Visit California: California Botanic Garden

We had some time to kill before checking out of the hotel, so we decided to visit the California Botanic Garden ($10 general public admission).

It is the largest botanic garden in the state showcasing over 22,000 native California plants over 86 acres.  

We saw lots of cacti, palms, redwood trees, Joshua trees, wildflowers, and more.  

I'm always drawn to the colorful foliage, and it's always fascinating to see plants that I don't get to see in Hawai`i, or often at all.

From towering trees and fragrant shrubs, it was neat to learn about the native plants.

We got through most of the garden in an hour (we had to go back to the hotel to so we didn't stay long), but you could easily spend 2-3 hours casually browsing the plants and strolling the paths.

It's a really nice place to get in a workout - we saw lots of people just walking the paths on such a nice, cool day in California.  

If you love plants, love being outdoors, or simply want to learn more about California, the California Botanic Garden is a nice place to visit!

California Botanic Garden
1500 N College Ave

Claremont, CA 91711

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Visit California: Casa Jimenez

When in California, there are many great options for Mexican food.  Googling for a nearby restaurant brought us to Casa Jimenez, where we enjoyed brunch.

Jimenez Special

The Jimenez Special consisted of carne asada, beans, and tortillas.

Huevos con Chorizo

I got the Huevos con Chorizo - chorizo and scrambled eggs. It was served with rice and beans.  It was a lot of food that made for a hearty meal.  I really liked the spicy sausage crumbled up in the eggs.

I would have eaten almost all of the breakfast plate if I didn't eat a lot of chips and salsa and pico de gallo.  Just give me some chips and salsa and I'll be happy!

My friend had a great tip - mix the pico de gallo with the salsa for the best flavors!

Never too early for a margarita!

Service was great, the food was authentic, and the prices were beyond reasonable (less than half of what you'd expect to pay in Hawai`i).  

Casa Jimenez was full of locals, so you know it's a go-to spot for residents!

Casa Jimenez
921 W Foothill Blvd

Claremont, CA 91711

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