Anniversary Getaway in California

Not long after Homecoming, Jeff and I were so excited to have my parents in town for a week while we took our annual anniversary trip. We were celebrating year #18, and we kicked off the celebration in style with lunch at our favorite spot, Taste of Texas. It's always the most delicious meal, even if we leave in misery from eating way too much!

For our trip this year, we decided to visit the beautiful state of California starting with a stay in gorgeous and sunny Carmel. We rented an Airbnb which was a standalone, gated garage apartment in a stunning hillside mansion, and I can honestly say it was my most favorite stay ever! Our host Gary was the most hospitable and generous gentlemen, and we loved the privacy and cozy accommodations in his beautiful home. He is a former art dealer and gallery owner, and his home was filled with amazing pieces from his personal collection. I'm sad to say that I only managed to get a couple of photos of the exterior of Gary's home while we took a walk one morning, but we truly loved our time there and will never forget our stay at Carmel by the Sea!

While in Carmel, Jeff and I followed our host's advice to visit some of his favorites in the area. We visited Carmel Beach and walked around the lovely town exploring the shops and restaurants. At the recommendation of Jeff's mom, we visited Hog's Breath Inn and enjoyed some drinks and appetizers while soaking in the beautiful weather and scenery. On another day, we took Gary's suggestion to enjoy the scenic drive to Big Sur, which was absolutely breathtaking. Pictures just can't do it justice!

On another outing, we decided to take on the popular 17 mile drive and stop at most of the hotspots along the way. Our favorites included the Lone Cypress tree - which we recognized from Gary's art collection in our Airbnb. At the conclusion of our drive was the famous Pebble Beach Golf Club, which we were excited to see and explore. As a relatively new golf fanatic, Jeff was fascinated by the course and the incredible history of the club. We enjoyed a beautiful outdoor lunch, seated on the terrace of the club overlooking Hole 1 of the course. It was one of my favorites moments of our trip!

On our final day in the Carmel area, Jeff and I took another scenic drive and ended up at the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. We did some light hiking but mostly just enjoyed the gorgeous scenery in the park. After the park, we made our way to one of Gary's recommended restaurants called Nepenthe Big Sur for a casual lunch with the most breathtaking hillside views. Once again, I failed to take any photos but it was such a special spot to enjoy on our day trip. 

Later that night, Jeff and I visited Cannery Row and enjoyed some browsing and a nice dinner overlooking the ocean. It was the perfect way to wrap up our anniversary visit to central California. But, our trip wasn't over yet!