SOME LAGUNA BEACH PICS FROM A FEW WEEKS BACK

In the 90's Mike and I would go at least once a month to Laguna Beach and I think we ate at every Italian Restaurant through the area up to Newport Beach.  It was a very magical place and I remember that's where I first met the "zebra" (which I don't mean to sound mysterious but it's too long of a story for a blog post).  Anyway we only get to this area maybe once every two or three years because it's pretty far from the mountains and So Cal freeway traffic is something you have to plan around and avoid rush hour which is almost all day long any more.  We will be going back in a few weeks.  I'll see more of the area next time.

We are driving along Pacific Coast Hwy - the hwy that follows the coastline and this is the particular area just through Laguna Beach.  We actually didn't park and get out because we wanted to make it up to Balboa Island and we had spent too much time in Dana Point (these names mean nothing probably to anybody except those who live in California.  Laura you will see the old pottery shack area in some of the photos below.

I couldn't believe that my favorite Laguna Nursery is no longer there - After probably twenty years the owner of the business didn't sign a new lease - I read an article where he said that because of the drought in California and especially because of his "artsy" area where he had art imported from other countries that it became more of a tourist stop to just look around (like we did) and less of a garden shop to buy plants.  It wasn't  producing a profit.

We discovered this restaurant in the 90's when it farther away from town between Laguna and Dana Point - ...and use to eat there once in awhile - Best Italian food around.  I'm glad to see it's still there.  Some day we may try it again.

Laura - the old pottery shack is now The new Pottery Place with many little shops however, too much traffic to find parking and go through it.

SPRING WAS ABOUT GETTING OUT AND VISITING A LOT OF PLACES I LIKE

I still plan on other beach towns this summer.  Found out that the day trip isn't bad  traffic wise (aside from any unpredictable traffic accidents or road work)....  We made it from the mountains to the so cal beach in less than 2 hours.  Coming home was a breeze and was actually surprised at how traffic flowed until we got about 3o minutes from home and found out that there was freeway work going on which we could have avoided had we checked out the various routes home.

We committed to go to the beach at least every four to six weeks and spending the day at the coast.

Here are just a few pics from the little area in Newport Beach called Balboa Island.  I took lots of photos which I'll eventually post.  We ate at Ciao's in the past a few years back - very good Italian food.  We didn't eat there this time - we actually ended up going to a drive through in Huntington Beach at a Jack in the Box before we got on the freeway. 

Laura next time you visit we should spend the day going up and down the Southern California coasts. 

We use to take the grandkids and they always got an ice cream at Sugar N Spice. 

I JUST CHECKED HERE AND REALIZED IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO MONTHS SINCE I BLOGGED HERE

I must commit to myself to do better than that.  I've taken so many photos in the last few months that I could stop now and never take another one for the rest of the year and have plenty to post.  We've been out a lot going to different places and enjoying the weather. 

This time of year I'm always taking photos of the 18 (Rim Highway) that we travel on when we go down the mountain.  These plants are called "Spanish Broom" and are considered very invasive in our area.  I've read that back in 2010 they were talking about removing them but so far they still reign in the area during summer.  They put out a nice fragrance as you are driving by them.