Closet de Jules

Weekend Trip Along Highway 1

During a business trip to San Francisco last week, I went on a quick road trip along Highway 1 of the West Coast. Having spent most of my winter in the Pacific Northwest, it's really nice to finally get out to the sun and enjoy the 60-degree weather again.

I have driven along the coastal highways many times in the past and have wrote about them in my blog here. But each time I discover something new and different. Our original plan was to drive directly to 17 Mile Drive, a scenic park/neighborhood that attracts a lot of visitors every year. There were two routes that could take us there according to Google Map - taking the inland highways or the coastal Highway 1 but for an hour longer. We went with the coastal route, and to our surprises, the views were much more stunning than we had anticipated...

Surprise #1 was the wildflower field below. I have never seen such a large sea of flowers, not to mention it's next to the ocean. I knew I had to hop off the car and snap some photos!

I bought this jacket a few months ago as the first faux leather jacket I've ever owned. I've been wearing it over two vacations in a row now (see how I styled it when I was in Miami here and here). It's such a versatile piece that it goes well with jeans, leggings, maxi dresses, short dresses, pretty much anything you can think of. It is also an awesome looking windbreaker if you are visiting windy cities like San Francisco, for those who don't want to wear sporty wind jackets over a dress. :) I got it from Hollister while walking into the store with my cousin last time. To be honest, I haven't walked into Hollister in ages, but I remember in the last few times I went, I was able to score some really good pieces.

Surprise #2 was this cute lighthouse not far from Santa Cruz. It even has a small hostel next to the lighthouse that you literally fall asleep by the cliffs while listening to the waves... I've added it to my bucket list!

Have you driven along Highway 1 before? What is your favorite spot?

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Dress: J.Crew (similar here)

Jacket: Hollister (similar here, here and here)

OTK Boots: 5050 Stuart Weitzman

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First Lady of Waikiki Beach - Moana Surfrider

Moana Surfrider Hawaii Waikiki Luxury Resort Review Veranda

Waikiki has everything from beautiful beach resorts to great restaurants. It is truly a tourist heaven, weather you are a first time visitor, or the fifth time. Kalakaua Ave, the main street parallel to the Waikiki beach, is where everything is happening. Comparing to The Strip in Las Vegas, Kalakaua is a family friendly version of that. I could literally stay here for an entire month and not get bored.

Walking along the avenue, one architecture you cannot miss is this classy white European style building decorated with iconic columns. It is the home of Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa. Built in 1901, Moana Surfrider was the very first hotel here, often referred to as “The First Lady of Waikiki”. Over the years, it has become one of the most visited historic treasures in Honolulu and the resort is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wonder how much did it cost to stay one night back in 1901? Continue reading and you will find out soon. :)

The open corridor with iconic columns and plaster details reminded me of the Doge's Palace facade in Venice. Those rocking chairs bring back the hotel's old charm. The Victorian style hotel lobby is so serene that, as soon as you walk in, you forget you were just on the busiest street seconds ago. There is also a little museum on the second floor sharing the stories of Moana Surfrider and its historical significance to Honolulu. They have some really interesting things on exhibit including the old wooden surfing boards people used back in the days.

Dress: Francesca's Collection (similar here, here and here) || Cross-body: J.Crew Edit Bag

Walking past the lobby takes you to the beachfront courtyard. The huge banyan tree was the first thing that caught my eye. It was planted in 1904, three years after the hotel was built. Now the tree spans 150 feet to provide shades for the entire courtyard.

The afternoon tea experience at The Veranda was definitely one of the highlights during my trip to Hawaii. It is located at Moana’s beach front, right next to the banyan tree on the beautiful beach front, with a clear view of the Waikiki beach and Diamond Head.

Three sets of afternoon tea were available on the menu, First Lady Tea, Moana Classic Tea, and Veranda Tea, each came with different savory bites and pastries. Our server was very attentive from the beginning. He brought me a box of tea leaves to smell and patiently explained the ingredients inside. Since we were in Hawaii, I expected to see a wide selection of fruity tea. I favored the Moana Royale, which included the most popular fruit in Hawaii, lilikoi (passion fruit), as well as papaya, mango, banana and coconut, blended with black tea leaves. While waiting for my tea, I was also served with a glass of dry rosé decorated with a beautiful hibiscus.

My final pick was the signature afternoon tea set, First Lady Tea. It included 5 freshly-made savory sandwiches, two scones with butter and the BEST fruit curd I have ever had (I ended up eating more curd after finishing the scones...), and 5 tasty sweets. I am someone who is adventurous and loves to try different things, that's why I am always a huge fan of small bites and deserts samplings. The sandwiches were made with fresh lobster and smoke salmon, while the deserts were not overly sweet like those in some of other afternoon tea places I visited before. I never added sugar to my tea so I was a little worried that the fruity tea would have been too sweet. But nope, the fruity taste was just the right amount and it paired with all the small-bites perfectly. So glad that everything I had was light and refreshing. Overlooking and hearing the waves crashing on the shore while enjoying my afternoon tea - it just felt surreal.

And that's not it, I was also served with a plate of fresh berries that includes crème fraîche & brown sugar. I feel so healthy after eating it haha. As we were finishing up the food, we were given lemongrass green tea sorbet to cleanse our palates. Again, it was so refreshing, especially in this hot summer afternoon!

To my surprise, the First Lady Tea also came with a beautiful scented sandalwood fan as a souvenir to take home. I remember having a lot of these at home from my mom and grandma back in China during my childhood. The floral scent totally brings back all the memories now...

Besides the beach, Moana is also a great place for people-watching, whether you are sitting on the rocking chair of the front porch or the Veranda. Everyone you see is in their vacation-mood - so happy! There are tourists from all over the world. As a wedding photographer, my favorite part was watching numerous newlyweds getting their wedding photos taken here. The white architecture and classy interior design here are perfect for wedding photos.

Answer to my earlier question is: Back in 1901, the rate for one night stay in the Moana Hotel was $1.50 USD. Did you guess it right? :)

Thank you Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa for sponsoring this post. I truly enjoyed my time there. Mahalo for the warm Hawaiian hospitality!

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Dress: Francesca's Collection (similar here, here and here)
Cross-body: J.Crew Edit Bag
Sunglasses: Prada (similar here and here)