I started planning our first anniversary trip 6 months into our marriage. I wanted it to be amazing, fun, warm, adventurous, and something we hadn't done before. At the time neither of us had been very far west at all, and we really wanted to explore a little bit of the west. So we decided to go to California for a week and see the three major cities and drive along the coast on Route 1 and just make a road trip of it.
Day 1
We flew into San Francisco for our first stop. We rented a car for the week so we could go where ever we wanted. Our first stop was the local grocery store (haha), yes I said the grocery store. We bought a cheap, disposable cooler to put food/snacks/treats in for our lunch and breakfasts while we were on our trip (to save a little bit of $$$). The smartest thing EVER! We just pretty much explored all day. We were thrilled that is was 63 degrees instead of 25 degrees. Everyone there was wearing coats(some even had hats on lol), but us Ohioians were lovvvinnnggg the temperature.
Driving over to Treasure Island, then we went to Lombard Street (the street that has the most hair-pin turns).
Our first sighting of the Golden Gate Bride
This is kind of what we pictured San Fran looking like tracks in the road, houses smashed together, and HILLS. There are soo many hills. We'd be mega fit if we ran in San Fran like we do in Ohio. That's a good excuse to move there right??!
Oh and we can't forget the Trolley. We never ended up riding one...but aren't they cute?
So many cool buildings and color!
One of my favorite views of the coast.
Our view from din din, spectacular. Oh, and I ATE SALMON! A whole, big salmon. I'm not a fish eater, but it was actually really really good.
Day 2: Our Anniversary Day!
This was probably my favorite day of the trip. We woke up rested, we told each other Happy Anniversary (made out a little bit ;). I gave him his anniversary gift, which was a book I made of all our favorite memories from our first year marriage and wrote a little bit about each of them. It was precious going through the book with him and looking back on all our favorite moments over the past year.
This is Twin Peaks. I'm pretty sure I took like 2x's the pictures on this day then any other day. lol. What can I say, I wanted our first anniversary to be well captured.
Some amazing views!
The Presidio of San Francisco.
Reed trying to get the Pigeon...."Take a picture Lydia, take a picture!!"
We were both really excited to see the Golden Gate Bride. You know you always see it in the movies and all those chick-flicks...its way better seeing it in person.
Driving on the bridge...was...prettyyyy sweet.
"Reed its RED dirt!!!!" "Yes, Lydia, *laughs* it's red dirt".
Carrying my camera bag everywhere for me XOXO. He's the best! (Don't you love how he flipped the cover over so it wasn't showing the floral design haha).
The pathway to Point Reyes Lighthouse was my favorite part of the day.
I went a little picture crazy with my camera when I saw this gorgeous light.
My man is smokin' hot!
We are fun together.
He makes me silly and giddy.
Hotness
Point Reyes Lighthouse
You could feel the bridge swaying back and forth in the wind when we walked acrossed
Our first time in the Pacific was pretty awesome.
Our retro hotel room :)
All the Piers were beautiful!
Reed and I "pretending" to dodge the "pretend" pigeon poo that was "supposedly" falling from the sky. Yeah, wasn't the most mature moment of our life. ;) *slaphappy*. It was a beautiful night together. We ate at a seaside-american place. Talked a lot about our first year married. (Man, I love him more and more everyday).
Day 3 we had a long drive ahead of us, but we wanted to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge before we left. It started out with us being yelled through a microphone by the State Police. Apparently you aren't allowed to walk on both side of the bridge, who knew?! lol. Well we did make it on the right side of the bridge (litterally, don't try and walk on the left side! lol)
Reed wanted me to take a picture of our feet actually ON the bridge. I tell ya what...he is going to work me out of a job here soon.
Driving the coast was pretty amazing. God is such an artist to think he designed it all. We were on the coasts for about 7 hours this day and it was constantly beautiful views.
Los Padres National Forest
The photos a little fuzzy, but we were actually inside the Los Padres National forest here.
Day 4 we had spent the previous night in Morro Bay, CA. This was right outside our hotel. We didn't stick around much here. We were headed for LA which was still a few hours away.
This is in Malibu.
We made it to LA. Our first stop was Hollywood.
So we were walking down Hollywood Blvd. and Captain America wanted a picture with Reed. After the picture we started to walk away "where is my money?!" he said. "Money? We aren't giving you any money for being in a picture!!". So apparently you are supposed to tip them if you take a picture with them. He is the one that wanted a picture with Reed so he should have tipped us if anything. :p
We did a little bit of shopping in Beverly Hills, let me rephrase that, we did a little bit of "looking" in Beverly Hills.
Reed's favorite star.
On the St. Monica Pier
Day 5 we were going to Universal Studios. It was very warm and we were stoked.
We took a tour of the actual Universal Studios lot. This is the actual street where they filmed Desperate House Wives. We saw a lot of cool stuff.
This is all part of Universal Studios lot where they film a majority of their TV shows and films.
Downtown LA. This is the Disney Concert Hall.
Nightlights of LA
Day 6 we woke up early and drove down to San Diego, our final stop. We spent most of the day at Sea World. We got to pet dolphins, watch Sea Lions bark for food (it's pretty hilarious), saw 4 different shows, and ate chicken that was not too tasty.
A litte fuzzy again..
Ohhhh, the cutenes part of Sea World was Shamu and his Mommy. It was addoorrraable!
This was the view from our hotel on Shelter Island.
Day 7 we spent AT THE BEACH most of the day. Even though the water was freeezing it was so much fun to be in the ocean and get a little sun ;)
You can see the city of San Diego across the water.
We flew out early the next morning headed back home. We really couldn't have had a better time. It was such a great/fun time. The best part of it wasn't that were were in a beautiful place or that we saw a bunch of cool things, the best part was being together and celebrating our love, just him and I.
