heysweetkay

Turtleneck / Blanket Scarf / Corduroy Skirt / Boots / Bag / Hat

Hey there, friends! Last week we took a short trip to the mountains to visit our favorite apple orchards and country stores. Oak Glen is a total hidden gem of California - I didn't even know about it until about six or seven years ago. Since then, we've made an annual pilgrimage each fall because it is such a special, cozy place!

Just under two hours east of Los Angeles, you'll find this charming little town in Yucaipa. It's a bit of an escape without being too far away, which is why I love it. It's only about a 15 minute drive into the mountains, so you're close to town but far away enough to capture that outdoorsy vibe and a nice breath of nature air.



There are several different orchards and ranches in Oak Glen, and you'll stumble across different ones depending on which side you enter from. You can either start from Yucaipa Blvd. or Cherry Valley Blvd., both of which are nice drives through the trees. It doesn't really matter which you choose, because the roads make a big circle....so you'll enter through one and exit out the other.




We entered through Yucaipa Blvd this year, and our first stop was at Parrish Pioneer Ranch. I love the big red barn where they sell all kinds of local goods and caramel apples. They also have a couple of other stores, a small restaurant (where we tried some amazing turnovers and fritters!) and some live animals. The folks there are a little more old fashioned and don't really like anyone taking pictures inside the stores for some reason, but I was able to get a few.




There are lots of other stores and restaurants to explore....I haven't even been to all of them before. My favorite is Los Rios Rancho - they have the best country store, in my opinion! They even host events like weddings, receptions, and dances there. They always have the yummiest samples and cider, and you can't pass up their bakery. It's also my favorite because of its location - it's nestled in a part of the village that has a gorgeous view of the trees and mountains. On top of that, they have a row of rocking chairs on the porch for you to sit in and soak in the scenery. I've also visited here at Christmastime, and it's just as magical as Autumn!

We all noticed that it was significantly more crowded this year than those prior. We could hardly find parking this time! If you happen to be local or ever find yourself visiting CA this time of year, be sure to pay a visit - one sip of that hand-crafted apple cider, and you'll be hooked! xoxo

Rainbow Stripe Dress ($18) / Straw Hat / Rattan Earrings / Espadrille Sandals

Aside from the extreme heat, we had the best time enjoying our resort. We stayed at The Scott Resort,  which has a sort of retro-millennial vibe and is surprisingly affordable, despite its attractive theme. The entire aesthetic is very Instagrammable, if you know what I mean 🤣 The lobby is so cool! I love the little bar they have that leads out to the pool area. They also have a lovely array of seating scattered all over the grounds, including cabanas and an outdoor fire pit. We wanted to roast marshmallows, but our only free night was the night it rained.

One of the fire pits is in the bottom left corner (surrounded by chairs)

My favorite part of this hotel? It's pet friendly!! Our trusted pet sitter was away the same weekend we were, so we decided to find a hotel that could accommodate our pets. We even found car seats for them on Amazon for $15 😂 When you bring a dog, they give you a courtyard room with direct access to grass. We loved having French doors that led out to the outdoors.

Leopard Soft Shorts (on clearance for $13) / Black T-shirt / Slide Sandals /  Felt Hat ($16) / Circle Bag

1. Bike Riding


This was my favorite thing that we did on our trip. Our resort had 5 bikes available for complimentary rental, so we took advantage as often as we could. We made sure to be up bright and early though, because the only time we could ride without it being unbearably hot was before 7am. There are several trails surrounding the resort and the general Scottsdale area, and they are clean, scenic, and lots of fun! Outside of the trails, there are bike lanes among regular traffic that allow you to safely travel from the regular road to the bike paths.

2. Head to the Mall & the Movies

I highly suggest going to see a movie at Fashion Square. Their theater is SO nice, and the scent of popcorn wafting into the mall is more than enough to draw you in. Definitely one of the best things you can do to escape the heat. Plus, the mall has nearly every store you can think of!

3. Visit Old Town



Old Town is a quick 5 minute drive down the street from the Scott Resort. We ventured out there one evening even though it was still hot out. It's really cute! They even have an adorable ice cream parlor, Sugar Bowl, that is still in its original glory from the 50s. I highly recommend exploring Old Town, even if you have to drive through it in your car like my mom and I did (it was WAY too hot to walk) hahah.

We carted the pugs around in this jogging stroller - it folds up nicely, has a basket, cupholders, and zips in the front to keep them contained!

4. EAT
Scottsdale has a booming restaurant lineup, and I wish I'd had more time to try more places. We enjoyed brunch at Breakfast Club (be sure to order the fruit bowl!), which is a trendy spot for all things...you guessed it...breakfast!

White Dress ($19) / Straw Hat / Bracelet

I also enjoyed Postino, which was a convenient two minute walk from our hotel. They only serve small plates and h'ors d'oeuvres, but it ended up being enough for dinner. I love how you can build your own charcuterie board - so delicious btw!! The lighting (or lack thereof) was pretty dim in there, so I could hardly get any photos.


We also gave Texas Roadhouse a try, only because it's something we don't have at home (and we love BBQ). It wasn't anything spectacular - I would compare the food to Chili's level. But it was a really fun, lively place and we had a good time!

The last place we tried was Dutch Bros. I was trying to think of a place to compare it to, but it's totally different from anywhere I know. It's a drive-thru coffee stand, but they sell non-coffee drinks too. Megan and I each got the Bubblegum Frost and it was SO good! We liked it so much that we texted our friends about it (they were near the one in northern CA), and they tried it and loved it too. They were so nice and actually comped our entire order after they found out it was our first time trying it.

Oh, and can't forget the Sprinkles cupcake shop across the street from Fashion Square. Even though we have those here at home, I never get tired of that cupcake ATM haha.

5. Enjoy the Resort

Ordered house-made granola from the Canal Club one morning

Swimsuit (only $16) / Coverup / Similar Straw Tote / Sunglasses

Our resort had a two pools, one of which was a beach entry pool, which we swam in a TON. They're heated, but still cool enough to be refreshing. It also had a spa, a fitness center, and a fun restaurant, the Canal Club, that even hosts game nights and Tiki parties throughout the week. I loved spending time there, as the grounds were tranquil and allowed for much needed relaxation.





Overall, I highly recommend visiting Scottsdale. It's not too far if you're coming from CA (5-6 hours), and it's a really fun place to get away from it all. I would love to go back, maybe when it's cooler!

St. Augustine is such a hidden gem - you would never know just how charming it is unless you visit. I actually had never heard of it before....I follow Alyson Hayley's blog, and since she talked about it glowingly I thought it'd be worth a trip. While we were headed back to FL from GA, I was looking for things to do and remembered reading about this city. I can't tell you how glad I am that we stopped here!! It was a major highlight of the trip.










This town is the oldest one in the U.S., and its old-fashioned character really won me over. As soon as I spotted it off the highway, I knew I was going to love it - it's just such a pretty place. It's quite small, yet vibrant, and St. George Street is where it's at. That's where you'll find lots of places to eat and shops to visit, plus just walking along the cobblestones and admiring the Spanish-style architecture is a pleasure in itself.

Sadly, we only had two hours there. Between the time it took to get back from Savannah to making it to Orlando, we tried to cram in as much activity as we could. All we really did was get lunch at the BEST pizza place I've ever been to (not exaggerating!) and then pass through some stores, but that's all it took for me to love it. I hope I can go back one day and stay a night or two!

After we left the village area we went to St. Augustine beach, and let me tell you - it did NOT disappoint. It was the best beach we went to, I think ever. I love Malibu and all, but this beach doesn't compare. First of all, it's so clean and the sand is so soft. Second, the water was SO nice and warm! I wanna cry thinking about it! It's just funny because I never go in the ocean at home, except maybe dipping my feet in, because the water is freezing cold. I always thought I didn't like swimming in the sea, but I found myself dying to jump into the water in FL because it's like bathwater. If you're not really a beach person, try this beach - you just might change your mind!




Well, that does it for the last post about the final leg of our trip. I may write up a short post on the last hotel we stayed at in Orlando the night before we left because it was pretty cool, but I haven't decided yet. I feel so sad, but in a warm, happy way somehow, thinking about this trip. It was so special and I really had the greatest time. I love Florida so much....I always tell people that if I ever had to leave CA, that's where I would go.

Anyway, thank you for following along on my travels! I still owe you a post on all the delicious restaurants we visited throughout our trip - keep your eyes peeled :) xoxo