California trip: sweet snacks and starbucks for the road

I am going to let you in on an Imperial Beach secret: Stardust Donuts. The best cinnamon rolls. Ever.

This little hole-in-the-wall donut shop is perched on Palm Ave just before it turns into the Strand and goes toward Coronado Island. You could blink and pass right by, but then you'd really be missing out.



Then again, you could stop by in the morning and still be missing out since their business hours are whenever they decide to show up. They could be open at 7 and sold out by 9, but sometimes they don't even open until 11. They get to make the rules because they are that good. 

I waited in line for a half an hour before they brought out the first trays in the morning. It was totally worth it.

Is it a donut pretending to be a cinnamon roll? Or a cinnamon roll disguised as a donut? The best of both worlds? Yes, yes, and yes.

Liam agrees, putting a temper tantrum on hold to devour his first one.

Stardust is not the only California favorite worth seeking-out. We also made a stop at See's Candies, where they give free samples. Yummy. We came out with a bag-full of lollipops: chocolate, vanilla, cafe latte, butterscotch, and rootbeer. Creamy and delicous.

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We left IB early Wednesday morning, driving up the coast to see Gabe's family in Santa Maria. Our trusty GPS navigated us around all of the traffic, which meant our route went something like this:

1. I-5
2. I-15
3. I-805
4. I-5
5. Hwy-73
6. I-405
7. Hwy-710
8. Hwy-105
9. I-405
10. Hwy-101
11. Hwy-154
12. Hwy-101

The standard route? I-5, to the 405, to the 101. But following the GPS' traffic alerts! and all of the redirecting was so much more entertaining, not to mention quicker than sitting in traffic. In all, the drive up the coast took about 5 hours.

Just as important as the GPS getting us through all of the traffic was the Starbucks stop along the way. Latte-powered and ready to go.

Liam's drink of choice is a lukewarm hot chocolate with whipped cream, please.

River may not be big enough for Starbucks yet, but that didn't stop him from enjoying a See's vanilla lollipop. And by enjoy, I mean the kind where it gets all over his face, hands, hair, collar, and carseat. Sticky goodness.