Candy Land Treat

The popular children’s board game Candy Land came to life in San Francisco today, so I decided to go check it out. The event was to celebrate the game’s 60th anniversary.

Lombard Street, known as the world’s most crooked street, was transformed into a life-size version of the game. Organizers closed off the street to traffic and covered the road with multi-colored foam pads and posted signs leading to “Lollipop Woods” and the “Chocolate Swamp.”

It was fun taking a walk down memory lane, remembering when I used to play Candy Land as a kid. Apparently it was also fun for the hundreds of others who showed up to take pictures next to the colorful display.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

My friend Annemarie just bought the cutest new car. She got one of those cool Mini Coopers. It’s blue with white racing stripes on the hood and that undeniable new car smell. So what better way to put it to the test than by going on a road trip!

We packed our bags and headed down to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the weekend. The picturesque beach town is about two and a half hours south of San Francisco. Some of the beautiful homes in Carmel look like something you would find in a fairytale, with their perfectly manicured landscaping.

Carmel is a great getaway for a fun or quiet weekend. Whether you prefer to spend the day at the beach, playing golf, wine tasting or shopping, there’s something for everyone.

A trip to the Carmel area is not complete without a visit to Point Lobos State Reserve. The park is three miles south of Carmel on Highway 1 and has some of the most spectacular views of California’s Central Coast. We did a three hour hike that took us through several coves and hidden beaches. Along the way, we saw sea lions, deer, countless lizards and birds. At one point, a wave of peace and tranquility washed over me as I stood on the rocks overlooking the Pacific Ocean. That was by far the highlight of the trip.

On our last day, we stopped at the Carmel Mission. Walking through the historic building felt like going back in time. The monumental bell tower grabbed my attention as we entered the courtyard, which was filled with bright flowers and a sense of happiness. I took some of that happiness home with me. It was a perfect way to end our trip.

Our adventure to Carmel in Annemarie’s new car was excellent! I’ll definitely be back.