Nowhere Like New Orleans
Balboa Bliss
My family rented a beach house on the Balboa Peninsula in the Newport Beach area of Orange County every summer when I was growing up and those family vacation memories stand out as vivid highlights of my childhood. We had the beach, a boardwalk and a soccer field right at our doorstep for nonstop fun and games like boogie boarding, biking, roller-skating and smash ball. We’d hit the Balboa Pier daily to fish, grab a snack at Ruby’s or watch the sunset. Every night we walked over to the Fun Zone to play arcade games, ride the Ferris Wheel and devour Balboa Bars. Whenever there was a big swell, we’d walk to The Wedge to watch the body surfers. We always had to take the ferry to Balboa Island at least once, too. I could go on and on recounting all of the good times and adventures we got into back then. But I have new, current memories and travel intelligence to share because we went back as a family this summer and I’m pleased to report the blissful vibe of Balboa lives on! In this case, you can go “home” again.
Big Sur or Bust
Big Sur is the kind of place you get emotionally attached to; it calls you back again and again. No matter what your religion or lack thereof, Big Sur’s powerful energetic pull and soul soothing properties cannot be denied. Situated on the most iconic stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, the greater Big Sur region in Monterey County stretches from San Simeon in the south to Carmel in the north. Peace, quiet and Mother Nature are the main attractions here. Aside from the dramatic drive and infinite scenic photo ops, Big Sur is home to some incredible lodging options, legendary healing retreats and countless hiking trails traversing regal redwood forests. Of course there is good food on the menu, too.
The Magic of Mendocino
Mendocino is a temple of nature worship and slow living. Perched atop cliffs on California’s North Coast, the village of Mendocino is made up of a patchwork of historic Victorian structures and lush gardens surrounded by emerald forests on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. As my friend Jessica reflected on a recent visit, “Mendocino is a place you have to deliberately want to get to. You don’t just stumble upon it or drive through, it takes effort and intention to get here.” And that’s part of the magic of Mendocino. When you arrive after a long, winding scenic drive on the Pacific Coast Highway or through the inland redwood groves and rolling vineyards, you’re dropped into another idyllic dimension. The purity of the quiet and drama of the ruggedly beautiful landscape is matched by the quality of the organic cuisine and the welcoming embrace of the free-spirited local community.
San Diego's Sweet Spot(s)
San Diego is California’s second largest city by resident count, falling only after Los Angeles. For such a populous, developed place, its soul has always been more beach town than big city. While it’s still a very much a beach-y, laid back destination, in the past decade or so, the urban aspects of San Diego’s identity have hatched and taken root, giving the city a more distinctive sense of place. Craft beer, Cali-Baja cuisine and vibrant neighborhoods top the to-do list now along with the classic surf and sun staples (and theme parks, if that’s your thing).
Meandering Around West Marin
West Marin County is an easy day trip from San Francisco and offers a complete change of pace thanks to its rural, coastal setting. Think roadside waterfront oyster outposts, dairy farms and artisan cheese producers, eclectic tiny towns, isolated hiking trails and bohemian country inns. Staying overnight is even better than day-tripping so you can really slow down and luxuriate in the region’s charms.
Very Vancouver
Canada Day lent some pomp and circumstance to my first ever Vancouver visit, and quite likely amplified the warm, welcoming atmosphere of this verdant, strikingly beautiful Pacific Northwestern coastal city. But I have a feeling it’s always a very friendly place given the consistency of positive human interactions I experienced throughout my three-day, three-night Vancouver immersion. In addition to being a city of really nice people at every turn, I found Vancouver to be a perfectly relaxed urban destination that excels at all things food related. The culinary riches are balanced by the abundant opportunities to be outside soaking up the natural beauty and getting into adventures. This makes for a guilt-free vacation equation: indulge, work it off, make room for the next meal and repeat!
An Ode to The Road Trip
