Redwood Forest

The last stop on our Bay area adventure was to the Muir Redwood Forest. It's about an hour away from Napa and San Francisco so it's very convenient if you're in the area. I've always wanted to see these majestically amazing trees and I was really glad I did. It's important to plan a trip before these forests are gone, due to logging and commercial industries we already sadly lost such a large portion. How anyone could even cut through one of these trees is beyond me, they are so huge around and so tall! Some of the largest are over 350 feet tall and 2 feet thick around! Some of the sequoias are known to have lived before Christ and the serenity that can be found here is unparallelled. 

We are so small amongst the redwoods, it really puts everything into perspective. You can walk through some split trees and can choose from a wide variety of hikes. I could have spent days here and surely want to return to explore more. On the way out, I went searching for four leaf clovers. I didn't find one, but still consider myself lucky because I was able to renew my spirit in this magnificent place.

Some important things to note: It's often foggy in this area, so remember to wear layers. Parking is free, but entrance to the park is $7 per person, so bring money! Yes, even nature isn't free anymore. They do accept credit cards which makes it easier. Hopefully the money goes to preserving this remarkable forest.

Things to Do in Napa Valley

California wine country is an amazingly beautiful place that everyone should experience. I recently went and although my trip was brief, I had an amazing time. We stayed in a quaint hotel in downtown Napa and our first stop was a cute wine tasting place called Uncorked. The owner of Uncorked really knew his stuff and the tasting was free and delicious!

The next morning we drove through the valley to visit the wineries. Our first stop was V. Sattui Winery. This place is awesome! They have lots of meats, cheeses, snacks, and wine to choose from and a wonderful outdoor area perfect for a picnic. I wanted to buy everything in the store, a great place to buy adorable European-inspired kitchen accessories.

Our next and most anticipated stop was Castello di Amorosa, a gorgeous castle that instantly transported me back to the France/Switzerland/Italy region. As we drove up to the castle, we passed rows of grape vines and were greeted by sheep! We entered the ornate castle and went into the cave to taste the most delicious wines and chocolates California has to offer. Our hotel gave us a buy-one-get-one-free coupon, so for two people to taste over 20 wines only cost $30. You can't beat that price and this awesome location.

There are many ways to see all that Napa has to offer, including a train, limo, and party bus that takes you around to all of the different wineries. Since we weren't traveling in a group, we decided to drive around because the price of these transportation types are pricey and better utilized with more people sharing the costs. But the shops inside the wineries offer a good way to sober up before you drive to the next location, which is right down the road. Just make sure you have someone responsible!

We could have stayed in Napa forever, but we wanted to make the trip complete by stopping at the Redwood Forest. There is so much to do in this lush area and if you plan ahead, your trip can be amazing and affordable!

San Francisco Adventure!

The last two months back in LA has consisted of work, work, and more work. So when an opportunity to go on a mini-adventure presented itself, I jumped at the chance! San Francisco or bust! We rented a car and six hours later were in the bay area! The day was foggy as we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge. I've been to the city before, but there are so many things to do that each trip can consist of different ventures.

One thing I've always wanted to do is Alcatraz! I really wanted to do a night tour, but those get booked weeks in advance, so plan ahead! All of the tours sell out pretty fast, and we were lucky to get tickets to the early morning ferry. An audio tour is included in admission and my imagination went crazy as I learned about all of the high-profile criminals and their escape attempts. Two inmates actually were successful in working their way out of the infamous prison walls. They were never found, and while many people think they drown on the swim to shore, I like to think they made it to Mexico. Hey, if you can escape from Alcatraz, you deserve it!

Don't drop the soap!

Al Capone

I can only imagine spending time in such a small cell. The idea of incarceration made me a sad panda! So we put on our criminal minds and staged our own escape! We escaped from Alcatraz and spent the rest of the beautiful day in the Fisherman's Wharf. There, we ate amazing California cuisine and walked along the pier of shops. They have everything from clothes to gadgets to gourmet chocolates! There's also an area where seals go to play and relax. It was very fun to stop and watch their antics for a while. Ah, freedom is priceless!

We also explored some of the ethnic areas. We went shopping in China Town and picked up cool stuff like Buddha statues, pretty chop sticks, and saki glasses. We walked through Little Italy and had dinner in the French district. There is so much to discover in San Fran, but unfortunately we had to keep moving. Because there is so much to discover in Northern California! Next stop, Napa...