Once our stay in San Francisco was over, the only thing left to do was to drive back to LA airport via a trail of interesting destinations. We left our San Francisco hotel at 6am so that we could make it to the early morning whale watching boat in Monterey (pronounced “mon-a-ray” by Americans, rather than “mon-ta-ree” which is what I had been calling it for weeks.) Whale watching was one of the things James was most looking forward to about California and it was nice to have something so special planned for our last full day, to fend off the end-of-holiday blues. After coffee in a charmingly retro beach-side diner, we hopped on the Princess Monterey boat and sped off into the ocean past the puffins and seals guarding the harbour.
Monterey bay is an underwater canyon and the closest-to-shore deep ocean environment in the US, which is why it is so good for seeing whales and dolphins. It was cold on the front of the boat but worth it to be that bit closer to the whales, so James and I braved it (unlike most of the other tourists – we must have been toughened up by Scottish winters). We saw lots of humpback whales but also a beautiful pair of fin whales – the second largest animal in the world. When they come up, the top of their backs curve out of the water so that you never see the whole whale at one time. It was extraordinary to watch them but not easy to catch on camera so after a while I stopped taking photos and just enjoyed the view.
We grabbed a quick bite at the Chipotle in Monterey and headed down the quicker-but-less-picturesque Highway 101 to get to the Madonna Inn at San Luis Obispo. We had considered spending the night but decided instead to splash out on our hotel in Palm Springs earlier on in the trip, since the rooms here are kinda pricey. A big part of the decision was that between the steak house and the pastry shop, I wasn’t sure we’d be able to eat anything other than french fries. If we had stayed I would have liked this or this gloriously pink room, or perhaps this caveman themed one. The Madonna Inn is so tacky and kitsch it’s almost classy. I didn’t get any pictures of the insides because of the low level orange lighting, but everything is covered in pink floral wallpaper and fake rocks. The dream! Thank you to the sweet older couple that offered to take a picture of me and James outside the Inn – this happened a lot when James was taking insta photos for me but I’m so grateful to have these photos of us both!
After crawling back down the coast to LA we had one more night in California, which we spent in a tree house-esque cottage in Laurel Canyon, just North East of Beverley Hills. The cottage was on the grounds of our Airbnb hosts’ huge mansion – it was strange being amongst these properties obviously owned by millionaires, even for a night. Despite being in LA, the hills are so separated from the hustle and bustle you feel as if you’re in the countryside. You can hear the animals rustling in the trees at night, and there are no shops within walking distance. This proved a problem when I woke up on the morning of our flight home with completely debilitating menstrual cramps and – being the only driver – no way of getting to a pharmacy for painkillers. Luckily our Airbnb host saved the day with his enormous collection of medication.
We had thought to explore Beverley Hills and the Walk of Fame on our last day but chose instead to return to Venice Beach for one last dip in the sea and one last meal at Thai Vegan before our plane. I’m sad this is the last of my California holiday posts, but thank you for reading along with me. Here’s a gif of one of the whales we saw in Monterey for good luck.
So many beautiful photos. Sad it’s the end of your LA blogging! What an adventure xxx
Thank you, I’m sad about it too. I’ll have to return for more photos! xx
You guys are adorable and these photos are great. That cottage is lovely!
xo
Marta
http://www.paradiseplayground.net
Thank you! I did think these photos of us were particularly sweet, especially as everyone else on the boat with us looks so miserable
It’s okay if you pronounce Monterey wrong!
My hometown is called Mentor, but we all pronounce it ‘menner.’ Whenever I hear someone not from the city pronounce it ‘men-tor’ I always laugh.
By the way, I think I might be heading to Scotland this summer. My friend really wants to travel somewhere, and asked me if I wanted to come because she doesn’t want to go alone. I’ve been wanting to visit Scotland forever because my family is from there, and when my friend mentioned she wanted to visit Scotland or Ireland it felt like destiny!
There are tonnes of difficult to produce names where I’m from – Loughborough is my nearest town and people often mess that one up. Ahh that’s exciting, let me know if you want Scotland recommendations and definitely hit me up when you’re in Edinburgh and I can show you around!
My mom’s father was from Fraserburgh, and so I always heard the name growing up, but I still have to really think about the name when I read it because I always want to say “burg”
Lovely Pictures and Cottage too. Clicks are really amazing specially the 2 and 4th one. Appreciate your work.
Thank you!
I love the photo of you two! This is giving me so much inspiration for a roadtrip Jess! You went to so many places and I’ve loved reading about it since you got back! That gif is amazing, the whales look incredible. I am obsessed with marine life! I also really love that picture of you in front of orange (?) wall where you’ve got the yellow top. You look so strong and energised! xx
Aww thank you, road trips are the best! I love whales, they are incredible animals. It would be amazing to be in the water with them but that would be a whole other experience. That photo was taken in our little tree house air bnb, so glad you like it! xxxx
Oh lovely! I’m so glad that you two had such a great trip! Whale watching is just my favorite thing to do. It’s so lovely. I’ve been twice, once in Boston and once in Alaska. It was incredible. We’ve never seen one breach, only tails and heads as well, but always incredible nonetheless.
So glad you got to see humpbacks and fin whales. 
Oh cramps are the worst, awesome about your airbnb host! 
Love the gif at the end! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
You lucky thing! I went in Iceland yeeeears ago as well and it was SO cold xx
You guys look so happy and sweet in the photos, so it must have been such an amazing vacation! I am in love with the photo of the ocean. So beautiful.
Dora
http://www.adropofindigo.com/
I think these are actually some of the smiliest photos I have of us both! Thank you Dora
Wow, so many beautiful photos! It sounds like a really great trip, although those end of vacation blues can be the worst! Hope your week is off to a great start, though.
Kathryn • simplykk.com
Nothing worse than going back to your “real” life after a holiday! Luckily I have a couple more trips coming up to look forward to this year
These pictures are beautiful, and you two are so cute!
xo
Siffat
http://icingandglitter.com/
Thank you so much Siffat! xx
I’ve been whale watching just once with my parents when I was younger; I love the feeling of being out at sea, looking at large, majestic animals. Looks like your California traveling was a hodgepodge of lots of fun activities! And yes, doing things out here is definitely pricey. The 101, like most California inland highways, frankly just sucks, haha. I’d say the Pacific Coast Highway is the most scenic!
It’s amazing isn’t it! It certainly was a hodgepodge, and this was just two days. We used the Pacific Coast highway on the way up, it was so so beautiful! The mist and the cliffs were serene.
this sounds like such a good ending to your trip! and whale watching sounds incredible, it’s definitely something i want to do and will try and arrange for myself this year, hehe:-) xx
Oh good luck, definitely blog about it if you go whale watching! xx