What I love about my girls: they’re always up for anything! I just sign the waivers, tell them it’s safe and they don’t ask any questions. It’s great! Rafting on the American River in Coloma, CA east of Sacramento.
Nice and calm, right? That’s what I thought up until this point… then just around that bend…
Nope, it’s not from a drone. It’s from the top of the ferris wheel in Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier!
Some fun surf art in Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier, near Venice, CA
My good friend and former UF roommate, Dan Rudd. Dan hosted us for a few days in Santa Barbara on our recent trip out west. When I was 19, Dan and I, along with my younger brother, a friend of his and my dad went across country in two cars hitting a ton of national parks. All the way from Florida to Huntington Beach! We did the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, White Sands, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Grand Tetons, Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rushmore… More than I can remember over 2-3 weeks! There was no Instagram back then, but we took a coffee table book about national parks with us and in each park, we’d look at the photos and try to find the exact spots where the photographers shot from, to recreate them for comparison later. It was fun detective work. Dan said that trip changed his life and later helped prompt him to move out West (like several other of my close college friends). I’m a very happy third-gen native of (Jax) Florida, but do love it out there. So beautiful! Tomorrow is the 100th birthday of the National Parks Service, so a good time to reflect on some of those special places and good times.
Big Sur is big country. Everything is just… big. This shot of the river bed in Pfeifer State Park provides some scale.
One of my favorite places in California. Ventura is a killer little town with great surf, a cool downtown and laid-back vibe. Beautiful place!
The don;t call it the “Golden State” for nothing. Wildflowers in Santa Barbara, CA.
Bonfire on the Beach in Santa Barbara with my good friend, Dan, who hosted us for a couple of nights. This sums up the California vibe.
It didn’t really matter where you pulled off on the PCH in Big Sur. It was beautiful in every direction.
I wonder why they call this “Rocky Point”?
Jellyfish exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I could watch these things all day and night.
Two-story+ high kelp bed observation window at the Monterey bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium integrates directly into the Pacific Ocean. The water actually works right into the exhibits and provides scientists an excellent place to do their work. Genius! And beautiful!
Nice shot of the re-used sardine plant that became the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row in Monetrey, CA. Beautiful facilty!
A view of the seemingly ever-present marine layer fog bank looming in the background of the Big Sur area of north central California
My girlies providing scale for the giant redwoods in Pfeiffer State Park in Big Sur, CA
Kaelyn, adding her own touch of beauty to the beautiful natural surroundings of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. This place is amazing.
My “Honey” tree. Two of my favorite travel partners (we’re partners in a lot of things), Kendall and Gretchen, providing some scale for the giant redwoods in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
…And if the northern view of Pfeiffer Beach wasn’t beautiful enough for you… here’s the southern view… Yes, that’s a waterfall right on the beach. They make those.
One of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever laid eyes on. And I’ve seen a lot of ’em!
This bridge is so well known for its color, that I thought I’d show it in black and white. Yep… still beautiful.
The Ice Plant in St. Augustine, FL is an excellent example of reclaimed architecture. The former working ice plant is now a restaurant. Cool spot! Nom Nom.
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