staycation

Visiting the butterflies

 in Fitness / General Fashion  tagged fall 2025 / hiking / outfits / santa cruz / staycation by

wearing: sunglasses / statement earrings / lightweight jacket / long sleeve tee / classic jeans (old, also love this pair) / nail polish / water bottle / east/west handbag / sneakers (also, also love this pair) /

It’s Monarch Butterfly season! Every year, from mid-October to January, the Monarch Butterflies visit Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz and dazzle us with their beauty.

The butterflies gather on trees and enjoy the natural foliage around the area. Although there were large groups hanging out together on trees, my iPhone camera was too far away to get a good photo. That being said, I was able to get the up-close picture you see above!

Natural Bridges State Park offers an easy hiking trail, made up mostly of a wooden bridge, through the area where the butterflies enjoy gathering. This allows for the perfect view of the butterflies.

The parking lot is conveniently positioned between the butterfly trail and the beach. So, you can do both on the same day without moving your car. Love that!

After we viewed the butterflies, we relaxed on the beach and watched the waves and surfers. The view of the ocean at Natural Bridges State Park is fabulous. If you are local, it is a must-see!

After our visit to the beach, we went to downtown Santa Cruz and enjoyed a delicious meal at El Palomar. The food was top notch, and the service was friendly, fast, and beyond expectations. It’s my new favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz! Love!

So, if you are local or visiting the area, I recommend this fall/winter activity. You will love seeing the butterflies and relaxing on the beach!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Taco Bell on the beach

 in General Fashion  tagged casual style / outfits / restaurants / staycation by

pictured: Cantina Bowl / Pina Colada (no alcohol) / me-windblown wearing: sunglasses / earrings / bracelets / black tee / black handbag / jeans / black loafers / nail polish /

OK, so if you are from the Bay Area, you already know about Taco Bell in Pacifica. This is touted as “the most beautiful Taco Bell in the world.” Apologies, I don’t know the original quote author, if you know, tell me and I will update credit.

The Taco Bell in Pacifica is actually a Taco Bell Cantina and it has a full bar inside! Yes, they serve alcohol if you are interested. In addition, they have a to-go window on the outside of the building so that you can stay sandy and salty from the ocean while indulging in your Taco Bell craving. Love that!

I filed this post under Staycation Bay Area because it really is a destination if you don’t live in Pacifica. You can combine a beach day with Taco Bell. This is also a beautiful and affordable way to have dinner on the beach while watching the sunset. Yes, I have done it, and it is fabulous. Highly recommend!

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I love the patio, but we ate inside on this particular occasion because the wind was quite strong. The interior windows are large and allow full view of the beach. So, if you dine inside you can enjoy the beachy vibes.

Since it was a windy day, we enjoyed our lunch inside with a view of the beach and then took a walk along the beach. My hair flew everywhere, hence my hand on my head in the photo above.

This really is a special Taco Bell. You can have an affordable meal at a restaurant on the beach-which is almost unheard of here in the Bay Area. So, I highly recommend a beach day in Pacifica!

Pro tip: Avoid weekends. If you can go on a Tuesday or Wednesday, then finding parking and a table will be a breeze.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Top of Mt Tam

 in Fitness / Travel  tagged hiking / lifestyle / outdoor fitness / staycation by

Have you ever been to the top of Mt Tam? If you are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, and you can handle few twisty roads, what are you waiting for? When you reach the top of Mt Tam, you can see spectacular views of Marin and the bay. If you’re lucky, you will see the fog rolling in like a luxurious blanket enveloping you in comfort and relief from the summer heat.

This is your cue to make sure you have a full tank of gas, and to head up the mountain for some hiking, serenity, local history, and breathtaking beauty. To achieve this, I recommend going in the morning on a weekday; avoid weekends at all costs.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy this Bay Area staycation idea!

XOXO

Cathy