What happens when you wrangle a diverse group of bloggers from across the country for a unique Toyota drive? Things, stop getting polite and start getting real…
On Monday, a special group of bloggers were given a mission – a mission to prove how the 2012 Toyota Camry could stand up to an end-of-summer, all-girls road trip up the California coast. Lizz (AmIAFunnyGirl.com), Leila (DontSpeakWhinese.com), Chelsea (ThePaperMama.com) and I, set off on an adventure heading north on Highway 1 from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara, California. Not only did the Camry withstand four statuesque bloggers with big personalities within it’s plush leather-trimmed, ultra-suede seats but it also engulfed the massive luggage trail of 4 suitcases, 5 backpacks, a pail and shovel within the spacious 15.4 cubic ft trunk. Camry is more luxurious,with a redesigned interior.It’s more advanced,with new available multimedia systems with EntuneTM. And the Camry Hybrid LE now offers an EPA-estimated 43 city mpg rating – which means getting the most out of your gas no matter where your inner city road trips may lead you.
While on the road, we discovered a few oceanside sights as well as stopped by a local Super Mega Target to shop & purchase donations for the Santa Barbra Food Bank. Toyota partnered with Target to supply each of us with $25 gift cards to make the donation purchases, and Target accommodated each one of us with an additional $10 in credit towards the purchase of additional food/personal items to donate. Our #ToyotaWomen mission garnered close to $1,000 worth of donations for those in need in Santa Barbra at the Santa Barbra Food Bank.
Upon arrival to Santa Barbra, we had intimate vineyard tour, wine tasting & dinner at the Sanford Winery in Rancho La Rinconada. Renowned for its Chardonnay as well as Pinot Noir – Sanford Winery is a sacred jewell that has helped put Santa Barbara and the Santa Rita Hills on the map of the world’s great wine regions.
Upon conclusion of dinner, we settled into a unique retreat of “Glamping” (Glam + Camping) at the el Capitan Canyon Resort just 20 miles north of Santa Barbara off the Pacific coast. Armed with the challenge of enjoying the glory of nature in a Southern California environment, we wondered if we could experience the natural beauty of the environment in a camp-like surrounding with all the luxury comforts of SoCal we have come to enjoy and expect?
That’s a mission that only be answered after Day 2. See what happens next, after Day 1 of “Glamping” is complete & discover what challenges are in store for Day 2 of the SoCal #ToyotaWomen Experience….(To Be Continued…)
Curious to see what happens next? Follow DivasandDorks on Twitter & Instagram for the latest #ToyotaWomen photos and check DivasandDorks.com soon for updated photos, links and more…
Disclosure: I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota.
ah, looks so fun! 🙂 sad i missed all this!
So true that when you put us all together things stop being polite and start getting real! And the best thing is we have a blast together as #ToyotaWomen
That\’s what makes being apart of #ToyotaWomen so exciting right? LOL