Mid Summer, my friend Chris Domenick and I were already bored of taking summer classes while fun in the sun was being had outside, not in the classroom. With only 2 weeks between the end of our summer term until we started right back up again in the fall, we decided to take the initiative to plan a road trip to California. Our other roommate Bryan Daino also joined the charge as we set off in Bryan's Subaru Outback from Vail, CO.
Our first leg of the trip lead us to the Avenues of Salt Lake City where we stayed with Chris's mother Marilyn. Nicest lady in the world by the way!
The Capitol Building in Salt Lake
The next morning we headed out early for Sin City. We stayed at the MGM Grand as they had some good deals going for August and it was also the only hotel on the strip that will let you check in if you are under 21. After a night on the town and Bryan $12 poorer, (I told him if he threw up on the roller coaster I would pay for him....but to no avail he couldn't quite let it all go), we took the morning to relax by the hotel pool and make our way to Saint Diego.
Virgin Valley, AZ
Arid Desert
The view from the room
Stuck in traffic in this heat
Bridge in western CA
We then stayed with our friend Ashley Trenkle who lives about 20 min outside the city. She gave us a nice tour of Downtown and Coronado Island at night and of La Jolla the next day.
Downtown San Diego (Phone pic panorama)
Hotel Coronado (Phone pic, Stage 4 demons in here)
La Jolla Cove (Phone pic)
We then made our way up the golden coast to Encinitas where we stayed with Bryan's friend Lindsey Jacobellis and her only child/dog Gidget. She had an awesome pad on the hill and just a minute from the beach. She graciously let us stay for 3 days where we enjoyed multiple beaches, vollyball, and some surfing.
Moonlight Beach (Phone pic)
Chris enjoying Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, CA
Leaning board
Lindsey slayin some small waves
Bryan and Chris entering the surf
From there we took the 9hr trek to Hollister, CA where Chris's aunt and uncle live on a amazing golfcourse. Forging the LA traffic, we saw Bryan's Sunset Bvld and hopefully Chris's future office at Capitol Records haha. We decided to take HWY 1 up the coast eventhough it took much long (which Chris wasn't too thrilled about). Well it was well worth the extra time as it is easily the coolest road I have EVER driven. The fog and cold temperatures was so surreal. Chris's aunt made us an amazing lasagna when we poured into her house well after dark.
Curvy HWY 1
Footsteps up the Golden Coast
Windy along the water
Lighthouse (reminded me of Shutter Island)
The next morning we headed for the pier at Santa Cruz for some touristy rides and food. We then drove our way up to San Fransisco to stay with my Uncle Tom for the night. We drove the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire triangle around the bay area. Tom has an amazing apartment on the 38th floor in downtown SF. He took us out to a street pub for dinner and gave us a tour of downtown via foot. The following morning we headed to the water where we drove Lombard Street (Bryan's Favorite) and hung out by the water.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Bryan's fried Twinkie on the Boardwalk
Sea Lions getting intimate
Fish market on the boardwalk
Kayaks for rent
Seagull perched in Santa Cruz
Beautiful San Fransisco
Ominous Alcatraz
The Golden Gate
Curvy Lombard Street
The Trans America Pyramid
Alcatraz
SF ferry pier (phone panorama)
The view from my uncle's living room!
Street Time Lapse
Rooftop Panarama (Bay Bridge on left and Giant's Stadium in the middle)
Rooftop Panarama (Downtown San Fran)
The streets below (My favorite photo I took all trip!)
We then hopped into the car and continued driving to Lake Tahoe where my buddy Ty Dayberry calls home. We went to such an awesome Mexican restaurant and then saw the worst movie ever, The Expendables. We packed up early morning when it was freezing and began the all too long drive back to Salt Lake.
Aug, 15th and its cold!
Oh Nevada roads, you are SO boring.
The wrong Beverly Hills? haha: Beverly Hills, NV
The Great Salt Lake
Arriving in the late afternoon, Chris's dad took us out to dinner in Park City and after went for a car tour of Main Street in PC and the Utah Olmpic Park. We planned on staying with Marilyn again but for some crazy reason, Bryan and I decided to head for Vail at 1AM as Chris was staying in SLC with his mom. We traded off driving 1.5 hrs and sleeping 1.5hrs and we eventually made it to Bryan's house at 7AM. Haha you can sure drive faster when there are no cars on the road.
Sunrise driving home
The road trip was a great experience to see some new sights, meet some new people, and revisit old friends and family. I know all of us had a great time as my photos hopefully reflect it. As for the blog itself this is going to be the longest post I will ever bore you with but hopefully my photos will keep your eyes off my writing.
I will have some more photos and stories up here later this week!
Kj
Joey sportin the Oakley shades
Alex is trying to become a collegiate representative for Holistics which is and amazing energy drink with all natural organic ingredients. His little brother plays tennis for them and has been talking to the company.
The big man on campus
More Holistics
Some Vert
