Mid-Year 2025 Travel Review
Thought I’d change things up and do a mid-year travel review. Sometimes the end of year sneaks up and a larger year end review gets missed. In the first half of 2025 we visited Hawaii (twice), the Bay Area CA, Austin TX, and went on some local SoCal trips.
January - Cruise to Hawaii
This early-in-the-year cruise was a great way to escape the immediate aftermath of the smokey air of the Eaton Fire just north of where we live in Pasadena. There were 10 or so sea days - more than days in port! See links to related posts for more.
LINK: Travel - Hawaii Cruise
February - Staycation in Century City, LA
I wanted to do something special with my daughter and for some reason I fixated on the idea of treating her to a stay at a luxury hotel! As she was very busy with school and work, it made sense to do a staycation in a part of LA we usually don’t frequent. Century City fit the bill.
LINK: Architecture Field Trip - Century City
March - San Diego, CA
How great to attend OH! San Diego’s 10-year event in March and catch up with my SDAF friends in architecture (photo above).
I also managed to fit in an outdoor yoga class at my longtime Point Loma studio!
LINK: Celebrating - Yogi Milestone and More
March - Bay Area, CA
When I visited my son the architect in late March, I chose to stay at the historic Julia Morgan designed Berkeley City Club primarily to swim in the lovely indoor pool that is reminiscent of the one at Hearst Castle in San Simeon. I also wanted to experience the serene public spaces in the hotel. I’d return in a heartbeat to stay there again!
Other highlights from this trip: A visit to Bernard Maybeck’s First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley, the Hearst Memorial Mining Building, UC Berkeley and a couple of Lawrence Halprin urban landscapes in San Francisco.
LINK: 3 in Berkeley, CA
LINK: 2 Urban Landscapes in San Francisco
LINK: Architecture Model Sightings
April - Austin, Tx
I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Austin, Tx in April. While J. attended a conference, I explored the city easily by foot and uber.
There were 3 places that I pre-planned to visit: The Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas, Lyndon B. Johnson’s Presidential Library and the Charles Moore Foundation. Outside of those 3 places, I found much more of interest architecturally which was a bonus.
LINK: Museum Monday - Blanton Museum of Art
LINK: Library Love - LBJ's Presidential Library in Austin,Tx
May - Hawaii
In May, I flew to Honolulu to visit and take care of dad during a busy time for my sisters. It was a nice time, spent mostly at the house I grew up in. Dad really appreciated my effort cooking food to his exacting taste.
I did have some time on my own most mornings and also caught up with a couple friends. Sis had some time the day before I returned to CA to take time off from work and share with me a slice of the famous coconut cake at the Halekulani House without a Key.
LINK: Downtown Honolulu Photo Tour
May - Mexican Riviera Cruise
This cruise was a fun getaway to celebrate J.’s birthday. I particularly enjoyed the views in Cabo.
LINK: Travel - Mexican Riviera