Boardwalks and piers.

Sunny skies and sandy beaches.

The smell of sunscreen wafting through the air.

Southern California is alive, bursting with beauty and calling out to me, still, following an unforgettable weekend exploring the coast this past fall.

Food, fun, a picturesque drive along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway – the awesome folks at Toyota know how to hook a girl and her friends up!

We started off with a bang, wining and dining at The Penthouse restaurant in the beautiful Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica.

Contemporary cuisine, creative cocktails, intimate cabanas, fireside hangouts

and a stunning view of the city as the Harvest Moon rose high above the twinkling city lights below.

I was giddy with excitement when I turned in for the night, anxious to begin our amazing weekend along the southern California Coast. Sleep didn’t come easy and getting out of bed proved to be difficult, but the sunrise was worth the effort.

I curled up in my chaise with a cup of hazelnut coffee while the morning light filled the sky ever so slowly. A thick fog rolled in and settled over the Santa Monica Pier as seagulls squawked overhead.

What a great way to start the day!

By the time we hit the Pacific Coast Highway, I was grinning from ear to ear. Toyota hooked us up, as per usual, with an awesome selection of vehicles. My roadie partner, Andi of My Beautiful Adventures, and I traveled along the coast in a sleek and sexy Toyota Prius IV.

Talk about a fun ride!

We lunched at The Harbor Restaurant on the Santa Barbara Pier,

squeezed in some fun, sun and charity work – donating 634 pounds of food and miscellaneous essentials to the Santa Barbara Food Bank.

Giving back is so much cooler when you’re traveling in some of the sexiest cars on the road.

The scenic Pacific Coast Highway didn’t disappoint.

We couldn’t help but pull over to take in the gorgeous view – sun, sand, waves,

surfer boys

and their toys.

Now that’s what I call a view!

Our weekend in Southern California was filled with surprises – wine tastings, kayaking, bike rides along the seashore and an unforgettable camping experience…

I can’t wait to share more with you soon.

If you could take the scenic drive of your dreams, where would you go and what kind of car would you drive?

Disclosure: As a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network, my Southern California trip was provided by Toyota. I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of Toyota.

*All photos taken with my Canon 7D and Tamron 18-270mm lens.