Brooklyn is one of my all-time favorite cities and in my twenties I often thought that I would end up living there. There's a blend of historic old world and new young energy that I've never seen anywhere else. Being in Brooklyn I feel like I'm among my kind of people. I'm all about thrifting and embracing "old" things in a new way. I also love super healthy and trendy eateries. Both of these are right up Brooklyn's alley.
Read MoreThere's no better way to feel like an sophisticated adult then to spend a Saturday afternoon at the museum. The de Young Fine Arts Museum is one of San Francisco's oldest and most popular art destinations. Visiting the de Young was always on my San Francisco "to do" list, so when Museum Hack offered to gives us tours we jumped at the chance.
Read MoreMontara Mountain is in my hometown of Half Moon Bay and seemed like the perfect place to get away from reality for a while. The trail leads you upwards into the clouds and makes the world below feel small. This walk is for you buddy, always remembered in our hearts.
Read MoreOver the holiday break we decided to venture out of the city and head into the Sierra Mountains in Tahoe. I have been dreaming of going into a "winter wonderland" for months and we were so lucky to arrive just the right time. The scene was so beautiful, the snow had just fallen and for miles everything was covered in fresh powder. Snow typically falls in Tahoe from November to May, give or take a month.
Read MoreThe Texas capital city of Austin has quickly become one of Americaβs favorite vacation spots. Itβs a city like no other with its vibrant music scene, diverse food options and laid-back atmosphere, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Austin is a melting pot for so many things that otherwise would seem completely unrelated. It's got the quirky hipster vibe of Brooklyn combined with the old west western vibe of Texas and then add the modern techie groove of San Francisco. They say "keep Austin weird" and an endearing version of weird is really the best word to describe it.
As you walk through the popular Austin neighborhoods and streets, youβll see so many Instagrammable spots. Austinites (the official name of local Austin inhabitants) love colorful and ironic public art and murals. They also really love letter boards with whimsical and sassy quips and quotes.
For the foodies, the trendy Austin neighborhoods have so many Instagrammable restaurants, beer gardens, food trucks, coffee shops and more. Thereβs definitely a culture around eating and enjoying a meal with friends in Austin.
In this guide I will direct you to the best areas in Austin to take cute photos for Instagram and shoot Tiktok videos. Sharing is caring - by posting your travels and adventures on social media you are both inspiring others and helping to promote small entrepreneurs and businesses.
Finally, for first time visitors, if you think you know what Austin has in store for you, you will quickly find out that this city cannot be predicted!
Read MoreAs you can imagine, the Golden Gate Bridge is a popular tourist attraction and is often full of visitors. We discovered that one of the benefits of visiting during a rainstorm is that you pretty much have the place to yourself! San Francisco is known for its fog and you can get some very majestic views of the fog rolling in while standing at the halfway point on the bridge. We were so lucky to see a rainbow stretching across the sky.
Read MoreOn a lovely Sunday morning we decided to escape the city and head out to the gorgeous countryside in Napa, Ca. First on our agenda was kayaking down the Napa river and then we headed over to Alston Park. Wine Country is by far one of the best places for a picnic lunch because the views of rolling valley hillsides filled with vineyards just canβt be beat. Keep reading to see our best recommendations for Napa and Sonoma picnic spots.
Read MoreWe escaped San Francisco and took a quick trip down to San Diego to enjoy a relaxing mini getaway. In Old Town you can find gorgeous assortments of handmade Mexican goods and tasty authentic Mexican cuisine (bring on the tamales!).
Read MoreWe spent a sunny and beautiful Sunday out in the apple orchards of Watsonville, Ca. The organic Clearview Orchards were hustling and bustling with both apple pickers and busy bees pollinating.
Read MoreThe beautiful fall leaves and fun pumpkins of New York City have inspired my autumn bucket list for 2016. I know this season will pass by so fast and I always want to make sure I capture the moment with some favorite autumn events.
Read MoreLast weekend we took a day to play tourist in our own city and stroll through some favorite San Francisco spots. I've been trying to soak up the last of these summer days with being outdoors as much as possible. We walked drenched in sunlight through Lands End Park and enjoyed some incredible ocean views. The Lands End Park and Sutro Baths are some of the most interesting historical sights in San Francisco.
Read MoreJust about an hour south of San Francisco you can step into another world and walk among redwood giants. If FernGully was real, this would be the exact place to find woodland fairies! One of our all-time favorite hikes is the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve. This park has over 24 miles of trails, some with steep inclines so you will really be getting your cardio! If you are visiting the coastal Half Moon Bay area this is a great half-day hike.
Read MoreWe payed a visit to the Filoli House and Gardens in Woodside, California which boasts some of the most beautiful gardens in Northern California. The Filoli House and Gardens have been preserved to maintain its historical authenticity and grandeur. Filoli was built as a private residence in 1917 by a wealthy San Francisco family and is now open for the public to enjoy. Visiting Filoli feels like you're stepping into a whole different era because it is filled with old world charms.
Read MoreWe just returned from our whirlwind trip through the Greek Islands and let me tell you we've never ate so well! The Greek lazy summer days and nights are spent lounging in beautiful restaurants watching the sunset. Traditionally meals run very long and last for several hours as they bring you course after course of dishes.
Read MoreMy husband and I traveled through the Greek islands for 10 days in the month of July. While we did see crowds when we stayed in Santoriniβs Oia, the rest of the trip we went island hopping and hardly saw any other people. We would swim and float for hours in crystal blue waters during the daytime. And then wind down for the day with long outdoor sunset dinners with ocean views.
In this comprehensive guide we give our top 5 Greek islands for a relaxing summer vacation away from the crowds of seasonal tourists. On each island we breakdown the best things to do, where to go swimming and top hotel accommodations. We also provide you with detailed instructions on how to get to these remote islands from the mainland or larger hub islands.
Read MoreLocated on the northern region of the Greek island Santorini, the village of Oia is by far the most famous and picturesque area of the Greek islands. This seemingly untouched corner of the world has a way of capturing the light unlike any other place I've seen. The ancient village is poised right along on the steep mountainside giving you incredible views of both the Mediterranean Sea and the volcano that created the islands. Almost every picture you take here is postcard worthy because it's juts so darn beautiful!
Read MoreSummer is by far my favorite time of year because I absolutely love warm sunny days. Being outdoors under a bright blue sky is my idea of the perfect day. I feel like every year summer flies by and I wish I had made more of an effort to be adventurous. This summer bucket list was created to keep myself on track and to get outdoors as much as possible. My winter self will thank me!
Read MoreOne of the best perks about living in San Francisco is being able to escape from the city for the weekend and head out to the beautiful countryside. This 1990βs vintage lavender floral dress was a great thrifting score!
Read MoreAustin is all over everybody's radar right now. It's got a unique blend of hipster cool, bohemian western and a touch of weird which can't be found anywhere else. With endless options for good food, shopping and funky hangout spots, Austin has established itself as a go-to destination for those seeking a getaway jam-packed with new experiences and some adventure.
The always entertaining city of Austin makes for an excellent destination friends trip because thereβs just so much to see and do. This guide is filled with more unique and alternative ideas for those who want a relaxing and off the beaten path trip. I give you a lot of outdoor-friendly options, foodie favorites and even adult crafting fun!
Side note, I am very fortunate that both my parents and sister live in Austin, giving me the perfect local guides when I visit. Although I live in Sacramento, California, I have been to Austin more times than I can count and spent several long stretches of time crashing with family. This blog post is filled with all the fun things Iβve done over the years in Austin. These photos were taken over the course of 10 years, but all the content is current up to the year 2022!
Read MoreThis past weekend I was fortunate enough to join my fellow blogger pals at a picnic in Napa.
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