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Practical Wanderlust

Responsible Travel on a Budget

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Pacific Coast Highway

This guide to the best Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops will help you plan your Highway 1 road trip up the California coast. Includes Pacific Big Sur, Monterey, Morro Bay, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara tidepools, redwoods, vineyards, beaches, waterfalls, where to stop, what to eat, things to do, California travel tips, and more!

The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks, & Restaurants

Sunny beaches. Foggy coastline. Swaying palm trees. Towering redwoods. Playful otters. Flomping elephant seals. Fresh oysters. Vintage wines. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is not only one of the best California road trips: it’s one of the best … [Read more...] about The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks, & Restaurants

This 10-day California coast road trip itinerary covers all of our favorite Californian things: sunny beaches and foggy coastline, swaying palm trees and towering redwoods, playful otters and flomping elephant seals, fresh oysters and vintage wines - there's even a clothing-optional hot spring, if you're up for it. Here's everything you need to know about driving Highway One/the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary

Barking sea lions. Salty air. Waves crashing on critter-filled tidepools. Rolling hills dusted with bright orange poppies and intersected with redwood-filled valleys. Driving Pacific Coast Highway is the most beautiful road trip in the entire world. … [Read more...] about The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary

Where to stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to stay): a local's travel guide.

Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to) a Local’s Neighborhood Guide

I (Jeremy) first moved to San Francisco in 2009 for college, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and right in the middle of that perfect time period between Tech Boom 1.0 and Tech Boom 2.0. The city I moved to was quirky and affordable: I was able to work … [Read more...] about Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to) a Local’s Neighborhood Guide

Morro Bay, California is a tiny coastal town along California's Central Coast and one of the best places to stop on a California road trip down Highway One/the Pacific Coast Highway! Here are all the best things to do in Morro Bay.

12 Magical Things to do in Morro Bay, California (by a local)

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 … [Read more...] about 12 Magical Things to do in Morro Bay, California (by a local)

Mendocino, California is located a few hours north from San Francisco along the scenic Highway One/Pacific Coast Highway. It's the perfect destination for a weekend getaway!

14 Marvelous Things to Do in Mendocino, California on a Weekend Getaway

Mendocino, California is located just a few hours north of San Francisco on California's stunning Pacific Coast Highway. It's one of the best weekend trips from San Francisco, and we've been up to visit multiple times. Mendocino is known … [Read more...] about 14 Marvelous Things to Do in Mendocino, California on a Weekend Getaway

Lia with back to the camera on the beach in Cayucos on California's Central Coast

12 Charming Things to Do in Cayucos, California

Cayucos, California is a tiny coastal town located in California's Central Coast, right on the Pacific Coast Highway. Visiting it feels a bit like stepping back in time. Some beach towns feel sort of like you've stepped onto the set of a glamorous … [Read more...] about 12 Charming Things to Do in Cayucos, California

A romantic weekend itinerary for a glamping trip in Guerneville, Northern California. Wine tasting, redwoods, road trippin' down Highway One on the West Coast, and more!

Glamping Near San Francisco: A Romantic Weekend Getaway Itinerary

Redwoods. Vineyards. Mountain towns nestled in pine trees. Scenic coastal views. Otters. Sea lions. Ponies, for some reason? Fresh oysters. It kinda sounds like I’m describing a bunch of different locations, doesn’t it? Nope: I’m describing one small … [Read more...] about Glamping Near San Francisco: A Romantic Weekend Getaway Itinerary

Directly between LA and SF lies my home, the Central Coast. This under-appreciated California region encompasses 200 miles of stunning coastline, rolling hills, quaint coastal towns harboring otters & seals, world-famous wine country, sandy beaches and great surfing. Here's a massive guide to 8 Central Coast getaways!

8 Quintessential Places to Visit on California’s Central Coast

I grew up in an area of California known as the Central Coast. There are no big cities there - nothing like a Los Angeles or a San Francisco, although the area sits exactly in between the two. Instead of bustling cities, what you’ll find is much … [Read more...] about 8 Quintessential Places to Visit on California’s Central Coast

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

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

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