On July 4th 2017, I woke in a strange bed in a new city. After passing through 3 states in 40 hours on no sleep, I had finally gotten some rest and was ready to kick off our plans for San Diego, California.
We had a lot of options to choose from, but suspecting that the beaches would be packed with families for Independence Day, we decided to start our adventuring with a hiking trip.
On our way to tackle the California hiking trails. Is there a better way to spend July 4th? We think not! #traveling #independenceday pic.twitter.com/wX6p954mJj
— Alexis Chateau PR (@AlexisChateauPR) July 4, 2017
Almost There
The drive to Torrey Pines Nature Reserve was beautiful. But unfortunately, with all the free parking spots taken, we were so close, but oh so very far away. We had to drive about two miles up the road, make a U-Turn, and try again.
Still no luck.
Always the impatient one, I grabbed my shades, jumped out of the car, and walked ahead as the lookout. Turns out we could have parked in the lot provided by the reserve all along for $20 – so in we went.
We wanted to be as far away from the overcrowded beach and its nearby trails, as possible. So instead of parking by the entrance, we drove up the winding road to the very end.
On the Trails
Once we had mapped out our routes, it was time to get started. Torrey Pines was an immediate favourite, and probably the most beautiful trail I’ve hiked this year. The landscape had a lot to do with that.
In Jamaica, and just about every other beach location I’ve ever been to, the area closest to the beach is a mix of lush vegetation and marshes. And my experiences with the desert in Colorado and Vegas showed no large bodies of water around for miles.
Needless to say, the very idea that I was in the desert overlooking the Pacific Ocean was a whole new experience.
The Wildlife
There was another big difference, as well. While the Nevada desert was almost entirely bare of plant life, the California desert was not. Much to my surprise, there were a lot of trees, flowers, and patches of grass.
There were so many flowers, in fact, that they attracted the bees.
Ericson seemed to be attracting quite a few of them, himself. He damn near trampled me, trying to get out of their way, while Tristan snickered in the background!
Thankfully, we didn’t run into the more dangerous wildlife that called Torrey Pines home.
And just in case any hikers felt adventurous enough to go looking for these hissing trail-buddies, the reserve had metal rails along the trail, and warned us that it would cost a pretty penny to go a-wandering.
Heading to the Beach
After we had explored all the different routes on our side of the mountain, we decided to try the final trail: the beach trail. But that’s a post for another day, specifically Friday morning next week.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed the pictures and my brief re-cap of my first trek into the California desert. We’ll pick this up on Torrey Pines Beach, same time next week.
Stay tuned!
Torrey Pines Nature Preserve was stunning! We had a great hike and took some stunning pictures for our blogs! #travels pic.twitter.com/KoEgujUWj3
— Alexis Chateau PR (@AlexisChateauPR) July 4, 2017
Have you ever hiked in the desert, or tried a a beach trail before? Then share your amazing stories with me in the comments below!
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My trip to California was sponsored by Alexis Chateau PR and booked by our in-house travel agents. Is there a country or city you’ve always dreamed of seeing with your own eyes? Then stop dreaming, and start traveling.
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Haven’t hiked CA at all. Thanks for sharing your independent adventure and thanks for stopping by my blog.
Thank you! You really should. It’s such a beautiful combination of desert and beach.
Where have you been hiking so far?
You are very brave to go hiking where there are rattlesnakes within 10 miles of the trail. The warning sign alone would be enough to scare me off!
Loved the photos of the plants. I was surprised at the variety.
Haha, I don’t know about brave. I’m just determined. Sometimes when you want to do something you just have to suck it up and face the consequences.
We had plenty of other people on the trail the snake could bite instead of me, anyway 😂 Being alone on an empty trail would have been much scarier.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got there, but what I saw definitely blew my mind.
Do you go hiking, as well?
I do like hiking, but I’m not one for extremes, such as narrow cliffs. Hiking is one of the best ways to experience an area, to get a close-up view. But sometimes life gets in the way, so a person can always enjoy vicariously though blogs like yours. 🙂
I love the dangerous hiking haha. The views are always better on those trails.
And thank you! Glad to share a bit of adventure with everyone else. 😊
Sounds like a great day!
Indeed, it was! What have you been up to this week?
Trying not to die of heatstroke LOL. Also? I bought a truck, because my sedan was getting beat up out here in the country
Haha, it’s definitely rgotten pretty hot in the south. I suppose there is heat when devils are running rampant in the country 😂
Congrats on the new truck!
😄
What a beautiful place Alexis. The rattle snakes would make us a bit nervous but one just has to be careful that’s all.
We didn’t see any rattlesnakes, thankfully. And the trail was so busy with foot traffic that no wise snake would have dared approach us. I’m sure I would have died haha
LOL. It’s probably good then that it was busy to keep the crawly things at bay. We can’t have you getting bit.
Haha, indeed. Bit Alex is dead Alex. How far along are you guys with your traveling? Still heading to Georgia?
Bit Alex dead Alex, not good. Heading to TN in a couple weeks then it will be on to Georgia.
Lovely! Where in Tennessee are you headed? Chattanooga seems like a common location.
We’re going to travel along the Cherokee Natl. Forest and Great Smoky Mts. Nat. Park beginning around Johnson City TN and toward Pigeon Forge, TN. It looks so beautiful there. Have you hiked these regions? We know Georgia is real familiar for you and can’t wait to explore there with your recommendations.
I’ve never gone hiking in Tennessee before. Only been there for business trips, and on my way to other states.
My team mates have been to Pigeon Forge, however, and they say it was beautiful, though they did encounter some racism there.
Interesting. It will be an eye opening adventure for us and to see what is there.
I’m sure you’ll have a good time!
Thanks Alexis.
My daughter is almost 10 and went hiking with us in Arizona up a few small mountainsides when she was 4 and she still remembers it. There is nothing quite like it! The terrain and always keeping your ears pealed for a rattle 😉. Great photos!
That’s amazing. I’m sure she would love to go hiking again!
I love hiking in the desert. I’d love to try Utah and get a proper feel for Colorado.
Oh wow, that looks gorgeous!! I’m sitting here on a very cloudy/rainy day in England, and feeling very jealous! 😉
Haha, I’ve heard England is gorgeous so I don’t feel sorry for you at all. 😋
😁 Certain parts definitely are, the countryside definitely suits a bit of a dramatic stormy sky! I hope you can come over here sometime and see it too! 🙂
I’d really love to visit England next year. Just keeping an eye on politics and its effect on immigrant travel for the time being.
I definitely hope it works out (also worried about politics and its possible effects on travel) – if you do, let me know; I’ll write you the definitive list of places to see! 😊
That would be great! Fingers crossed!
Looks like an awesome time was had by all. I really loved the flower shots!
Yeah, we had a great time. Thanks! I prefer the ocean shots best of all, but I’m a biased island girl. 😁