Little Summer Outings: 1, 2

Recently this blog about discovering has leaned heavily on the traveling aspect, and I've told about weekend or week long trips from the Central Coast to Mexico and El Salvador. Now weeks have gone by since I've last written, but it hasn't been because I haven't been doing or discovering anything. I guess I just thought my little outings weren't exciting enough to write about, and I was too busy having a good time to stop and take pictures or document the experiences. But even so, I have some outings under my belt that might give you some ideas of what to do during these long days or empty weekends. I will share four of my most recent mini adventures in one blog post, all little trips that you can do in a day or even a few hours.

NEWPORT BEACH

Steering the boat :)

A foggy Saturday morning in the early summer had us driving up coast highway on our way to Marina Sailing in Newport Beach, donned in our deck shoes and gripping our Groupons. Unfortunately, we were running typically late, but fortunately they held the boat for us. We breathlessly jumped onboard, met the captain and the four other students. We had signed up for a group sailing class in the Newport Beach harbor through Groupon, and there were two other Groupon couples our age aboard as well.
We circled around the marina, each of us getting opportunities to practice tacking, jibing, and steering while our captain told us many stories about the eccentrics who live in the mansions on the water. Our morning on the boat felt like a mix between a class, a harbor cruise, and a vacation. Just as we were starting to get hungry for lunch, our old salt captain, who was a character straight out of a Margaritaville story, expertly guided us back to the docks just as the sun was starting to come through the clouds.

Coconuts stamped with the Bear Flag logo

Having heard about Bear Flag Fish Co. from some friends, we decided to head there for food. After all, being on the water whetted our appetite for fresh fish! We found the little restaurant in a cute enclave in the neighborhoods of the Newport Peninsula, nestled between boutiques and beach cottages on a quiet tree lined street. But the restaurant wasn't quiet - it was bustling with activity and a line going out the door. While waiting in line, you can grab a drink from the wall, anything from coconut water to canned sodas or Pellegrino. Once ordering at the counter, it will be hard to decide on just one thing! They offer a variety of seafood tacos and burritos, and a big case shows off all the fresh fish and salads. I opted for a side of ahi poke and a side of seaweed salad (both AMAZING) and Jordi got a fish burrito. We got a side of chips and salsa, which was enough to feed a family. Outside there are two big tables meant to share. As we munched our lunch in the sun, we saw some of our sailing mates who wandered into the same spot for lunch, and joined us the rest of the meal. Apparently this place is BYOB, so if you have a hankering for some craft brew to go with your fresh fish, it's a delightful spot to enjoy it. Newport Beach is full of spots to walk, ride your bike, shop, or do something fun on the water. I would highly recommend the Bear Flag Fish Company after your exertions, with a walk around the block peeking into shops or checking out the Lido theatre around the corner while you're there. Have fun - and tell me about your Newport adventures!

DANA POINT

Yoga in the Park

Free yoga in the park? What sounds like a group of stretching hippies in the shade is actually an organized event put on by a group of highly qualified yoga instructors, most hailing from local yoga studios. Every single day at 10 a.m. at Lantern Park (weather permitting), a rotating schedule has a different instructor show up to lead newbies and veterans alike through sun salutations and downward facing dog poses. I was pleasantly surprised how professional the teachers were - extremely open to teaching those that didn't know what they were doing and encouraging those that did. The donation based class is an hour long, and you definitely get a work out and stretch out of the deal, along with the fantastic views of the Dana Point Harbor. If you're a starving artist, penniless surfer or college student you can absolutely enjoy this free class, however, if you can afford it, I would highly recommend tipping these ladies and gentlemen for their time and effort in teaching. Even a five dollar tip is less than you would pay for a yoga class anywhere else!

Saturday Morning Pancakes booth at the Craft Fair in Dana Point

After an invigorating week day yoga session, head over to the harbor and refuel at Coffee Importers, popular for their delicious coffee and bagel sandwiches. However, if you go to Free Yoga on a Saturday, then I would recommend going to J.C. Beans Coffee House, another great spot and located next to the Saturday Farmers Market. Bookshelves line the walls and the smell of freshly roasted coffee greets you as you walk in the door. This independent little coffee shop is located on PCH, and it's only a block away from the Saturday Farmers Market (hours are 10 - 2). So grab your drink and walk the couple streets down to the tents and enjoy the little market. Although it's small, there are delicious fruits and veggies and it's worth the stroll. The first Saturday of the month also includes a craft fair, which is very very fun to walk around! Great jewelry, knitted hats, paintings, and my new favorite vendor - Saturday Morning Pancakes, where the cute and funny sayings stenciled on tea towels and pillows had me happily spending all my money :) The next fair is Saturday, August 4 - and who knows, maybe you'll even see Roney Macaroni there! I'm working on it, anyways.
So what with free yoga and a view of the Harbor, independent coffee shops and fun craft fairs - Dana Point delivers on a Saturday morning.