Exploring California's Coast and Cuisine

To start our journey, we headed to Sidecar Doughnuts to fuel us up for the start of our road trip. Sidecar Doughnuts is probably my favorite LA doughnut shop – they make ‘em fresh every hour and they are seriously AMAZING. Try the Butter and Salt or the Blueberry Cheesecake. Actually, you can’t go wrong with any of them –and they even have gluten-free options too!

Our first stop in Oceanside was Petite Madeline Bakery. It's a casual unassuming Parisian cafe with an assortment of pastries and hot breakfast. We ordered and split the Blackstone Benedict, which comes with bacon and tomato on rustic bread, and an ‘all-day’ bun. Overall, it was a tasty breakfast that satisfied our savory side. The ‘all-day’ buns are worth the try – they're soft but flaky, topped with cinnamon and sugar, and are utterly delightful!

If you’re hankering for some coffee and or love succulents, don’t miss the nearby Succulent Cafe. This place was covered top to bottom in beautiful succulent arrangements. They have comfortable seating arrangements, so you could cozy up to read or even just lounge and enjoy some good conversation.

If you’re not a coffee drinker, fear not! Check out The Loose Leaf. They specialize in unique blends that often feature herbs and other special ingredients to promote mental and physical health, from detoxifying blends to body balance teas. Buy some loose tea to bring home, or enjoy a cuppa there. They sometimes even have live music!

We wandered around the streets of downtown Oceanside, and then decided to head to Encinitas for some lunch at Union Kitchen and Tap. It was a crowded spot for lunch, but luckily the restaurant had plenty of space so they sat us down right away. Union Kitchen serves up New American food with a Southern touch. We ordered the chicken and waffles and the watermelon salad. The watermelon was so delicious and refreshing; it was a perfect balance with our fried chicken. And, for you beer lovers, they have 20 different brews on tap!

For dessert, we walked over to Handle’s Homemade Ice Cream – it’s about a mile away, but after all we’ve been eating, it didn’t hurt us to take a few extra steps. Handle’s serves up homemade ice cream made in-house daily – we went with the Graham Central Station on a Pretzel cone. The name is adorable and the treat was delicious!

We heard good things about Rockin’ Baja Lobster (mostly the good things were about their unlimited chips & salsa bar!) so that’s where we headed for dinner. The seafood buckets looked insanely appetizing, but we were still kind of full from the day's eats. In the end, we decided to share the Trois Amigos Tacos. The shrimp and lobster tacos were our favorites... and we're already planning a trip back to get the seafood bucket.

Needless to say we slept like babies that night. In the morning, we ventured to Cafe Topes in Carlsbad for a hearty breakfast. It wound up being one of the most memorable meals from the weekend! The thick-cut smoked pork belly and eggs stole our hearts. If you’re in the area or passing by, don’t miss this spot – remember to go early as the place is crowded, but it won’t disappoint!

While in the area, we stopped by Humble Olive Oils to browse their wide selection of premium olive oils and balsamic vinegars. The tasting room had various flavor options, and they're all so tasty that you’ll want to take them all home!