I ate three carrot cake muffin bars on route to Carmel.
I stuffed myself (twice) with sweet plantains, black beans and rice at Sol Food in San Rafael.
I met a very special blog reader.
built a bonfire on the beach, made s’mores and stared at the stars.
saw more well behaved dogs than people.
took 1400 photos.
named a sea lion Wilfred.
named a seagull Milton.
got pelted with freezing rain while hiking to the top of an ocean cliff at Point Lobos.
ate one chocolate cupcake, two s’mores, one pepperoni pizza and three honeycomb dark chocolates.
didn’t drink any wine.
but did drink the best mango orange iced tea ever.
lit a candle and said a prayer in the Carmel Mission.
took a glorious two hour nap.
got sprayed with ocean mist after a twenty foot wave hit the rocks below me.
View our entire photo gallery (80 photos, not 1400) in the morning!
ps: word on the street is that I’m hosting a giveaway for ELR facebook fans today! Become a Facebook fan to enter.
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds absolutely amazing! What a wonderful time and great food you had!
Where is Carmel exactly? I know I’ve heard it’s gorgeous, but I don’t really know where it is!
Sounds like you had a fantastic time and I can’t wait to see pictures!
Both pictures are GORGEOUS!!! I can’t WAIT to see the rest!!
What a great weekend! I can’t wait to see more photos!
pretty much a perfect weekend!
Where is Carmel Exactly? I know I’ve heard of it before, and that it’s beautiful, but I’ve never known where it was!
I can’t wait to see your pictures!
Sounds fantastic!! Looking forward to the pictures!
best mango orange iced tea ever, smores, bonfire…wow, sounds amazing!
And our best friends live in San Rafael!!!!!!!!! I love it there!!!!!!! I always say that if it wasnt for the weather, I’d live in Marin County! But I am spoiled now and San Diego and this part of the state will always be home.
But I love it up there! Sausalito, San Rafael, the hiking, Mount Tam, everything…is awesome.
Can’t wait to see some of the 1400 pics if you’re going to share any
Now THAT sounds like a weekend! Can’t wait to see the pictures that go along with it
Um, amazing. Wish that would’ve been my weekend, but perhaps someday…
Thanks for sharing about your adventures. The smores and naming of animals were my favorite parts : )
Looking forward to seeing your photos soon.
-Dana
what a sweet-sounding weekend! ah, the california life…
That sounds positively amazing. I nursed a cold, chiseled ice off of my driveway and prepared for another snowstorm. You win.
Amazing…please take me with you next time!
I need to stuff myself with plantains more often – I only get them when I traveling to foreign lands.
I’m excited to see the pictures! S’mores:) yum!
Next time, come to Santa Cruz for hiking and acai bowls from Cafe Brazil! And ice cream from the Penny Ice Creamery! ( <– dare I say best ice cream place ever?!)
I have to agree with this!! The Acai Bowls at Cafe Brazil are amazing!! And the rest of the food is pretty delicious as well. I haven’t been to penny ice cream but Marianne’s Ice Cream is yummy
I’ve never been to Santa Cruz…that might be next!
Sounds enchanting! Sigh…the Midwest is just no fun in the winter…enjoy NoCal for me!
sol food might be the best part of my hometown. or cafe gratitude. i can’t decide
sounds like you had a wonderful weekend!!!!
On my last trip to San Francisco, I named a sea lion Gordon.
That sounds like a fantastic weekend!
wow what a great weekend, can’t wait to see all your pictures!!
That honestly sounds like my DREAM vacay! Can’t wait to see the pics.
Sounds amazing and I’m sure it tasted amazing as well!
love the marshmellow picture…although I think I would’ve traded in one of those muffins for a glass of pinot!
oh my – sounds wonderful indeed!!!
This sounds like the perfect weekend! (Minus the “drank no wine” part)
I grew up in Carmel! I love it and miss it dearly. Hope your weekend was fun!
Sounds like a wonderful weekend to me!!
1400 photos! Oh and I’m making your buffalo chicken wontons for a super bowl party Sunday. I shared your blog with the host and she fell in LOVE with the recipe and your blog as a whole. Keep it up Jenna!
awesome! Those buffalo chicken wontons are lethal!
But – wait – whose the special blog reader you met?!! Story?
Her name is Suzanne and we’ve been corresponding for years! I was so excited to finally meet her!
That’s amazing! I guess she doesn’t have her own blog? Or your keeping her to yourself! haha
Plantains, beans and rice sound really good right now! I made plantains once in high school when we read ‘Things Fall Apart’. I loved them
That sounds like a fabulous weekend! Carmel is gorgeous, you’re making me jealous.
Sounds SO fun Jenna! How is the no-wine/drinking thing going? To be honest, I’ve been looking back at your ELR Wine 101 posts and having a glass of wine every night… and I finally tried a California Zin. And pinot is my new love. Those 101s are awesome, thank you for them!
it’s hard! Especially on date nights! But then I think about how much money we are saving when we go out to eat and I’m fine with water.
Sol Food is amazing! I love that place. And Carmel is beautiful. Can’t wait for pictures!
i LOVEEE roasting marshmallows and sticking them in my ice cream/frozen yogurt. the combo is just heavenly.
Sounds like such a fun weekend. I was so excited when I went to SF and saw sea lions for the first time!
Wow, this makes weekend looks completely inadequate
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! Especially if you were able to fill 1400 photos.
I’m just wondering how I’ve been a reader for so long and NOT been a Facebook fan!!! I am now though, so all is well. Your photos are beautiful, I need to find lessons somewhere!
Sounds like a glorious weekend!
Sounds fantastic!
Sol Food is AMAZING. We make the drive from Sonoma County when the cravings for bistec sandwiches, camarones, beans, and plantains hits… and don’t get me started with the tea… MMM! I’m happy you had the opportunity to check it out!
I also had s’mores this weekend–Street S’mores from City Bakery! They were roasting the mallows on mini grills on the sidewalk and they looked lovely and melty just like yours. Stickysweetgoodness.
I hope this isn’t terrible to admit, but I was totally expecting an engagement announcement… !
Katie… ha! take it easy now..
I think Wilfred and Milton are fabulous choices! Lovely names.
Sounds like you had a super delicious weekend!! Mango orange iced tea sounds fabulous! Mmm
What a fabulous weekend!
Oooh, I want to see the Carmel Mission! And eat some smores, stat.
Good job skipping the wine… not always easy, esp in camping situations, or at least in my own experience.
I try to plan my trips to the city so that I am passing through San Rafael at an appropriate meal time just so I can eat at Sol Food.
I love SOL FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like a fantastic weekend! Can’t wait to see the photos. That part of California sounds so lovely!
Side note – I think s’mores are my very favorite food. Delicious!
OMG, I LOVE Sol Food. My hubby was watching Food Network late one night and they were featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Coming back from the airport one day my hubby picked me up and took me to this place. We’ve only gone that one time, but definitely plan to go there again soon enough. I LOVE fried plantains and theirs remind me of how much I love authenticity. For now, I guess I’ll have to continue perfecting mine
Looks like you had a great weekend. By the way, what’s a great way to make s’mores at home w/o building a fire? The electric stove doesn’t seem to cut it….
p.s. Don’t watch DDD late into the wee hours of the morning – you may get hunger pains and your mouth may unexpectedly begin to salivate.
the marshmallow looks amaaaazing. yum!