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Road Trip To BlogHer in the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited

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We were provided this awesome 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited to drive up to BlogHer14 in San Jose and for the rest of our road trip.
road trip to san jose

We had an amazing family vacation up the coast to San Francisco.

With BlogHer so close this year in San Jose, and within driving distance of San Diego we decided to take a road trip up there. We loaded everyone into the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited. I was a little worried that we would all fit, but my worry was totally unwarranted. All five of us and our luggage {packed for a week away} fit perfectly. The car seat is always a struggle to install and it went in perfectly with plenty of room to spare.

santa fe

My biggest tip that I tell everyone when traveling is to bring a case of water. 

It’s definitely more budget friendly, but it’s also good to have in case of emergencies and to keep the stops to a minimum so that you can get to your destination quicker.  We even ended up picking up another case at a local grocery store on the way home. After we were all loaded up and on our way, we drove for a few hours with only a stop for ice cream and restrooms, which is pretty good for us! In case you were following along on our adventure on Instagram, you might have noticed that we had ice cream like five times. I clearly have no shame. 

beach trip

Our first real stop was to see the San Simeon Elephant Seals by Hurst Castle.

When Pete and I visited earlier in the year and saw the seals we knew we wanted to to come back with the girls so they could see them too. We didn’t have as many seals to view this time around but it was still really cool! There were still a bunch of them sunbathing and enjoying the warm weather. The Little One enjoyed the ocean air and borrowing Pete’s glasses. We got back on the road pretty quickly after that.

We drove straight to San Jose after this.

I spent two days exploring San Jose and in meetings. I didn’t attend any of the sessions, just the expo hall and some parties. It was really nice getting to catch up with bloggers and clients of mine that I only get to talk to online and it’s also nice to discuss future work together in person. I can’t say for sure that I would attend another BlogHer though. Although it was nice to be able to connect in person, I didn’t walk away with the inspiration that I normally do when attending conferences.  I think that was the general consensus from most of the people that I have spoken to. It was fun, but not sure it was worth it. Now if it’s really close again or in another spot we want to take a trip to I might attend again. We will see. 

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited

After the conference was over we took off for an adventure.

We headed into San Francisco. We hadn’t been there since the older girls were 2 and 2 months old. It was too long to be away from this beautiful city. I am in love with the architecture of the homes in the city and we drove around a bit just to look at it. Traffic coming into San Francisco was nothing like I remembered it. It took us almost 4 hours to get into town from San Jose. Craziness. Public transportation is also way backed up and you can expect to wait 45 min. for a bus.

golden gate bridge

One of my favorite parts was driving over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Amazing! There is something about this drive that I can’t even put into words. It was something I’ll always remember. We opened the HUGE sunroof on the Santa Fe and we could see the bridge arches through it. It was so cool. The girls learned more about this historical area by visiting than they ever could have from a text book. I just sat back and took it all in. The GPS is really good too. It was easy to use and offered very clear directions.

fishermans warf

Next up was Fisherman’s Wharf. 

We found a lot right by Fisherman’s Grotto to park at. If they have any spots open this is definitely one of the best spots out there and it’s central to everything. The attendants valet parked our car even though it was a “you park” lot just to keep an eye on the car. He really loved the color and thought it was really good looking. Benefits of having a stylish I car I guess?  We had a late lunch and took a boat ride around Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. The boat ride was a mess and I was so happy to be back in the Santa Fe. 

blogher14

I was sad to leave San Francisco and San Jose, but I was so happy to spend another day in Pacific Grove.

I am absolutely in love with Carmel and Pacific Grove and I’ve already talked Pete into a second home up there after the girls are a bit older. I really felt like I came alive when we were there. With so many healthy places to eat and tons of places to walk around, I was in Heaven. If given the opportunity to move there I would seriously consider it. For now I’m going to have to settle on a couple vacations up there every year.

pacific grove

monterey

I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Pete and I both drove on the trip although Pete did the majority of the driving, I still got to get behind the wheel and give it a go. Because we are both such different sizes I’m never sure if we will both be comfortable driving the same vehicle and if the viability will be okay for someone who is short {5’2} like me and much taller, like Pete is, but it was perfect for both of us.

It got pretty good gas mileage too. Our favorite features were the sunroof and how comfortable it was. Although the Santa Fe seats 7 we only had 5 and all our luggage and I still felt it was roomy. We were all comfortable. There were plenty of cup holders, which may seam trivial, but is a really important feature. Plus it just looks good. It’s okay to go for looks when it’s a vehicle right?

We were really pleased with the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited and I would most definitely recommend it to others. It’s a great value too. It comes with lots of features that you would expect to find in a car that is a lot more expensive. Learn more on the Hyundai website.

on the beach

We all can’t wait to come back.

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe

 Where do you want to go on your next vacation?

Heather Reese
the authorHeather Reese
Heather Delaney Reese is the storyteller and photographer behind the lifestyle and family travel blog, It's a Lovely Life®! For the past decade, she has vacationed over 150 days a year with her family. She is a vegan, and loves being by the water, spending time with her children, husband, 2 Shih Tzus and Cat.

38 Comments

  • Wow! A)That’s so cool you got a car to drive there so you didn’t have to put mileage onto your car! B)The scenery on that road trip looks amazing. Pinning so that if I can ever get to CA I’ll know where to go!

  • Sounds like a really great trip! That Hyundai seems so fantastic and really great for a family car!

  • Looks like you had an amazing vacation. The car looks gorgeous and I love the features it comes with. Thanks for sharing.

  • I want that car! Is that the one with the captain seats and all that luggage fit without moving a row down?! I have wanted to Santa Fe since they announced they were coming out with the 3rd row! We just came back from San Diego, so our next adventure… birthing baby 2!

  • You look like you guys a great adventure! The Hyundai Santa Fe has lots of room. Your tip about water is so on point. It is definitely budget friendly 🙂

  • I love the color and all that trunk space! You’re so lucky you got to go to the convention – I hope someday to make it to a real one! 😀

  • Lovely photos especially the ones of the sandy beaches! We always take water with us no matter how short or long the trip. As for having lots of ice cream, well its summer, the time to enjoy it. Looks like you all had a fun trip!

  • It’s okay to go for looks in a car when it’s got ALL THOSE OTHER GREAT FEATURES!! 🙂 It is a nice looking vehicle, I”m glad it added to the fun of your trip. 🙂

  • Your trip sound amazing and I love when families drive out of town, they become the best memories. I’m hoping to see more memories from you as well.

  • One of my good friends owns a Santa Fe. It is roomy for him and his family and drives very nicely. I am thinking about one for my hubby when his lease is up.

  • What an awesome road trip. Looks like so much fun! I love the tip about bringing a case of water. That’s smart and practical.

  • We wanted to buy one of these SUV’s and it just didn’t work out. My husband ended up getting a 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT and it is a great car. We love all of the features and warranty. When we got the car we traded in our 2010 Elanta Touring. I would buy another Hyundai again when it is time to replace our cars.

  • This looks like luxury! I’ve got a bun in the oven and that means we NEED a new car. I’ll have to check this one out when we’re making our final decision. PS, I’ve always wanted to visit hurst castle!

  • Nice car! I am looking for one like that too. Right now I have the Hyundai Sonata. I love it, but need more space for the family. Looks like you had a great trip & the pictures are fantastic!

  • Now that was a real test drive of a vehicle! To be able to say 5 people plus tons of luggage were comfortable the entire trip says a whole lot. I personally do not need this large a vehicle (I am single with no children) but I will look into this brand if I need a new car.

  • Looks and sound like you guys had fun. I have been telling my husband let’s take a road trip but he keep procrastinating.

  • What a wonderful family trip together and get to test drive a new vehicle. Thanks for sharing with us your trip and your thoughts about the Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle. I am sure it would be helpful for others who are in the market searching for a new vehicle. Although I know we won’t be buying one like this type of vehicle, but I love how it has plenty of room. Our vehicle right now is totally cramped whenever we go on trips. There is barely enough room for our things and we will be replacing it hopefully in a couple of years. We love to go on vacation and Road Trips!! Yaye! Road trips are fun! And we love to visit the mountains more. I miss the ocean though. What lovely family and beautiful photos.

  • Looks like a very nice car! Having plenty of room, especially while traveling is a huge concern for me. Its got to pack four of us and all our gear. Looks like it would be a nice buy.

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