If you are looking for the perfect location for a girls day out, head to Seal Beach in Orange County, California. 

In the downtown area you will find vintage and re-sale stores, art galleries, and lovely places to get a meal, or enjoy an ice-cream. A short walk away is Seal Beach Pier, which is apparently one of the longest wooden piers in California.

I had recently come across a Groupon deal for McKenna's Tea Cottage – the deal was for their Queen Mum's Tea (for two people). They had me at 'mum', and of course indulging in high tea is on my bucket list this year so I immediately snapped it up, and then contacted a couple of friends who have daughters and we made a reservation for mother/daughter tea together.

Of course I didn't think to take my camera to high tea, but thankfully when you have a friend who is a photographer she is bound to remember, and capture some beautiful shots like the few below. Normally I hate being on the 'other side' of the camera, but for shots like this I'm more than happy to be.

Photograph by: Mandy See

They have quite a lovely selection of tea to choose from, and for little girls who don't care for tea, there is pink lemonade, in a tea pot of course. 

From the tea, to the soup in a tea cup, the finger sandwiches, delicious tiny cakes, and scones with jam and cream,  the meal was delightful. I really need to bake scones at home. There's nothing like indulging in a cup of tea and a warm scone topped with freshly whipped cream and homemade jam (which of course I need to learn how to make).

Photograph by: Mandy See

My beautiful little high tea date had a lovely time too. She loved dressing up, refilling her tea cup with her very own teapot full of pink lemonade, and having other little girls to giggle with.

Photograph by: Mandy See

And although I didn't capture beautiful photographs like my friend Mandy, I did get a few happy snaps that I posted to Instagram.

The only suggestion I have, is to arrive early if you have a reservation, parking can be a little difficult to find on the weekend. You are better off arriving nice and early and wandering down Main Street to the pier.

You can find more about McKenna's Tea Cottage on their website, including their menu, and reservation information (which is highly recommended).