Sleepy Little La Selva
Why to go: Don’t. They don’t want you to know about it.
What to do: Enjoy the beautiful sprawling beach and fragrant Eucalyptus trees.
Mr. M and I decided to head west this Thanksgiving. We didn’t have the kids this year, so we were on our own. What better time to head to the beach? Having just been to Huntington Beach, the month before, we had our share of the typical overcrowded California beach scene – and my stepmom and sister invited us to their quaint home in Central Coast CA. Ultreia! (Which I learned means “Onward” from the book on the Camino I’m currently reading.)
We drove from Phoenix which is a relatively easy drive – Route 10 to the 5 then west to Rt. 1 – but we got caught up in some nasty holiday traffic. Of course, as luck would have it, the newlyweds were having their own nasty traffic in communication and we spent the better part of the day in sulky silence. As many married couples do, we settled into a peaceful quiet. I was quite content to just read my book while Mr. M. drove. All was forgotten by the time we walked through the door at my sister’s.
Thanksgiving Day began gloriously – with a beautiful sunrise and a walk on the beach. I have some shots I captured that showcase how lovely (and quiet) this particular beach area is. One of the things I appreciate about this beach town is that it truly is meant for residents – there are no hotels, no flashing lights, no restaurants or tourist traps. The only way you will get to stay there is by airbnb-ing or camping on the beach (or, in our case, visiting family who will put up with us for a few days.)
The lifestyle here is a throwback to a time before smart phones and the interwebs. The gentle and present moments reign. It is a great reminder to enjoy the simple things.
Starting the day on a beach is pretty much my perfect ideal and it makes everything else better. It’s hard not to feel at peace at the beach. Especially one like La Selva. Mr. B (our dog) seemed particularly springy in his morning jaunt with so many new smells.
After our morning walk, we proceeded to do the normal Turkey day activities. We watched football with Grandy. My stepmom Cheryl worked feverishly in the kitchen, providing a steady stream of deliciousness. The quintessential hosts, we always feel welcome, the conversation easy and the food is outstanding.
When we discovered we needed more white wine (mostly because I drank the reserves) it was a simple walk a block over to “Mike’s” as we call it. A perfect beach town mart selling sandwiches to order, some basic staples and, of course, a nice variety of great California wines (a bit overpriced, but hey at $4.50 a gallon for gas it is probably a wash and you can’t beat the convenience.)
My sister had gone to preschool also a block away with a lovely path to the “Secret Garden” preschool. It really doesn’t get much better than this for quaintness folks. Talk about lifestyle. If you have a good MIL or so to spend on a small home for a dreamy beach existence, look no further than La Selva.
Winston, my sister’s golden retriever / chihuahua mix (I know right?- see photo) was very upset to have his orderly life with his ladies disrupted and let us know at random unexpected moments with barks and growls. He didn’t know what to make of Mr. B the large white Akbash. Not to mention 2 adorable humans whom he definitely felt in competition for attention with.
We muddled through and made Winston as comfortable as we could with the situation, but not before a few protest markings.
It was a perfect holiday and we all went to sleep fat and happy around 9PM. With our 50th birthdays only a year away, I think we earned the early bed time.
For a difficult to find quiet beach experience in California, La Selva Beach can’t be beat.
