My husband and I took off for the first time in years this Thanksgiving. We took a break from our daily routine and visited a favorite spot for us, Pacific Grove, California. With that rugged coastline along the bay, Monterey, Carmel, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, there was plenty to see, savor both in taste and for the eyes, and take tons of pictures.
Fabulous rugged surf along Pacific Grove and Monterey Bay
And I did take pictures with my Nikon, my Lumix and my cell phone. The Lumix was amazing to use inside the aquarium. The early morning hours were the best for picture taking along the coast. There weren’t many people about either, just the very hearty joggers and bikers.
The winds are strong in this area. We felt warmly dressed as we left our room at the Sunset Inn. But it wasn’t enough when we reached the water a few minutes later. I pulled out another sweater I had in the car to feel warmer wishing I had my coat I left in the room.
The surf was a roar and the sprays over the rocks were wonderful to see and to hear. It’s a primal feeling and I love visiting this area so much. I can’t hear much when I’m near the water here between the surf and the wind. The waves were big and so fantastic. I’m so attracted to the ruggedness of the sea here. It speaks to a very deep part of me. This place will always have a piece of my heart.
I also love this area of Cali and especially ned to pay a pilgrimage to that amazing aquarium every year. HOw delightful that you and your husband broke your routine for an adventure this year! I am writing this from a vacation spot further north on Tomales Bay where my partner and I are spending a week of vacation post T’giving and pre- Dec rush. I am watching the loons land as I type!
I just need to be in that area more often. I understand our Long Beach Aquarium is quite good as well. We’ll check it out. Never been to Tomales Bay. I’ll have to check it out as well.
Beautiful photo, Julieanne! That and your description makes me want to be there right now! How relaxing and peaceful it all sounds. We visit California as often as we can and will definitely put this on our list of places to see.
I have tons of pictures to process. I just did the one for this blog. I love that area, bring layers of clothes. Weather can be anything and the wind blows frequently.
What a wonderful getaway Julieanne! Thank you for sharing it in this absolutely transporting piece 🙂 I could feel the wind and hear the roar of the surf!
The California coast has a special part of my heart also, although I don’t know it as you do. Growing up in Venezuela, where there are really magnificent beaches and such a varied coast, I always compared it to the awe inspiring coast of California (we spent many summers in Southern CA with my mom’s family and lived there for two years.) I especially feel your last paragraph ~ because I also have a primal feeling for this rugged coast and it also reaches very deep within me.
A delight to read and now I’m filled with anticipation for more photos!!!
Thank you! ♥
Wow, @LisaValero:disqus . Thanks for such wonderful compliments. I wrote this quickly and wrote it thinking about how I felt when I was there. I felt like returning alone so I could spend time just sitting there on a rock watching, observing, feeling that pull until some part of my body could take no more! It’s funny, I remember standing for a photo along that coastline over 20 years ago holding onto to every part of me as I stood there feeling the cold penetrating deeper and deeper as the wind threw my hair in every direction. It was like visiting an old friend.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane! I also love the rugged coast and I pictured myself there as I read your post. The sea and coastline speak to me on a very deep level too. It’s one of the places I seek out when I need to reboot my nervous system, allowing the ebb and flow of the waves to entrain me.
Now and then we have it hear when the storm is off the coast. But there it doesn’t seem to require the huge storms. It’s just different in such a primal way.
This is very similar to one Vicki’s quick meditations! It has that effect!
Now, ok, ok. I give. What’s a Lumix?
Hi, Kathy. I’m glad that the blog made you feel relaxed. As to the Lumix, Panasonic puts out a line of automatic cameras with many knob settings called a Lumix. This one is amazing in low light set at Auto Intelligence mode. But I also have an older Nikon D200 professional camera that gives me incredible flexibility in shooting some great shots. The shot for this blog was done with my Nikon. But the videos I did at the Aquarium were done with my Lumix. Great quality.
I visited Monterey and the coast one year with my mother, quite a long time ago. She also felt deeply connected to the area. I think rugged areas like that, especially if they are not too populated, are transporting, both away from the sometimes too-frantic energy of ordinary life and way from any anxious or stressed parts of ourselves. Very meditative and beautiful.
Sounds like a wonderful place to go for Thanksgiving.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com
Personal-Professional Balance Through Writing
It was glorious and I am very lucky because my hubby would drive me from one vantage point to another to shoot pictures. Of course, I did have to listen to him tell me what to shoot too! LOL!
A beautiful coast. That photo of the waves breaking over the rocky outcrop is really beautiful.
I don’t know if I could live there year round but I do love to visit it! It is gorgeous but then so is Ventura!
Hi Julieanne,
Thanks for your photo and description of one of my favorite places, too. My wife and I married there back in 1974, and we love to return frequently. In fact, my band has entertained at a few wedding ceremonies on Sunset Beach. Next time you visit, reserve a night or two at the beautiful, rustic Asilomar Conference Center.
I love the Asilomar Conference center. I actually attended a conference there and stayed for a week! We were in an Inn on Asilomar not far from Lighthouse Ave. We were literally 2-3 minutes from Oceanview drive and that coastline! Lovely place to get married!
Nice writing Juileanne, it really brought taste, smell and sight together (I all of a sudden felt cold- had to go get a sweatshirt…). Being born and raised in NY, I have always loved all parts of the CA coast. Pacific Grove area is one of my favorites! I have to second Robbie’s suggestion to stay in Asilomar (although when you are there, you may not want to leave the cozy A-frames…). i also have to second Vicki’s recommendation of Tomales Bay. Having lived in Inverness for 25 years (right on Tomales Bay), it is an incredibly beautiful area (Pt. Reyes). Great to explore!
Candace Davenport
http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ~ Little Books with a Big Message
That’s what I love about California. So many lovely little nooks and crannies to visit. Ok, I’m new to writing but I’m blown away that people experienced so much in the my little blog. I’m thrilled to no end that I conveyed what I was feeling but never expected others to experience it. Wow. Ok, now to let that go and just write as I write and watch it all unfold. Deep breaths.
As to Asilomar, I spent a week there at a conference and loved it. We walked to the shore from there when we had a break. I loved it. It is rustic but that fits the primal feel of the place.
And Tomales Bay is on the list now. Getting excited!
Beautiful picture – makes me want to go visit. I love being at the ocean and listening to the sound of the waves. I visited an aquarium recently and you reminded me of it…I’ll be posting a picture 🙂 Brandy
I live about 1.5 miles from the ocean and I love to see it. But the smell of the ocean seems stronger up there and the power of the waves seem so much more primal. I look forward to seeing your picture.
I can almost feel myself on the beach with you – especially since I am prone to get a chill just as you did. For me, there is always beauty and energy in water. This is especially true when it comes to the vastness of the ocean. Thank you for painting such a vivid picture!
Thank you, Jennifer. I didn’t realize I had painted such a picture with such a short blog! I’m thrilled that I conveyed so much in such a short blog. That wind up there can be so cold yet it’s part of the pull and the charm.
I LOVE the ocean. It speaks to me. As a frustrated painter, the beauty of it all soothes as muse.
Yes, I agree. I paint too, Rowena. I can see the ocean from where we live and I have been at homes that are right on the water. I realized that unless you have windows that can block the sound, you never have any quiet. I once wanted a house on the beach. Now I think I’d like a vacation home on the beach and one further back to have the quiet and a yard with vegetables and fruit trees!
I love, love, love the ocean too…..my favorite place to be…and I miss it!!!! Love your pictures too…hope you share more:)
I will share more pictures. I have to process the ones from the Nikon. They are in RAW format and too large to post here! Hugs!
I SO miss the ocean. The mountains are beautiful but I fell in love with living near the ocean in Australia and the mountains don’t have the same pull for me. I can feel another trip being needed soonish!
Louise Edington
Breaking Through Online Frontiers
http://louiseedington.com
I understand and yet there are times, the mountains fit the bill. But I learned over 35 years ago that I need to see, smell or hear the ocean on a pretty regular basis. It helps keep me sane!