Half Moon Bay

I consider myself a fairly good driver, but give me a scenic roadway or ridge-line, and all bets are off. How anyone can drive safely when there are jaw dropping views to be seen is beyond me. Thankfully my husband was behind the wheel on our recent drive to Half Moon Bay, which took us along the famous California Highway 1. Our trip only had us on this beautiful stretch of highway for 12 miles, but that was enough to make me a believer!

A day at Muir Woods

After our recent experience at the Redwood Regional Park, we had an itching for another hike in the Redwoods. This time we headed over to Muir Woods to enjoy one of their free admission days! Since it was a holiday weekend AND free admission, we planned to arrive as early as possible (the park officially opens at 8am). We managed to get there by 8:45 and were able to find a spot in the overflow lot (just pass the main entrance).

Day trip to Lake Merritt

One of the best parts of living in Northern California is the availability of fresh, locally grown produce. It seems like you can't find a city in the Bay Area that doesn't have at least one Farmer's Market (if not multiple markets held several days a week). Much like the neighborhoods they are held in, each market has it's own unique vibe and variety of vendors, which makes visiting each market a special treat. The Grand Lake Farmer's Market has been on my list for a while, and with so much to do in the area, it is easy to make a day trip out of the visit.

A lovely morning in Mill Valley

This past weekend, we were able to take advantage of a small break between rain storms and head out to Mill Valley. Our first stop was Equator coffee in the heart of Mill Valley's downtown. This is a really great place to fuel up for the day. The coffee is very good and the prices are only slightly more than Peet's or Starbucks (but you're getting small batch organic coffee that is locally roasted...bonus!!).

Redwood Regional Park, Oakland

One of my favorite parts about writing this blog has been the gentle nudge it has given our family to get out and start experiencing new things. It has encouraged us to take a trip that we have done a dozen times (such as Tilden's Little Farm) and tweak it to include a nearby hike. Or to explore somewhere that is so close to home it is practically in our backyard, yet we have never bothered to take the detour. This past weekend was the perfect example of taking the time to explore a park that I have lived within 10 miles of for the past 7 years, and never made the stop.