Glass Beach - Originally Published 2008

If it weren’t for a hairdresser in Lake Tahoe, we would have never stumbled upon Glass Beach.  My wife was getting her hair did for our wedding and got to talking to the beautician.  She found out we were going to wander the coast and she recommended a stop in Fort Bragg, home of the Glass Beach.

Once upon a time, the locals decided to use the ocean as a garbage dump.  Apparently, they threw everything in the sea, including old car parts.  They eventually found a more proper place for their trash, but their legacy lives on.  All of the glass that had been dumped has been tumbled and returned to the shore making this one of the most unique beaches I have ever been to.

Cannon Beach - Originally Published 2008

To be honest, we had no plans to stop at Cannon Beach.  Here’s what happened.  We were making the drive down the 101 and suddenly, there was a beak in the cloud cover.  Dominating the coastal landscape was something they call the Haystack, a huge monolith that made me feel small.  The cliché “breathtaking” is not strong enough for what I felt when we stopped and walked down by the water.

Splash Cafe - Originally Published 2008

Next time you make a run up Pacific Coast Highway, make a stop at the Splash Café in Pismo Beach.  There will be a line.  There always is.  However, it’s worth a little wait.

What makes it so special?  The serve clam chowder in bread bowls.  I know that’s not the most original idea.  But Splash Café does it right.  Their New England style clam chowder has something really unique in the flavor department.  My theory is that it’s addition of carrots that sweeten it up.  However, it could also be that mermaids make it with a touch of love.  I’m not sure, but it’s worth a stop.

The other thing that makes a visit so special is that it’s only a short stroll to the Pismo Beach Pier.  This is a place to relax and breath a lot deeper.  There is more to life than sitting inside with a remote in hand, waiting to go back to work.