Wilson Creek Winery: Temecula, CA

The day after the wedding we attended in California, the bride & groom decided to visit their favorite winery in Temecula & invite as many friends that were able to attend.  We had a group of about 20 of us (sadly, I didn't take enough photographs), but we had a great time socializing while relaxing, wine tasting, and eating lunch outside with a view of the vineyards in the distance.

First date flash back!

Over four years ago, Duane & I had our 'second' first date at the San Diego Zoo, upon my visit over Valentines weekend from Chicago.  It was so fun to visit the zoo again during this visit & to realize just how far our relationship has come since four years ago.  The San Diego Zoo will always remain my favorite zoo in the USA, if only for sentimental personal reasons, but I love the consistent warm weather with no humidity, sunshine, and proximity of closeness to the animals visitors are able to experience.  Plus, I'm a huge fan of Pandas & this zoo is one of the only 13 in the USA that has them.  Lucky for us Ohioans, 3 of the 13 zoos with Pandas, are in Ohio.

Stone Brewery

A national beer brand, that I'm sure you've seen in the grocery store, "Stone Brewery" is most popular for their Stone Pale Ale flagship beer.  Stone Brewery is rated as one of the best brewers in the USA & world by two largest beer enthusiast websites, RateBeer & BeerAdvocate.  Stone has been voted by the readers of Beer Advocate as the #1 Best Brewery all time ever, two years in a row.

Duane had visited the brewery previously with friends and insisted I visit upon our vacation to San Diego.  Boy, am I glad I visited.  This is by far the nicest beer brewery I've ever visited in my life....a delicious restaurant, so many beer choices on tap (4 pages on the menu), a plethora of outdoor seating, & gorgeous landscaping from ponds, bridges, to lush private areas to relax & enjoy your beer.

La Jolla Cove

Pacific Ocean breeze. Wild sea otters off in the distance. Perfect sunny 75 degree weather. Birds chirping.  Cliffs with waves crashing against them.   All things that describe, La Jolla Cove.  

One of the prettiest sites on the Southern California coast.... if you're visiting anytime soon, it's a 'must-stop-location'.  The area is surrounded by restaurants & shopping, a couple blocks from the cove, with breathtaking views in many of the surrounding businesses.  Definitely allow yourself 2-3 hours to fully enjoy the area by eating, shopping, and relaxing while admiring the Cove views.