The Bay Area, CA

I absolutely Love the Bay Area—it is stunningly gorgeous, there are tons of great breweries, and the hiking is incredible!

The Bay Area Tips: 

• This area is massive. San Francisco itself is a huge city that takes several days to explore, and you can spend several days exploring the areas to the south side of the bay and several more exploring the north.

• While you are in San Francisco be sure to soak in all the architecture! Everywhere you look there is unique and beautiful buildings

• While you are in San Francisco always carry a rain jacket! Even if there is no rain in the forecast it still happens all the time, and the fog makes things generally damp.

• Avoid driving if you are just staying in San Francisco itself. The city is known for car break-ins and parking is really a nightmare.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations for San Francisco:​

• Mission Dolores Park: A perfectly placed park that provides fantastic views of the skyline in the heart of the Mission District​​. This is the perfect spot for a picnic and the park is also very dog friendly.

• Hike! I started at Fort Point and followed the coastal trail. There are amazing views of the bridge, hang out at Baker Beach (heads up this is a nude beach), and then you can do the Land's End section as well that takes you around the peninsula down to Golden Gate Park. This trail on AllTrails is similar to what I did but I did it in the opposite direction & went further down the coast to Golden Gate Park.

• Cellarmaker Brewing: Arguably the best brewery in SF! They have two locations—the original taproom and their House of Pizza which has phenomenal Detroit-style pizzas with their beers. HOP is quite small so try to visit during an off time or you will need to wait for a table.

• The Rare Barrel: A fantastic brewery in Berkeley specializing in Sour Barrel Aged beers. They also have their own IPA and Lager subsidiary, Hello Friend.

• Toronado: One of the top beer bars in the country! They have an insane tap list and 40 taps. This spot is cash only and has dive bar vibes.

• Holy Water: A religious-themed craft beer and cocktail bar. They have a great tap list and chill vibes. Located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood.

• Barebottle Brewing Co.: A great brewery with a wide variety of beers, but specializing in IPAs. They have a large taproom with games and a nice little beer garden. As a forewarning if you go the flight route they are quite expensive, but the beers are great.

• Breakfast Little: A cute spot for delicious breakfast in The Mission. They have breakfast burritos, tots, coffees, and more.  

• The Monk’s Kettle: A tavern in the heart of The Mission with a top-notch tap list and tasty food. Overall a cool spot with fun vibes.

Tartine Bakery in Mission Dolores Park

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in San Francisco: ​

• Tartine Bakery: Located in The Mission & worth the wait. Amazing breakfast and baked goods. Pro tip—grab some baked goods and walk over to Mission Dolores Park. 

• The Golden Gate Bridge: Duh. It's stunning. But also don’t be surprised if it is hidden in the fog.

• Muir Woods: A national monument in the Redwoods! This is an extremely popular spot since it is close to San Francisco and easily accessible. It is $15 to enter unless you have a National Park Pass and you are required to book your parking ahead of time, or you can also book a seat on the shuttle. Learn more about both here. This area is very lush and there are a variety of hikes/walks you can choose from to explore.

  • I did the Fern Creek, Lost and Canopy Trail which was 5.1 miles and 69 flights up to the top of the Redwoods. The AllTrails map is not quite accurate so just follow the signage on the trail. If you’d rather just have a nice flat and easy walk you can do that at the base of the Redwoods as well.

• Ferry Building Market: A cute indoor market where the ferry stop is. Fort Point Brewing has a little mini tap room here as well

• Clairon Alley: Social justice murals line the alley

• Ghirardelli Square: So touristy. But also chocolate, so it's worth it. San Francisco Brewing is here as well.

• Fisherman's Wharf: So touristy. See the sea lions, but then escape!

• Crane Cove Park: A nice green space on the water right near the Chase Center.

Holy Water

Other things to do in San Francisco: ​​

• Original Pattern Brewing: A hazy IPA focused brewery in Oakland. The also partner with Good To Eat for dumplings onsite.

• Magnolia Brewing: A solid brewery on Haight Street with a full food menu and restaurant style set-up.

• Almanac Beer Co.: A popular brewery in Alameda known for Barrel Aged Stouts and Wild Ales. They have a large outdoor space and are super dog friendly.

• Faction Brewing: Another brewery just down the road from Almanac that has views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. They are part of Spirits Alley with distilleries and wineries surrounding them, so you could make a day of bopping between businesses.

• Southern Pacific Brewing: A popular brewery with a large space, full food menu, and solid beers.

• The Page: A fun dive bar in the Lower Haight neighborhood.

• Standard Deviant Brewing: A solid brewery in The Mission with an outdoor patio and several TVs for sports.

• Harmonic Brewing: Another brewery option. Located in an industrial area with frequent food pop-ups and average beers.

• Laughing Monk Brewing: A solid brewery in an industrial area with food pop-ups and games. Their tap list mainly focused on IPAs and easy drinking beers.

• Barrel Head Brewery: Solid beers and yummy pretzels, what more could you ask for? 

• Noe Bagel: A nice spot for a bagel in the heart of the Noe neighborhood. Pop up the street to Bernie’s Coffee for a drink to pair with your bagel.

• ThirstyBear Brewery: Organic beers and a large space!

• 21st Amendment Brewing: Solid beers that are largely distributed around the country

Humble Sea Brewing

Santa Cruz County Recommendations:

• Santa Cruz is an adorable little beach town full of great breweries, wineries, and restaurants.

• Sante Adairius Rustic Ales: SARA is one of the top breweries in the world and has two locations—their original taproom in Capitola and The Portal in Santa Cruz. They specialize in Rustic Ales, so be sure to try their Saisons. In Capitola they are located at the end of an industrial road with a quaint little taproom and outdoor patio. The Portal has a small patio out front and larger taproom inside. Here they partner with Bookies Pizza for Detroit-style pies and be sure to ask what Private Press Brewing bottles they have for onsite consumption as well.

• Humble Sea Brewing Company: This fantastic brewery has three locations: Santa Cruz—Located right in the heart of downtown, this is their main taproom and brewery. It is a cute spot with killer beers and they have Fonda Felix empanadas. Pacifica—This taproom is right next to the beach and has a full food menu and a great outdoor space. The Tavern—Located in Felton and has a full food menu and cocktails as well.

• Natural Bridges State Park: This is a nice beach with a very cool rock formation. If you are staying longer than 20 minutes you have to pay for parking, or you can park on the nearby street and walk over.

• Woodhouse Brewing & Blending: A nice brewery in Santa Cruz with an IPA-heavy tap list. This is a popular spot with frequent live music and food trucks. They have a nice outdoor space as well.

• Discretion Brewing: A solid brewery in Soquel with a wide variety of beers and a full food menu from Sugo Italian Kitchen onsite.

• Firefly Coffee House: A nice little spot in Santa Cruz for coffee and bagels.

• Beer Thirty: A bottle shop and beer bar in Soquel. It is a cute spot with mostly local draft beers but they are quite pricey.

• Santa Cruz also has a large boardwalk and amusement park along the beach which are quite touristy.

Big Sur Recommendations:

• Explore this gorgeous coast and do some hiking along the way! Be sure to start your day early because the parking at each viewpoint fills up quickly.

• Don’t miss: Rocky Creek Bridge, Castle Rock Viewpoint and Bixby Creek Bridge. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the road, so just pull over whenever you want to check it out!

• For the hiking in Big Sur there is a $10 admission fee that is good at all of the state parks in the area for the day.

• Partington Cove: This hike has nice views of 2 different coves, make sure you check out both. There is not a fee here, you just park along the road. This is a short and quick trail at just 1.3 miles long, 24 flights up, and about 25 minutes.

• McWay Falls: It is about .7 of a mile from the parking lot to the Falls viewpoint and back. There is also a longer trail but it was closed for maintenance while I was there. The $10 entrance fee also applies here. McWay Falls is a small waterfall that you are viewing from high up, but the bay view is very pretty.

• Pfieffer Big Sur State Park: There are several trails here after you pay the $10 entrance fee. The Valley View Overlook trail and the connection to Pfeiffer Falls is a nice hike. From the parking lot take the River Trail past the visitor center to the trailhead. Prepare for lots of stairs and quite a bit of incline as you are gaining 500ft of elevation in less than a mile. From the summit there is a nice view of the surrounding valley out to the ocean. Pfeiffer Falls is a small waterfall but it is still nice and it is an easy add-on to make the trail a loop. Overall it was 2.6 miles, 48 flights up, and took just about an hour.

The Lone Cyprus on the 17-Mile Drive

The Monterey Peninsula Recommendations:

• Carmel Beach: A beautiful beach with incredibly white sand in Carmel-By-The-Sea

• 17-mile Drive: You guessed it, a 17-mile drive around the edge of the Pebble Beach peninsula. It is $11.25 to drive it or if you spend $35 at a Pebble Beach restaurant it is reimbursed. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the drive and they give you a map at the entrance. Some of my favorites were the Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point, the Lone Cyprus, and Seal Beach.

• Wander Monterey—this cute little beach town is quite fancy.

• Alvarado Street Brewing: Alvarado Street has two locations—one in downtown Monterey and one in Carmel-By-The-Sea. Their Monterey taproom has a front and back patio space, full food menu, and restaurant-style vibes. Yeast of Eden is their Wild Ale subsidiary so occasionally they have one of those beers on draft and bottles available.

• Fieldwork Brewing Company: Fieldwork has a ton of different taprooms around the Bay Area, so be sure to check out at least one while you are in the area. Their Monterey spot is an outdoor beer garden with a huge tap list and a wide variety of beers. The service was exceptional and West Coast IPAs were great.

• Point Lobos is just south of the Monterey Peninsula and has several different hiking trails. Parking can be absolutely insane—go early because the parking lot and surrounding road fill up quickly.

Watsonville Recommendations:

• Fruition Brewing: A great brewery in Watsonville! They have a front patio space, restaurant onsite specializing in oysters, and impressive beers.

• Beer Mule: A bottle shop and beer bar in Watsonville. A cool spot with great beers and frequent food pop-ups.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Sonoma County Recommendations:

• When you drive into Sonoma County there are wineries and sheep everywhere—the views are great!

• Russian River Brewing: One of the best breweries in the world! They are located in downtown Santa Rosa and make insanely good, award winning beer. It is a popular spot for both locals and tourists so expect it to be busy. I recommend doing a flight to try a variety of their beers—you can do their California style beers, Belgian inspired beers, the full tap list, or build your own. They also have a full food menu. The beer for both onsite and to-go is quite cheap which is delightful coming from such a world class brewery.

• Stay at Cambria Hotel Sonoma Wine Country: I loved my stay at this new and budget friendly hotel in the heart of wine country. It was 1 mile off the highway, 10 minutes from Russian River, and had great amenities. They have an outdoor pool, workout room, fire pits outside, and a great bar and restaurant inside.

• Check out the wineries! Obviously Sonoma County and Napa Valley are best known for their wine so be sure to check it out. There are wineries everywhere in the region and most require reservations in advance and have limited hours, most spots are generally 10am-3pm.

  • Iron Horse Vineyards is where I chose to visit because they have a great view and are known for their sparkling wines. The tasting was $30 for 5 pours and takes about 1 hour. It is a nice set-up with super nice staff members and lovely views.

New Mexico and Texas Road Trip Itinerary

For this trip I spent 6 days exploring 4 National Parks and 1 National Monument across Southern New Mexico and Western Texas. I flew in and out of El Paso, but you could also extend the trip to include Albuquerque or Phoenix/Tucson if you wanted.

To note: The time zones will flip throughout this journey between central (part of Texas) and mountain time (El Paso and New Mexico).

El Paso, Texas

• El Taquito: A popular spot for Mexican near the airport. A great spot to stop on your way in or out of town!

• Craftbox Fill Station and Bar: A solid beer bar with 19 taps in the suburbs. They have a cool shared beer garden space and it would be a great spot to watch sports.

• Scenic Drive: A nice, quick drive with nice mountain and city views. I actually prefered the views from Rim Road, right before the scenic drive starts, more.

• Franklin Mountains State Park: This park is right in the city and you can see the mountains everywhere you go.

• Stay at this Airbnb: It is a great little spot and super cheap that still has good amenities.

• Hope & Anchor: A solid bar near the UTEP campus. It says it is a craft beer bar but they did not actually have a beer menu and the bartender was unhelpful, but I enjoyed my tasty and cheap cocktail on their nice patio.

• Craft Rhythm & Brews: A woman and veteran owned brewery with a small snack menu and beer cocktails along with their tap list of average beers.

• To note: Dead Perezidents Brewpub is where I would recommend visiting based on my research but they were closed when I was in town.

• Absolutely skip Salt + Honey Bakery Café: The owner attacked me on Instagram after I said nice things about their business, but just wished the side options had something for breakfast, not 7am French fries. 0/10.

Organ Mountain Desert Peaks National Monument 

Pine Tree Trail: This trail is 5.3 miles long with 1,049ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. The trailhead is 1.5 hours north of El Paso directly on the route to White Sands National Park. It takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete and winds through the desert with some pretty views of The Needles and the surrounding area. It is a very quiet trail and a little boring.

White Sands National Park

White Sands is a smaller National Park with just one road and a handful of trails. A half day visit is plenty to soak it all in. Be sure to keep in mind that walking in sand is always harder than walking on a hard surface and you will tire faster, especially in the desert heat and sun. Bring a sled to the park for even more sand dune fun.

• Backcountry Camping Trail: This trail takes about an hour to complete the full loop, but you can do as much or as little as you’d like. It is a great spot to see the sunset!

• Dune Life Nature Trail: This trail is just over a mile long with two dune climbs and takes about 25 minutes to complete. It is a good introduction to the dunes but a little boring.

• Alkali Flat Trail: Another popular trail option going deeper in the dunes, this one is much longer and though it says “flat” in the name it is not a flat trail.  

Alamogado, New Mexico

Alamogado is 20 minutes from White Sands. This small town has a lot of chain restaurants and seems to exist mostly for the park tourists.

• 575 Brewing: A popular spot with frequent live music, a nice outdoor patio, a small food menu + frequent food trucks, a large tap list + wine and N/A options. The beer quality is not great, but the atmosphere is nice.

• Stay at the Hampton Inn: It’s a nice, newer hotel conveniently located on the way into town.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

It is just over 3 hours from White Sands to Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico’s two National Parks. There are a couple of surface trails here, but the main attraction is going into the cave itself. Plan on about a half day to take it all in.

Reservations are required—if you’d like to go on a ranger led tour these book up pretty far in advance, but even to go on a self-led walk you’ll need a reservation to enter the cave. Things to note: don’t bring anything into the cave that has been in any other cave, this is to protect the bats. They have dog kennels available if needed while you tour the cave so no pets are allowed.

• Natural Entrance Trail + Big Room Trail: This is the main route through Carlsbad Caverns. It is about 2.5 miles long and winds down the Natural Entrance through the cave and the loop of the Big Room and then back up to the visitor’s center via the elevator. Keep your eyes peeled for Whales Mouth and Green Lake Room, two of my favorite parts! Be sure to at least walk into the Big Room, even if you are not up for doing the full loop—it’s awesome.

• Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center and Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail: This is a mostly flat ~1 mile trail near the Natural Entrance. It is a pretty boring loop but a good way to kill time if you arrive before your reservation. You start the trail via the visitor’s center, not the parking lot as indicated on AllTrails.

• Bat Flight Amphitheater: See the bats take flight and hear a talk from a ranger. This program starts in late May and runs through October.

Carlsbad, New Mexico

This is a small town with a lot of chain restaurants, heavy traffic, and heavy wind. It’s convenient to stay before or after visiting the cave, but otherwise it can be skipped.

• El Jimador Restaurant: A solid, popular spot for Mexican.

• Milton’s Brewing: The local brewery with frequent live music. The tap list is not personally my ideal with lots of Browns and Reds, but it is popular with locals.

• Stay at the Fairfield Inn: It is a little outdated but there is a pool which is great for the desert heat.

• Lake Carlsbad: A nice little swimming area and walking trails on the Pecos River.

• Grind Time Coffee: Solid spot to grab coffee in a food truck park.

• Guadalupe Mountain Brewing: This spot did not have a beer license for several months (including when I visited) so I can’t imagine the quality is very high. The staff was also quite rude when I asked about it since it was unclear that there was no beer at the brewery.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

This National Park is 50 minutes from Carlsbad, New Mexico just across the Texas boarder. It’s a small park with limited activities and trails.

Guadalupe Peak Trail: This trail is rated hard and is a grind at times over the 11ish miles with 2,949ft of elevation gain. It leads to the highest point in Texas with sweeping views. The first 1.5 miles are the hardest and most exposed to the sun. The trail is rocky and the trailhead parking is limited but there is overflow a half mile away at the visitor’s center. The trail takes about 5 hours to complete plus however long you’d like at the summit.

Marfa, Texas

Marfa is a little artsy town between Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park. It is essentially in the middle of nowhere, but a nice spot to break up a drive.

• Convenience West: This restaurant is a James Beard Award finalist specializing in BBQ. They are only open Friday and Saturday from 5 until sold out, so go early and expect a wait. Really fantastic food and cool spot. They only have outdoor dining or to-go.

• Prada Marfa: A random “piece of art” 30 minutes outside of town on the way in from Van Horn

• Para Llevar: A cute little bodega with pizza, salad, and bread with a nice outdoor area. Pizza is average.

Terlingua, Texas

Terlingua is known as a “Ghost Town” because it was abandoned after the mining boom. The population here is 127 people, but it swells with tourists thanks to its location 10 minutes from the entrance to Big Bend National Park.

• Stargaze! This area is home to one of the darkest skies in the country so make sure to spend some time at night looking at the beautiful skies!

• Espresso y Poco Más: A cute little spot for breakfast, lunch, and coffee with a lovely patio. It is a little pricey for what you get, but expected for a tourist town.

• Starlight Theater: A popular spot in an old movie theater for dinner and drinks. They also have a patio space.

• I stayed at this Airbnb which was quite nice! It’s close to town and to the park with a nice little patio and thoughtful touches.

• Taqueria el Milagro: Solid spot for tacos, plates and apps with outdoor seating. They are BYOB.

• Canyon Brew Coffee/Bella Bean Coffee Shop: A quick spot for coffee and a small breakfast menu on the go. Also a little pricey, but a tourist town.

• El Gordo’s: A popular spot for tacos and burritos for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but their google hours are incorrect as a forewarning.

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend is the largest National Park in the country! It is divided into three main sections: Chisos Basin, Eastside, and Westside. Each section is a decent distance away from another so plan at least a couple of days to explore this big park.

Beware of flash flooding in the summer months and the dangerous heat in the park in most months. I visited in April and it would be 70 degrees when I entered the park in the morning and 100 degrees when I left in the afternoon. There is little to no shade in the entire park.

Chisos Basin:

• Lost Mine Trail: This lovely trail is 5.6 miles long with 1,131ft of elevation gain. It is rated moderate and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete. There are nice sweeping views along this trail and it’s not too difficult. I highly recommend going all the way to the tippy top at the end of the trail. There is very limited parking at the trailhead so try to go at an off time.

• The Window Trail: This trail is 6.4 miles long with 948ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. There are some nice views along the way and towards the end there is a cool canyon to journey through. The trail leads to a little pop out view that is “the window". It is a descent trail, so keep in mind that you’ll need to hike back up after hiking out to the viewpoint, and it is a very exposed trail so the earlier you start the better. Overall it takes about 2.5 hours.

  • Window View Trail: This an alternative option that is just .4 miles long and flat, showing views over top of The Window Trail.

  • The Chisos Mountain Lodge, a visitor’s center, and a camp store all here at trailheads.

Westside:

• Santa Elena Canyon Trail: This trail is 2.4 miles long with 219ft of elevation gain and is rated easy. It travels along the Rio Grande River that divides the United States and Mexico. The trail heads up a few switchbacks before flattening out and ends when the canyon walls hit the river. It takes about 40 minutes to complete plus however long you’d like to hang out at the river. It is a nice spot to bring a picnic or a beverage and sit in the shade with the view. The trailhead is located at the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.

• Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive: A nice journey through the park, but nothing too epic—I think the drive into the park from Terlingua is more epic. The Sotol Vista Overlook and Mule Ears Viewpoint are both cool to see.

Eastside:

This area is known for the Rio Grande Village, Boquillas Canyon, and Hot Springs.

Washington Road Trip

Washington! What a glorious state. I spent 13 days meandering the area and here is my full guide to The Evergreen State:

Seattle

Check out my full guide to Seattle here! Here are some favorites from this trip:

Fair Isle Brewing: An amazing brewery focused on Saisons and Farmhouse Ales. Their taproom is cute, their staff is really nice, and their beer is absolutely incredible. By far my favorite stop in Seattle. 49th Street Beast is their onsite food truck.

The Masonry: A stellar beer bar and pizza restaurant in Lower Queen Anne. They have a solid draft list and a good list of beer bottles, wines and cocktails. Their pizzas are fantastic and the menu also includes salads and small plates.

Fast Fashion: This is a great brewery with two locations in Seattle: Lower Queen Anne (connected to The Masonry) and in the SoDo neighborhood. They are known for their tasty IPAs but still have a robust tap list.

Great Notion Brewing: This fantastic Portland based brewery has two locations in Seattle, one in the Ballard neighborhood and one in the Georgetown neighborhood. They are particularly great at Sours and Stouts. In Ballard the taproom has nice indoor and outdoor seating with Burb’s Burgers inside for eats.

RidgeWood Bottle & Tap: A great beer bar and bottle shop in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. They have a huge tap list with a great selection. The vibes are chill and there are some water views from the front patio space.

Fulcrum Café: A cute coffee shop in Belltown with a small food menu. Their coffee is great!

Chihuly Garden and Glass: A very cool glass museum with an indoor gallery, outdoor gallery, glass blowing demonstrations and onsite restaurant. Tickets are $35 which I was shook by but I would say it is worth it! Located in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle.

The Fat Hen: A cute spot for brunch just north of the Ballard neighborhood. They have a coffee bar, full food menu and a few cocktails. Everything I had was delicious and it is a great little neighborhood spot.

The Maxwell Hotel from Stay Pineapple: A really nice hotel conveniently located right downtown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. They are dog-friendly and have onsite parking. The bedding and robes are absolutely luxurious, and there is also an indoor pool and complimentary bikes. They have an onsite bar/restaurant and coffee shop with tasty drinks and eats.

Biscuit Bitch: A popular and touristy spot with delicious biscuits. They have 2 locations and you can order online to avoid any potential lines.

Seattle Center: Wander this area that is home to the Space Needle, multiple event spaces and a large outdoor park.

Lake 22 Trail: This trail is 6.4 miles long with 1,450ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. It is a rocky trail out to Lake 22 which is pretty and overall it’s not too tough. The trailhead is 1 hour north of Seattle in Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. It takes just over 2.5 hours to complete.

Holy Mountain Brewing: Holy Mountain has two locations in town—their OG taproom and the newer Phinney Ridge taproom. Phinney Ridge is a nice, sleek space with a smaller tap list. There are a few places nearby to snag eats. The original taproom has frequent food trucks and a large open space.

The Pine Box: A craft beer dive bar with a food menu in an old chapel. The vibes are fun and their selection is solid. The Pine Box is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, parking in this area can be tough.

TeKu Tavern: This beer bar and bottle shop has a great can and bottle selection alongside some solid taps.

Ravenna Brewing Company: An average brewery in the northeast Suburbs with frequent food trucks.

Bellevue

Bellevue is right across the water from Seattle and has a cute downtown and over 100 parks.

Bellevue Brewing Company: Located in The Spring District, a planned community, they have a great patio, a large variety of beers, cocktails, wine and a full food menu.

Get on the water: Rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard from the REI Boathouse on Meydenbauer Bay. The bay leads out to Lake Washington with pretty views. They also offer tours.

Take a Circuit to get around: Bellevue offers Bellhop for free electric transport in town.

Bellingham

Bellingham is a cute little waterfront town full of breweries. It is 1.5 hours north of Seattle and 20 minutes south of the Canadian border. Keep your eyes peeled for seals in the bay!

Otherlands Beer: My favorite spot in town! The beers here are superb and mainly Saisons and Lagers. They also have a European-style food menu and a restaurant set-up. Highly recommend!

The Great Northern Bottle Shop & Lounge: A fantastic bottle shop and beer bar from Garden Path Fermentation. They are located in the heart of downtown with a ton of bottles and a great selection. They have Garden Path Fermentation taps and guest taps with super friendly service.

Stemma Brewing: A great brewery with a cute taproom, nice patio space, and tasty beers.

Explore Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest:

• Chain Lakes Loop Trail: This trail is 8.3 miles long with 1,794ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. The views of Mt. Baker are fantastic before the beautiful Iceberg and Hayes Lakes. Bagley Lakes are here too and you can extend the trail to do the Bagley Lakes Trail if desired, but they weren’t as impressive. The last 1 mile from the Visitor’s Center back to Artist Point is extremely steep, and the trail takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete. I highly recommend starting this trail early, it gets very busy. It is a very exposed trail and rocky at points.

• Picture Lake Path: A quick little paved trail to a small lake with views of Mt. Shuksan. It is worth the stop!

The North Fork Brewery: A quaint little brewpub in Deming, between Mt. Baker and Bellingham. They have pizza, salads and appetizers and it is a popular spot.

Home2Suites: A nice place to stay that is 5 minutes from downtown. Updated and clean!

Structures Brewing: Structures has 2 locations in town. Their original taproom has a small tap list and a cute outdoor seating area. Their Old Town location has a burger menu and a few more taps.

Wander Brewing: This brewery has a wide variety of things on tap and very strong branding. The beers overall are average but the vibes are great. Their second location is named Roam and also has coffee.

Artivem Mead Co.: A nice meadery and wine + beer bar on the waterfront. The views are quite nice and you can do flights of the various meads.

Elizabeth Station: A craft beer bar, bottle shop and pizza restaurant with a solid selection of Pacific Northwest beers.

Little Squalicum Beach: A nice little rocky beach that is great for sunset!

Aslan Brewing Company: Aslan has two locations in town, the Brewpub and the Depot Barrel & Blending facility. At The Depot I found the beers to be average, there were not blended or barreled beers available during my visit (given the name this seemed off), there is a nice patio space, and they have a full food menu.

Woods Coffee: A local chain coffee shop with solid coffee and food, they open very early which was convenient!

San Juan Islands

Grab the ferry from Anacortes and head out to the San Juan Islands! The ferry is $15.20 roundtrip for passengers and you have to buy them at the counter, there are no advance reservations unless you are bringing a car to the islands. Parking is $13 per car at the lots onsite and there are more spots in businesses nearby for $7 per day.

The ferry takes just over 1 hour each way to get to San Juan and there are pretty views of various islands along the way. The ferry is a well-oiled machine and there are plenty of seats so there is no need to arrive super early. Be sure to catch the sunset if you’re on the ferry at the right time, it is absolutely gorgeous.

The town of Friday Harbor is cute and quaint, I walked the whole downtown in about 30 minutes. It is perfect for a day trip! There are also other islands you can visit, but San Juan is the main island and most popular.

Take a whale tour: I did the Adventure Whale Tour with San Juan Safaris and we hung out with 3 killer whales for a majority of the time, it was epic. We also saw a ton of absolutely massive sea lions. They provide spray suits for the wind and water which was very helpful on our little zodiac-style boat. There are multiple whale tour companies on the island, but I had a great time with San Juan Safaris and would definitely recommend the smaller boat experience.

Riptide Café is connected to their building and has coffee, smoothies and a small food menu.

Cease and Desist: A fantastic beer bar on the water with a solid selection of Pacific Northwest beers, great vibes, and water views.

San Juan Island Brewing Company: A cute restaurant-style brewery with full food menu. They have indoor and outdoor seating.

Overlook Park: A good viewpoint higher up overlooking the bay.

The Whale Museum: A small museum all about whales. It is $10 to enter and probably not worth that cost but when in Rome.

Cynthia’s Bistro: I have mixed thoughts on Cynthia’s—the food was good and the little side garden is nice and relaxing but the food took an insane amount of time to come out (not just mine, other people mentioned this to me later in the day too), and the mimosa was almost all juice. In conclusion go for the food if you aren’t super hungry and have a lot of time to spend.

Madrone Cellars: A winery and cidery with a lovely back patio. They have a small food menu as well, but I was not super impressed with the wine.

Avoid Cousin Vinny’s New York Pizza: They offer slices of pizza or whole pies but it’s a complete ripoff.

Anacortes

Anacortes is where the San Juan Islands ferry runs from. If you aren’t taking the ferry there is no reason to head over here.

Good Bagels Café: A cute spot for coffee, bagels and burgers. The bagels here are really fantastic.

Marina Inn: A nice hotel that is pretty modern and very clean. It’s also quite cheap!

Deception Pass State Park: I was underwhelmed by this park, so don’t go out of your way for it, but it has some nice spots. The bridge is the main attraction here which is always an odd concept to me but it is a nice bridge. North Beach is a rocky beach with views of the bridge and lots of folks come here to fish. There is a $10 entrance fee without a Discover Pass.

Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery: A popular spot with a full food menu and interesting dive bar and restaurant vibes. The beer here is mediocre but it’s open later than most spots in town which was what I needed after the San Juan ferry.

North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is one of the prettiest places I have ever been and I highly recommend exploring here! The North Cascades Highway runs directly through the park and is full of great views. It is pretty isolated up in this area of Washington and the nearest towns to stay in are Marblemont, Winthrop (an old western town), and Mazama.

Unfortunately wildfires prevented me from getting to have the full experience I had planned, and unfortunately this is not uncommon so be prepared for potential road and trail closures. I planned to stay at Freestone Inn & Cabins which looks great!

Diablo Lake Overlook: A stunning viewpoint—if you do one thing in this area visit this overlook.

Cascade Pass Trail: This trail is 7.7 miles long with 1,784ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. It is a steady climb up that leads to a viewpoint. There are a ton of switchbacks to start but they aren’t too steep and you’re almost done when you complete those. The trail takes just under 3.5 hours to complete and the trailhead is off of a gravel road but it is pretty smooth. It also connects to Sahale Arm & Doubtful Lake.

Trail of the Cedars Trail: A nice easy trail with views of the Skagit River and a fun suspension bridge.

Gorge Overlook Falls Trail: A quick trail with really pretty Gorge Lake views. I would recommend just going out to the viewpoint off the paved trail instead of completing the dirt loop here, the rest is boring.

Sterling Monroe Boardwalk Trail: This is a simple trail at the Visitor’s Center that leads to a nice mountain view.

Planned hikes that were closed but look awesome: Diablo Lake, Thunder Knob, Cutthroat Lake and Cutthroat Pass, Blue Lake, and Maple Pass.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth is a touristy but cute Bavarian Village nestled in the mountains. There are a ton of beer bars and wineries here along with lots of themed shops. The parking in town is awful and I would recommend staying somewhere you can park at the hotel/Airbnb and walk.

Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake and Colchuck Lake Trail: This trail is 10.7 miles long with 2,342ft of elevation gain and is rated hard. The views are absolutely stunning and it is a fantastic hike. Pack your bathing suit and jump in the lake if you are brave enough for the cold water! The lake is located in The Enchantments in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The first half of the trail is pretty easy and then it gets pretty steep with some nice flat sections sprinkled in. The trailhead is 35 minutes from town, and the last 4 miles are a gravel road. The parking lot fills up quickly because there are other trails here so I would recommend starting early. It takes just under 4.5 hours to complete.

Yodelin Broth Company and Beer Garden: A superb spot. They have a wide variety of menu items and are known for their broth. The back garden space has nice views and they also have a solid beer list. I enjoyed it so much I went back a second time during my stay in Leavenworth!

Icicle Brewing Company: A great brewery with a small food menu, a nice patio and chill vibes. Their IPAs are particularly tasty.

München Haus: A touristy spot for brats, pretzels and beers, but it is actually great. They have Icicle Brewing and Hofbrauhaus beers on tap. I was taken aback by how good the veggie wurst was, and I loved the variety of condiments and toppings available.

Bushel and Bee: A beer and cider bar and bottle shop with a relaxed atmosphere. They have a good list of selections and a variety of cans and bottles.

Blewett Brewing Company: A solid brewery with a pizza menu and a wide variety of beers. They have indoor and outdoor seating with nice views.

Hampton Inn: The Hampton Inn in Leavenworth is wildly nice. It is definitely the best Hilton property I’ve ever stayed at. The rooms are huge and really well done, the lobby is gorgeous, and there is a shuttle to town so you don’t have to pay to park or you can walk about 20 minutes.

Leavenworth’s Finest Espresso: A really great spot for coffee that is a quaint drive-thru.

Lake Valhalla Trail & Mount McCausland Trail: I combined these two trails and it totaled 8.6 miles with 1,900ft of elevation gain. They share the same trail for a majority of the hike until a split where there is a very, very steep climb up the mountain and a slight decent down to the lake. It was extremely foggy when I got to the mountain and the lake even though it was a perfectly clear day for a majority of the hike, so perhaps start this one a little later in the day to ensure things are clear. The trailhead is about 45 minutes from Leavenworth and the last 3 miles are a gravel road.

Milepost Brewing: This is in nearby Cashmere with a full food menu but only a couple of their own beers on tap.

Skip the Howard Johnson: This was not a great place to stay, and was a late addition to my itinerary due to wildfires in North Cascades. It was nice to be able to walk everywhere in town but would not recommend.  

Chelan

Chelan is a cute little town known for wineries and lake life. The water is super clear and pretty with nice mountains surrounding the lake.

Nefarious Cellars: I had the best glass of wine of my life here so I would highly recommend a visit! They are just a small spot but the wine was superb, the views are fantastic and it is very chill. They’ve also got a guesthouse you can rent to stay onsite.

Tsillan Cellars: A fancier winery with a nice restaurant onsite. They have a great patio space and delicious wines that are available for a tasting, glass or bottle. The staff here was incredibly friendly.

Lakeside Lodge & Suites: The views at this hotel are fantastic. It is right on the lake on top of Lakeside Park with a swimming area and volleyball court. They have two pools and are just 5 minutes from downtown. The rooms themselves are a little dated but the views and lake access make it a great stay.

Sigillo Cellars Tasting Room and Public House: A solid winery with a full food menu and a delicious cheese board. There are nice views from the rooftop, though it is on a main road.

Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery: An average spot for coffee, pastries, pre-made breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos. I found my sandwich and coffee underwhelming.

Don Morse Memorial Park: A waterfront park downtown with lake access.

Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park is stunning. There are so many great views from all over the park, it is truly amazing. There are two main areas to explore: Sunrise and Paradise. If you can only choose one, I would recommend Sunrise. It has prettier views of Mount Rainier and is quieter than Paradise. Be bear aware and do not feed the chipmunks.

Sunrise Area:

Sunrise Rim Trail Loop and Mount Fremont Lookout: This trail is 10 miles long with 2,004ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. The trail has stunning views from the start and hits all of the main views in the Sunrise area. It is a fantastic hike that isn’t terribly difficult with a great mixture of things to see. The Mount Fremont Lookout Tower is a steep climb for the first half and then evens out and leads to completely panoramic views. The climbs up each Burroughs Mountain are steep but lead to great views—this trail has you go to the 1st and 2nd but you could also continue on to the 3rd. You get very close to Mount Rainier from the Burroughs and it is awesome. When you turn around from the Burroughs you can see the North Cascades on a clear day! The sunset rim side of the trail is very quiet and has nice views of Glacier Basin. This whole trail is very exposed so definitely bring layers. It takes about 4hrs 45 mins to complete, but that is with 50 mins of break time to enjoy a beer with the view.

Paradise Area:

Skyline Loop Trail: This trail is 7.2 miles long with 1,768ft of elevation gain and is rated hard. It was not too difficult after the first section where you climb about 100 flights of stairs in an hour. There are stunning panoramic views throughout the trail. The first section is paved and starts with Nisqually Glacier before heading onto great views of Mount Adams, Mount Hood and Mount St. Helen’s. The last section is also paved and ends with Myrtle Falls, which is a very popular area. It takes about 3 hours to complete and there is a cool little hobbit bathroom about halfway through the trail.

Reflection Lakes: A nice serene lake with Rainier views. There is also a loop trail here, or you can just walk down and enjoy the view. You can actually see Mount Rainier reflected on the water on a clear day which is amazing!

Inspiration Point: A pretty scenic turnout between Ruby Falls and Reflection Lakes with views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding valley.

Narada Falls: A quick trail to a large waterfall that is short but a little steep. I would recommend visiting the falls in the afternoon—in the morning they are shadowed and dark.

Yakima

Yakima is most known for their farms, and particularly their hop production. The area has quite a few breweries to explore, but unless it is on your route I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to explore this city.

Bale Breaker Brewing Company: This is a very cool spot growing their own hops onsite. They have hop-forward beers, as you might expect, and nice vibes. The outdoor space is nice and they frequently have food trucks.

Single Hill Brewing: This brewery is the closest to downtown Yakima itself and they have a great outdoor space. The tap list has a wide variety of styles and the beers are pretty solid. They have a food pop-up inside with a limited menu.

Wandering Hop: I had a really poor experience at Wandering Hop due to the bartender so it was tough to enjoy my beers but they were tasty. They’ve got a food menu with sandwiches and snacks that is not always available. They have a second taproom in Zillah too.

Valley Brewing Company: This is a popular spot with an underwhelming tap list. They have a Mexican restaurant in the back for eats and a nice patio space.

The Donut Bar: An average spot for donuts, bagels and espresso. The vibes were weird and the food/drink were just okay. I wished I had gone to Catalyst Coffee instead!

Olympia

Olympia is a great stop south of Seattle. I added this in to break up my drive between Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks.

Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar: This is a superb spot for oysters, cocktails, and more. Highly recommend!

Oly Taproom: A great beer bar and bottle shop with nice views—a 3 minute walk from Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is an insanely diverse park—there are forests, mountains, and the coastline. There are no roads through the park so it takes quite a bit of time to get from one spot to another.

There are two main areas to stay for park exploration—Forks and Port Angeles. Forks is known for their Twilight connection and there are a few touristy things for the vampire lovers out there. Port Angeles is a cute little town and it was a delight to see free street parking all over.

I stayed at this Airbnb, a tiny home in Forks, and it was nice. It was larger than expected and only about 10 minutes to central Forks. In Port Angeles I stayed in an average basement Airbnb. If possible I would recommend staying at Lake Crescent Lodge—it’s a great central location and right on the water.

Ruby Beach: This is a great spot for sunset! It is popular but absolutely worth it. It is a rocky beach with beautiful views.

A Shot in the Dark: Solid drive-thru coffee shop with a small breakfast menu.

Hole-in-the-Wall from Rialto Beach Trail: This trail is 3.2 miles long and mostly flat along the beach. The trail leads to a giant hole in a rock that is pretty neat—to get to this last part you can either scramble along the cliffside or go up and around. Be sure to check the tides because you can’t get to Hole-in-the-Wall if the tide is up. I wore sandals because it was a beach walk but would recommend hiking boots to better navigate. It takes about 1.5 hours to complete and I highly recommend going in the early morning light for a gorgeous glow! The trailhead is about 20 minutes from Forks.

Hall of Mosses Trail: This trail is 1.2 miles long and mostly flat. This is in the Hoh Rain Forest along with the Spruce and Hoh River trails. It is pretty and, as you might expect, very mossy. This area gets very busy so the morning is best.

Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge: My intent was to complete this hike but due to nearby fires there were no cars allowed and limited shuttle times so unfortunately the timing did not work out for me, but I have heard great things so I wanted to include it! Hurricane Ridge is a pretty area with a few other short hikes with nice views that I was able to do. This area is 45 minutes south of Port Angeles and you can take a shuttle from downtown to reach it. If you do plan to hike Hurricane Hill keep in mind the shuttle stop is 1.5 miles (each way) from the trailhead.

Angeles Brewing Supplies & Taproom: A solid beer bar and bottle shop with good vibes in Port Angeles.

Catch the sunset at Lake Crescent Lodge: This is a pretty area for the sunset that is not too crowded. You can explore the grounds even if you are not staying there.

Mount Storm King Trail & Marymere Falls Trail: Both of these trailheads are at Lake Crescent Lodge and easy to combine, or you can just choose one or the other. Together they are 7.1 miles long with 2,404ft of elevation gain and take about 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete. It’s 10 minutes from the intersection of the two trails so the falls are an easy addition after the mountain.

• Mount Storm King is a hard trail with 2,106ft of elevation gain. I would describe it as very difficult and quite sketchy and not for folks who are inexperienced or afraid of heights. After a very, very steep climb you reach a section of ropes to pull yourself up the mountain and then cross a narrow stretch of rock to the viewpoint. The views are wildly stunning and it is worth it, if you are comfortable and capable.

• Marymere falls is an easy trail with 298ft of elevation gain with a few stairs. The waterfall is nice and this is a popular trail.

Next Door Gastropub: A beer bar with a full food menu. Their tap list is decent and the food is tasty. Located in the heart of Port Angeles.

Higher Ground Espresso: A solid spot for coffee and breakfast with 2 locations in Port Ángeles.

Add on a visit to British Columbia!

Check out my full guide to Vancouver here! Though not in Washington, this is an easy addition to a Washington road trip. Here are some BC favorites from this trip:

Garibaldi Lake Trail: This trail is 13.8 miles long with 3,211ft of elevation gain and is rated hard. It is very challenging but absolutely worth it! The views are truly epic at the lake. There are two other lakes you’ll come to first but Garibaldi is majestic. The water is absolutely stunning and Sphinx Glacier is very cool. It gets quieter and easier after the switchbacks where many folks head towards the Black Tusk and takes just under 6 hours to complete. A day use pass is required in Garibaldi Provincial Park during the summer months—you can reserve this easily online ahead of time.

Backcountry Brewing: Located in Squamish, 25 minutes from the trailhead. This a cute and popular spot with great beers and food. The menu is pizza focused and everything was delicious. Squamish is 1 hour north of Vancouver.

Superflux Beer Company: The best brewery in Vancouver, by far. Their main taproom has a restaurant-style set-up with chill vibes and tasty beers. The food menu here is an interesting mix of hot dogs, salads and appetizers. Superflux Cabana is their second space with vacation vibes, a different food menu, and their same tasty beers.

Luppolo Brewing Company: A great brewery with a Lager-heavy tap list and a full food menu. They have a side patio for outdoor seating or a colorful inside space.

33 Acres Brewing Company: Their food here shines a bit more than the beer, and I am not a fan of only having 16 or 24oz pours. It is always quite loud in their taproom, but the cheese board made it worth it for me.

Strange Fellows Brewing: A solid brewery with a quaint taproom. They make tasty Sours.

What are your favorite spots in washington state? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

Utah Road Trip Itinerary

Utah is a fabulous area for a road trip! In 12 days of adventures I explored 5 National Parks, 2 State Parks, 2 National Monuments, 1 National Forest and 1 National Recreation Area. This was with 1,863 miles driven and 121 miles hiked. All of the National Parks are quite small so you can cover a lot of ground in not too much time which is great! You can also shorten or lengthen this trip—the bottom of the itinerary has suggestions for both.

This is a recommended 12 day Utah road trip itinerary and how I did my trip, but be sure to check out my full Utah guide here for all of my recommendations on hikes, eats, drinks, where to stay and more! I also include a smidge of Northern Arizona on this route.

Day 1: Arrive

Fly into Salt Lake City—I chose an evening flight so I wouldn’t need to use another day of PTO. If you have any earlier flight you can combine days 1 & 2. You can also fly into Las Vegas and do this loop road trip just hitting Zion first instead of Arches!

Sleep: Salt Lake City

Day 2: Drive to Moab, explore Arches National Park

Hit the road! It’s a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City to Arches National Park, so get an early start and then you’ll still have almost a full day in Arches. If you want to start off with a bang the Devil’s Garden Trail is a great choice. Spend the evening exploring the cute town of Moab.

Sleep: Moab

Day 3: Arches National Park, Moab

Today is another full day for Arches and luckily Moab is just 10 minutes from the park entrance. Recommended hikes: Delicate Arch Trail, Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail, Fiery Furnace (permit required). If you’ve still got some energy later Corona and Bow Tie Arch Trail outside of the park in Moab is a nice hike with a massive arch.

Sleep: Moab

Day 4: Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park, Moab

Start the day with Fisher Towers Trail, about 40 minutes north of Moab. Head back into town for lunch before driving 45 minutes west to Canyonlands National Park. Half of a day for the Island in the Sky region is plenty. Stop at a few overlooks and do a couple of short trails such as White Rim Overlook Trail and Mesa Arch Trail. Head over to Dead Horse Point State Park for sunset—it’s 13 miles from Canylonlands on the same road heading back towards Moab.

Sleep: Moab

Day 5: Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Monument Valley, drive to Page

Today is the only day of the trip with a lot of driving so buckle up—literally and figuratively. Start the day in The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. This is 1 hour and 45 minutes south of Moab. Chesler Park Viewpoint Trail is a great way to see this unique area of the park.

From here it’s a 2.5 hour drive to Natural Bridges National Monument. Plan for about 2 hours to explore the loop drive and short trails here. From Natural Bridges head further south to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Lookout for cows in the road along the way and be sure to stop for views of Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley from the road.

It’ll take about 1 hour to do the scenic loop drive at Monument Valley and from there it is a 2 hour drive west to Page, Arizona. You could also cut out any of this—Natural Bridges and Monument Valley were my two least favorite stops out of the entire trip. Driving straight from Moab, UT to Page, AZ is 4.5 hours. Grab dinner/drinks in Page and then get to bed nice and early after this long day of driving!

Sleep: Page

Day 6: Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, drive to Zion National Park

This was my absolute favorite day and although it seems like a lot it was absolutely perfect! Start the day with sunrise at Horseshoe Bend. Grab breakfast and coffee then explore Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Recreation Area via kayak. Kayak rentals are for the full day but I found 3 hours to be the perfect amount of time on the water with getting to explore a loop route to Ice Cream Cone Slot Canyon and not getting too much sun.

After kayaking it’s time for the famed Antelope Canyon. The early afternoon is said to be best time for sun beams. Be sure to book this in advance, you can only visit via guided tour. After Antelope Canyon it’s time to head out to Zion National Park, a 2 hour drive north. Personally I was too excited to not explore any of the park and just grab dinner and go to bed so I did the short and sweet Zion Canyon Overlook Trail upon entering the park and this was the perfect way to meet Zion.

Sleep: Zion

Day 7: Zion National Park and Sand Hollow State Park

Today is a full day of Zion! Recommended hikes: Angel’s Landing (permit required) or Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail, The Narrows or The Zion Narrows Riverside Walk, The Watchman Trail, or Emerald Pools Trail (not my favorite personally).

After hitting a few trails, head 45 minutes southwest to Sand Hollow State Park for a nice relaxing time at the beach! A perfect way to cool off and rest after a day in Zion.

Sleep: Zion

Day 8: Zion National Park, Red Canyon, drive to Bryce Canyon

Another full day in Zion—hit whatever trails are left on your list and drink one more prickly pear margarita at Camp Outpost.

After a full day of exploring Zion head up to Bryce Canyon National Park, which is just under 2 hours away. Directly on the route is Red Canyon, which is part of Dixie National Forest, and is a great stop with beautiful trails.

Sleep: Bryce Canyon

Day 9: Bryce Canyon National Park

Today is a full day in Bryce Canyon—which is an absolutely stunning park! Recommended hikes: Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop to Peekaboo Loop (Figure 8), Fairyland Loop Trail, Mossy Cave, Turret Arch and Little Windows Trail, Lower, Mid and Upper Inspiration Points Trail. Be sure to also drive the Southern Scenic Drive here!

Sleep: Bryce Canyon

Day 10: Bryce Canyon National Park

Another full day in Bryce Canyon—hit some more trails and soak in those beautiful views.

Sleep: Bryce Canyon

Day 11: Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Drive to Torrey

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is home to one of my favorite hikes I’ve ever done, but this area is frequently overlooked since it’s not a National Park. The start of the National Monument is just around the corner from Bryce Canyon, and the trailhead for the Dry Fork Narrows, Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons Trail is 1.5 hours from Bryce Canyon. The slot canyons are definitely not for everyone, but I absolutely loved it!

After this drive an hour back up the washed out road to Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail for a nice easy, albeit a little long, walk to a relaxing waterfall. After finishing your hikes it’s an hour drive up to Torrey, a great place to stay for exploring Capitol Reef National Park. This drive is through Dixie National Forest and full of great views.

Sleep: Torrey

Day 12: Capitol Reef National Park and Departure

It’s the last day! Time for one more National Park—Capitol Reef! Recommended hikes: Grand Wash Trail, Cassidy Arch Trail and Hickman Bridge Trail.

After exploring Capitol Reef it’s time to head back to Salt Lake City, which is a 3.5 hour drive north. Catch an evening or red-eye flight home to wrap up your adventure. If you’ve got time in Salt Lake for a couple of beers before the airport don’t miss Templin Family Brewing and Grid City Beer Works.

Have More time?

Spend more time in Salt Lake City, add on the North Rim of The Grand Canyon, add a visit to Grand Junction, Colorado, or make a stop in Las Vegas and explore Valley of Fire State Park. Check out my Las Vegas Area guide here! Move slower—I like to keep a busy schedule and see a lot, but you could also add in more time throughout.

Have Less time?

Skip: Natural Bridges National Monument, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, or Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. You could also skip Page altogether and just stay in Utah, but Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are a real treat!

Consolidate: Spend less time in Arches—you can do Arches and Canyonlands in 1.5 days if you wanted to. Cut a day from Bryce Canyon or Zion (or both!). Cut some State Parks and extra trails.

Have you explored Utah? Let me know in the comments!
Cheers —Alexis

The Best Breweries in Southern California

Southern California is full of fantastic breweries, including some of the top breweries in the world! It can be overwhelming to plan a beer trip to this area just because there are simply so many breweries and a lot of those breweries also have multiple taprooms. For full guides to this area, check out my San Diego beer and travel guide here and my Los Angeles guide here.

In ranking order, here are the best breweries in Southern California:

Monkish Brewing Co: Torrance and Anaheim

Monkish is arguably one of the best breweries in the country. Their original taproom is located in Torrance, conveniently close to LAX if you are flying in/out of the city. They are best known for their New England IPAs which are absolutely spectacular, but their funky beers are delicious as well. Monkish has a second location in Anaheim next to Farmer’s Park and the Anaheim Packing District.

Bottle Logic Brewing: Anaheim

Bottle Logic is a powerhouse brewery specializing in Stouts. They have a nice patio, a large tap list, and phenomenal beers in Anaheim.

Pure Project: San Diego Area

Pure Project is easily the best brewery in the San Diego area. They have several locations to check out—Vista, Miramar, Balboa Park, Carlsbad and North Park. Their “Murky” IPAs, Stouts, Sours and Lagers are all superb.

Homage Brewing: Pomona and downtown Los Angeles

Homage is best known for their Saisons and Lambics, which are top-notch. Homage has two locations—their original taproom is in downtown Pomona and they have a smaller secondary taproom in the Chinatown neighborhood of downtown LA.

Green Cheek Beer Co.: Costa Mesa and Orange

A stellar brewery with a wide array of beers to choose from, including a few guest taps. They are best known for their Lagers and IPAs and have taprooms in Costa Mesa and Orange.

Highland Park Brewery: Downtown Los Angeles

Highland Park is a fantastic brewery in downtown Los Angeles with a wide variety of beers and delicious food. They have great beers and chill vibes.

Kings Brewing: Rancho Cucamonga

Kings is best known for their thiccc Fruited Sours but they also highly value a good crisp Lager. They have a massive tap list and a friendly team, located in Rancho Cucamonga.

North Park Beer Co.: San Diego

North Park does all styles of beer well! West Coast IPAs, Hazy IPAs, Lagers, Stouts—they are all fantastic. Their taproom in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego has chill vibes.

Burgeon Beer Company: Carlsbad

Burgeon is a great brewery with a wide variety of beers to choose from. Each style is executed well and their taproom is a fun place to hang out.

The Bruery: Placentia & Anaheim

The Bruery is a highly awarded brewery creating uniquely delicious beers. Their main brewery and taproom is located in Placentia, right near Anaheim. Their second location, Bruery Terreux Tasting Room, is 5 minutes away in Anaheim proper. This location houses their Lambics and Wild Ales, but you can get those on tap at the main taproom as well.

The Lost Abbey: San Diego Area

The Lost Abbey is a Belgian brewery with four tasting rooms in the San Diego area—The Main Tasting Room in San Marcos, The Church in downtown San Diego, The Sanctuary in San Marcos, and The Confessional in Cardiff-By-The-Sea. They focus on Belgian-style Ales and barrel aged beers.

What are your top breweries in southern california? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

Yosemite National Park Guide

Yosemite National Park is on many people’s bucket list, but it can be overwhelming to try to plan a trip to such a large park that is also incredibly busy. Check out my guide below with tips for visiting Yosemite, hiking in Yosemite, and where to stay.

Vernal Falls

Yosemite Tips:

• If you’re visiting during peak season (mid-May-September) you will need a reservation to enter the park. Learn more and book your reservation here. If you do not have a reservation you can enter the park before 6am or after 4pm.

• You will also need either a National Park Pass or to pay $35 for 3 days of access to enter the park.

• I cannot emphasize this enough: start your days early. You will avoid crowds, parking issues, and the heat if you just set that alarm a little bit earlier and get moving early.

• If you enjoy waterfalls, visit during the spring or early summer when they are the most active. The snowmelt creates an abundance of water.

• I would also recommend that you get out of Yosemite Valley. Many people who visit the park only visit the Valley which is the most touristy area. There are 6 distinct areas to Yosemite: Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy, Glacier Point, Wawona and Mariposa Grove, and Tuolumne Meadows.

• While in Yosemite Valley there is a convenient and free shuttle to take you to different points without having to move your car. If you are staying at certain locations in the park this is also a great option for getting around the Valley. There are two different shuttle loops that operate about every 10-20 minutes—learn more here.

  • You can also bike in Yosemite Valley via the bike rental shop and bike lanes are everywhere.

• Tioga Pass Road cuts through the center of the park and is only open seasonally. Each year it differs depending on conditions, but it is generally open late May through September. Many hikes and lakes are along this road, so be sure to plan ahead.

• Be bear aware! All of the bears in Yosemite are black bears, so if you see them in the wild keep your distance, if you see them in a public space get as large and loud as possible. Do not leave food in your car and always have your backpack within reach. Drive the speed limit throughout the park to save bears.

• If you are visiting in the year 2022 Glacier Point and Glacier Point Road will remain closed all year. Any trails along the road are inaccessible and Glacier Point, a popular viewpoint, is inaccessible. Bridalveil Falls is also closed for 2022.

• A note, Crane Flat Lookout Trail is not a trail, despite what AllTrails thinks. It’s a road to a fire tower which you actually can’t even go up for views. You’re welcome!

Tunnel View

Hiking in Yosemite:

There are two viewpoints I would recommend that are not hikes, but rather areas to park and enjoy the view:

• Tunnel View on Wawona Road is the classic Yosemite viewpoint as you enter Yosemite Valley. Here you can see El Capitan, Horsetail Fall, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall.

• Yosemite Valley Viewpoint on Big Oak Flat Road is essentially the other side of Tunnel View across the park with great views of Half Dome.

Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail

Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail 

This trail is 7.2 miles long from the trailhead, 164 flights up with 2,162 feet of elevation gain, and is rated as hard. Keep in mind the closest parking lot is an additional 0.7 miles away. You can also take the shuttle to the stop near the trailhead.

The first section is paved and uphill and leads to the Vernal Falls footbridge. This is the most popular area of the trail as most people make it to the footbridge and turn around. There is a bathroom here and a water refill station as well. It is 0.9 miles/36 flights up from the trailhead to the footbridge.

Next you will come to Vernal Falls itself, where you should expect to get quite wet from the waterfall mist. This section has steep, wet steps and you will walk directly next to the waterfall.

From here you will continue up more stairs to the top of Vernal Falls before heading deeper into the wilderness. Next you will hike alongside Nevada Falls for a while, with great views and frequent switchbacks.

When you have finally reached the summit at the top of Nevada Falls there is an outhouse if you need it and great views of the valley below. As you start your descent there are great views of Half Dome, Nevada Falls and Mount Broderick.

At Clark Point you will have one last great view before taking the John Muir trail back down. There are quite a few switchbacks until you reconnect with the Mist Trail at the Vernal Falls footbridge.

Overall this hike took me 4 hours with lots of stops for photos and was a fantastic trail. It was not very crowded which was one of my concerns with it being in Yosemite Valley itself, but the difficulty of the trail means less folks are on it, and again I would emphasize starting early.

Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake Trail

Mirror Lake shares a trailhead with the Vernal and Nevada Falls trail, so I would recommend doing this after you finish your long hike as it is short and easy. If you are not hiking the Vernal and Nevada Falls trail, Mirror Lake is shuttle stop #17.

The Mirror Lake Trail has two sides—the left hand side is paved, the right hand side is not paved and has slightly more incline. On either side you walk along the water to Mirror Lake which has crystal clear water providing great reflections of the surrounding mountains. You also have nice views of Half Dome.

As an easy hike in the Valley, this trail and area in general is quite crowded. From the trailhead shared with Vernal and Nevada Falls the Mirror Lake trail is 2.6 miles total out and back and 12 flights up.

Lower Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls

This is another easy and popular trail in Yosemite Valley with great views. It is a flat, paved 1.1 mile loop that takes about 30 minutes with stops for photos.

The trail leads to the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls which is crowded, but still beautiful. You can also see the Upper Yosemite Falls at certain angles throughout the trail, so be sure to look up!

Wapama Falls

Wapama Falls Trail

This trail is in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park. This area is only open from 8am to 5pm unless you are camping. There is a locked gate that a park ranger will come open at 8am and then you can drive through the park entrance gate to the trailhead.

This trail is 4.8 miles long, 38 flights up over 1000 feet of elevation, and is rated as moderate. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes with lots of stops for photos. The trail is extremely quiet, especially compared to any trail in Yosemite Valley. You are exposed in the sun for most of the hike, so be sure to plan accordingly.

To start, you will cross over the massive O'Shaughnessy Dam, which provides water to the San Francisco Bay area. From here you will hike towards Wapama Falls with great views of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. There is also one smaller waterfall first that is higher up, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

Wapama Falls is absolutely roaring in the late spring and you will get soaked if you walk on the bridges under the falls.

Tuolumne Grove

Tuolumne Grove Trail

This is a 2.5 mile long, 22 flights up over 656 feet of elevation gain, and is rated as moderate. This is a paved trail that is downhill to the giant sequoia trees and uphill on the way back.

It is a quiet trail overall but still touristy since it is pretty accessible, but the hike back up is quiet steep. Overall I wasn’t super impressed, the giant sequoias are giant, but it was pretty boring and not really worth the time spent.

Valley View Point

Where to stay when visiting Yosemite:

You can choose to stay in Yosemite National Park or outside of the park itself, just depending on what you are looking for and what makes the most sense for you. It also will depend on where you are coming from—East, West, North, or South.

If you plan to stay in the park be sure to book your reservation far in advance—I would suggest 8 months to a year out just depending on when you are going. If you wait until even 6 months out all of the lodges are booked solid. Reservations open 366 days in advance and can be booked here. There are both hotels/lodges and campsites available in the park.

Personally I chose to stay outside of the park because of scheduling, pricing, and activities after hiking—if you are in the park you are a bit confined to the food/drink/activities there and I like to explore. I also was coming from Santa Cruz so the South entrance was closest and therefore I chose to stay in Oakhurst.

Bass Lake

Oakhurst recommendations:

The Yosemite Southgate Hotel and Suites is a newly remodeled hotel with clean and spacious rooms. They have a pool, hot tub and continental breakfast. It is 22 minutes from the hotel to the South Gate entrance of Yosemite.

South Gate Brewing Company in Oakhurst has a full food menu and solid beers. It is a great spot to visit after a day of hiking for tasty food and a cold beverage. They also have a small outdoor space.

Bass Lake is another spot worth checking out while in the south Yosemite area. This lake is nestled in Sierra National Forest and is a nice spot to relax after a day of hiking.

• The Willow Cove trail is a short .7 mile out and back trail to a private beach on the lake. It is overgrown, rarely used, and full of bugs, but the spot it leads to is the perfect place to relax on the lake.

• Ducey’s On The Lake is a nice restaurant with great service. They do not have any draft beer as a forewarning. They also have an upstairs patio bar/restaurant with great views, but it has limited hours.

Have you visited Yosemite National Park? What are your favorite hikes and tips? Let me know in the comments!

A Day Trip to the Oregon Coast

I highly recommend checking out the Oregon Coast! I chose to do a day trip from Portland, which was a long day but absolutely worth it! From Portland I started just below Tillamook at Cape Lookout, drove up to Astoria, and then back over to Portland.

Oregon Coast Tips:

• Anticipate that the coast will be much colder than other areas in Oregon—bring layers and a rain jacket for the foggy mist, not necessarily a swimsuit

• Each city on the coast is quite different, so definitely check out at least a couple of different spots!

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your booking!

Check out my full guide to Portland!

Hike on the coast!

There are several hikes along the coast in Oregon, so it really depends on where you want to launch from. I did the Cape Lookout Trail which ended up being about 5.3 miles, 52 flights up, and took about 2 hours. It is just outside of the town of Tillamook, right on the coast.

The trail itself was a bit muddy and overgrown in certain parts, but it provided great views! I recommend starting early, I was the only one there at 8am and when I left at 10am it was pretty busy.

Tillamook

From the hike head into Tillamook, a sleepy little town just inland from the coast. People flock to Tillamook to visit the creamery, but don’t miss de Garde Brewing.

Tillamook Creamery

The hub of creamy cheese and ice cream! This is a massive tourist attraction in Tillamook overflowing with visitors. There is a self-guided tour you can walk through to learn more about the creamery process and then they have ice cream, cheese, grilled cheese, and burgers available on their food menu.

Five Rivers Coffee Roasters

A tasty coffee shop right across the street from the creamery!

de Garde Brewing

de Garde specializes in Spontaneously Fermented beers. All of their beer is produced in a coolship, then barrel aged, and then finally bottle conditioned. They have won a plethora of awards are are arguably the best brewery in Oregon. They are located right downtown in a small little taproom with a nice patio. Their tap list is small but mighty.

Rockaway Beach

A sleepy little beach town just north of Tillamook.

Cannon Beach 

Cannon Beach is one of the more popular beach towns along the Oregon Coast. As a result, anticipate pretty terrible traffic and parking. The beach itself is dog friendly which makes everything more fun. You can also see the surrounding mountains from the beach.

Pelican Brewing 

Pelican is extremely popular and has 3 locations—Cannon Beach, Pacific City, and Tillamook. They have a full food menu that is a bit pricey but tasty. I was honestly surprised by the quality of their beer because it is essentially a tourist hub that is more of a restaurant, but the beer was great!

Haystack Rock

A massive rock in the ocean that is worth seeing!

Astoria

Astoria is pretty large city located at the top of Oregon. The Columbia River separates the city from Washington to the North and the Pacific Ocean borders the city to the West. It is a port city and it is the oldest city in Oregon!

Fort George Brewery

Fort George is housed in a large building in the heart of Astoria. They have both the upstairs and downstairs of the building providing ample seating. They also have an elevated patio with views of the water and the city. They have a full food menu that is focused on pizza. Fort George makes fantastic beers, particularly IPAs and Sours.

Buoy Beer Co.

Buoy is located right on the ocean and provides great views of the surrounding water and mountains. They also have a full food menu if you arrive hungry. The inside space has a glass floor to look at the ocean and creatures below. Buoy can definitely be touristy because of its location but the beers were good and the views were worth it!

Have you checked out the Oregon coast?! What is your favorite spot? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

A Day Trip to the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is the perfect day trip from Portland, Oregon. This scenic area is just about an hour away from PDX. It is full of hiking, waterfalls, water sports, and fantastic craft beer.

Check out my full beer and travel guide for Portland!

Here is my day trip itinerary for the Columbia River Gorge:

Hike in the columbia river gorge

Multnomah Falls is the highest waterfall in Oregon and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. I recommend doing the Wahkeena Falls loop which hits five different waterfalls. I did this AllTrails hike which ended up being 5.8 miles, 134 flights up, and took about 2.5 hours.

The trail starts along a ridge heading from Wahkeena Falls to Multnomah Falls. Multnomah Falls are truly an incredible sight. From the base of the falls you head up the trail across the iconic bridge on the falls and into the land of switchbacks. You wind up for quite a while until you’re at the top of the Multnomah Falls, and then head into the woods. First you encounter Wisendanger Falls, and then Ecola Falls which is a bit smaller and harder to see from the trail. From Ecola Falls you wind through the woods for a while until getting to Fairy Falls, which you essentially follow all the way back down the mountain to the trailhead at Wahkeena Falls.

The trail provides great views of the surrounding gorge and was a delight to hike throughout. It was mildly overgrown in some areas when I visited and there were a plethora of large slugs, so just watch your step! I recommend starting your hike early to avoid the crowds. Getting there anytime between 7-8am was fine, but by 10am the parking lot was packed. There are several other waterfalls and hikes along the Historic Columbia River Highway as well!

Multnomah Falls

Hood River

From your hike head further into the gorge to the town of Hood River, the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The drive is right along the river and absolutely gorgeous!

I recommend making Stoked Coffee your first stop. This cute little coffeeshop is right on Hood River Waterfront Park. Grab a coffee and meander through the park or find a bench to watch the windsurfers!

Hood River also has several breweries worth checking out:

Full Sail Brewing

Full Sail Brewing

Full Sail has a small elevated patio with nice views overlooking the Columbia River. They have a full food menu, average beers, and restaurant-style vibes.

Ferment Brewing Co.

Ferment Brewing Co.

Ferment has a huge deck-style patio right on Waterfront Park. The views here were my favorite in Hood River. They have a full food menu with delicious offerings and fantastic beers—the best of the day! Ferment can be quite popular, so expect a line if visiting during peak season.

pFriem Family Brewers

pFriem Family Brewers

pFriem is probably the most well-known brewery in the area and for good reason—their barrel aged beers are top notch. With that popularity comes long waits for a table, so I recommend heading to Bear’s Den next door. This is their beer-only outdoor section, whereas their taproom has a full food menu and more of a restaurant set-up. pFriem is also right on Waterfront Park, but they are on ground level so you don’t get the views that you do at Ferment.

Views from the Wahkeena Falls trail

Have you visited the Columbia River Gorge? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis