California Lovin'

Sooooooooo K and I just got back from a trip to Cali. It was FABULOUS!! We left last Thursday and flew into Sacramento to meet up with my parents and bro who lives in Stockton. He was an amazing host for the weekend and graciously let us stay at his apartment while in town. Details of the trip along with photos are as follows:

Day 1 - San Francisco and Muir Woods

Got up and made the hour and half trek to the Bay Area. Our first stop was Fisherman's Wharf where we had clam chowder in a bread bowl for lunch. Yum! Afterwards we took a boat tour around the bay that crossed under the Golden Gate Bridge and circled Alcatraz. The views were spectacular.





Left the wharf to see the giant redwoods. These trees are seriously amazing. Hiked through the forest a bit before heading back to town for an Italian dinner with K's cousin Lizzy. She's studying for a semester there with her college - Westmont. It was wonderful to see her!!

Day 2 - Calavares Big Trees State Park and Murphys for wine tasting

Got up and drove an hour and a half east of Stockton to hike through the forest in Calaveras. Grabbed sandwiches for lunch and ate in the middle of the woods. The weather was amazing and scenery equally as wonderful. PLUS - these trees produce some seriously large pinecones. Wow.

After the forest we went to a couple wineries in Murphys - Ironstone and Twisted Oak. Twisted Oak happened to be my favorite. If only they distributed in Texas...




Day 3 - Leave Stockton for Lake Tahoe

After dropping off my parents at the airport, K and I rented a car and made the drive to Tahoe. Once we got in town, K's friend Scott met us at a park down by the lake with burgers and milkshakes for lunch. Scott is moving to China to marry Bing on Oct 6, so it was such a blessing to be able to spend time with him before his departure from the states. After lunch we hiked down to Emerald Bay. Again - amazing weather and beautiful scenery.






Checked in to our hotel that night - Mariott Timber Lodge - and asked the concierge for local restaurant recommendations. She suggested the Naked Fish, a sushi restaurant down the street. Best sushi I have ever had. So good that we went back the following night. We sat at the bar and watched A.G. make our food. Mmmmmmmm.....

Day 4 - Hiking and gambling in Tahoe

Got up and had breakfast at a casino down the street - $3.99 heart attack special - then hiked Eagle Falls. We took sandwiches and intended to eat by Eagle Lake, but were prohibited from doing so by a swarm of bees that happened to be very attracted to our meal.

S: [scream!!] THERE ARE BEES EVERYWHERE!!!
K: They like your sandwich - put it down!
S: But I'm not done with my sandwich - I'm still hungry and want to eat it!!
K: Put it down and they will leave you alone!
S: I don't want to put it in the dirt! [scream again!!] I think one bit me!!!!!!!
K: PUT DOWN YOUR SANDWICH NOW!!!

I finally put my sandwich down and starved the rest of the afternoon. After sushi round #2 that night we went to 3 different casinoes and ended up losing all of our money. It was still a great and wonderful vacation - much needed respite with so much time spent in the great outdoors. We will go back one day for certain...