Hey y’all!
Welcome back to the next chapter of our California road trip adventures…
We set off from Monterey Bay toward San Francisco, and the drive proved just as enchanting as the days before—truly heaven on earth. Cruising the open road with my honey was pure joy. We chatted about our shared dreams and how incredible it would be to live in an RV, roaming from place to place. That kind of minimalist life would be filled with adventures and memories instead of possessions. I adore hearing Chris talk about the future; his creative ideas make him light up, and I fall even deeper in love with him each time. Dreaming about tomorrow together feels nothing short of magical.
Our original plan was to visit Muir Woods, but we got a late start and hoped to trim some time from the final stretch. Flexibility is something Chris and I both value—we don’t need a rigid itinerary that locks us in. That kind of structure only adds needless stress. Chris is a whiz with maps and research, and he discovered a section of the redwood forest we could explore en route to San Francisco.
We pulled over in Felton, CA, and wandered through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. At the gift shop, I picked up a dreamy sweatshirt that feels like a cloud against my skin—perfect for strolling among the towering trees. The forest was breathtaking, with massive, beautiful redwoods and a carpet of clovers covering the ground. Every corner felt serene and picture-perfect.
Clovers carry a special symbolism: the common three-leaf variety stands for faith, hope, and love, while the rarer four-leaf clover adds an extra dose of luck. Stopping at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was the perfect break to stretch our legs—and soak in all that natural beauty.
After our forest adventure, we got back on the road and headed to our final stop: San Francisco. The stretch of CA Hwy 1 from Monterey Bay to the city turned out to be the most scenic of the whole trip. We spotted an incredible lighthouse with a perfect ocean-and-hillside view. As we entered the city, the architecture left us in awe. We checked into Hotel Tomo in Japantown—I absolutely adore this place! Our room on the 8th floor, the top level, offered a fantastic city view. It was spacious, spotless, and full of artistic charm.
Once we were settled, we took to the streets to explore Japantown. It felt like stepping into another country—absolutely awesome! Right across from our hotel was the Japantown Peace Plaza, and the photo above shows the Japantown Peace Pagoda.
Stay tuned for the full story of our San Francisco escapades—it truly deserves its own dedicated post…
Chat soon,
K
