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California Stars, Part 2
“Let’s not go and ruin it by thinking too much”—words once uttered by the famous Clint Eastwood, American actor, director, and, oddly enough, former mayor of Carmel, California. Befittingly, this quote served as the perfect mantra during our escapade in Carmel, where my girlfriends and I spent a few days on our grand California adventure.
Unlike the other destinations on our trip—where we had some sort of schedule—we went into Carmel with no agenda, just to be present, relax, and enjoy. The true epitome of “let’s not go and ruin it by thinking too much.” Despite our lack of a plan, however, we managed to keep ourselves plenty entertained. Our three days there were filled with visiting quaint shops topped with cedar shakes and thatched roofs, splashing through crystal coastlines, and indulging in delicious meals—one of which was at Mission Ranch, a historic hotel and restaurant actually owned by Clint Eastwood himself..
Many thanks to the kind local who stopped to chat with the five little misfits looking for recommendations in the area. Without her, we never would have discovered the ranch—or the beautiful Carmel River State Beach, where we spent an entire day hopping along rocks, investigating tide pools, and, oh yeah, chasing the seagulls who kept stealing our almonds. Oh well. You win some, you lose some, I suppose. But one thing is for certain: I’d gladly give up another bag of almonds if it meant I could be back on that beach again.
Today, as I write this piece, my eyes glance over at the little 5x7 print I purchased in an art gallery back in Carmel, and I smile. In a way, I do feel as if I’m back on that beach again as I look at the
painted scene and reflect. Now more than ever, I understand why the Savvy Travelers themselves always say that art is one of the most precious commodities to collect while traveling. It’s a memory in tangible form.
After our stint in Carmel-by-the-Sea, we switched gears and did a complete 180, embarking on an off-grid adventure in Yosemite National Park. It’s comedic, really, how quickly we went from staying in one of the most expensive places in the country to smacking termites away from our canned bean dinner bubbling over a campfire. True story.
Although it was surely a change of pace, Yosemite delivered its own array of breathtaking views, which we experienced on various trails throughout our two-night, three-day stay. El Capitan in particular deserves every bit of praise and wonderment it receives from admirers—myself included. Sitting at the basin below, I stretched my neck to stare up at the remarkably vast flat edge. How on earth people have free-soloed that precipice is beyond me. Needless to say, I was happy to stay on the soft grass by the river below and appreciate it from afar.
Later, we ventured to Yosemite Falls, where we were splashed by stray droplets from the most breathtaking waterfall. While many (much smarter) tourists took the groomed path, we avoided the crowds by rock-hopping our way up the stream to the cascade—the closest I’ve come to feeling like a Lost Boy in Peter Pan’s Neverland, if you’re familiar. While it was definitely a more difficult route, I don’t regret our decision to take the “road less traveled by.” After all, it provided quite a unique perspective…though, for liability reasons, I’m not recommending that off-road excursion (but it was pretty freakin’ cool).
Much to my dismay, before we knew it, it was time to pack up camp and head back to civilization. Our next stop? Napa, California. Again—a complete 180. With blistered feet, sunburnt skin, and dirt covering every inch of our bodies, we rolled into yet another notoriously luxurious town and, inevitably, found ourselves on the receiving end of a few stares from concerned passersby. Fair.
After checking into our hotel and settling the battle over shower priority, we were good as new and ready to explore wine country. With only one day and one night to spend trotting through the land of vineyards, we wasted no time. I’ll spare you the details of our stops in retail chain stores like Target and Anthropologie and leave you with this recommendation instead: the highlight for me was walking through the grapevine-adorned trellises at Viansa Winery in Sonoma—the next city over. Although, speaking of shopping, I will say the kitchen nerd in me thoroughly enjoyed stopping into the original Williams Sonoma storefront.
Following our thirty-something hours in Napa, we spent the last few days of the trip in San Francisco, seeing the sights and taking advantage of all the city has to offer. On our drive into the city, we made a pit stop in Stinson Beach, a quaint surfing town filled with bungalow shops and restaurants. Here, the girls and I spent several hours taking it easy by the water. The sand on my feet, fresh air, and cooling mist from the waves were the perfect morale booster for my tired—and admittedly cranky—self, whose social battery was feeling slightly overworked at the time. But nothing a little beach therapy couldn’t fix.
Shortly after, I was recharged and ready to tackle our last leg of the PCH, which eventually led us directly across the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Now that’s what I call a welcome-to-San-Francisco moment!
Our days here were filled with visiting iconic sites such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Ghirardelli Square, and hippie central—Haight-Ashbury. What a ride!
Personally, as a fan of West Coast psychedelic rock, Haight-Ashbury might have taken the cake for me, given its rich history within the music scene. But music junkie or not, this city—wait, scratch that—this state has something to offer everyone, and trust me, I know.
By the end of it all, we had successfully driven from Southern to Northern California in ten days, hitting a wide variety of stops along the way. Ambitious? Certainly. Crazy? I wouldn’t argue that. Worth it? Absolutely. Or, to sum it up in surf-culture slang: totally gnarly!
These are the days, my friends. These are the days.
Until next time,
Anabel
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