When we left for Acapulco last week, we drove to the airport in a blinding snow storm only to return yesterday in yet another snow storm. How quickly the warmth of the beach drained away from us, but we had a wonderful time for the most part. The only reason that it was only for the most part is that we both got food poisoning while we were there that lasted about thirty-six hours. It hit us each at slightly different times over the two-day period, but we did our best not to let it dampen our mood or experience, although we spent those two days mostly idle at the resort trying to relax and recuperate as much as possible. Now that we’re done shoveling the snow from our driveway and trying to get back to a normal routine, we’ll share some of our experiences over the next few days. Here are just a few photographs from our trip to give you an idea of what the scenery was like during our stay.
Just One of the Beautiful SunsetsBoats in the MarinaMargaritas on the BeachIsland OffshoreView from Our Room
We have an early morning flight to Acapulco tomorrow and are looking forward to relaxing on the beach and seeing the famous cliff divers. This is our sixth trip to Mexico, but our first to Acapulco as well as the first time we have visited at this time of year as we usually visit in late autumn. Since we are currently surrounded by snow and temperatures that are well below freezing, we are looking forward to some tropical weather and shorts instead of winter coats. As always, we will be taking plenty of photographs, especially of sunsets, and sharing them upon our return.
Pirate Ship Bar at a ResortPrivate Beach in MexicoCatamaran RaceLooking Forward to a Pacific Ocean Sunset
If you are looking for a relaxing stay along the Pacific coast in California, then visiting Carlsbad might just be the perfect choice for you. Located about 30 miles north of San Diego, Carlsbad is a resort town with many restaurants, public beaches, and a very walkable downtown area which is called Carlsbad Village. We spent close to a week there and enjoyed walking the beach, watching sunsets, and even went on a wine tasting tour. On Wednesday’s, the heart of the village shuts down to allow for a farmer’s market with a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, art work, and other local items for sale. We also happened to be there the weekend before Halloween and the local shops provide candy and a safe environment for families to go trick-or-treating.
Beach Style ArchitectureVineyards in TemeculaFarmer’s MarketOne of the SunsetsEuropean Style Architecture
Carlsbad Village is certainly charming with a variety of architecture from typical beach-style buildings to some old-world type buildings. There are many different shops offering boutique clothing, beach clothes, gift items, as well as unique artwork. There are as many restaurants as there are shops offering a variety of meal choices. Although you can certainly find any type of food that you might want, the majority of restaurants offered seafood, Mexican food, and Italian. We had some wonderful meals during our stay.
Busy Beach on the WeekendFresh Vegetables at the Farmer’s MarketAnother Sunset on the BeachShopping AreaTown Sign
Clearly the beach is the highlight of going to Carlsbad and if you are a surfer, you won’t be disappointed. It was a little too cool while we were there to swim in the ocean as the fog rolled in every morning and didn’t always burn completely off keeping the temperatures low. That didn’t keep us from walking along the beach though, watching the surfers, and making sure to catch some beautiful sunsets. Even in the off-season, the town got quite busy on the weekend as people from the surrounding areas come to take advantage of their beach properties.
Surfers on the BeachWalking the BeachNot Too Busy During the WeekFresh Seafood at the Farmer’s MarketTropical Flower
We took a wine tour in Temecula where we visited four different wineries and tasted a wonderful variety of wines. Napa Valley certainly has the best known reputation for producing quality wines, but Temecula certainly has a right to be proud of their growing reputation. Not only do they have a lot of vineyards currently, the hillsides are being covered with new ones as the city has approved additional vineyards to be started. Although you can certainly drive yourself on a wine tour, it is best to let someone else do the driving. We tasted up to six types of wine at each vineyard, which even in small amounts is a lot of wine.
Temecula has a Tuscan FeelVineyard About a Month After HarvestWine CasksLooking Up the HillsideNew Vineyard in the Distance
Carlsbad Village is definitely an enjoyable destination with a relaxing atmosphere. Beautiful beaches, friendly people, and all of the food and shopping make staying their a wonderful experience. There is also a train called the Coaster that will take you into San Diego if you want to spend some time their and go to Sea World, the world famous zoo, and other museums. Legoland is also a highlight of Carlsbad for those with children or just a child at heart.
People Out for HalloweenKids and CandyLast Glimpse of the SunMore ArchitectureJust Another Day at the Beach
