On day 5 of our vacation, we said good-bye to Pops and Gra-Gra. They headed home while we hit the road towards San Diego. San Diego ended up being our favorite stop in California–it was absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to go back!

Driving in, we stopped by scenic La Jolla Cove. The views were absolutely breathtaking–sea cliffs, rocky reefs, and endless stretches of the Pacific Ocean. We loved watching the seals and sea lions. We spent several hours just sitting on the beach watching them play.

The water around La Jolla was crystal clear. The Children’s Pool was closed for swimming because the seals and sea lions had claimed it for themselves. There were HUNDREDS of them lying around. We loved watching the mamas with their babies!

When we finally left the beach, we drove to Coronado Island. We stopped for dinner at Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill, which was delicious! It was also right on the water, so the view was amazing! I had a total country-bumpkin moment and embarrassed myself here, because when the waitress asked which places we had visited so far, I said “La Jolla.” For the record, the correct pronunciation is “La Hoy-a.” She corrected me very quickly 🙂

From the restaurant, we walked over to the beach near the Coronado Naval Base. We were hoping to see some SEAL’s in training. We weren’t able to see any on the beach, but they were doing helicopter training out above the water and it was so neat!

Are any of you Hawaii 5-0 fans? Jase had heard us girls talk about hoping to see Steve McGarrett so much that he ran around the beach yelling for him! Yes, we know Steve McGarrett is a fictional character and is not a real SEAL. But the actor who plays Steve McGarett is on my 100 Happy Things list, so there’s that 🙂

When we checked into our hotel in San Diego, the lady at the front desk called the manager out of her office to come hear the “real-life southern belle” that was checking in. They asked all sorts of questions just to hear me talk 🙂

If you are planning a trip to Southern California, La Jolla Cove is a must-do. Schedule in a few afternoon hours here so that you can relax and enjoy the scenery and wildlife!