Solvang, California, is a small Danish-style town tucked into the Santa Ynez Valley. It’s a popular Christmas town, but it is really cute and charming any time of the year. Located about 2.5 hours north of Los Angeles, Solvang was settled by immigrants from Denmark, and it leans hard into its European roots. You’ll find […]
If you’re thinking about visiting California but want to get away from the craziness of Los Angeles, consider this 5-Day Itinerary (not counting travel days), which I did in December of 2025. This was a spectacular trip to see the California coast and countryside. We saw cute small towns like Solvang, famous attractions like Hearst […]
Hearst Castle sits high on a hill above California’s Central Coast, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and miles of rolling ranch land. It’s part palace, part museum, part fever dream of the Gilded Age. You’ll ride a shuttle up through a private ranch, tour the grand rooms of “Casa Grande,” wander the terraces and pools, and […]
Channel Islands National Park looks simple on a map, just a few little islands off the Southern California coast, but figuring out how to actually spend a day there isn’t all that obvious. You can’t just drive in, snap a photo, and move on. You have to book a boat, commit to a full-day excursion, […]
Crater Lake National Park is home to the beautiful, deep blue, and pristine Crater Lake. Formed over 7,000 years ago as the result of a volcano, over 500,000 people visit this outstanding national park every year. It has some of the cleanest water and air on the planet, but what exactly is there to do, […]
Did you know that protecting the sequoia tree was the reason behind creating three of the first four national parks? They are really that amazing, and a trip to walk among these ancient giants is an opportunity I hope everyone gets at least once in their lifetime. But, how much time should you spend at […]
Kings Canyon National Park is a delightful escape from the crowds of some of California’s more crowded parks. It offers an amazing diversity of things to see, including canyon views, a scenic drive, waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees. It is one of my favorite “hidden gem” national parks and one I don’t think you should […]
