Most people who travel to Alaska fly to Anchorage first and then hop on different tours from there. They treat Anchorage like a transit hub and do not plan enough time to explore the city and its surroundings. Ariel and I spent a few days around Anchorage during our Alaska roadtrip and had a wonderful summer time there. Here’s a list of places we liked within about 1 hour drive from Anchorage.
Portland has been on my roadtrip list for a long time. I finally made it happen in June this year. I love all its nature but not so much the downtown. The converge of Willamette River and Columbia River at the city makes everything different. It brings lives to the area and adds to its beauty. Ariel loves the various types of greens and shaded trails. Hiking with dogs in summer is not that miserable afterall.
“The west coast is the best coast.” It is true in every way. When it comes to sightseeing the Pacific Ocean coastline, what’s better than hiking right next to the Golden Coast?! Nothing is more healing than watching the waves splashing the rocks, walking in the salty ocean breeze, and bathing in the golden sunshine.
I consider the area between San Francisco and Palo Alto as the Peninsula area. Peninsula never dries out and thus is great for hiking year round. You don’t have to choose between the ocean and the mountain. You get gorgeous views of both.
The best time to hike in East Bay is spring. The weather is perfect with the right amount of sunshine and breezes from the bay. I listed my top hiking trails below in the order of preference.
The trip to Grand Canyon National Park and Arizona was long overdue. I finally made it happen during 2021 Thanksgiving. It’s our first time there, so my friend and I hit all the touristy spots in Arizona around Grand Canyon.
After our RV trip, I always wanted to try a camping trip with Ariel. We made it happen this Labor Day weekend. It’s a laidback and relaxing trip to the San Rafael area. We camped at China Camp State Park and hiked in Mount Tamalpais.
Berkeley is a great spot for a day trip with a lot to offer: beach, mountain, university campus, hippie and artsy vibe, and good food. If you a have day to spend in the San Francisco Bay Area and want to explore outside the city, stop by Berkeley.
I had a semi-getaway in Sonoma and Napa area in March 2021. In my opinion, Sonoma and Napa don’t have breathtaking sceneries like Lake Tahoe or other areas in the Bay Area. But they are humble, quiet, low-key, and peaceful.
You will find everything in Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz Area such as forests, mountains, lakes, ocean views, and beaches. It’s green year round. Unlike the Peninsula area, it’s also sunny most of the time and feels like SoCal. There are lots to do there. In terms of hiking, I like the 5 trails below the most and they are discussed in the order of my preference.