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Best Stops on Highway 1: California Road Trip Itinerary
Post Topic: Best Stops on Highway 1 Our road trip down the coast on California’s Highway 1 was a bittersweet one. It was the start of a long road trip back to the Lone Star State. Randy and I had spent over five months away from home, working remotely, and exploring America’s vast beauty and diversity. We had mixed feelings about heading back to Dallas, but we were just trying to soak up every last minute of our epic trip. After heading up to Redwoods National Park and making it within 5 miles of the Oregon border (still kicking ourselves for not crossing that border), we were a grand total…
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10 Unforgettable Things to Do on Your First Trip to San Francisco
Post Summary: Things To Do on Your First Trip to San Francisco I first visited San Francisco in 2017, it was in fact by first “big-kid” trip. The first trip that I planned 100% on my own (with a friend) and paid for on my own. Looking back, that first trip to San Francisco was pivotal to the development of this blog and my love for travel. That first trip to San Francisco was actually the topic of my very first blog post, which I’ve since gone in and completely changed! Let’s just say, I’ve learned quite a bit about writing an informative blog post since I started almost 4…
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8 Jaw-Dropping Desert National Parks to Visit in Winter
Winter in the best time to visit some of America’s most beautiful national parks – especially the desert parks. Most often I gravitate to the forests and snowcapped peaks of America’s mountainous national parks but every once in awhile I find myself in a desert park that completely blows my mind. The unique landscapes of the desert always leave me amazed. And for some of these parks, winter is the best time to visit due to the more mild weather conditions. So keep reading for the best desert national parks to visit in winter. Like I just mentioned, for many of these parks, winter provides much better weather conditions for…
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10 Jaw-Dropping Things to Do in Redwoods National and State Parks
Did you know that Coastal California is home to some of the tallest trees in the word? Well it is! But seeing the tallest trees in the world is only one of the incredible things to do in Redwoods National Park. The park is home to incredible lush and tall forests, dense fern canyons, epic coastal views, and lots of wildlife. Redwoods National Park is joined with nearby Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and Del Norte State Park. These parks make up Redwoods National and State Parks. The parks are cooperated by the National Park System and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. In…
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A Perfect Weekend in Sequoia and Kings Canyon
We couldn’t leave California without a weekend in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We arrived on a Friday afternoon and spent a wonderful 48 hours exploring these magnificent parks. Sequoia and Kings Canyon are adjoining parks, so it’s very easy to explore them both in just a couple of days. I have to say, these parks completely blew any expectations I had about them out of the water. Initially, I was a little apprehensive about a park that is devoted almost entirely to big trees. But whoa, we were in completely mesmerized with the beauty and grandeur that we witnessed here. Sequoia National Park is home to 36 different…
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Best Day Hikes in Yosemite You Can’t Miss
Yosemite National Park is located in California’s Sierra Mountains and is known for it’s iconic granite domes, gushing waterfalls, and scenic alpine landscapes. This park is also home to a plethora of hiking trails. If you love a good day hike then Yosemite is the place for you! Keep reading for a list of the best day hikes in Yosemite that do not require an additional permit. In June of 2021, Randy and I spent a month living and working remotely from the small town of Jamestown in the foothills of California’s Sierra’s. Located only an hours drive away from the park’s entrance, we were able to spend many days…
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Hetch Hetchy: Escaping the Crowds of Yosemite
Yosemite National Park has become very popular over the last few decades and at times it’s hard to visit the park and feel like you’ve even left the city. With the persistent traffic, lines to get into the park, and crowds of people everywhere, is it a national park or Disney World? But let me tell you that it’s still possible to experience an escape from the hustle and bustle, especially the crowds. And you can do that at Hetch Hetchy! Have you heard of Hetch Hetchy? Hetch Hetchy is a lesser known and lesser visited portion of Yosemite National Park that is perfect for escaping the crowds. Planning a…
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How to See Los Angeles in One Day
Have you ever wondered if it was possible to see Los Angeles in one day? Well let me tell you, it is! Here I have listed six of my favorite LA spots that you can see in one day. And while this list is not an exhaustive list of LA sites, you will still get a feel of the culture and beauty of Los Angeles. We started at LAX when our plane landed at 7am on Saturday. After picking up our rental car, we drove to Venice to snap a few pictures of the Venice Canals. Oh my goodness, these houses were some of the cutest I have ever seen.…
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Channel Islands National Park – Santa Cruz Island
Little fact about me, I am a huge national park enthusiast and never pass up on an opportunity to check another park off of my list! A month ago, when my husband suggested that we fly into LA for a couple of days, I agreed as long as we could spend a day at Channel Islands National Park. After that was settled, I immediately started researching which island to see and how to get there. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of five beautiful islands off the coast of Southern California. We settled on Santa Cruz Island, which offers day hiking options with epic cliff and beach views. The island…
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5 Extraordinary Things to do in Death Valley National Park
Post Topic: Things to do in Death Valley National Park Let me start off by saying, Death Valley was the last national park I saw myself visiting. The name alone deterred me, who wants to visit a place named after death? All I knew about the park was that it was nothing but desert and hot. Too hot. Summer temperatures reach into the 120s (F) with the record temperature reaching a whopping 134 degrees (F). Death Valley is essentially known best for two things: being both the hottest and lowest place in the United States. Meaning that it’s best to visit in the winter months to avoid the scorching temps…
