A Quintessential California Road-trip

A huge week, filled with lots of fun activities and topped off with a classic californian road-trip. 

The week began with some resolve towards study and classes but as the weather warmed up the vibe at UCSB changed and class attendance remarkably dropped. Wednesday was my first encounter with the infamous OTT crowd. OTT is a karaoke bar in Goleta (neighbouring Isla Vista) and known for its stuffy interior and ability to inspire young and old to sing their hearts out to 90s anthems. It was so much fun to spend time with new friends and bond with the huge group of exchange students who frequent it. 

Once we had all recovered from the night before it was time to finish classes for the week and pack in the lead up to our San Francisco adventure. Lisa and Nadia also put on an impromptu potluck on Thursday night which was the perfect wind down before a big day. My cravings for European soft cheeses was finally fulfilled as I created a bit of a cheese platter for the event. It was so much fun and as always featured some great red wine and homemade chocolate sweets for dessert. Cassie, Lisa and Nadia have taken it upon themselves to learn some vegan, vegetarian, organic and raw cooking skills whilst living here in California and we all get to enjoy the results!

However onto the real highlight of the week.

Nothing says classic road-trip like 90s sing alongs, convertible rides, hostel experiences and some beautiful views.

Our first stop on the trip was along the beautiful Big Sur coastline. Whilst the early stages of the drive featured some of the strangest low-lying fog I've ever seen, it and the rain all cleared out in time for some spectacular views. Hard to imagine after looking at the photo below that our drive started in rain and wind.

What surprised me most about Big Sur was the incredible diversity of landscape, land formation, flora, fauna and views that you could take in. We drove through areas with beaches covered in sun-baking seals, rocky castles, open rolling fields, redwood forests and through mountain ranges. I can imagine the views are similar to the Great Ocean Road back home in Victoria. Due to the nature of the trip we couldn't stop in too many places along the way but we did snap a few great pictures. 

After stopping in Carmel to have some lunch we continued on to Monterey Bay. This segment of the trip was awesome and also incredibly nostalgic. I couldn't believe that I was actually back in this part of the world so soon after my Summer Arts trip in 2012. Many of the experiences I have had whilst living it up in IV have reminded me of my time in Monterey. Not only have both trips been incredible times of growth and self-reflection, they have featured some of the most exciting and fun times of my life. It is true that the California sun brings out a beauty and liveliness in people I haven't seen anywhere else. 

Getting back on track, Monterey was a lot of fun once again. We wandered down Cannery Row checking out the attractions and trying to find some otters in the water. I also introduced Tim and Joel to salt-water taffy, one of my vices here in the states. The best part about stopping in Monterey was by far the aquarium. It was single handedly the coolest educational amusement-type place that I have been. My favourite parts were the glass wave dome and the jellyfish exhibit. Spending about two hours walking around the various tanks and watching the animals can give you a peace of mind and time out from the everyday stresses of life. 

Speaking of places that enjoy some California relaxation. Our next stop on the trip was an overnight stay in Santa Cruz. None of us had been to the seaside city before and it was very cool to see. Santa Cruz itself kind of reminds me of Caloundra in QLD just with a more built up downtown and boardwalk. Unfortunately we got there too late to go to the amusement park along the water, but we did do the wharf and main street before stopping for dinner.

I was really glad that instead of staying in downtown Santa Cruz we elected to try something different and rent a little cottage in the redwood forest. The very cute and cosy cottage was on the property of Matt and Michele, two Santa Cruz locals. Not only was it incredibly peaceful, it was in the most picturesque location.

A great nights sleep had us all up and ready to go exploring on Saturday morning. We set off early from the cabin after some delicious fruit and muesli (complimentary breakfast is always that much tastier). The drive into the city was glorious with picture perfect blue skies. The guys were so excited to see the city for the first time and for me it felt a lot like coming home. I started to really identify and get attached to SF after my last trip and I had this comforting sense of familiarity driving through the streets.

We tried to fit as much as possible into our two short days in the Bay and headed to destination one straight away after getting into the city. Chrissy Park near the city side of the Golden Gate was our first stop. It was kind of nice and different to be looking at the city from the eyes of a tourist, appreciating sites in a new and exciting way. We took a bunch of photos and went for a walk up to the end of the bridge to get a closer look. 

After the bridge we drove around the city, through Haight Ashbury towards Mission Dolores Park. The park was so beautiful and the views amazing. We enjoyed galavanting around like kids, looking into the beautiful homes and playing on the slides with such a beautiful backdrop. 

After soaking up some sun we went down to the Mission district to have some food and explore the area. The Mission is a very cool part of SF and somewhere I definitely want to go back to. It is not only very eclectic and beautiful but houses some really cool restaurants. 

The next stop was Pier 39 and Fisherman's wharf. This was another new stop for me on the trip and although very touristy, a great place to look out at Alcatraz and Angel Island. People watching in San Francisco is so much fun and the wharf is filled with tourists and individuals of all persuasions.

After the wharf we were all feeling the heat and opted to check out the hostel to get settled. It was a necessary pitstop for the packed day as we then met up with Bobby to head to Haight Ashbury for dinner. The whole night was a whirlwind of fun, driving over to Haight Ashbury with the top down, taking in the evening sun. Haight Ashbury itself was amazing to explore as well with some amazing thrift and record stores. Dinner was delicious and when we eventually rolled out Bobby drove us up to Twin Peaks to see the city views at night. 

The view from Twin Peaks was spectacular. The best way to finish such a wonderful day. Being on a hill above the city only solidified my appreciation for this beautiful place and the opportunity to be back. I've begun to really appreciate this trip with the end drawing so near, trying to make the most of limited time with friends and my studies at UCSB. On the way back to the hostel we had some locals singing along to the Piano Man as we drove and it was a great way to finish the night.

In essence, Sunday could in no way top what we did on Saturday. We did still have a lot of fun though, exploring Chinatown and the financial district before heading up Market St to get the car. I hope I was able to show the guys a taste of how cool San Francisco is. We then tripped over to Berkeley and the UC campus. It was very cool to see UC Berkeley and drive up Dwight Rd to see the panorama views of SF from the East Bay.

Before starting the trip back to Santa Barbara we stopped in Oakland and San Jose to check out some new places. San Jose was also our lunch spot and we were able to see a little of downtown. The wind down after such an adventure took most of the drive back however we did pick up the mood with some 90s classics and travel snacks. The karaoke style final segment of the trip left us feeling fulfilled and happy about the trip even though the tired eyes showed some sadness.

Who knew spending a weekend with two Aussies and a Kiwi would be so American.

Nina