I know, I can’t believe I’m not done writing these vacation recap posts yet either. We’re nearing the end so if you’re still with us, hold on to your panties – you’ll be crossing the finish line soon. Between my new nephew being born and getting sick, it seems like this whole California vacation took place back in 2012. If there’s one thing I learned from this vacation, it is that I take photographs of things a lot. Not people, but things. Like coasters, coffee cups and bath robes – the important stuff really. Were Shawn and I really on the trip? You’ll never know because we have no photos of us to prove it…

It was on the 4th day that we kissed the Lakehouse Hotel and Resort good-bye and ventured off to Pacific Beach to our next home, Tower23. Shawn and I surely thought that there would be no way that we would like this place better than the Lakehouse and then sure enough, we walk into our room and all bets were off. You know why? THE FREAKING OCEAN WAS RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR BALCONY. ALL OF IT. THE WAVES, THE SURFERS, THE BIRDS, THE SUN..just all right there waiting for us acting like it knew we were coming. Ocean, you shouldn’t have. The room was also huge and every part of it was perfection. Job well done, Tower23.

We did what us Indiana folk new to do best immediately – stripped down to our swimsuits and found the sun deck to lay out.

After hours of working up a serious appetite from laying there doing nothing, we made our way downstairs to the restaurant attached to the hotel, JRDN. I had heard great things and being that it meant we didn’t have to leave I was all haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaail yes.

The atmosphere was awesome with such a cool vibe to it. Sitting right next to the ocean didn’t hurt it either. We ate an insane amount of amazing food, turning this seafood hater right into a lover. From octopus to ahi tuna to pork belly to fried mac and cheese balls [and that was all before our entrees arrived] everything was phenomenal. Needless to say, I couldn’t breathe by the end of dinner and was so thankful I could waltz right back up to our room and right into bed. If you’re in the Pacific Beach area you’ve gotta hit up JRDN. My stomach says so.

A good first day at Tower23 indeed. And on that note it’s 8:30 pm and I’ve got a bed to hit up because my life is really exciting and stuff.