The Life of Riley: Summer, My New Favorite Season

Summer used to be my least favorite season. Winter was my favorite. Not sure why. I think it may have been that I preferred coats and jeans to swim trunks and thongs....excuse me, flip flops. (That sure has taken on a new meaning the past decade.) But over the past 5 years or so summer has far surpassed every other season. I love sitting on my patio with a book in the evenings with a cold glass of water with a fresh-squeezed lime in it looking across the the horizon at the mountains. Ok, so last night was the first time I have ever read a book on my patio and I kinda have to imagine the mountains from my patio. And I use the patio loosely. It more like a front porch where a table and 2 chairs barely fit because my air conditioner. Oh the joys of condo rentals in the slums of Lake Forest.

All this to say, summer is my new favorite season. Here are my favorite places to be. I'll call them Riley's Super Summer Hotspots.

Montage Beach for relaxing and swimming
This was the first beach I ever went to in California and it's still my favorite. Easy access, relatively close parking, clean Montage bathrooms, grocery store nearby for last-minute snacks, courteous tourists.

Gypsy Den @ The Lab for eating
The Lab is mecca for post-tween posers who have run up daddy's American Express Black card at Urban Outfitters and American Apparel...but it's one of my favorite places. And the waldorf chicken salad sandwich and vegetarian chili and cornbread rivals the best.

Fashion Island for relaxing
By far the best place to shop, browse, dog watch, people watch, dog-looking people watch, people-looking dog watch.

Coliseum at Pelican Hill for eating
Swanky hotel + mid-priced poolside restaurant = dust off your fancy clothes and grab a few dollars to tip the valet

Lake Mission Viejo for running
Yeah, it's man made and small but it's got a stellar running track around it that is exactly 3.14 miles (ironically that is also π...coincidence? Doubt it.)