A Weekend in Pismo Beach and California’s Scenic Central Coast
What to do on a weekend in Pismo Beach and California’s Central Coast. Best parks, hikes, restaurants, breweries, wineries, beaches.
Read MoreMouthwatering BBQ, Ramen, SUPing and More: A Weekend in Austin
My most recent long weekend trip took me to another toasty destination – the big state of Texas! And more specifically, the very hip and colorful town of Austin, which I knew mostly from being known as Portland, Oregon’s unofficial sister city (they both have the same slogan!). With the exception of a layover in Houston once, this was my first taste of Texas. And I do mean that literally – food was definitely the highlight of our stay. What I would do for more of that BBQ… Alas, all I have now are photos and memories of those glistening slabs of meat. Anyway, I digress. I highly recommend Austin at this time of year for its hot-but-not-too-hot weather, delicious food, outdoorsy offerings, art, and local shops! Here are the basics of our trip and what I recommend doing on your weekend in Austin, Texas!
The Best Things to Do in Vancouver (and Beyond!)
Have you found that you took the place you grew up for granted until you moved away? That’s the experience I had when I moved from Vancouver to Northern California. Not that California isn’t an incredible place to live, but I only noticed how truly stunning Vancouver’s topography, landscape, and overall livability is once I started becoming a “visitor” of the city. Daily viewings of snowcapped mountains towering over shiny buildings and the Burrard Inlet just seemed like the norm growing up. Read More
A Birthday Weekend Featuring Mud Baths in Calistoga
It was a bittersweet birthday for me last month. It fell on a Wednesday and I decided to celebrate with friends the Saturday before and had a great night with familiar and friendly faces. Then I was hit with a two week long sinus infection, which got increasingly worse over the next few days. Sweatpants, tissues, and pillows were my best friends during this time. Roger actually surprised me with a weekend to Calistoga, California the weekend following my birthday, and of course I still went despite having to breathe through my mouth the majority of the time. The focal point of his birthday weekend plan was a couples mud bath, which is a big draw for the town given its proximity to volcanic activity. The spa getaway was actually just what my congested sinuses needed! Unfortunately the wine tastings we attended did just the opposite, but it was really hard for me to resist a Napa wine tasting. Here’s a look at our weekend in northern Napa Valley and what to expect from mud baths in Calistoga.