San Diego California Trip

Our walk from our airbnb into the the Village of La Jolla! This was taken on our first time, and we were all in AWE!

I rounded up some of my favorite (mostly) iPhone snaps from our trip to California!

San Diego was/is gorgeous. The rolling hills, seaside cliffs and surrounding desert really made me feel like we were in another country. We stayed in the La Jolla neighborhood, which I highly recommend if you’re considering staying in the area. Our AirBNB was nestled between “The Village of La Jolla” (more of a downtown feel) and the “La Jolla Shores” (more of a beach town feel), and there were paths from the house to each. Mitch and I are big walkers, so we loved being able to walk to coffee/breakfast in the morning and dinner at night. Above, you can see the walk into The Village. Crazy beautiful, right?!

Snaps from California airbnb

This is the view from our airbnb! It was breathtaking. The visibility wasn’t great when we first arrived, but our mouths were on the floor the next morning. As you might imagine, we spent a lot of time hanging out on the deck and in the hot tub. ;)

Ja Jolla homes | Snaps from California

This is what the streets look like in Ja Jolla—beautiful homes in the hills, which can get very steep!

Snaps from California
Snaps from California at the beach

lululemon Swiftly Tech T-Shirt (Tank version here; long-sleeved version here. Sizing: If you’re new to lululemon, the sizing is a bit weird. I normally order a size small in other brands’ t-shirts, and I order a size 4 or 6 in lululemon. Wearing a size 6 here. Hope that helps!) / lululemon Align Leggings (Best and softest leggings on the market.) / Rothy’s Washable Sneakers / MZ Wallace City Backpack (Also available via Bloomingdales.) / ACK Hat

This was our first time down on the beach, the morning after we arrived. (You can see Charlie and Shirley in the background. 😉) While it was a chilly morning, there were tons of people kayaking, surfing and snorkeling. (Second pic was taken on a different day, but it gives you an idea of how busy the beach is!)

As someone who grew up on the East Coast, the dramatic difference between the two coastlines is always shocking to me! Again, those CLIFFS. Such the sight.

Coffee Cup in La Jolla

Amazon Sweatshirt (He loves this thing.)

Grabbing breakfast at Coffee Cup in La Jolla, recommended by reader Lynae! (Thank you, Lynae!) Seriously: Best breakfast in La Jolla, if you ask us. Though the fact that it was an adult breakfast, without any kids/toddlers, may have played a part, haha. So calm! I drank my coffee while it was HOT!

La Valencia Hotel
La Valencia Hotel | Snaps from California

We had to stop in to La Valencia Hotel, where our friend (and bride-to-be) Gabby used to work. The grounds are absolutely stunning, and if we ever find ourselves in La Jolla again, I definitely want to stay there!

Jeep Wranglers rental car San Diego
Jeep Wrangler rental car San Diego | Snaps from California

Faherty Shirt (Use code “KITC20” to take 20 percent off your Faherty order.) / Jeans / Sandals / Sunglasses

OUR JEEP! We love Jeep Wranglers. I used to drive one on Nantucket when babysitting my cousins back in the day, and they bring back all the happy memories.

This time, we didn’t take the hard top off because we weren’t 100-percent sure we could get it back on, but it was still as blast.

Puesto San Diego
Puesto San Diego with family

Puesto with Gabby’s family! Gabby’s fam lived across the street from the Larkins in Lincoln Park, and the kids all grew up together. They’re as close as can be, so getting together for dinner before all the wedding festivities began was especially meaningful. We had such a blast.

We also pretended it was Shirley’s birthday and sang to her… on multiple occasions. 😜 (Her birthday is June 6th.)

Mt. Soledad California
Mt. Soledad views | Snaps from California

Mitch and I stopped at overlooks as often as possible to get a feel for the area. Mt. Soledad was one of our favorite stops, as there were 360-degree views!

Breakfast at Caroline's Seaside Cafe
Breakfast at Caroline's Seaside Cafe

Breakfast at Caroline’s Seaside Cafe! We spotted it from the beach and decided that the views alone would be worth the visit! But the food was spectacular, too. It’s a counter service restaurant, so we were in and out pretty quickly!

electric Bird scooters | Snaps from California

lululemon Swiftly Tech T-Shirt (Tank version here; long-sleeved version here. Sizing: If you’re new to lululemon, the sizing is a bit weird. I normally order a size small in other brands’ t-shirts, and I order a size 4 or 6 in lululemon. Wearing a size 6 here. Hope that helps!) / lululemon Align Leggings (Best and softest leggings on the market.) / Rothy’s Washable Sneakers / MZ Wallace City Backpack (Also available via Bloomingdales.) / ACK Hat

Shirley and I were reluctant about the electric Bird scooters at first, and it definitely took a few minutes for us to get the hang of it, especially with the hilliness. But soon enough, we were zipping back and forth between town!

Torrey Pines State Beach | Snaps from California

Torrey Pines State Beach! This was probably the most breathtaking location we visited. Mitch and I peeled off and took a long walk down the beach around 4 p.m., and it was the perfect way to wind down after a busy few days. During our walk, we actually met a couple from Chicago who’d left the city for San Diego’s warmth. We couldn’t blame them, haha!

Balboa Park | Snaps from California
Japanese friendship garden |  Snaps from California

Faherty Legend Sweater Shirt (Women’s. Use code “KITC20” to take 20 percent off.) / Faherty Legend Sweater Shirt (Men’s. Use code “KITC20” to take 20 percent off.) / Sunglasses / Rothy’s Washable Sneakers / Skinny Jeans (Newer version. Madewell’s button-fly jeans are perfect, too!) / Mitch’s Jeans / Mitch’s Sandals / Mitch’s Sunglasses

Another highlight was visiting Balboa Park. I didn’t take too. many photos, but I particularly loved the Japanese Friendship Garden, where we took these photos (which don’t do it justice).

Faherty Legend Sweater Shirt

Faherty Legend Sweater Shirt (Use code “KITC20” to take 20 percent off.) / Sunglasses

Down on the beach again. My Faherty Legend Sweater Shirt was a life-saver for chillier days in San Diego—something we weren’t expecting! (Use code “KITC20” to take 20 percent off. Wearing an XS here, but I like how the small fits better. Perfectly oversized.)

World Famous in Pacific Beach

These photos are totally out of order, but Mitch and I went to World Famous in Pacific Beach, and ate just as the sun sank into the ocean. It’s an experience I’ll never forget!

(A+ for the restaurant, too.)

Snaps from California

Quilted Jacket (Also love this one and this one!) / Jeans / Silk-Blend T-Shirt / Gorjana NecklaceRothy’s Washable Sneakers / Sunglasses

I didn’t pack exceptionally well for our trip, haha. It was a lot chillier than expected for the first half, so I wore my jeans, jacket and sneakers—and a different top—nearly every day. Or lululemon. Honestly, it worked!

Hotel del Coronado

FULL BLOG POST HERE

One afternoon, we drove up to Hotel del Coronado. Called “The Del” by locals and famous for its Victorian architectural design, it’s definitely one of the most breathtaking and impressive seaside resorts I’ve ever been to. It’s been around since the late 1800s! It’s been featured in film and literature oodles of times, but I personally love that L. Frank Baum wrote much of The Wizard of Oz there. Oh! I’ll also add that Hotel del Coronado was the inspiration for Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (Just in case you thought it looked familiar, too!)

More pics in this blog post.

On our way to the rehearsal dinner!

Tuckernuck Dress (Comes in lots of colors/patterns. I’m wearing the black.) / C.Wonder Bag / Black Pumps (Newer version)

On our way to the rehearsal dinner! I wore this Tuckernuck Dress, which is the perfect LBD. (Comes in lots of colors/patterns. I’m wearing the black in a size small.)

I actually wore the dress again with sandals a few days later. Again, I didn’t pack exceptionally well, but I always go with black, white and neutral tones so I can mix, match and re-wear!

hiking Iron Mountain

FULL BLOG POST HERE

lululemon Swiftly Tech T-Shirt (Tank version here; long-sleeved version here. Sizing: If you’re new to lululemon, the sizing is a bit weird. I normally order a size small in other brands’ t-shirts, and I order a size 4 or 6 in lululemon. Wearing a size 6 here. Hope that helps!) / lululemon Align Leggings (Best and softest leggings on the market.) / Rothy’s Washable Sneakers (They were all I had in my suitcase. 😆) / MZ Wallace City Backpack (Also available via Bloomingdales.) / ACK Hat / Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Taken while hiking Iron Mountain, which was recommended by the bride! (Thank you, Gabby. ♥️)

We went with Shawn (roommate from NYC and Mitch’s childhood best friend), and my brother- and sister-in-law, Charlie and Shirley.

I’d say that the hike was perfect for beginners! Not a cake walk, per se, but also not so challenging that we felt intimidated. It was a great activity for a group, too. We largely stayed together but it wasn’t a big deal if a couple of people wanted to peel off and explore because visibility was great.

It probably took us between three and four hours, and the experience made me want to make hiking a regular part of our lives! Just look at how many cool places there are within driving distance of Chicago. :)

Gabby and Brian’s wedding

FULL BLOG POST HERE

Similar Dress / Newer Black Pumps (Lower Heel Height) / Wildly Affordable Quilted C.Wonder Bag (Larger versions here and here. This C.Wonder bag is adorable, too! Oh, and check out these cap toe pumps. So good.)

The best part of our trip to San Diego was obviously Gabby and Brian’s wedding. 🥰

Mitch and I kept saying that what struck us most about the festivities was the sheer number of people who spoke about how the couple cultivates beautiful, lifelong friendships wherever they go. Both were constantly described as people who would do anything for their family and friends—from offering up their home to those who need a little help to going to extraordinary lengths to help others through tough times.

Congrats, you two! We’re so happy for you!

Mitch and Kelly in San Diego

lululemon Swiftly Tech T-Shirt (Tank version here; long-sleeved version here. Sizing: If you’re new to lululemon, the sizing is a bit weird. I normally order a size small in other brands’ t-shirts, and I order a size 4 or 6 in lululemon. Wearing a size 6 here. Hope that helps!) / MZ Wallace City Backpack (Also available via Bloomingdales.) / ACK Hat

All in all, an adventure we’ll never forget!

The next big trip on our list is New Orleans for my family’s Christmas celebration in mid-December. Can’t wait. :)