Life gets busy, but it's important to have a little fun sometimes. Looking for a fun, close and short weekend getaway spot? Newport Beach and San Diego are your answers. Austin and I decided to go on a spontaneous trip south from LA. Keep reading to hear about our short weekend getaway!
We chose Newport Beach because it is only a short drive from LA.
The first stop of the trip was The Cannery Restaurant in Newport Beach, located in the Newport Channel with a view of the peninsula. The Cannery Seafood of The Pacific serves fresh seafood dishes and has award-winning lobster. Although I am not personally a fan of lobster, there were many other great choices to choose from. Austin and I shared the Branzino fish which is a "grilled whole fish with garlic-ginger marinade, served over jasmine rice, with a side of pickled papaya salad and a chili-lime vinaigrette". Is your mouth watering yet???? Our friends had the shrimp pasta which they said was delicious!
After dinner, we drove a quick 10 minutes north to Huntington Beach. The Bungalow of Huntington Beach is the place to be on a Friday night. A few drinks and some dancing later, we called it a night...
Early AM on Saturday, it was time to get up, get ready, and continue south to SD. After about 2 hours of traffic, blehhhh, we made it. Straight to our favorite breakfast spot EVER, The Breakfast Republic. With many locations around San Diego, the Breakfast Republic is easily accessible when visiting S.D. Austin and I decided to go to the East Village location because it was closest to the Gaslamp District. Immediately after arrival, we ordered the speciality "Breakfast Republic Vanilla Iced Latte" and the "Breakfast Republic Mocha Iced Latte"....SO FREAKING GOOD! As necessary as the coffee was, we could not stop ourselves from ordering the "Breakfast Republic Prosecco" with a fresh squeezed OJ carafe. For breakfast, the MUST-HAVE "CALIFORNIA BREAKFAST BURRITO", Cinnamon Roll Pancake Stack, and PERFECT Brioche French Toast... Okay wait a second...lets back track. This breakfast burrito has kept us coming back to the Breakfast Republic several times, making this the 5th return to the restaurant. The "California Breakfast Burrito" has "skirt steak, eggs, pico de Gallo infused guacamole, potatoes, bacon, cheddar cheese and sour cream, and is served with black beans, Mexican rice, and salsa." YUMMMM! We also learned that the Breakfast Republic teamed with Rise and Shine to donate $1 of every burrito sold to help those in need. Finally, the service was incredible and the entire staff was extremely friendly. If you ever find yourself in San Diego, a breakfast at the Breakfast Republic is a must. To learn more about the Breakfast Republic: Click Here!
Now that we were in the center of downtown San Diego, we decided to walk the streets and explore a little. That's when we found a local hidden coffee shop perfect for a mid-day pick me up. The Coffee & Tea Collective located on 704 J Street is the perfect place to get high quality cup of coffee. To learn more about The Coffee & Tea Collective: Click here!
After that pick me up, it was time to enjoy the final few hours in San Diego. The Pool House at Pendry San Diego is the place to go. Here's a lil summary about why it's is the place to go!
Upon arrival, we needed some drinks.The Berry Bliss for me and the Don Sandia for Austin. Two of our new favorite cocktails! Okay, you're probably wondering why they were so great. The Berry Bliss was the perfect combo of sweet and light with "Ciroc Peach Vodka, St-Germain, Lemon, Blueberry, Blackberry, Mint." Austin's Don Sandia had "Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Watermelon Juice, Lemon, Lime"...secret was the watermelon juice!! After relaxing by the pool for a little, it was time for lunch. Austin and I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Beyond Meat Burger, and a Mediterranean Plate to share. Contrary to typical poolside food, every single one of these meals was absolutely delicious. I wouldn't have ordered anything different! Although it was my first time at the Pool House SD, I will definitely be returning in my upcoming San Diego trips. To learn more about The Pool House SD: Click here!
Finally, it was time to head home. But of course, with a long drive ahead, another coffee was essential. I visited the popular "Better Buzz" coffee shop and had none other than an iced vanilla latte.
Hope you enjoyed reading about my weekend getaway to Newport Beach and San Diego! Check out the vlog to see more: Click here!
- @liattyy