Hiking Half Dome has been on my life list for a while now, so I was thrilled to have an opportunity to finally visit Yosemite National Park this summer. Looking up at the famous mountain from the Curry Village parking lot in Yosemite Valley, I couldn't believe how awe-inspiring it was to see it in person. The iconic granite peak that symbolizes the rugged beauty of the Sierra … [Read more...] about Highs and Lows of Hiking Half Dome
United States
Big Sur: Natural Beauty on the California Coast
Big Sur is a big deal. Think of it: rocky cliffs with long, luscious views of the Pacific Ocean, magnificent mountains cloaked in fog and covered in evergreens, and nature in perfect harmony with itself. I sincerely can't think of a more visually captivating place than this stunning stretch of the California coast between San Simeon and Carmel. A big part of Big Sur's … [Read more...] about Big Sur: Natural Beauty on the California Coast
Hearst Castle: Scenes from San Simeon’s Shangri-La
This is Hearst Castle: opulent, obsessive, and almost obscene. It's a must-see stop in San Simeon along California's Pacific Coast Highway. I'd wanted to visit Hearst Castle for ages, having first heard about it because of my appreciation for Orson Welles' cinematic masterpiece Citizen Kane. For those in the dark, the film is based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, the … [Read more...] about Hearst Castle: Scenes from San Simeon’s Shangri-La
Hooked on Ricky’s Fish Tacos in Hollywood
I drove past it three times before I decided I must be in the right place. After all, when Yelp directs you to great Mexican food in Hollywood, there are a few things you expect, the least of which is that the establishment in question is housed in a building. But there I was, standing on the edges of what looked like a private backyard party under a white pop-up tent just off … [Read more...] about Hooked on Ricky’s Fish Tacos in Hollywood
Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
Just a few miles north of Hearst Castle along the Pacific Coast Highway--if you're driving with the windows open--you may catch a bit of a strong, "organic" scent on the wind. I'm not talking about the salty, seaweed-y aroma of the ocean. The smell I'm describing is worse. Much worse. What you're probably experiencing is the awful stench of the elephant seal rookery at … [Read more...] about Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas