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Practical Wanderlust

Responsible Travel on a Budget

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California

Totally unique and off-beat places to stay near San Francisco!

12 Off-Beat Places to Stay Near San Francisco (on a budget)

Weekend trips are like the travel fairy godmother’s answer to living in the San Francisco Bay Area. From anywhere near San Francisco, you can hop in a car on Friday night and drive for a few hours to absolutely anything you could possibly want: beach … [Read more...] about 12 Off-Beat Places to Stay Near San Francisco (on a budget)

A local's guide to where to eat in Oakland. The best restaurants in Oakland for getting incredible food in Oakland, California!

Where to Eat in Oakland, California

Chicken & waffles. Steamed dumplings. Spongy injera bread. Sizzling Korean bulgogi. The tastes of Oakland represent its culture and history. -and, like Oakland itself, are totally different from its neighbor across the Bay. Oakland has its … [Read more...] about Where to Eat in Oakland, California

Self-Guided Craft Beer & Bikes on the Strand Bar Crawl in South Bay, Los Angeles

The Ultimate Self-Guided Los Angeles Brewery Tour

The South Bay is our favorite part of Los Angeles. It's home to several cute little beach towns, such as Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, as well as the beautiful high bluffs of Palos Verdes. It’s where we always stay when we’re in … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Self-Guided Los Angeles Brewery Tour

San Francisco, California. Take the self-guided walking tour of San Francisco!

The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco: A Local’s Guide

We may have packed up all of our belongings and left to go traveling, but we left our hearts in San Francisco... so we came back after our year-long honeymoon! Over the 12 years we lived in the Bay Area, we amassed a wealth of knowledge about what to … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco: A Local’s Guide

We went surfing in Morro Bay, California. It did not go well.

Why My Wife Will Never Go Surfing Again

When it comes to your partner or companion, it's important to be able to read each other. Lia and I have a few different check-ins that we say to each other that hold different meanings in our partnership. One of them is "Is this surfing?" This is … [Read more...] about Why My Wife Will Never Go Surfing Again

How to Do Disney: A Disney Parks strategy guide by a former cast member at Disney World!

How to Do Disney: A Disney (for Adults) Parks Guide by a Former Cast Member

The year I turned 21, I worked at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I did an internship through the College Program at Walt Disney World and worked at Soarin', in Epcot. Of course, it was magical. I learned all of the Disney Cast Member secrets, … [Read more...] about How to Do Disney: A Disney (for Adults) Parks Guide by a Former Cast Member

mono hot springs in sierra nevadas

The Mono Hot Springs Camping Incident: The Importance of A Good Travel Companion

Hidden in one of the most scenic parts of the Sierra Nevada lies the beautiful Mono Hot Springs. A visit here makes for the perfect weekend getaway for any enthusiastic traveler and adventurer in search of nature, peace, and tranquility. A trip to … [Read more...] about The Mono Hot Springs Camping Incident: The Importance of A Good Travel Companion

If you live in the Bay Area, every weekend is a chance to hop in the car and explore California! Within a few hours drive from San Francisco you'll find beach, forest, mountains, snow, desert, vineyards, redwoods... anything your heart desires. Oh, and lots of otters and seals! Here are the best weekend trips from San Franscisco.

The 12 Best Weekend Trips from San Francisco, California

The San Francisco Bay Area has everything to offer the wanderlust hungry, outdoor loving, adventure thirsty traveler. From hiking in the Bay Area to exploring the city of San Francisco, it's hard to get bored here. For us, every … [Read more...] about The 12 Best Weekend Trips from San Francisco, California

The best hikes in Northern California near the San Francisco Bay Area.

The 24 Best Northern California Hikes (Near San Francisco Bay Area)

Northern California is a mecca for hikers and lovers of the outdoors. With everything from looming redwoods to scenic coastal views, you could hike somewhere different every weekend and never get bored! Which, for a while, is what Jeremy and I … [Read more...] about The 24 Best Northern California Hikes (Near San Francisco Bay Area)

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