Happy Sunday and happy almost Halloween! It’s been a while since I’ve shared a new blog post with you all as I took some time away from the Internet to celebrate a rather big birthday milestone, already it feels like a lifetime ago that I was wrapped up in my birthday bubble! Now the once proud standing balloons are starting to hover & crawl along the floor I thought before November rolled into town I’d lift the lid on my pre-birthday holiday extravaganza.
All the way back in 2016 my mind started whirling away with thoughts, plans & ideas for the big 3-0. I already knew I wanted a big blow out party with all my friends but I also wanted to tie into the celebrations some relaxation beforehand on my most perfect holiday. For those of you that know me/have been following my blog/social media channels for a while, you’ll know that I’m a bit of a Cali girl at heart. Since my very first trip to San Diego over 15 years ago, I fell in love with the State and have been continually exploring it ever since. Luckily for me, my mum also shares the same love for the West Coast so quickly became my go to travel buddy!
Part two of the trip was quickly decided, a stop off in California, but before hitting those scenic views I had Vegas on my mind! You see it wouldn’t be a birthday celebration without visiting that vibrant strip, so that’s what we did: flew direct into Las Vegas for 4 nights staying at the Venetian followed up by an internal flight over to LAX where we picked up a hire car and drove straight down to Newport Beach. We got the best of both words: the fast paced, bright lights of the Las Vegas strip followed by the calm waters & chilled out vibes of Newport Beach.
Alongside picking the right locations, I also used the lead up to the holiday to restaurant scout & plan our days as I wanted to maximise time and ensure we could visit all our favourite places. In Vegas that meant Morels for brunch, Canaletto for risotto, the Venetian for Sephora (!) and exploring new spots such as the Neon Museum & Fremont Street. I also stepped outside my comfort zone & arranged a photographer to snap some pics in front of the Vegas sign with some big 30 balloons.
Once over in Newport Beach there is the delectable Fashion Island on your doorstop serving up all your shopping & foodie needs in one place. You get those relaxed Cali shopping vibes filled with palm trees, outdoor boutiques & more brands you could wish for. Alongside that there is the harbour with a bounty of restaurants delivering up menus filled with delicious fresh fish where you can soak up the Newport vibes Rusty Pelican was a particular fave! Whilst by the coast you’re also a 40 min drive out from LA depending on traffic and a mere 20 minutes away from Anaheim and Disney. Whether you want to chill by the pool or explore further afield, Newport has it all.
Although this trip involved two locations that I had already visited, it meant I instantly relaxed and felt right at home. I’m so blessed to be able to experience my dream holiday especially sharing all those amazing memories and moments with my mum. Bring on being 30!
*Also – LOL at the guy photobombing in the middle of the pic of me and my mum 😂
