Saturday, June 17th – Sunday, June 18th, 2017

One of our most simple trips, and most easily told with pictures.

We had a single free hotel night to use from our Hyatt credit card, so brilliant me came up with the brilliant idea to spend it on a weekend getaway in Monterrey & Carmel.

I believe it was the first time I helped drive for one of our trips. At what point is his sleepiness too dangerous it outweighs my fear of driving? Hm. But yes, I was probably holding my breath all the way down the highway. My palms were sweating, I was sweating, and I distinctly remember thinking oh how convenient it was that I had on my workout clothes.

Along the way, we stopped by a beach to eat our Safeway sandwiches. While romantic an idea, really it was quite windy, too windy.

And then there was a bridge, Bixby Creek Bridge, one that is apparently in a lot of car commercials. It was funny because we spent a bunch of time appreciating and taking pictures of this Bixby Creek Bridge, only to keep driving and eventually come upon a sign for… Bixby Creek Bridge? We had been looking at the wrong bridge the whole time. We parked our car, got out, and went go to appreciate it all over again.

Then came a pretty and short hike around Soberanes Point. Hm, I think the part of this hike that I remember the most is the California wildflowers. Up close, honestly these flowers will not awe anyone. But I love that they don’t give a damn about impressing you, and they have casually staked their territory across these vast, arid hills just because they want to be there. I liked walking through those fields filled to the edges with splotches of these unassuming, reckless wildflowers.

We did the famous 17 mile drive. Like any good place that has received too much attention, it slightly disappointed. But between the golf courses and other points we did not care to see, I’ll say there were some pretty nice views, impressively old cypress trees, and of course, we got to selfie with the famous Lone Cypress. After reaching our hotel and checking in, we also got a chance to stroll through Carmel, which I still think is a cute little town but so perfect, it all feels fake.

Unconventionally, a big highlight of this trip was our hotel though. Hyatt Carmel Highlands, everybody! They truly make you feel like you’ve “gotten away” that weekend.

Next morning we did another hike, this time in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Another beautiful one with plenty of cliffs, blue sea, more wildflowers, and a deer sighting. Followed it with a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which personally, I feel is not all that worth it, but we went anyway so the boyfriend could check it off his list!