California Archives | Practical Wanderlust

How to Plan an Amazing Lake Tahoe Winter Trip (on a Budget)

October 25, 2019

Snowy mountains. Powdery slopes. A shimmering alpine lake. Semi-creepy frontier history. Every year for the last 7 years, we’ve visited Lake Tahoe for a weekend of snowy fun, skiing, and hot tubbing! Although Lake Tahoe has a reputation for being pricey, it absolutely does NOT have to be! We’ve created the guide we wished we had when we moved here almost a decade ago, with ALL the things you need to know about planning a Lake Tahoe winter trip on a budget. From how to plan a trip to Lake Tahoe affordably, to which ski resorts to visit, to what to do if you don’t ski or snowboard, to all the things nobody tells you about visiting Lake Tahoe, this massive guide has everything you need! See you on the slopes this season *insert guitar riff and cringey 80’s ski montage here.*

12 Things to do in the Charming Mountain Town of June Lake, California

September 6, 2019

Crisp mountain air. Shimmering lakes. Scenic drives. Colorful fall foliage. Welcome to June Lake, California: a rustic, quirky little mountain town in the high Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains packed with scenic trails, awe-inspiring views, and alpine lakes. This Eastern Sierras getaway has some of the best fall foliage in the state, plus skiing, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, hot springs, and more! Also, it’s kinda haunted, which we consider a major plus. Here’s 12 things to do in this charming mountain village getaway!

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11 Perfect Things to do in Paso Robles, California on a Weekend Getaway

June 21, 2019

Vineyards. Olive trees. Hot springs. Paso Robles, California is one of our absolute favorite places in California! It’s home to some of the best food, wine, spirits, and craft beer that you’ll find in California. Oh, and don’t forget the hot springs. Paso Robles is the perfect place to stop along California’s Central Coast as part of a Pacific Coast Highway road trip. We’ve created this comprehensive guide to all the best things to do in Paso Robles for your next weekend trip!

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Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to): A Local’s Guide

June 7, 2019

It can be incredibly confusing to figure out where to stay in San Francisco. There are a TON of different neighborhoods, each with a completely distinct vibe, history, scenery, and even weather. And despite San Francisco’s relatively tiny size, it can take hours to get from one side of the city to another on public transportation thanks to those ridiculous hills and traffic. Basing yourself in the right spot can mean the difference between walking out your front door to explore, and spending an hour and a half in a bus or train or car just to see the sights. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you! Here a comprehensive guide to where to stay in San Francisco – and where NOT to stay.

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12 Adorable Things to do in Morro Bay, California: A Local’s Guide

May 17, 2019

When Jeremy first told me about Morro Bay, the tiny town along California’s Central Coast where he grew up, I had a picture in my head that looked a lot like Southern California: waving palm trees, beautiful people wearing neon shorts and roller skating or… [read more]

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29 Things Nobody Tells You About Oakland, California

April 5, 2019

Just across the Bay from San Francisco, Oakland, California is an urban cultural mecca that stretches from the coast to redwood-covered rolling hills. Did you know that Oakland is home to TWO huge redwood parks, a lake in the middle of downtown, 3 historic Art Deco theatres, a food and coffee scene that rivals San Francisco, a system of hidden staircases, and over 600 street art murals? We’ve lived here for 8 years and we’re STILL discovering new things to love about our home city every day! Here are 29 things nobody tells you about Oakland, California.