Bodega Bay for the weekend—total bliss!
France
Sharing a few shots from my work trip to France. Such an incredible place with incredible people.
Santa Fe
Recently I got to travel to Santa Fe with my best girlfriends and it was an absolutely incredible trip. We were only together for a weekend, but we hadn’t seen each other in a year, so it felt amazing to get any time together.
Santa Fe itself if such an interesting town, and the architecture is unlike anything I’d seen before. I can’t wait to go back and spend more time exploring New Mexico.
Dinner at home
There’s something about grilling in the summer that never gets old. Cold orange wine, fresh fish, and ripe tomatoes… doesn’t get better, right?
San Juan Islands
Finally got up to my grandparent’s home in the San Juan Islands this summer, and it was so great to be up there again. The islands show off the most during the summer — fresh crab, sunny days, orca sightings… Glad I was able to show Erik around and spend time with family.
Summer Tahoe Riding
Erik and I love taking weekend trips to Tahoe to mountain bike. This time we took our girl with us and she did so great! We did a 10 mile run in the heat and she trotted along the whole way. Despite the encroaching wild fire and smoke, the weekend was great.
Telluride
I went to the Telluride Bluegrass Music festival for the first time this year, and it was absolutely unreal. And I don’t just mean the music. The beauty of southwestern Colorado is unparalleled to anywhere I’ve ever been in the mountain west. Crisp mornings give way to warm afternoons and starry midnights. The water is ice cold and the mountain air the freshest you’ll ever breathe. If you’re looking for a reset, head down to Telluride. Throw in a lil bluegrass too, if you’re into that kinda thing. :)
Ski Weekend
Part of my Christmas present this year was a weekend in Tahoe. Making the commute up and back in a day can be taxing, so having a place to stay in Tahoe is key. We hopped since it was the weekend after the big snow that it wouldn’t be too crowded at the mountain, but Squaw, and Tahoe in general, was absolutely packed. We decided to backcountry/ cross-country ski the following day, which was a great move because we were able to skip the lift lines and the traffic on the drive home. And the views were spectacular!
Tahoe›
What started out as a terribly stressful week ended with a lovely weekend in Tahoe. Erik and I decided to finally take a Wilderness First Aid course, as both of us spend a lot of time in the back country and feel like it’s our duty to know a little bit about medicine in the outdoors. Both days were chilly and snowy, but despite the weather, we had a great time with our course and loved getting to clomp around in the snow.
Idaho
Idahoooome! I have the weirdest obsession with Idaho… I normally spend one week a summer here, rafting or just romping around, and I always spend the following weeks swearing that I am going to move there as soon as I can. So far, I haven’t made the leap, but with its endless rivers, snowy peaks, and mountain bike trails, it’s hard to imagine a more serene place to plant yourself.
On this trip we went to Sun Valley first and then Stanley. Both towns are gorgeous, also Stanley holds a particularly special place in my heart. It was Erik’s first time to Idaho, and I think it hooked even him.
Colorado
This summer I took a few trips to Colorado. Both were filled with long bike ride, chilly river dips, ice-cold IPAs, and good friends, old and new. From the short grass prairie land at the Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado Springs, to the lush valleys of Gunnison County, this state never fails to impress.
Late Summer in the San Juan Islands
My parents spend about a quarter of each year up at my grandparent’s second home in the San Juan Islands. Chloe, myself, and our cousins with usually fly up for a week or so during their long stay. This September we flew up and enjoyed a week of boat rides, puppy walks, donuts and bocce.
The Goff Wedding
On October 15 we watched one of our oldest family friends say “I do” to the man of her dreams. None of us ever dreamed of a COVID wedding, but KT and James pulled it off effortlessly. We wished we could have danced and hugged without care, but hopefully that day will come when this pandemic is safely behind us. For now, we are thrilled to biggen our circle and bring the Goff’s in!
Arcata
Arcata is a… special place. While camping spots are hard to come by, and the weather is unpredictable, the landscape is absolutely beautiful and great for a day trip. We took Tenaya on her first (and to this date, her only) mountain bike ride, played in streams and rivers, ate pasta under the stars, and hit up every natural food store we could find (there are many). The 118° drive home was less than ideal until we drove through the famous Northern California redwood groves which cooled the air and left us speechless.
Rogue River Trip
I’ve been rafting the Rogue River in Oregon (both privately and commercially) for as long as I can remember. This river feels more like home to me than most places I’ve lived, so returning every year for a float down this canyon always feels special. Around every corner is a canyon leading somewhere hidden and magical; getting to experience these special havens has truly been one of the greatest joys in my life.
The Fourth of July
We never celebrate the Fourth much, but because my mama’s birthday is the day before, we normally try to all get together and combine celebrations. With COVID restrictions in place it made things a little more difficult to plan, but happily we were able to get our pod together for a dinner on the deck.
London
London was blustery and bright; absolutely the best place to reconnect with old friends and welcome in the changing weather. We were in London to visit our old vicini from Tuscany, and were so lucky to stay with them in their flat in Kensington. The history of the area is fascinating, and the old 4 (5?!) story houses are full of intrigue. We only had a few days here and spent the entire first one in the apple store (would not recommend), but here is a very short list of notable stops along our way:
Chelsea: great neighborhood with loads of cute pubs and shops
Devonshire Arms: cute local bar in Kensington
Enoteca Rosso: great Italian place near Kensington. Ask for their wine specials
The Sabah Shop: stunning handmade Turkish shoes. New York designed, but their London outpost is so charming
National Gallery: free and full of art gems
Biarritz
Biarritz was everything I’d hoped for — sandy beaches, inspirational restaurants, and enough linen to satisfy even my mother’s textile hungry taste. Sam and I only had three days there, and our time flew by. We ate brebis cheese with black cherry jam, played in the waves, and even made it over to Spain for lunch one day. Biarritz touts itself on being on of the premier surf spots in the Basque region, but it has recently made the news as a site of political unrest. While there’s truly nothing I love more than a little political action, the city was calm, as if taking a breath after a busy tourist season. Most of the designer shops that lined the beach walk were closed for the season, but it didn’t matter, Les Halles (the indoor market) was open, as was plenty of delicious natural wine shops and restaurants. We found our perfect little home on Airbnb, which was only about a 10 minute walk from town. Mid-to-end of September seems like perfect timing if you’re interested in catching some waves but skipping the crowds.
Doha, Qatar
In the living room of the house I grew up in sits a heavy Arab chest, large enough to comfortably fit myself and a friend if we were so inclined to fold ourselves up (contortionist style) inside. A few feet away a large and ornate metal Arab coffee pot resides, passed down to my father from my grandmother. My dad was raised in Saudi Arabia, in a company town called Dhahran, where his father worked for an oil business called Aramco. If you know anything about rentier states, or the Middle East in general, you’ve probably heard of Aramco — the company is no longer in business, but the legacy that it left on the region is momentous.
When I signed up for a class this fall, Migrants in the Global City, that traveled to Doha and Amsterdam to study the affect that migrants had on the political and architectural design of international cities, I didn’t think much about traveling to the Middle East. My father’s stories of his childhood were so full of mystical tales of camels and Bedouin Arabs with traveling camps, that it was impossible for me (growing up in balmy Northern California), to conceptualize such a life. My upcoming travels to Qatar had nothing to do (in my mind) with my father’s childhood.
But the world I woke up to the morning after we arrived nearly matched my childhood visions of my father’s life. The stone streets below were dusted in pink light and the white-washed walls of the stone souk rose around it, casting grateful shadows in the morning heat. Impeccably dressed men in long white thobes and women in black abayas milled about, drinking coffee, shopping, and generally casting the teva-clad, poorly dressed tourists that also walked the streets, to shame.
The gulf / MENA (middle east, north Africa) region is home to some of the most ancient history in the world, but the entire history of Qatar spans only about 50 years. The “ancient” souk we were staying in was built in the early 2000s, meant to replicate an old Arab market. Qatar, it seems, is trying to recreate its national identity through tasteful urban renovation, newly erected national museums, and promulgation of a strictly Qatari ethos.
Regardless of my personal feelings about authoritarian states (even the benevolent ones), our trip was eye-opening, sweaty, stunning, and tantalizing! I am certain I will be back, I think I might have found my calling as a dune basher (someone who whips land cruisers over sand dunes as fast as they can), so if my post-grad plans don’t work out, Qatar it is! KIDDING!!! (sort of)
San Pancho, Mexico
This bag is the Catalina Deluxe from Lo & Sons. I love all of their stuff but this bag in particular is perfect for long weekend getaways — can’t wait to take this to Doha with me in March!
San Pancho (more formally, San Francisco) lies about an hour north of Puerta Vallarta in an area called Nayarit, known for their high levels of education and quaint surf towns. My aunt and uncle discovered San Pancho about 15 years ago, before it began to boom, and built a beautiful house there, amid colorful and beachy Mexican homes. We stayed with them there two winters ago, but since then they have sold Casa Sophia and have moved to a smaller town nearby, where they are planning on building a quieter home.
Since we don’t go to Mexico often, and wanted to be where the action was, my mom and I decided to stay in San Pancho despite the high tourist factor in a sweet little loft we found on Airbnb. The location was noisy, but besides that we loved our apartment, and were only a few minute walk from shops, restaurants, and the beach.
The main strip in SP is packed with beautiful boutiques, overflowing with art, jewelry, and clothing, as well as a plethora of delicious (and affordable) restaurants. I obviously took full advantage of my proximity to these temptations, and filled myself and my bag with tacos, mezcal (smoked agave liquor), and all the turquoise jewelry and shawls I could ever need.
The people in SP are superb, as you would expect in a place where the sun always shines and the tequila always flows. Due to the town’s nearness to Sayulita, the surfing hub 15 minutes south of SP that made the area so popular, San Pancho draws a crowd from all over the world, come to bask in golden rays and try their hand (foot?) at surfing. Everyone is tan and gorgeous (ugh), friendly, and bilingual (thank god), and the conversations and music you hear spilling out of windows and bars reflects the tangible lust for life that vibrates through the city.
If you want, there are plenty of day activities you can participate in: zip-lining, horse-back riding, or indulging in a massage. However, the beach, a margarita, and a cheap romantic novel (that your mom buys you at Costco) are more than enough to occupy you for a week. Be sure to check out the Tuesday morning market and the various live bands performing at restaurants in town.