Myself, wearing a Hex Girls t-shirt and purple shorts, walking through the pumpkin Patch.

Bates Nut Farm: The 100 Year Old Farm to Find Your Perfect Pumpkin

October 22, 2024, 3 Comments

When fall arrives, it means it’s time to find a pumpkin patch and pick that perfect prized pumpkin to take home. Over the years I’ve tried to find just the right pumpkin patch, and I mean honest to goodness pumpkin patch, where you pick a pumpkin off the vine! This year we decided to venture…

Myself walking along the rim of the crater.

A Hike into an Ancient Volcano along Route 66

February 2, 2022, 2 Comments

The legendary Route 66 often conjures imagery of neon signs for diners, a plethora of tourist traps, and gas stations. Something that perhaps doesn’t spring to mind is a volcano. But in fact there is a volcano right off of the famed Mother Road, and you can hike into it. The town of Amboy is…

Myself standing in the apple orchard of Stone Pantry, wearing a white tee featuring graphics of a green witch and town, orange text reads "I met the ghost of Oakhaven (and Survived)" and a pair of blue jeans.

Apple Picking in Oak Glen

October 26, 2021, 1 Comment

Tucked up in the hills of California’s inland empire is the quaint town of Oak Glen. With less than 500 residents, it’s a relatively sleepy little town until autumn arrives, when this country haven is overrun with out-of-towners, including myself. Why? It’s the Southern California hot spot for that beloved fall activity of apple picking. Within…

Myself, wearing a cream straw cowboy hat, yellow shirt red text reading "Red Dog California Cold Beer Restaurant Cocktails Good Vibes" and featuring a woman diving into a martini glass, and jean shorts, standing on a bridge over a small stream, surrounded by a variety of green plants.

The Fairy-esque Wonderland of Ferndell Trail

June 24, 2021, 1 Comment

Griffith Park is perhaps one of Los Angeles’ greatest tourist attractions, as it has so much to offer. From museums to the observatory to the Hollywood sign and the miles of trails it has for pedestrians, equestrians, and cyclists, there is something for everyone. And while there are miles of trails, perhaps the most enchanting…

Myself seated in front of the faux orange stand.

Tracing California’s Orange Roots at the Citrus State Historic Park

February 6, 2020, 7 Comments

The orange is one of the most iconic things about California. Southern California’s climate makes it a perfect place to grow citrus, and thanks to advances in irrigation, processing, transportation, and the addition of the Washington navel orange, California’s citrus industry boomed in the late 1800s, as oranges and their citrus cousins made for California’s…

Myself, wearing several turquoise and silver necklaces, a black t-shirt reading "Pioneer" in white letters, and a jean skirt, standing in front of the Painted Desert Inn.

Exploring the Bizarre Petrified Forest of the Painted Desert

September 20, 2019, 7 Comments

Not long into our road trip we noticed that the Petrified Forest was extremely close to the Wigwam Village, and we decided to visit after we checked into the Wigwam. What we didn’t realize was that the park closed so early! Leaving us only about two hours to drive through and enjoy the park! So…

Myself sitting on a rock in front of the Grand Canyon, wearing a pale yellow dress with copper and teal blue rick-rack trim, and a tan beaded belt, my hair in one long braid.

Grand Canyon at 100

September 16, 2019, 5 Comments

Bedrock City’s closure was really what initiated this quick road trip to Arizona, but, as it was so darn close to the Grand Canyon, we figured, why not go? As our road trip was on the short side, we just visited for a brief gaze, short walk along the rim, and a visit to a…

A brown sign with yellow letters reads "Moorten Botanical Garden"

Exploring the Desert Wonderland of Moorten Botanical Garden

March 11, 2019, 2 Comments

The annual visit to Palm Springs, which is for Pat’s work, typically means I fill the days on my own – shopping, visiting museums, etc. This year Charles Phoenix recommended I visit Moorten Botanical Garden. And when Charles Phoenix tells you to go somewhere, you go! Home to over 3000 plant varieties, Moorten Botanical Garden…

The Hidden Remains of MAS*H in Malibu Creek Park

May 22, 2018, 4 Comments

I watched a lot of the channel TV Land as a kid, and one of my favorite shows was M * A * S * H, which revolved around the 4077th mobile army surgical hospital (that’s what “MASH” stands for in case you were wondering) in Korea during the Korean War. At some point I learned…

Vasquez Rocks: Outlaw Hideout Turned Hollywood Filming Location

May 8, 2018, 7 Comments

What do Westworld, The Wild Wild West, Star Trek, Army of Darkness, and Zorro all have in common? Well, aside from being awesome, they all, at one point or another, filmed at Vasquez Rocks. For me, Vasquez Rocks is a gorgeous natural landscape that is a perfect meld of my favorite things – it is…

Atomic Redhead

Natural Beauty

Bates Nut Farm: The 100 Year Old Farm to Find Your Perfect Pumpkin

A Hike into an Ancient Volcano along Route 66

Apple Picking in Oak Glen

The Fairy-esque Wonderland of Ferndell Trail

Tracing California’s Orange Roots at the Citrus State Historic Park

Exploring the Bizarre Petrified Forest of the Painted Desert

Grand Canyon at 100

Exploring the Desert Wonderland of Moorten Botanical Garden

The Hidden Remains of MAS*H in Malibu Creek Park

Vasquez Rocks: Outlaw Hideout Turned Hollywood Filming Location