Pirates Cove is quite a treasure. During a short weekend jaunt, we had more planned than time allowed and once we ended up at Pirate's Cove, it was difficult to leave. Pirates Cove, one of the few nude beaches on the Central Coast is truly a hidden gem. Surprisingly, it is reminiscent of a European coastline with a steep overlook that features a beautiful view of the seascape, with crystal clear blue water that is rarely seen in this part of California. We were well prepared with plenty of snacks (we stopped at the Farmsted in Gaviota on the way), our umbrella, multiple tapestries, a selection of sun screens and dry coconut body oil, fresh lemonade, treats for Lucky and plenty of reading material. Aside from a fully clothed, Mexican man that was standing directly beside our area and was openly ogling my body, most of the people there embodied a chill, relaxed vibe (it always pisses me off when there are people wearing clothing at a nude beach, yes, it's called "clothing optional," but I feel like they should stay away from the naked people and find another beach if they choose to wear their swim suite, let alone full clothing). After a full day at the beach, we headed down to Avila pier which is a lot busier and touristy than the Cove. We stopped at a acai fruit bowl and smoothie shop called Kravabowl where we were offered a free large Islander's Delight bowl in exchange for posting a photo of us eating it on facebook and tagging their shop. We spent the rest of the evening browsing some surf and tourist shops, making a few purchases and admiring the beautiful Avila Pier. During our next trip to Avila in October we plan to visit Avila Valley Barn and Sycamore Mineral Hot Springs. Our time in Avila was complete with a scrumptious pizza from Mission Pizza, delizioso! Wardrobe: wide brimmed hat .99¢ from the .99¢ store (!), Ecote dress from UO, tribal arm bands: Brazil, New Mexico, Bali. LA Idol purple pants: Foot Seas Avila Beach (75% off=$15), Coastal Classics Avila tank, Sweater--PDX Goodwill, UO straw hat with leather band, SBICCA of California Platforms: Foot Seas Avila Beach (75% off=$35!)
“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”
~Chris McCandless (In to the Wild) While in Topanga Canyon, my fiancé and I stayed at a commune in their "Mermaid Suite." The property resembles something out of a storybook and was truly like a dream. We arrived around sunset and had a great time exploring the property, doing yoga, discovering their outdoor puppet show theater and relaxing in a tree house. Their cottages can be found on airbnb and include Hacienda Hideaway, Topanga French Quarters, Topanga Wonderland Cottage, Tea House, Country Cabin and Mountain Sanctuary. We will definitely be back for a return visit!
Last weekend my fiancé and I took a weekend jaunt to Topanga Canyon. I've driven through the small town before, but it was a great place for a relaxing weekend retreat. Topanga Canyon is a an enchanting, earthy, eclectic village surrounded by Topanga State Park. It is the largest wilderness area within a city limit in the US which is what makes it such a special and unique place. Despite it's close proximity to Los Angeles, it feels like an entirely different part of the world, both culturally, geographically and eugenically. Just north of Santa Monica's amusement park, neon ferris wheel and bright city lights, the shoreline curves around the bay and the mountains sweep downward toward the sea. Topanga Canyon Boulevard passes through chaparral covered hills and steep, jagged cliffs, twisting and turning for twelve miles until you reach the "downtown," main-drag of Topanga. You can still smell and feel the salty, ocean breeze behind you, but the fresh air brings rustic, woodsy scents of cedar, hickory and juniper. Topanga has been known as a Bohemian enclave, attracting artists, musicians, filmmakers and free-spirits since the '60s. Neil Young lived in Topanga where he recorded After the Gold Rush in his basement studio. Will Geer and Woody Guthrie unintentionally founded what became an artists' colony which continues to operate as the Theatricum Botanicum, an open air performing arts center. Although I wasn't able to see a play here during this visit, I definitely plan to go back during my next visit to Topanga (preferably when they aren't performing Shakespeare ;) It is also rumored that Jimi Hendrix wrote Roadhouse Blues about the drive up Topanga Canyon Boulevard to perform at the Corrall, a Topanga Canyon nightclub which has since burned. Places we visited: Abuelitas Mexican Restaurant: quaint creekside dining with delicious Enchiladas Verdes and Chimichangas (their extensive margarita menu looked pretty tempting too). Hidden Treasures: a fun vintage and antique store that had everything I love including feather earrings, skulls, lava lamps, nag champa body oil, faux fur vests and tortoise shell aviators, the decorative storefront alone is worth a visit. Jalan Jalan: Importer of solid stone carvings, petrified wood, handcrafted teak furniture, Buddha, Quhan Yin, Ganesha, elephant and goddess sculptures; fountains, kilims, hand-woven baskets, textiles, mostly imports from Bali and other items from Peru, Tibet, Nepal and Mexico. Their store sits on a property with a huge waterfall and a tunnel filled with tasteful, artistic graffiti--great place just to hang out and drink tea!
Wardrobe: Forever 21 off the shoulder top, Joe's black bellbottoms (***$1 at Gigi's Vintage Blue's in Carpinteria), Pistil Designs belt in Hibiscus (***75% off @ Taos Mountain Outfitters) O'Neil Platforms, Jimi Hendrix vintage t-shirt from Hidden Treasures, Goodwill Santa Fe shorts I was amazed by the beauty of El Matador beach. This weekend my fiancé and I set out on a weekend road trip to Malibu. On the way there, we cut down from the 101 on Route 23 to the PCH. This road is full of twist and turns, but also provides beautiful vistas of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. While most of Malibu's beaches tend to be extremely groomed, flat and wide, with a very limited amount of trees or vegetation, El Matador is abundant with boulders, sea caves, plants and a rugged coastline. A steep, dirt trail leads you down some stairs and the views from the upper cliffs are incredible, looking down over the large rocks, and deep blue water filled with gardens of sea kelp. Wardrobe: MANGO t-shirt, purchased at SFO during a long layover, Forever 21 skirt, Adam Levine bikini top (***purchased on clearance @ Kmart for $11.99!), Brazilian bikini bottom purchased from a street vendor during Carnival (I lost mine while midnight skinny-dipping @ Ipanema beach) Mystique sandals, (***$1 @ Twice as Nice during Carpinteria's Flea Market, held the last Saturday of every month--these retail for $160!)
Although schedules don't always allow international travel or a vacation to a far away land, it is essential for me to have a change of scenery and experience new places as frequently as possible. My fiancé and I have been incorporating day trips and even short after-work-jaunts into our schedules on a regular basis. It is a valuable way to keep things fresh and alive, and to prevent yourself from falling into mundane, ordinary, boring ways of life. Several weeks ago we took a short drive down to Sacred Space, a lovely sanctuary complete with an Oriental garden, a large selection of books on Spirituality, Eastern Religions and Meditation available in their library and for sale, gemstones and crystals, Ganesha statues and jewelry. The Staff were extremely welcoming, knowledgable and hospitable, offering us a selection of teas and inviting us to lounge in the outdoor garden which is abundant with palm trees, bonsai, jade plants and other lush greenery. It is a great place to unwind, relax and breathe deeply amongst the Buddhas, shrines, inspirational reading material and richly scented air. I will be coming back again and again to enjoy this truly Sacred Space. Wardrobe: Free People dress, Vintage jean jacket, Roxy hat, Mayan necklace purchased in Mexico
Santa Barbara's only cultural event, aside from the Greek Festival (which is pretty much the same if you exchange crepes for baklava and baguettes for gyros), and of course Fiesta..first week of August, right around the corner..Note Lucky looking adorable in his black and white stripes (I call it his "jail sweater," lol).
...I was intrigued when I heard about an Abandoned Nazi Camp in Pacific Palisades, a wealthy residential neighborhood in LA. Built in 1933, Murphy's Ranch was constructed as a hideout for a completely self-sustaining Nazi community. The deserted ranch can be reached via a 3 mile hike, with the trailhead located at the end of Sullivan Road in Pacific Palisades. During War War II, the community had a power station, large diesel fuel tank, fully irrigated raised gardens, and several sets of cement staircases that seemed like they had about 100,000 steps leading down into the canyon. Now, the area is completely dissipated and neglected, although the main structures remain, which present a wonderful canvas for colorful graffiti. We arrived fully prepared with spray paint and contributed some scribbles to the masterpiece.
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Lindsay K Fryerexplorer, healer, soul-searcher, traveler, free-spirit, gypsy, lover. Categories
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