We have been in California for two months now. Time has really flown by quickly! We have been able to get out and explore many places. One of my favorite things to do is to visit high-end or unique hotels and share a meal together. We are also enjoying visiting the many beaches and sites California has to offer. So here are some places we have visited in the last two months!
Roger's Garden is a beautiful place to visit, but during the Christmas season, it is magical! It is a Christmas wonderland and all things over-the-top Christmas decor. The rest of the year it is a beautiful tranquil garden! I hope you get to visit Roger's Garden at Christmas. You are in for a magical treat. 🎄
My stay at the Hyatt Regency John Wayne Airport in Newport Beach was fabulous. There is beauty all around us, we just have to open our eyes and imagination to see it! This is true even at a hotel across from the airport. I am fascinated with the beauty of architecture and plant life. Throw in a gorgeous sunset and some Jumba Juice and that makes for a perfect day! 🥤🪴
The Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign. There are no greater views of Los Angeles than being on top of the world at Griffith Observatory. The outside of the observatory is spectacular in its own right! (On this day, we didn't get to go inside as there was a special event going on). Standing in the place where Adelle performed to millions of viewers gave me goosebumps. It is the best place to see the Hollywood sign, without having to climb to the top of a mountain. Simply spectacular viewing!
The Ritz Carlton Hotel. There are so many 4 & 5-star hotels in California and the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel is no exception. There is something about Christmas decorations on a larger scale that makes it magical. The architecture of the hotel is stunning from the inside - out! We had dinner at the hotel, and it was Devine! 😋
Aliso Beach. We spend Christmas day at Aliso Beach watching people wakeboard, listening and watching the crashing of the waves, and walking on the beach. We had a quick lunch and enjoyed an awesome relaxing day! 🏖️
The Resort at Pelican Hill is located in Newport Coast (right down the street from where we live). It is a stunning! It seems to go on for miles and expands as far as the eyes can see. When you have the ocean as your canvas, how can you go wrong with the design. But the design did not disappoint, and it held its own with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
The food is amazingly delicious and creative. The choices are carefully crafted to appeal to the eyes and delight the senses. Come visit for creative meal choices that are tasty and take in those remarkable views! Got Golf? 🏌🏽⛳If you golf, they have one of the best golf courses in California. And don't forget to check out the biggest, round pool you have ever seen! 🫨
One of the highlights of our day trips was to The J. Paul Getty Center Museum. I took over 300 photos of this gorgeous garden and the museum. We were there for four hours and still only saw 1/3 of this place; it is massive!!! The Getty Center sits high above the city of Los Angeles, so you get great view of the City of Angels.
There are hundreds of plants, trees and flowered species in the garden. It is like nothing else we have seen so far. The garden is hypnotizing! We were fortunate to come on the last day of the art exhibit featuring the works of artist, William Blake. It was a real treat to see his works of art. This place is a must visit!
Balboa Bay Marina. It was raining and cold this particular day, and we were out driving around and came across a hidden Marina area. It is located on the Balboa Bay and just next to the Newport Beach Coast Guard. There is a small sand beach area for residents to play volleyball, rent or use their kayaks in the bay. The waves were really strong during the storm, but we were glad we stop to see the area.
Because we live in the San Joaquin Hills in Newport Coast, as we drive down to Newport Beach area, we have views of the ocean; it is breathtaking. On this evening, we were treated to gorgeous views of an amazing sunset and the shimmering lights in Newport. It was quite amazing!
Huntington Beach is about 30 min. North of Newport. We were fortunate to witness people in the water surfing. The seagulls were very active which allowed me to get some pretty good shots. It was a beautiful day and not crowded on the pier. I met a couple who let me get a picture with their beautiful, but huge 2-years old Great Dane. Had he stood on his legs, he would have been taller than me. He was very friendly. We had an awesome day!
For those who don't know... I am obsessed with Mid-Century Modern furniture and architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright started the design era of this type of furniture and home design of his many houses. He was born on my birthday 🎈 (June 8th) exactly 100 years before me (1867), so I think that is very cool and I have a special connection to him, as I have not found anyone else yet born on my birthday. The fact that it is my favorite architect, is a huge bonus!
One of my goals is to visit as many Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) houses as possible. We had the privilege of visiting the Hollyhock House located at: 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027 This is a beautiful FLW home. It was commissioned by a wealthy oil heiress, but she never really lived in the home. Only the living room and dining room are furnished, but all architectural FLW details are still evident in the home. The heiress had big plans for the entire grounds but ran out of money. The home was eventually donated to the City of Los Angeles, and they turned it into a tourist attraction. It is spectacular!
Our last excursion for February, was to the indoor and outdoor shopping center, Fashion Island in Newport Beach. We went there for a lunch time walk and a meal together. It is so nice to be able to be outdoors and take a break from Vel working (at home) and get outdoors together for an hour or so in the middle of the day. We are going to stick to doing this twice a week.This is cool water feature! https://www.facebook.com/100003833118664/videos/pcb.2962380707233004/948829632905907
Today it was 65*, sunny and warm. A perfect day to walk and have lunch outdoors. Newport is so beautiful and healing to the soul. 💖 We will see you in March and April for another update of Vel and Sarah's Newport Adventures! Until then, have a blessed day! ✝️
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