so cold! Do not show up in a summer dress and gladiator sandals. Not one of my prouder moments. After we bought our layers and got ourselves together we really enjoyed to gorgeous views and amazing seafood from Barbaras Seafood Parlor.
George’s favorite fish & chips and the best bowl of clam chowder
Thank God for the sale rack at the surf shop for keeping us warm. Ignore my choice of footwear lmao. Also note that it’s about 15 degrees colder and windy on the coast than it is in San Jose! We were unprepared.
After departing Half Moon Bay we wet south to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. About an hour drive south and we would be in Santa Cruz. Along the way we took in the beautiful views of the pacific ocean off of highway one. We pulled over probably 4 or 5 times just to get out and look at the water. This was my favorite part of the trip. Road tripping with my best friend in a place neither of us had been before!
Thank God for the sale rack at the surf shop for keeping us warm. Ignore my choice of footwear lmao.
After departing Half Moon Bay we wet south to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. About an hour drive south and we would be in Santa Cruz. Along the way we took in the beautiful views of the pacific ocean off of highway one. We pulled over probably 4 or 5 times just to get out and look at the water. This was my favorite part of the trip. Road tripping with my best friend in a place neither of us had been before!
After about three times of pulling over to get out and look at the ocean
What made me really happy was there were tiny little farms all over the place! A little bit of Iowa way out west. We stopped at an organic naturally grown strawberry farm called Swanton Berry Farm. Hands down the Best chocolate covered strawberries I have ever had! We got chocolate covered strawberries, strawberry shortcake and raspberry cheesecake! SOOO YUMMY! You could go in their patch and pick your own bundle of strawberries as well!
We WILL be going back to this berry farm just for the chocolate covered strawberries!!!
Once in Santa Cruz we really wanted to make it to the boardwalk and enjoy the carnival rides and beautiful view. But because it was Memorial Day weekend everyone was thinking the same thing and we never ended up getting out of our car once we got there. Wayyy too busy for us. SO adding this stop to the list of places to go next time! This list just keeps getting longer and longer after we talk to people who have been before! I cannot wait to live out west and take in all that we can. Feeling very blessed and thankful for this guy right here and the opportunities that have yet to come!
Here are some photos of George in camp! He’ll be home for a few weeks at the end of June!
