There's just something about a train ride. It's the same sort of something about a campfire - something that nurtures a peace of mind, a flowing of thoughts, and an opening of conversation with others.
Read MoreRoad trip to Portland
It took two days to drive from Bakersfield, California to Portland, Oregon, so Eric and I tried to make the most of it while on the road. We drove through Napa Valley, quickly stopping to taste some wine, and spent the night on the Avenue of the Giants, among California's huge redwood trees.
Read MoreThe "Greatest Family Reunion Ever"
I’ve heard rumors of the Greatest Family Reunion Ever (GFRE) from the time I married Eric. Over Memorial Day weekend, we arrived in Fresno and I met much of my extended family for the first time and was finally inducted into this very welcoming and very large family.
Read MoreYosemite National Park
Yosemite is not an easy place to describe with words. You have to go yourself to experience the feeling that, as a sign read, "only the soul can comprehend what the eye sees."
Read MoreBig Sur and the California coast
There is one thing that everyone from California told us we must do upon visiting their state - drive the coast and stay at Big Sur. And as promised, Big Sur and the rest of California's coast demanded a lot of noticing and appreciation.
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