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Trudy
Being nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award was such a sweet surprise! It totally makes me feel like the path I have chosen to become a travel blogger is the right choice :). This award is special because you are nominated by fellow bloggers. If a blogger feels you have great content and inspirational social media feeds you get a nomination. This has absolutely made my day and I appreciate Victoria over at http://lifeofv.com/ for nominating me!! 🙂
I just got back from my very first trip out of the country. It was soooo exciting! In preparing for my trip, I came a crossed a few things that needed to be done before I left. I thought I would share these items with you so that your trip will go as smooth as mine :). Some of these items are pretty obvious, like getting a passport. However, there are several other items that are not in the “obvious’ category and I want to make sure you know them. Are you ready to plan your next out of country trip?? Or your first?? Let’s go!
Heading East in Central California along highway 50, the scenery changes from a beautiful valley city to a Gorgeous mountain landscape. Up in these mountains, there are several amazing hikes and it is here that you will find one of my favorites – Horsetail Falls. This is adventure #6 of 80 adventures to do in California for those of you following along. 🙂 If you wish to start from the beginning of this adventure series click Here.
California has a multitude of different landscapes all in one state. There are mountains, valleys, rolling hills, big cities, ocean views, deserts, volcanic areas, huge redwood trees and more! Today I am here to share some of my favorite places to visit in Northern California.
The foothills of California in the springtime are absolutely gorgeous! Green rolling hills, flowers blooming everywhere, and weather just right for hiking! I am always on the hunt for new hiking trails and I found one. It just so happened to be Earth day as well :). If you’re an avid hiker, or just a beginner, this trail will accommodate every level. It is so beautiful that I feel it would be appreciated by everyone! Plus there is a old movie set still on the property!
As you drive North into the town of St Helena, the view becomes so lush and green. Vineyards are everywhere and off to the left of the highway is the popular culinary school. I absolutely love this whole area. There are so many unique places to stop and eat or drink if you’re a wine lover :). As you drive a little further, past the culinary school, there is a beautiful little place I found called Brasswood! It is a winery that has so much more than just wine! There is a full restaurant, a tasting room, a bottle shop, and what I went there for…a bakery complete with coffee and hot chocolate!
Heading East up highway 50 we stopped in Placerville and found the cutest coffee shop! It’s called Totem Coffee. From its relaxing atmosphere to quality foods, this place is the perfect place to visit with a coffee date. They have coffee and delicious hot chocolate, teas and even local beers on tap. They offer a variety of small plate options that will satisfy your cravings :). Perfect for taking someone out on a first date or just hanging out with your friends.
Looking for fun adventures to do in California? Great! I have started a new series called “80 fun adventures to do in California” Here is #1 of the upcoming 80 things I found to do.
#1 Zip-lining and Cave tours at Moaning Cavern Adventure Park
Have you ever been ziplining? Or you may be like me and have been to afraid to try! Lol. I found a great place for first time zip liners.
This park offers a few different attractions. There are twin zip lines (so you can race your friends or family down), a cave tour that lasts about 45 min to an hour, rock walls, and spelunking for those of you with a more adventurous side. It is open year-round. Monday – Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm. It is located in Vallecito, CA.
My first real foster “Cookie”
Fostering dogs is fairly new to me. I have always rescued my family pets from local shelters, but I’ve always wanted to do more. So I made it a goal to become a foster, when the timing was right. That day came last spring. My first unofficial foster was a young male Chihuahua named Oscar. Fostering him went so well that I decided this last fall to officially sign up as a foster mom. I found a local rescue that looked to be the perfect fit for me. Once I filled out all of the necessary paperwork, I anxiously awaited the phone call that would bring my next foster. I was so excited! A few days passed, and the call finally came. I was ready, my husband? Not so much! He knows how deeply I love animals and was convinced we would end up adopting every dog that came through our doors! I assured him that we would only be fostering, but little did I know that my very first foster fail (where a dog is adopted by the foster parent instead of fostered lol) was on her way to my house!
What is a “Tribe” you ask?
It is a group of people who lift you up, support you, carry you, inspire you and believe in you! You can have a tribe of just women, just men or a mix of everything! For me, the tribes that I have are all women. Finding a tribe is emotionally nurturing. I personally believe that if you belong to a tribe, you will gain self respect, confidence, and love, which will help you emerge into a stronger version of yourself! There are a few simple rules in the tribe: no drama allowed, no hatred or bullying, and no judging. Its simply women coming together to connect and help eachother while sharing the kindness that is within them <3.