Jullie & Chelsea: SoCal Day 1 | From Pasadena to Huntington Beach

Happy hump day, everyone! Jullie here! Chelsea and I are excited to finally share all of the details from our recent SoCal trip together. For those of you who don’t know…our birthdays are only a few days apart, so we planned a little weekend trip back in March, as a joint celebration. Over the next couple of days, we'll be talking about Disneyland (one of my absolute favorite destinations to talk about on the blog!) and each of the fun stops we made along the way! First up, Pasadena and Huntington Beach...

One Hundred Islands

Hundred Islands National Park, in the city of Alaminos, actually spans one hundred and twenty three limestone and coral islands. They're said to be at least 2 million years old, a coral reef under an ancient sea, that was later exposed as sea levels lowered. Centuries of erosion gave the islands their unique shapes, almost as if they're merely floating on water!

The dark-stone islands are blanketed in emerald greenery and surrounded by tranquil, turquoise waters. White sand beaches line the shores. Only 3 have been developed for tourist use, but even those were done minimally. Out here, my family and I were in a gorgeous, serene paradise.

Beach Sheds at San Fabian

300 Philippine pesos are equal to approximately 7 US dollars. That's it. And what can 300 pesos, aka 7 bucks, get you? A beach "shed" on the shores of San Fabian. For the entire day. These "sheds" are actually bamboo huts that provide shade, tables, and seating. Most of them are large enough to fit at least a dozen people comfortably, perfect for day-trips and picnics!

The last 1/4 mile of the drive to San Fabian beach is really just going down this alleyway crowded with small lodges and "carinderias" (quick service eateries), then suddenly you emerge right on the sand. The shore is lined with dozens of these bamboo beach sheds, colorful hand-painted signs calling out for you to rent one. The morning we went, there were no crowds, so all you see are sand, calm water, and the occasional outrigger fishing boat (painted just as colorfully as those rental signs!).