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To the Lost Coast

// Mendocino to LA //

By Lauren di Matteo

WRITTEN BY NICOLE BRAVO

I think there is a deep longing within all of us that makes its way to the surface at times. A desire to step outside of the routine and into something different. A thirst for the unknown. It’s as if we were natural-born explorers that find ourselves relentlessly spinning around on a carousel, desperately needing to step off. It can mean a weekend away, or even a summer abroad, but this time it led to a few days on the Lost Coast of Mendocino, followed by a winding descent along the cliffs of Highway 1.

To the Lost Coast

MENDOCINO

Downtown + GoodEarth Café, Russian Gulch State Park, Dennan's + the Secret Beach

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Russian Gulch State Park

Lauren is a firm believer that all great hikes should end in a waterfall, and I can’t say I disagree. We saw only two other people during our trek—it was as if we had the whole forest to ourselves as we climbed over and between towering redwoods as far as the eye could see.

To the Lost Coast

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Secret Beach

Our gracious hosts were a great source for finding shortcuts to trailheads, dining with a view and, best of all, discovering a secret beach. They instructed us to walk carefully along the guardrail down Highway 1 (careful because there’s no shoulder in these parts) until it ended, then follow the subtle dirt trail down along a neighbor’s property. While the walk was a little harrowing, and the No Trespassing sign gave us pause for a moment, the beach was the stuff of dreams. Wandering along the water’s edge we collected abalone shells and took in the incredible views, just the two of us. I was overwhelmed by the beauty, the quiet, and the sense of solitude in the landscape that began to penetrate my own being. There were so many hidden corners and caves to explore—I’m sure no matter how long we stayed, the leaving would have come too soon.

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On the Road again

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Mountain View

Zareen's | 1477 Plymouth Street, Mountain View, CA, 94043

To the Lost Coast

Zareen's

In search of good Indian food, Yelp pointed us toward Zareen’s Pakistani and Indian restaurant, which earned a coveted mention in the Michelin Guide. After a drive around the Googleplex just outside Palo Alto, we sat down in the tiny, non-descript eatery. Taking the advice of others around us, we started with the chicken samosas which served as the first bite to an incredible meal.

We chatted with one of the servers on his break who arrived in country just a few months ago to study. He explained that the owner, Zareen Khan, is not just an amazing boss, but that she has taken him in and treated him like family—as she has done with so many other employees. This kind of familial care has been paramount in helping him stave off the inevitable homesickness that comes after moving away for the first time.

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Carmel-by-the-sea

La Bicyclette Restaurant | Dolores Street & 7th Avenue, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, 93923

To the Lost Coast

La Bicyclette

It’s been a decade since our first visit to Carmel—and our first drive up the coast of California—which felt like such a grand adventure at that time. There is something wonderfully nostalgic about being back with a decade of travel under our belts, yet feeling that same sense of excitement over this quaint little town with its white sand beach, lined with iconic Monterey pines. We wandered the streets and in and out of shops and beautiful art galleries, before finally being seated in the restaurant that serves the largest bowl of chocolate mousse I’ve ever eaten to date. I suppose age has slowed me down a bit because I wasn’t able to polish off the whole thing this time, but luckily my co-pilot was more than willing to help.

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Big Sur

the southbound coastal adventure continues

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San Luis Obispo

Farmers' Market | Downtown SLO, Higuera Street, Thursdays, 6-9PM

To the Lost Coast

Farmers' Market

On Thursdays, downtown SLO is the place to be. After perusing the farmer’s market and consuming our fill of barbecue, we strolled over to a quieter block to sift through some trinkets and antiques.

To the Lost Coast

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Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Mission, Empty Bowl Noodle Co., Handlebar Coffee Roasters

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The Mission

As anyone whose gone through Califonia’s public school system knows, all students must create a fourth grade project on a mission of their choice. I think it’s funny that I chose the Santa Barbara mission for mine, though I had never been to Santa Barbara—and I admit I was a little disappointed on presentation day that everyone else in my class had actually visited the mission they studied. But I’m happy to say, I’ve more than made up for it in my adult years with more trips to this beautiful place than I can count.

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Empty Bowl Noodle Co.

We stop here on every visit. Don’t overthink it, no need to try something new or different. Though we have tried the whole menu, we still order the Khao Soi every time.

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Los Angeles

République, The Last Bookstore, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Badmaash

To the Lost Coast

République

Our last stop was Los Angeles, and I’m convinced there’s no better way to start the day than breakfast at République. I seem to have a bad habit of ordering more pastries than I could possibly eat, taking them to go, and then munching on them in the car throughout the day. *Guilty as charged*

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BADMAASH

Three words: Poutine Tikka Fries. You're welcome. Oh, and we tried to eat everything else on the menu too--for good measure, of course.

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the way home

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It’s been such a gift to visit so many amazing places throughout the world, but I must say: I love my California.

To the Lost Coast

To the Lost Coast

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Footnotes

DISCLAIMER: We did not eat all of these things in one day. We are not super-humans.

FootNotes

DISCLAIMER: We did not eat all of these things in one day. We are not super-humans.

© 2026 Lauren di Matteo

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