California: Bolsa Chica in the OC

Just north of Huntington Beach in Orange County in Southern California is Bolsa Chica nature preserve, which is wetlands that hosts loads of different species of birds - including my favorite bird, the pelican.  I spotted both brown and white pelicans too. 

California: Venice Beach

Right on Venice Beach in Los Angeles was a pretty hopping skater scene with some impressive skateboarding. 

California: Venice Beach

 In Venice Beach in Los Angeles is the famous "Muscle Beach" with a work-out gym right on the beach.  Compared to Miami, which has such a vibrant work-out scene right on South Beach, I found Muscle Beach to be a bit drab and disappointing.  

California: Dana Point

 Dana Point in Orange County in Southern California is well known for its dolphin and whale watching.  The whales are actually guaranteed on whale watching tours. In November, we saw a very photogenic humpback whale. 

California: La Jolla

La Jolla is a wonderful little village just north of San Diego.  Below are photos of some of the Palm Trees and the Sunset over the La Jolla coast.  

California: Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a great place to visit in California.  Lovely weather.  Friendly people.  And beautiful scenery.  Above are photos of the the beach in Santa Barbara.  

California: Big Sur

Spent a few days hiking in Big Sur in California.  It was incredibly remote-feeling as we had no internet or television in our "luxury" hotel and phone signal was also really faint.   The top photo above is at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park.  The below photo is just at the side of the road some of the views that are everywhere in Big Sur.  

California: Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay in California -- still shooting in auto mode.  You can see right up the coast for miles and miles.

California: San Francisco

On a visit to San Francisco, I snapped these two photos - one of a butterfly in someone's driveway in the Presidio and the latter of the Golden Gate Bridge on a very foggy day.  It looks like the bridge is heading straight into the foggy unknown. 

"If you're going to San Francisco.... Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair"