Who can say that there is a better place than San Diego? Neither can I.
A short 5.5 hrs drive to San Diego was a short vacation I recently went on to get away from work and boredom of Fresno. I have been to San Diego several times in the past year and a half, but this time I visited two really cool places: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and came close to Cabrillo National Monument.
Fort Rosecrans was an unexpectedly beautiful place. Who goes to a cemetery to enjoy the views? I do!
Sunset was caught there by accident and was surely a pleasant add-on.
This year so far I have met a sunrise on the East Coast and sunsets on the West Coast. Incredible!
I also went Salsa dancing the first time in a few years. Great time at Marriott Hotel! See you very soon San Diego ;)
It's been too long since I last left Fresno. I had to get out. The number of places to visit is shrinking, and the distance to drive has become a nuisance. Nevertheless, driving 2.5 hours to see the Pacific Beach is worth it.
On the way out of Fresno I hit some dense fog, something I was warned about by the locals, but have never experienced it myself. You could see nothing ahead of you, really, check it out!
Here is what my schedule looked like. I generally go on Tripadvisor and Roadtrippers to get the sites I want to visit.
I bought the ticket to Hearst Castle online, it cost $25. It just gives you a reservation in case you travel during the peak months. In my case, it was really unnecessary as there were plenty of spots available. Besides, you still have to wait in line to pick up your ticket and wrist bracelet at the counter.
The wait was very minimal, they valued our time! The group was transported to the castle via a shuttle bus with a very nice audio recording in the background describing the history of Hearst Castle. On the way down I actually recorded the views.
The castle itself is more like an estate, not so much of a castle. When you mention the term "castle", I have a picture of medieval structure, but this was a luxurious building with beautiful architecture. It reminded me The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. Regardless, the tour of the Grand Rooms was educational, and you had as much time as you wanted outside.
Here is what it looked inside:
Outside it was even more magnificent! It was a relatively clear and sunny day, so you could see the water closely in the distance. I tried to imagine how it would be living in such luxury...
That was their indoor pool...
A little hummingbird was used to people and did not mind me taking fifteen hundred shots of him:
After taking a bunch of pictures on site, I headed out to my next destination. Luckily, it was right across the street. William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach is really unique in that you can go out on pier and fish! Well, me and fishing don't go together, but I certainly took advantage of the view.
Here is a short video of the view:
I attempted to visit Piedras Biancas Beach, but there was not much to see and certainly no seals.
I then went to the Moonstone Beach, parked right at the big red cross on the map below and walked about a mile along the beach on the boardwalk to the Moonstone Beach itself.
Really nice views along the way, pleasant atmosphere in a unique neighborhood.
Finally, the Moonstone Beach! The stones are really of different colors, see for yourself!
I am afraid of heights. Really. I dislike even stairs where the railings have openings in between the rods. I guess the idea that I would not be able to squeeze between these rods even if I wanted to does not reduce unconscious fear.
Moro Rock is one of the most picturesque places in Sequoia National Park, in my opinion. But there is a catch. You have to walk up many many many steps along steep edges and large openings between railing rods. I had to do it...
Slowly, step by step, I tried to convince myself that it was not that steep after all. As I hiked higher and higher, I felt a bit dizzy, but still continued the hike. I stopped several times to take pictures and admire the beauty of nature, but also to think about how small we are and how negligent my presence is in the volume of trees and mountains around me.
At some point I thought that I would have to stop, that my courage would exhaust its last drops. I kept going until I reached the top of the rock. The view unfolded 360 degrees and was truly incredible.
Going down was a bit scarier, but there was no other way. Had to do it :)
After combating my fears a bit, I headed to the largest tree in the world - General Sherman Tree. Again, that feeling of insignificance just consumes you when you stand next to this giant tree that is so so so very old.
Actually, there were quite a few trees of similar size:
Finally, there is a cave. Yes, a Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park! Who would have thought?! The tour costs $18 and lasts about an hour. Be sure to buy tickets in advance here or otherwise you have to hope that there is an extra spot on the tour. We were able to get in, but I am not sure how it works during the busy season.
The guide talked about the history of the cave and its structure. At the end they turned off all the lights and asked everyone to be quiet and listen to the sounds of the cave. Several people freaked out as they were afraid of the darkness. No, it was not kids either! Really cool experience.
The hike to the cave is downhill and is very easy, but coming up required some effort. If you had never visited a cave, it is worth going there for sure!
Early in the morning I left my AirBnb and headed out to get some breakfast. On the way to my planned destination, I stopped at the lookout point right off Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. It was a bit foggy, but certainly worth $5 toll.
I had breakfast at Theresa & Johnny's Comfort Food, probably the least favorite part of my trip. I then was on my way to Point Reyes. Since I only had about 5 hours to spend in the park, I asked the guide at the Visitor's Center which trails would be the best to take. She suggested that I visit the lighthouse and stay in the area for the sake of time.
There is a parking lot less than a mile from the lighthouse, but it does fill up very fast. The best time to get there is before 9 AM. Hiking towards the lighthouse is picturesque and very easy.
When you get to the lighthouse, there is a staircase leading down, estimated over 300 steps. Downhill it makes no difference...
... and the views make all worth it.
Uphill, on the other hand, you really feel those 300 steps...
Another area I stumbled upon is Elephant Seal Overlook. Unfortunately, I did not see that many seals, but quite a few pelicans and birds. As I later found out, Point Reyes is famous for its rich diversity of birds. I saw many people with binoculars and high-end equipment searching for birds all over.
