Why are the hotel prices so high, or why can’t I see the Golden Gate Bridge? When choosing the best time to visit San Francisco we can look at the weather, hotel cost, crowds, events, and road trip ideas in each month. There’s not really a one-season-fits-all answer, so I hope to share more about traveling in each season. Perhaps you’ve already picked a date or have personal limitations, and just want to know if you picked a good time. No matter when you visit, there’s no shortage of things to do in and around San Francisco. Having traveled around the San Francisco Bay Area (and beyond) in all ..read more

Are you wondering where to stay in Rovaniemi for the perfect Finnish Lapland experience? Let me show you the best areas, resorts, and hotels to suit your preferences. Rovaniemi is the gateway and capital of Finland’s Lapland, and it wasn’t enough for me to visit just once. In fact, I’ve visited Rovaniemi during both fall and winter – both very pretty seasons. In this guide, I’ll share where the best areas to stay in Rovaniemi are and the activities you can expect there. Whether you’re looking for something iconic, romantic, or large enough for a family, I’ve got a recommendation for you. Cli ..read more

The most generous all-inclusive resorts in Maldives – what does that even mean? In this review, we’re going to break down what it’s like staying in the Pullman Maldives all-inclusive resort to help you decide if it’s worth it. Since we chose Maldives as our honeymoon destination, I know how overwhelming it can be deciding between so many different resorts. We were prepared to splurge a little to get a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and wanted everything to be perfect. It took us a while to decide on our selection criteria, but eventually decided that we wanted an all-inclusive resort so that w ..read more

Are you ready for the highlight of your California trip? It’s time to trade the vibrant San Francisco streets for the mind-blowing landscapes of Yosemite National Park. If you’re confused about the best way to get to Yosemite from San Francisco, this guide is just for you! Having visited Yosemite several times across various seasons, I learnt that some things may require your own discretion (instead of just Google Maps). This could be depending on the weather or your personal preference. By weighing the pros and cons of each route and tour option, we can make the best use of our time to get th ..read more

You’ll never know how fascinating marine life is until you see it up close. Half Moon Bay, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, is one of the best places for tide pooling.  This California beach town offers miles of varied coastlines for tide pooling along Highway 1. Anyone can enjoy this activity because it is essentially just taking a walk along the intertidal zone of the coast. My first tide pooling experience in Half Moon Bay blew me away as there were so many creatures everywhere! It doesn’t take any kind of expert to look into pools of seawater and find clusters of anemone, some s ..read more

Outdoorsy women are probably some of the best people to get gifts for. They’re always on the lookout for ways to get outside more, and to create a better experience for them and their companions. We research endlessly about products to get because we want to get the best bang for our buck. Sometimes, we end up going with the cheapest product just so that we can get started on this awesome hobby of hiking and camping. Secretly, we hope that someone will see a list like this and get us what we really want. With these thoughtful gift ideas, you can show the outdoorsy women in your life that you c ..read more

Imagine going to the desert and finding yourself looking out to snowy mountains in the distance. The perfect Death Valley National Park itinerary is all about experiencing these well-known dramatic landscapes and geological formations. Known for being the driest and hottest place in North America, believe it or not – some people actually want to see how extreme it gets. Since Death Valley is pretty far from most cities in California, I totally understand that you’ll want to pack your itinerary with exciting activities. To help you plan, I’ll be sharing some useful information and tips about De ..read more

What if I told you there’s a place in California that effortlessly blends an otherworldly charm with natural beauty? As we settled into our car camping site at Trona Pinnacles, I felt a sense of awe looking at the towering rock formations illuminated by the evening sun’s golden glows. We were making the long drive from Northern California towards Death Valley, making Trona Pinnacles the perfect stop for the night. After choosing a campsite, we were just in time to watch the landscape transform as the sun set. Perhaps the best feeling in Trona Pinnacles is knowing that you’re a part of this ama ..read more

Where can you find the best panoramic views of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean? Mount Tamalpais is north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and offers amazing opportunities to hike there. Aside from being close to San Francisco, the rolling hills and mountain top views make Mount Tamalpais one of the best places to hike. I’ve been trying out various hikes in the Bay Area to find the best ones, and I can tell you with confidence that Mount Tamalpais definitely makes the cut. I love that you can explore both Muir Woods and Stinson Beach from here, opening up so many hiking options for outdoor lovers ..read more

Are you looking for the best stops along California’s Pacific Coast Highway? There are so many charming beach towns in California, it can be tough picking the best ones given limited time. Each beach town has its own appeal and are popular for good reason. When you’re cruising through Highway 1, also known as Pacific Coast Highway, it’s easy to miss the small beach towns if you haven’t planned to stop by. Having lived in Los Angeles for a few months and now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve grown fonder of the charming beach towns. They’re perfect for weekend or even day trips! It’s be ..read more