California
The Golden State
Welcome to California: Where the Traffic Is Legendary, the Avocados Are Always Ripe, and The Only Thing Bigger Than the Hollywood Sign are the Dreams
A Diary of the Last 4 Years
After living in California for four years, I have collected a few amazing memories that I will share as my “California” page. Please enjoy going through a time capsule of the last four years of things I have done. You have your basic stereotypical tourist check-boxes to check out, but also some cool niche things people don’t usually check out!
Alicia Keys’ Neighborhood – La Jolla
Enjoy the best beaches and sunny weather combined together
La Jolla is a beautiful neighborhood, and I am so lucky to live and study here. The beaches and weather are actually unmatched. La Jolla downtown also has some cool restaurants and even the Contemporary Art Museum to check out!
Hikes and Beaches
A hike that I have a few times that is beautiful is the Ho Chi Minh trail. From Google: “Challenging trail down to a sandy beach, involving a rock squeeze section.” It feels almost like an obstacle course with a wooden plank portion and a rope to scale down the final wall. But the view is breathtaking and worth every cortisol rush.
Another hike that is popular is the Black’s Beach stairs. I did that my first year, and I have never attempted it since. But those stairs bring you down the cliff onto Black’s beach.
Finally, one more hike/run I do occasionally (and did for my half marathon) was the Torrey Pines state reserve. That hill was probably the most brutal mile I have done, but the ocean breeze was completely worth it. There is also a golf course there if that is something you are interested in!
May 17th 2025
I ran the La Jolla Half Marathon! Again, the views were beautiful and the trail was amazing, but the Torrey Pines hill was brutal. It was at Mile 5 and for the next mile my legs were screaming at me. Below is a shaky video of the views while I tried to breathe and keep pace. I also muted the video so you can’t hear my panting. 😭 The point of this is the whole coast is absolutely beautiful, and you never get bored of the views here in La Jolla!
Sugar and Scribe
For a relaxing brunch, we went to Sugar & Scribe! Definitely good brunch places around La Jolla, but this one was really good.
San Fransisco and the California Route 1
Bay Area Bridge
Thanksgiving 2022, I did the road trip from LA up to San Fransisco and then down California Route 1.
Bay Bridge
The Bay Bridge connects Oakland to San Fransisco. There are ferries and tours across the bay. One that even takes you to Alcatraz Island which hosts some interesting history in the city.
Downtown
We walked around downtown and the waterfront as well, and checked out the other bridges. The view was beautiful and worth the walk! Other areas like Union Square and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Chinese food!
The Bay has some amazing Chinese food (and other cuisines as well, but we mostly had their Chinese food). Dimsum and Chinese style dinners are must tries, especially in Chinatown!
Misc
My friend ran the San Fransisco half marathon, where you run across the Golden Gate bridge! That part is super cool.
Twins Peak is a neighborhood in San Fransisco that offers the best views of the city. Night or day, you can see the lights and the bustling city from up high. Also the water and bridges are viewable as well.
Land’s End trail was another place we were able to check out before we departed on our 6 hour drive down highway 1. A beautiful hike with coastal views, this is definitely a place to check out.
Route 1 Drive
The Route 1 drive also known as the Pacific Coast Highway is so scenic. You lose signal while on the drive, but the stretch of views is completely worth it to allow you to disconnect and bask in the beauty of nature. We drove all day and we got to catch the sunset.
Big Sur
With a gorgeous, rugged, mountainous views. We hit Big Sur, the famous bridge and took some photos here too! The views was 100% worth the stop, and everyone else was there as well.
LA – City of Angels
LA County Museum of Art
With a bunch of fun programs, beautiful exhibits, and rich history, the LA County Museum of Art has something for everyone, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned art enthusiast.
If you want to be wowed and take cute photos, plan your visit by pressing on this link.
Munching Around the Area Code 626
So what if you want to eat around the 626? Well let me give you some recommendations!
- Mama Lu’s Dumpling House
- Happy AYCE Hot Pot 开心火锅 (they also do AYCE dimsum during lunch)
- BOPOMOFO Cafe
- Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet
- Mian
- Yup Dduk
Julian and the Stars
Rewrite the Stars
Resulted from a spontaneous RA trip, we piled into a car late one evening and made the an hour and 15 minute drive the Julian, California. My friend wanted to see the stars without light pollution and staying up late was completely worth it. The stars were crisp and the quiet night with breeze was so calming and beautiful. It was also great bonding with the other RAs!
You’re a cutie pie 🥧
Julian Pie Company is famous for its delicious pies. My roommate would go occasionally with his friends and bring me back a slice of pie. With a nice buttery crust and sweet filling, the pie is completely worth it for the trip.
Photo source: Julian Pie Company
Big Bear!
High in the mountains
January 14, 2023
A few RA friends of mine hiked up and around the town of Big Bear. I didn’t know there was snow in California, but being high in the mountains, we had to be careful to stay warm
Mountain Views
If you are every into skiing or want to go up some mountains, or you are sick of the beach and warm weather during winter, Big Bear is a great place to be during the winter season to cool off!
Wrapped in the Chains
Something to know is that cars do not do well with ice and a slope. It can skid, slide, and that rangers won’t even let you up the hill without them. Below are some photos of us trying for thirty minutes. To save you some time here is a wiki how on how to do it. It was definitely an experience especially because our family usually just takes snow tires.
This Town
The town of Big Bear has a lot of souvenir shops, restaurants (we went to a Himalayan restaurant), and some good coffee. We actually did some homework (we just started our quarter) at a coffee shop before we got to enjoy our weekend trip.
I Wooden want to miss the cabins
I was never so much of a camping person, but even I enjoyed the solitary feeling of the cabin. My friends and I booked a cabin through Airbnb and there was very little signal out in the woods.
Super “🆒” Pictures 🥶
The San Diego Zoo
The Wonder of Conservation
The San Diego Zoo is world famous for its size, tours, amenities, and conservation efforts. The staff and volunteers are friendly, helpful, and absolutely excited to discuss the animals and how the zoo contributes to their conservation.
With so many events, programs, and the animal additions, the zoo always has a reason for why to go back! My second year back at the zoo, they added the pandas back and the line was long full of people excited to meet the cute animals.
The zoo’s Skyfari is perfect for views of the zoo! Make sure to stop by during your visit.
Lake Arrowhead
09/30/2023 – 10/01/2023
I went to Lake Arrowhead for AED board retreat. This village is beautiful and located in the San Bernardino Mountains.
With a large lake (as the name suggests) you can do a lot of water activities, shopping, and cafés. It unfortunately rained the night before so we could not do too many water activities and dip in the lake, but regardless it was super fun. Below is a checklist of the places we checked out.
- Book a cabin in the mountains! The rugged views are truly worth it and makes staying here feel cozy.
- Local coffee shops to drink and you shop around for souvenirs. Rocket Fizz Lake Arrowhead is a local candy place with special candies.
- From end of September to end of October, the town center has an Oktoberfest celebration with beer, sausages, performances, and tons of fun celebration.
- Enjoy to lake views and bask in the sun (if weather permits).
Flicks and Memories at Arrowhead
Photo Gallery time with my favorite AED people <33
The Trees, Joshua
In the desert…
Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles. They are famous for their unique trees, appropriately named the Joshua Tree. The gorgeous dessert and landscape also make it very appropriate for a nice hike. My second year on AED board, we went to Joshua Tree for retreat, and it was a cool contrast from the lake and rain from Lake Arrowhead.
Head in the desert
We really enjoyed our time in Joshua Tree, here are some photos to prove it.
Palm Springs – Coachella
California is the entertainment capital of the world. With the best music coming out of here as well. Palm Springs and Coachella is a cool dessert you can go to, and it is famous for the Coachella music festival. I went 2025 and here are the highlights of the three days.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 1 highlights include:
-Seeing Lola Young
-Trying to stay warm (pro tip the desert can get very cold and very hot fast, be prepared)
-Lisa and Lady Gaga
-Head banging to Sara Landry
-Exploring La Quinta
Day 2 highlights include:
-Enhypen and Travis Scott
-Barricade for Mau P with a new friend
-Dusty weather (be prepared and make sure to bring something to breathe into)
-Charli brought out Addison Rae
Day 3 highlights include:
-Phone dying at the end (bring a portable charger)
-Post Malone touched my hand and threw a beer at me
San Diego
San Diego is famous for its laid back attitude compared to other major cities and its downtown and main city reflects that! There are tons of small pockets/hubs you can check out in San Diego and they are all worth checking out. Tons of photo opportunities, more gifts and food, and a great walk along the waterfront. In addition to the three areas listed below, you have the convention center, Gaslamp Quarters for nightlife, and Petco Park for the Padres fans!
Seaport Village
Little Italy
Balboa Park
Seaport Village is located on the waterfront and the end of the San Diego bay. With specialty food (such as some good fish and chips), shops and activities, Seaport Village is a great place to checkout if you are in downtown San Diego. If you are a hot sauce fan like I am, I recommend Hot Licks and their different hot sauces.
Little Italy is another neighborhood in Downtown, and like the name suggests, there is some amazing Italian food. From homemade pasta, to decadent gelato, Little Italy is the spot for some good food and good company. We went to Ristorante Illando for end of year RA dinner and from the photos, you can tell we were excited to dig in. If you are in the area on Saturday or Wednesday, also check out the Farmer’s Market for some fresh produce, local specialties, and free sampels.
Balboa Park, a section of San Diego for its beautiful park, museums, gardens, attractions, performances, and includes the San Diego Zoo! A great place for photo ops or to enjoy during your time in San Diego. There are always tons of events going on, including races that I have volunteered at. In December, the December Nights festival includes international houses to celebrate different cultures. While you are checking out the area, make sure to pick up some Tiktok famous baked goods from Michi Michi Bakery!
Carlsbad
A Run on Carlsbad Avenue
The gigantic Carlsbad Marathon, Half, and 5K happens on the third Sunday in January. I ran it this year (2026) to start off my Socal Triple Crown! The weather and views were incredible with the 7 mile run down Carlsbad Blvd.
Pretty Plants
The Carlsbad Flower Fields and Strawberry Company are two places you absolutely should check out if you love a good outdoor time. Bring a few friends, and enjoy the beautiful Carlsbad weather with blue skies and lush greens.
So Much Good Food
Mira Mesa
One such neighborhood with some amazing food. Pho and Vietnamese food here have been my favorite. Check out Pho Ca Dao or Pho Cow Cali
Convoy
If you love Asian foods of all varieties, then Convoy in San Diego is the place to be. I have lost count on all the food I have tried here, so there is something for everyone, even the pickiest of eaters. Here is a short list of some of my favorites that I consistently go back to have been:
- Chon Ju Jip
- Woomiok
- Yin Teng
- MNGO
- Raki raki ramen
- Bonchon
- Fire Spot
- Shan Xi Magic Kitchen
- Tasty Noodle House
- 3 Cat
- Jasmine restaurant
Tacos El Gordo
With California bordering the Mexican border, there are some amazing people who make amazing Mexican food. A famous restaurant being Tacos El Gordo! There are a few locaitons, but in the photo here ->
These ones were from the Gaslamp location in downtown San Diego. However, if you love Mexican food, then you will be glad to hear there is no shortage in California, if spice is not your thing, be careful with the sauce, because they can light your mouth on fire.
Brunch
If you love waking up and enjoying a nice brunch with some friends, well there it is even better by the beach. The views and freshness of the ambience is unmatched. There are tons of good brunch places, but a neighborhood with tons (with bottomless mimosas) are in Hillcrest! Check that area out for some other cool shops, foods, and LGBT representation!
In n Out
The famous In n Out is a feature here as well. I can not talk about California food without emntioning it. Do I personally crave it or love it? No. But do my friends want it at 9pm after a hard day of studying for exams? Absolutely. I know they also have trucks you can ask them to cater for your event if you live in the Orange County area.
2017 Trip!
I also went to California in 2017, here are some other cool things I have done.
Santa Barbara
Beautiful Weather by Another Beach
Santa Barbara is a sun-soaked coastal gem where Mediterranean charm meets laid-back California cool. For some cool Spanish style architecture, you can explore this quaint town.
For the younger folks as well (and for those interested), there’s a fun party culture in the city as well. As I was in 7th grade, I obviously did not go out to the party scene. As I now have friends who live in Santa Barbara, I heard about the lively party atmosphere.
Yosemite
Photo Gallery
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There truly is so much to do here, the world is your oyster:
California is so big. You have the beaches, mountains, deserts, snow, rain, sun. The list goes on and on with an endless amount of things to see, try, eat, and use your five senses on. It has been an honor living here for the last four years (and hopefully maybe longer we will see where life takes me). If you want more information on things I did not cover, check out this button below. I don’t even think this page can cover the amount of things you can do here.
