Hard to believe, but this was year #4 visiting Laguna Beach and year #3 visiting EPG in Santa Monica.
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| Wandering the coastline for a few miles (Laguna Beach). |
We like it well enough such that the trend will continue.
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| On the walk up to Griffith Observatory. |
Part of the charm in Laguna Beach at this point is simply familiarity. We know the town, we know the walking tours we enjoy taking (both in-town and on-beach), we know the restaurants;
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| From Griffith Observatory . . . Hollywood sign on hill in the distance. |
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| Griffith visitors |
you get the idea. The weather and overall scenery are dramatic changes of pace from Phoenix, so - even for folks who are big fans of summertime in Phoenix - that part is nice.
Easy drive over on July 31; had lunch at our favorite lunch stop (Nick's) all three days; dinners at Watermarc and 230 Forest; Starbucks breakfasts-and-coffees carried beach-side in the mornings. Nice as could be.
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| Beautiful views at Griffith Observatory. |
Nicole and POC joined us in Santa Monica - a few days late, but we were celebrating EPG's birthday. EPG continues to identify excellent stuff to do and interesting restaurants for our food-stops. On Friday night (8/2) we took a road trip to the Griffith Observatory - this is a very interesting place that we need to visit again when we have some more time. Great views out over the city even if we were a few minutes past sundown. Dinner that night at "Red O" - the suckling pig meal was most excellent.
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| Birthday boy at Red O. |
Breakfast on Saturday at Clementine in Century City, then onto the Getty for a delightful walk-around. Finally had a chance to eat at Father's Office - that was lunch. Relaxed at EPG's apartment; dinner at Nook, a nice local place; Nicole downloaded to her iPad some crazy game that kept us going all evening.
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| Getty garden area. |
Had the good fortune to make a return trip to the local market for Sunday breakfast, then an easy road trip back to Phoenix. Another delightful trip.
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| Getty museum. |
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