Fresh, warm from the oven, homemade muffins are a great way to make any breakfast just a little more special. The aroma alone in my household is enough to bring everyone into the kitchen to take a peek into the oven. Made with frozen fruit, these can be made at any time of year. I … More Fast and Easy Fruit Muffins
Last year we had our worst travel experience ever on Alaska Airlines. A delay of our first flight from San Francisco to Seattle led us to miss our connecting flight to Spokane. Suffice it to say, we made it to our daughter’s volleyball tournament by driving the 4.5 hours from Seattle to Spokane because there … More Hawaii: The Big Island
Let’s say that you’re ready to spend some time visiting Bryce Canyon National Park at a more leisurely pace. Maybe you’ve already seen the canyon from the rim at the popular view points (Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, Paria View Point), already strolled along the rim trail from Sunrise to Sunset Point, already hiked some of … More Driving Tour of Bryce Canyon National Park
I had very high expectations about Bryce Canyon National Park, in fact they were so high I was worried that I might be disappointed. So many people have told me that Bryce Canyon was their favorite park out of the Utah parks. That’s pretty high praise considering the caliber of these national parks. Has that … More Bryce Canyon National Park
It’s been about two and a half years since we brought our campervan home and we still get excited packing it up and going on trips. It’s gotten a little easier and faster to leave for a trip now, thanks to the bins that we keep in the house and a list we continually revise. … More Two and a Half Year Campervan Review
When I’m visiting a national park, I usually seek out solitude. There’s something about being able to hike in the most beautiful surroundings lost in your own thoughts, letting feelings of awe and inspiration take over you without interruption. Feeling like you have the place all to yourself makes it that much more special. My … More Seeking Solitude in Zion National Park
I love the holidays and I love National Parks, so when I can somehow combine the two, it’s like, well… Christmas! Celebrating a holiday at the Zion Lodge right smack dab in the middle of Zion National Park has been up there in my top 10 bucket list items. The National Park lodges that we’ve … More Celebrating Christmas in Zion National Park
Happy 2018! I hope you enjoyed the holidays and created some wonderful memories! Last week on the way to one of my bucket list destinations (Zion National Park), we stopped and camped at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. I was so impressed with this place! Although this is a very popular place for … More Winter Camping in Valley of Fire State Park
Santa Cruz (CA) is known for its boardwalk, beaches, surfing, wharf, downtown area, university, and a myriad of other things. There is so much to do, and sometimes during peak season when the parking is tough, the lines long and the crowds inescapable, it can get a bit overwhelming. There are a few things we like … More Slowing it Down in Santa Cruz
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week (for those of you who celebrate this very American holiday). I look forward to Thanksgiving all year, not only because there is a four day holiday and a Thanksgiving day feast to be had, but it’s a time when we slow down and give thanks. A … More Dunes Beach in Half Moon Bay, California
This is not a post about our campervan travels, just an update on what we’ve been obsessed with up to at home. So, if you want to skip this post, no worries at all. It all started innocently enough. There was a retaining wall that needed to be shored up on a rarely used area … More Outdoor Adventures… at Home
Tucked away in the mountains of Santa Rosa, California (Sonoma County), there is an animal preserve dedicated to the conservation of African wildlife. The preserve, Safari West, is open to the public and does an amazing job providing a safari experience in its own unique, not-in-Africa, way. We visited a few years ago, but I started … More Safari West in Santa Rosa, California
How was your summer? I feel like I blinked and all of a sudden summer was over. My daughter started high school last week and I’m sitting here thinking, ‘Wait, what the heck happened? Did we have summer?’ I vaguely remember a few days when there was no obligations or volleyball practices, just sitting in … More Strawberry Shortcake
One minute we’re cruising along Generals Highway in Kings Canyon National Park and then presto, we’ve crossed over to Sequoia National Park. Two parks for the price of one! Always love a good bargain. These two parks are managed as one, but they feel like completely different parks with different Visitor Centers, and overall feel … More Sequoia National Park
Exploring a National Park has got to be one of my favorite things to do. I love being outdoors in general, but there’s something special about national parks. I mean, there’s a reason why they’re national parks, right? So, when we had a whole day of nothing but exploring whatever we wanted at Kings Canyon … More Kings Canyon National Park
