Monterey Getaway

I poured my eggnog down the drain last week. Because really, my ghetto booty does not need eggnog. But I have to say that it was REALLLLLLLLY good eggnog. Like SUPER good. The best brand of eggnog in the bay area is Southern Comfort, which is named like unto the whiskey, but is really non-alcoholic. Yum.

But now my Southern Comfort will not stick to my ghetto booty and that's a good thing.

But this post isn't about eggnog. Really.

It's about how Friday, at 3:00 pm I was sitting at my desk at home, working away and thinking about how I didn't really have any solid plans this weekend and how I'd probably end up working the weekend away (work is busy right now).

And it occurred to me that I really didn't want to do that.

And it occurred to me that I should take off and do something because: I didn't have any concrete plans for this weekend.

And it occurred to me that I've wanted to go to Monterey for about two years now.

So I hopped onto Priceline at 3:30. And within five minutes I had an accepted bid for a night's stay in a four-star hotel in Monterey (I had, of course considered going to a cheapie motel, but I really wanted to luxuriate a little bit... so...)

At 3:55 I was in my car, bags packed, on my way. Truly. How impressive is that?

It's why I keep a travel kit packed at all times. For times like these when my inner Gypsy needs to be fed.

(But I have to say that I did manage to forget shoes. All shoes. Except the sneakers I was wearing.)

I checked into the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course around 6pm, wandered around the gorgeous facility, jumped on my plush bed and then headed downtown to Cannery Row for some grub. Post dinner: swim, hot tub, met some hilarious farmers in town for a farming convention. Que Sera. That night I slept like a rock. I tell ya, I need a hot tub at home.

The next morning, after a run around the golf course and breakfast overlooking the golf course I headed out!

Sea Kelp at the Marina. Did you know this stuff can grow up to a foot a day???

Sunrise at the Marina

Next stop, the Aquarium

Wouldn't that be a fun job?

The Jellyfish exhibit was gorgeous!

Killer seahorse exhibit. So cool.

Cannery Row

Off to Carmel for an afternoon hike at Point Lobos

Point Lobos is where the Whaling Industry used to live. The cove below is called Whaler's cove. Whales that were caught were taken here to be "processed."

Next stop: Random beach. Cool pebbly beach.

Next: Horsebackriding at Pebble Beach.

The fog rolling in over Pebble Beach Golf Course

My favorite shot of the day: Pebble Beach

After a marathon of a Saturday I wished I could afford to stay in my awesome hotel for another night, but jumped back in my car for the two-hour return trip instead.

And now, I really want some eggnog.