Considered to be a coastal invader which can choke out other native plants and alter the soil, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife suggests not planting the species, and removing it whenever possible. A drive along the Sonoma County coast last weekend, in hazy morning light, made that reasonable explanation and request very difficult to support.
My Time Too 
The ice plant on my properties in California did just that. It is pretty, but also a nemesis.
Gorgeous photos! Enjoy your trip.
Years ago my sister was driving home from U C Santa Barbara and fell asleep on the road. The ice plant that her car drifted into saved herr from going over the cliff. Ever since, I have looked fondly on the vegetation.
Glad you had that getaway.
As a kid I use to have a rope swing that I would swing out on over a hill. One day as I was way out over the hill the rope broke, my saving grace was the hill was covered in ice plants. It was like a 7 foot drop too.