Travel Diary 🧺 Bay Area Escape

🌟 Cannery Row Antique Mall A two-story antique emporium with multiple vendor booths – everything from furniture and tableware to posters and trinkets at reasonable prices. Bargaining is welcome! Old Fishermen’s Grotto The coastal walk to the restaurant offers lovely views, including a fun sea lion spot. While the ambiance is great (especially by the window with ocean views), the food is hit-or-miss. The crab cake was good, and the famous clam chowder was decent, though overly cheesy. 🌟 17-Mile Drive Spanish Bay’s beach is stunning, and the distant views of rocky shores and crashing waves are breathtaking – though cloudy weather really dampens the experience. This time, we checked out two lookout points on the hills but saw nothing but fog. Strongly recommend visiting on a sunny day! Also toured an Open House in the area… and yes, it was as unaffordable as expected. 🌟 Portabella A cozy, highly-recommended Italian restaurant (per Xiaohongshu). The ambiance is lovely, and while the food wasn’t mind-blowing, it was solid. Like most spots here, the vibe outweighs the flavors. ✨ Day 2 ✨ Stationæry A brunch spot often hyped on Xiaohongshu. The matcha latte was excellent, but the food was just okay – nothing particularly special or photogenic. 🌟 Carmel-by-the-Sea A must-visit every time we pass through! Finally explored its furniture shops and galleries in daylight (they’re always closed by evening). Prices are steep, so window-shopping had to suffice. This time, we wandered hidden alleys – like a chocolate shop tucked at the end of a lane and a gallery backdoor accessible through a furniture store’s courtyard. Felt like a maze adventure! Big Sur Roadwork caused a 30-minute delay, so we only glimpsed Rocky Creek Bridge from afar. For me, Big Sur’s panoramic ocean views outshine the bridge – not sure I get the bridge’s hype. The Mystery Spot Maybe there’s some magnetic field magic at play? Mostly, it’s a funhouse of slanted angles and optical illusions, like a real-life science museum exhibit. Cheap and worth a quick stop. 🌟 Capitola Beach Another must-see. We lounged on the pier, soaking up the sea breeze until closing time. The town has a surf-and-bikini vibe with cute shops to browse. 🌟 Shadowbrook The entrance is on a hillside – you can take a quaint cable car or walk down steps to the restaurant, which feels like a mini estate with dining areas scattered across the slope. Pro tip: Don’t rely on memory to find the cable car after dinner (I got lost trying to reach it!). The food is classic American, and even the complimentary bread was delicious. #StudyAbroadAdvice#BayArea#FairytaleWorld#HealingScenery#RomanticLifeChronicles