California Queen: Wayfarer's Chapel, Abalone Cove, & Redondo Beach

Sooooo, Amanda, one of my close friends sent me a link from buzzfeed featuring some GORGEOUS places in the LA vicinity. Looking at the article, I was pleased to say that I've been to a good number of them, but far more excited to see all the places I've yet been! Sooo, after looking through the article, I just had to hit up some good friends for some adventure! So, this past Saturday, I am happy to say I visited Wayfarer's Chapel with Grace! It was about a 30 minute drive from where I lived, and the area around the chapel is so pretty! The drive was really fun because we got to cross a bridge, and the roads were so hilly I felt like I was back in San Francisco. Plus, the view just getting the to chapel was so nice. Just imagine blasting your favorite music, feeling the wind in your hair, smelling the salt of the sea, and admiring the ocean view right by you. There was also some seriously pretty flowers lining the streets so I felt like I was in a Studio Ghibli movie! The chapel itself is STUNNING. I mean, I already had high expectations just looking at the pictures on buzzfeed, but goodness gracious, Lloyd Wright did a great job designing the building. It's basically a glass building held together by wood, and it's surrounded by lush greenery so it's as though you're in a green house. Located right by the Pacific Ocean, you get a great view of the Abalone Cove (which is also on the list)! There's also a really pretty small garden right by the church where you can stroll around and take pictures. If you plan on going to the chapel, I recommend going there between 10-5 because that's when the Visitor's center is open! When Grace and I went at around 6, there was a wedding going on inside the Chapel so we couldn't go inside. I doubt they would hold weddings during visiting hours, so I think it'll be far safer to go between 10 to 5 if you want to check out the interior. For more information: Wayfarers Chapel

The backside of the Chapel!

Trees!

Grace and I!

The fountain! Doesn't it look like fairies would hang out here? 

The view!

Close up of the church! 

On the Road!

 If you want to visit Abalone Cove as well, it is open from 12 to 4... so if I were planning the trip, I would suggest going to the chapel at 11 and then head over to Abalone Cove around 12 to look at the tides and admire the sea creatures! There are tons of fascinating little critters around, and it just a gorgeous place to hang out. I would definitely recommend bringing a towel, and wearing close toed shoes so that your feet don't hit rocks or anything like that! There's also areas near the cove where you can hike so it's far easier to do that wearing sneakers rather than sandals. Last time I went with Grace, I got to see Sea Urchins, Star Fishes, little crabs, and teensy fishes! So exciting! There's apparently sea cucumbers that can be spotted there, too! Ooh, and I can't forget the seal that we saw sunbathing on a rock! Oooh, and there was a really pretty cave where I swear mermaids lived. In fact, I jumped into the water because I was so tempted to hang out with them, haha. If you are gutsy enough to jump into the water, please be aware that this is the ocean and the waves move quite rapidly. So be careful and try to swim away from the rocks as well as not float off into the great horizon. Also, climbing out of the water after is really hard if you're not wearing anything beyond a bikini. Soooo, have someone there who can pull you out if needs be or be prepared to have lots of little scratches. Or, you can also wear a wet suit that will protect your skin. Thankfully, there were tons of guys there just jumping in and out who helped me out so I was out of the water with relatively few scratches. I have no regrets, though. The water was so refreshing and soooo pretty. As a mermaid, Abalone Cove was pure perfection. For more information: Abalone Cove

Unfortunately, the day we went to Wayfarer's Chapel, Abalone Cove was already closed... So instead, we headed over to Redondo Beach which is only a 20 minute drive from the Chapel! It was my first time there and I really enjoyed it. It seems to be a popular fishing spot because there were tons of families on the wharf with fishing poles, and it was so exciting to see that glimmer of silver whenever someone caught something! It was a really busy place, and there were tons of people just hanging out. It probably has to do with the fact that the pier at Redondo Beach is packed with yummy eateries! After a long day of hiking and swimming at Abalone Cove, Redondo Beach's pier is the perfect place to unwind and grab loads of yummy seafood. The parking at Redondo beach is 2 dollars per hour. We stayed for 3 hours which was perfect to stroll around the pier, grab some bubble tea and ice cream, and eat dinner at a really popular place (aka long lines!). For more information: Redondo Pier

The food there was really multicultural, and it was interesting to see that there were three different Korean seafood establishments there! Intrigued, we went to the place with the most people (sometimes, you gotta trust the crowd) called "Pacific Fish Center", and I felt like I was back in Korea. Packed with tons of Korean families with giant tanks filled with sea creatures near the window, I felt right at home. It was a really, really busy place. To the point that you have to pay in advance, get a number, and wait till they call you. We went around 8 PM, and our wait was probably about 15 to 20 minutes. The food was quite pricey which was understandable since their menu was based on sea food including lobster and sashimi, so Grace and I decided to split a large "Hot Fish Soup" which totaled out to be only $32! This was super filling and we couldn't finish the entire thing! In fact, the left over took up two styrofoam containers! So, if you're ordering for two, definitely get the small. The large is probably filling enough for 3 to 4 people. Based on what I was seeing inside the restaurant, it was clear that the crab was the most popular option. Families were eating crab by the plateful. My dad apparently went with his coworkers a couple months back and he told me the crab was fantastic. So, my family is currently planning a quick trip to Redondo Beach for a crab fest, woohoo! Yet, even with no crab, the "Hot Fish Soup" was a perfect meal. Super spicy and packed with fish, mushrooms, tofu, radish, and kimchi--it satisfied my empty stomach like no other. For those of you who never tried it, it kind of resembles the Thai dish, Tom Yung Soup. It was so bomb, and even the day after, it tasted fantastic. If you do take leftovers, instead of just microwaving it, make sure to heat it up via stove. It tastes far better that way and heats up everything thoroughly. The restaurant is a super chill environment. In fact, they don't even use silverware, everything is served on styrofoam bowls and with plastic utensils. What makes the environment feel super nice though is the fact that we're sitting right the beach. We were there during the evening and it was so chill to eat food that tastes like home, chat, and listen to the waves rolling right out the window. For more information: Pacific Fish Center and Restaurant

Redondo Beach Pier!

Candid of Grace and the food!

 All in all, we had a fantastic day exploring that area and I definitely recommend you visit!