May 24, 2017. Santa Barbara Bound. Three day family vacation has finally arrived. Ahhh!
Wednesday, May 24:
First stop on this road trip was Camarillo Outlet. We did a little shopping and my sister and I got a little dessert at Honeymee. Then off to Santa Barbara! After we checked in at the hotel, we went to Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf. It was really nice. The weather was pretty good as well. Not too cold but still chilly for sweaters to wear. Sweater weather is the best. Then after we walked around Stearns Wharf and took pictures here and there, we went to get an early dinner at Brophy's Bros. The food was amazing. The calamari was not the typical chewy calamari a person may get at a restaurant. It was soft and easy to chew. For me, it was different, but it was still really good. The three main dishes were clam chowder and salad combo, crab cakes, and fish and chips. A clam chowder cup was also ordered. They were all so good. The clam chowder was not too creamy, just right. Crab cakes had a lot of crab meat inside and it was very fresh. Fish and chips were good too. Once dinner was finished, my family and I walked around for a bit and then headed back to the hotel.
"The Aquarium" by Frank Bauer wall of fishes
Thursday, May 25:
Woke up, got breakfast at the lobby of the hotel. Then off to the Chromatic Gate my family went. The rainbow that is permanently around even when it is cloudy and gray skies. It was a pretty artwork. Love seeing art in every city. To add to the lovely art, we hopped onto our next destination, Santa Barbara County Courthouse. It was amazing! Climbed flights of stairs to get to see the view from the Viewing Tower. It was so beautiful. It be prettier if the sky was blue though, but we win some, we lose some. The view was breathtaking. After staying there to take a bunch of photos, we did some shopping in Downtown Santa Barbara and went to find food at the Public Market after. We stopped at the cutest cafe place for lunch instead. I saw a tiny brochure labeled Crushcakes & Cafe in the lobby of the hotel and took it with me back to our hotel room. I really wanted to try it because it stated on the brochure it was on Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. Back in Fullerton, there is a cupcake shop that was also on Cupcake Wars that I've been dying to try since I did some research on the place. I figured it was on Food Network, it must be good. My sister decided to choose the place for lunch since it was close by, and boy the food was spectacular. The little place is quite cozy and warm, located in a residential area, away from the busy busy downtown. It was bustling with business. We got the Crush Red Velvet Pancakes, Break of the Day Burrito, and Turkey Club Wrap. Very good!! The pancakes were not too sweet, just right. The burrito was very fresh and delicious. The turkey club wrap was amazing. After a terrific lunch, we had to try their cupcakes. We got the strawberry blush cupcake. It was not too sweet. Pretty light compared to most cupcakes in general. I would definitely come back in the future. Afterwards, we shopped in the area of Paseo Nuevo and stopped at Santa Barbara's City Hall. Then off to McConnell's Fine Ice Cream. We got three flavors: Banana & Salted Caramel, Earl Grey Tea & Shortbread Cookies, and Wild Berry Chip. When I saw Earl Grey Tea, I had to try it. The sample was amazing, so of course, we had to get it. I really recommend anyone who hasn't tried it to do so. It desserts, it is a flowery flavor but not too overpowering. Then back to the hotel we headed. For dinner, we go Sushi Go-Go to go and the food was great. The chicken was so fresh and not like the typical teriyaki chicken someone gets at a regular Japanese restaurant. It was different. The quality was much better when a person takes a bite of it. The California rolls had a lot of crab meat in them too. The portion was honestly a lot in my opinion and very filling to make a happy tummy.
Friday, May 26:
Last day in Santa Barbara. We checked out of the hotel and headed onto the road. First stop, Ventura Harbor Village. The scenery was amazing yet again. After doing some sightseeing, we were back on the road. Second stop: Oxnard Town Center. Got more shopping done, some clothes were bought. Lunch stop at Luna Grill, a Mediterranean restaurant. The food was so so good! I started to fall in love with Mediterranean food ever since I tried it at the Mediterranean restaurant in Fullerton, Pita Hot. The rice was amazing! Something about the Mediterranean rice is so good! Even my mom stops at Pita Hot sometimes when my parents come to Fullerton to resupply me just to buy the rice there. The rice at Luna Grill was different from Pita Hot. The style was different but both were amazing. The pita was better at Luna Grill actually. It was softer. It really depends on what a person likes because both places have their own unique style to their food. Pita Hot's pita is a little bit tougher but with humus, it's perfect. The salads and the meats at Luna Grill were also amazing too.
Wednesday, May 24:
First stop on this road trip was Camarillo Outlet. We did a little shopping and my sister and I got a little dessert at Honeymee. Then off to Santa Barbara! After we checked in at the hotel, we went to Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf. It was really nice. The weather was pretty good as well. Not too cold but still chilly for sweaters to wear. Sweater weather is the best. Then after we walked around Stearns Wharf and took pictures here and there, we went to get an early dinner at Brophy's Bros. The food was amazing. The calamari was not the typical chewy calamari a person may get at a restaurant. It was soft and easy to chew. For me, it was different, but it was still really good. The three main dishes were clam chowder and salad combo, crab cakes, and fish and chips. A clam chowder cup was also ordered. They were all so good. The clam chowder was not too creamy, just right. Crab cakes had a lot of crab meat inside and it was very fresh. Fish and chips were good too. Once dinner was finished, my family and I walked around for a bit and then headed back to the hotel.
"The Aquarium" by Frank Bauer wall of fishes
Thursday, May 25:
Woke up, got breakfast at the lobby of the hotel. Then off to the Chromatic Gate my family went. The rainbow that is permanently around even when it is cloudy and gray skies. It was a pretty artwork. Love seeing art in every city. To add to the lovely art, we hopped onto our next destination, Santa Barbara County Courthouse. It was amazing! Climbed flights of stairs to get to see the view from the Viewing Tower. It was so beautiful. It be prettier if the sky was blue though, but we win some, we lose some. The view was breathtaking. After staying there to take a bunch of photos, we did some shopping in Downtown Santa Barbara and went to find food at the Public Market after. We stopped at the cutest cafe place for lunch instead. I saw a tiny brochure labeled Crushcakes & Cafe in the lobby of the hotel and took it with me back to our hotel room. I really wanted to try it because it stated on the brochure it was on Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. Back in Fullerton, there is a cupcake shop that was also on Cupcake Wars that I've been dying to try since I did some research on the place. I figured it was on Food Network, it must be good. My sister decided to choose the place for lunch since it was close by, and boy the food was spectacular. The little place is quite cozy and warm, located in a residential area, away from the busy busy downtown. It was bustling with business. We got the Crush Red Velvet Pancakes, Break of the Day Burrito, and Turkey Club Wrap. Very good!! The pancakes were not too sweet, just right. The burrito was very fresh and delicious. The turkey club wrap was amazing. After a terrific lunch, we had to try their cupcakes. We got the strawberry blush cupcake. It was not too sweet. Pretty light compared to most cupcakes in general. I would definitely come back in the future. Afterwards, we shopped in the area of Paseo Nuevo and stopped at Santa Barbara's City Hall. Then off to McConnell's Fine Ice Cream. We got three flavors: Banana & Salted Caramel, Earl Grey Tea & Shortbread Cookies, and Wild Berry Chip. When I saw Earl Grey Tea, I had to try it. The sample was amazing, so of course, we had to get it. I really recommend anyone who hasn't tried it to do so. It desserts, it is a flowery flavor but not too overpowering. Then back to the hotel we headed. For dinner, we go Sushi Go-Go to go and the food was great. The chicken was so fresh and not like the typical teriyaki chicken someone gets at a regular Japanese restaurant. It was different. The quality was much better when a person takes a bite of it. The California rolls had a lot of crab meat in them too. The portion was honestly a lot in my opinion and very filling to make a happy tummy.
Friday, May 26:
Last day in Santa Barbara. We checked out of the hotel and headed onto the road. First stop, Ventura Harbor Village. The scenery was amazing yet again. After doing some sightseeing, we were back on the road. Second stop: Oxnard Town Center. Got more shopping done, some clothes were bought. Lunch stop at Luna Grill, a Mediterranean restaurant. The food was so so good! I started to fall in love with Mediterranean food ever since I tried it at the Mediterranean restaurant in Fullerton, Pita Hot. The rice was amazing! Something about the Mediterranean rice is so good! Even my mom stops at Pita Hot sometimes when my parents come to Fullerton to resupply me just to buy the rice there. The rice at Luna Grill was different from Pita Hot. The style was different but both were amazing. The pita was better at Luna Grill actually. It was softer. It really depends on what a person likes because both places have their own unique style to their food. Pita Hot's pita is a little bit tougher but with humus, it's perfect. The salads and the meats at Luna Grill were also amazing too.
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