Hi! I'm a blogger, journalist, and content creator based in Long Beach, California! If you're looking for affordable, culture-focused itineraries, city guides, and travel tips to inspire your next journey, you've come to the right place.
California beach season is almost here
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Hey Reader! One of the rudest awakenings I had when I moved to California eight years ago was finding out that it’s not always beach weather here. Seriously, I feel lied to by practically every TV show, movie, and even Hollister (that’s a throwback, I know) that told me California was just a beach oasis the entire time. The truth is, it doesn’t start to get consistently hot and sunny until July — but the good news is from there, it usually stays like that through October. So ahead of SoCal’s actual beach season, I just have to share with you my all-time favorite beach out here. Laguna Beach, which is down in Orange County, around an hour from downtown L.A. is seriously home to some of the prettiest beaches in the U.S., not to mention the town itself is super cute, with colorful, quaint architecture (the town’s roots are actually as an art colony!). More on what to do there is below, but first, a couple other quick notes … (P.S. Regardless of when you’re visiting, SoCal is brimming with great beach towns, all with their own unique character, dining scenes, and of course, gorgeous beaches. Even though it’s not exactly sunbathing weather most of the time, it is always beautiful “walk around, visit the beach” weather.) Disclosure: Tess the Traveler contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Associates Program, meaning that if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission. I only recommend products and companies I trust and have used. See the Privacy Policy for more information. Thanks for your support! 📰 what’s new this weekLast weekend, I spent a couple of days in San Diego with one of my oldest friends, and I’ll be heading back there this weekend with my husband this time! Every time I visit San Diego, I’m reminded of why exactly it’s known as one of the prettiest cities in the country. There are so many cute neighborhoods, great restaurants, and of course, gorgeous beaches. I’ll have a few blog posts about San Diego up in the coming months, so if there’s anything you’re curious about, hit reply and let me know! In other life updates, I’ll be flying out to Virginia for the last couple of weeks of June. I’ll be spending some time with my family, as well as attending my very first travel writing conference! I’m nervous, but also super excited for the opportunity to connect with other writers and tourism boards, and to experience more of Virginia! 🌺 this week I’m loving …This multi-generational novel follows a Palestinian family over several decades, as they’re forced to relocate from their home, and end up spread around the world. It took me a bit to get into — sometimes books that switch perspectives too much can lose me a bit. But this was really beautifully written and poignant, and left me feeling really captivated by the family’s journey. 🗺️ destination spotlight: Laguna BeachWHERE TO EAT: For a local staple, the Orange Inn is a cute surfy spot with affordable breakfast burritos. To pick up a sandwich to enjoy on the beach, head to Wigz or Urth Caffe. My favorite underrated pick is Coyote Grill, for casual, budget-friendly Mexican food. And lastly, for a fancier dinner, my top choice is Nick’s (their fried chicken and fish sandwiches never miss). 💖 More budget-friendly dining is in this guide! WHERE TO BEACH-HOP: Over 60 beaches and coves make up Laguna’s pristine coastline, and part of the fun of just seeing where you stumble upon. But two of my go-tos are Treasure Island Beach and Victoria Beach — both will guarantee gorgeous photos, and thoughts about moving to California. + DON’T MISS: Exploring Laguna’s artsy roots. You’ll find lots of galleries throughout downtown — two of my favorites are Kush Gallery and Galerie Rue Toulouse. The Laguna Art Museum is also one of the oldest art museums in California, dating back to 1918. It has three different exhibits, and costs $15/$10 with a student ID. VISITING TIP: Ok, I can’t lie to you, the parking situation in Laguna is rough. If you’re visiting on a summer weekend, expect that it will take you a while, and you will probably have to walk a bit. There are a few lots in Downtown, or if you’re heading to Treasure Island Beach, you may get lucky and snag one of the nearby parking spaces there. Definitely make use of the free trolley, which operates throughout Laguna — hours are here. 💖 All the best things to do in Laguna are in this guide. Happy travels, Tess |
Tess the Traveler
Hi! I'm a blogger, journalist, and content creator based in Long Beach, California! If you're looking for affordable, culture-focused itineraries, city guides, and travel tips to inspire your next journey, you've come to the right place.
Disclosure: Tess the Traveler contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Associates Program, meaning that if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission. I only recommend products and companies I trust and have used. See the Privacy Policy for more information. Thanks for your support! Hey Reader! Yesterday, I hurt my back, which means I’ve basically spent the past day-and-a-half wallowing about how old I’m getting, and how I now need to look out for...
Hey Reader! On my recent trip to Virginia, I met someone who told me that Richmond is the most historic city on the East Coast. I asked him if this was based on the number of remaining historic buildings, events that happened here, or something else, and he basically said “it’s all of it.” Granted, I was talking to a tour guide, who’s made his entire livelihood from digging into all the hidden stories of Richmond, and I’d argue that most cities are full of history, you may just not know about...
Hey Reader! Over the past few weeks, a number of people have asked me how long I’ve been living in California. (8.5 years, if you were wondering). Questions of how I feel about living here for so long, if I think I’ll stay here, etc. have all been coming up a lot, both in conversation, and just in my mind. While those seem like fairly standard questions, the answer has never been easy for me. Truthfully, as someone who’s always loved travel, I’ve never really felt super grounded in wherever I...