Sunday, April 20, 2008

Roadtrip!

We've returned from our "babymoon" roadtrip down and up the California coast. Of course, we had to stop at Disneyland, but it was also really great to get to take a leisurely, scenic route down highways 101 and 1. California is a pretty nice place to live!

We didn't take the more gas-hungry Beetle, but our Prius was about due for a vacation, anyway.

First stop: Monterey and Carmel, for some lunch and frolicking.




First night's destination: Avila Beach.



I'd never even heard of this town before searching for a good stopping point along the coast, but it was tiny and charming. I feel like it's the kind of place we'll go back to in 10 years and it'll be a huge resort destination. For now, though, we found super friendly locals and really good ice cream (mint chocolate chip with Oreo crumbles!).

And we found an awesome hotel: Avila la Fonda. Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in the lobby's kitchen: Check. Fireplace in room: Check. Giant whirlpool tub and nicer bathroom than mine at home: Check and check. We were off to a good start!


Next stop: Disneyland!



My first New Orleans Square "Courtyard of the Angels" portrait in which I am visibly pregnant. (When we last went in December, the day after I found out I was expecting, you couldn't exactly tell in the photos just yet!)


We spent the weekend in LA, going to some great museums. My favorite was the new Broad Contemporary. It was so playful and non-serious, and even Brad enjoyed the exhibits! (Which is really saying something for a "modern" art museum.)

But I will not post all my pictures. I am too lazy to do that, so I am saving my energy for pictures of our last stop: the incredible, tear-inspiring Ventana Inn at Big Sur.

We knew this would be a pretty nice place. Just look at our Prius's view from the parking lot!


In-room fireplace: Check. Enormous bathroom with window in the shower, to see view of mountains: Check. Kate crying in delight when she sees the upgraded room's view from the private porch and hammock: Check.




Brad figures out how to light a real wood-burning fire. (Hey, we only have a gas fireplace at home!)




Success!

Then, onto one of the highlights (and there were many!) of our one-night stay at the Ventana: my first-ever massage! It was a prenatal massage, involving a very pleasant masseuse, and a whole lot of funny pillows I arranged my body parts in. Plus, the massage room I was in had an ocean view. Sighhhh.



On our last morning of the trip, we strolled the trails winding through nature-y areas on property, and then I went swimming in this pool, which I had all to myself. OK, so it was about 60 degrees outside, but there was no way I had this pool and my pregnancy swimsuit waiting for me without using them! The water was about 80 degrees, so it was really as lovely as it looks.



And then on to home. Thank goodness for a roadtrip!

5 comments:

Jennifer H said...

Hi Kate!

What a beautiful baby bump you are sporting these days! The pictures you posted are absolutely gorgeous. And, as always, the story you tell to go along with the pictures makes it almost is if the reader is traveling right along!

:)

Jennifer

Jennifer H said...

Hi Kate! What a beautiful baby bump you are sporting lately! The pictures you posted are awe inspiring, and as always everything I get to read that you have written details your travels so well. I'm so glad you and Brad had such a great time. :)

Jennifer

AFY said...

Yay! We're glad you're back, though. And, I added some "archive" stuff from things I had saved elsewhere, to satisfy your prodding for more posts. So there! I have two competitions in the next two weeks, so you should be plenty happy in May :)

Rebecca Chastain said...

I love all the pictures of your last room! It was exactly as beautiful as I imagined it--though I don't think you'd told me about the pool! Swimming in spring! Crazy. And it sounds heavenly.

I agree with Jennifer H: your baby bump looks adorable. When you got back after your trip, you looked so refreshingly pregnant. I came home and told Cody that you looked so cute! (He thought I was silly, but when does he not?)

Kimberly Michelle said...

It looks like you had lots of fun on the trip! So glad you got to stop and enjoy Ventana!