Two of my siblings had an interest in attending UC Berkley. I had heard campus was beautiful and that it was a sleepy foodie town. After watching Roadrunner, the Bourdain documentary, I fell down a Netflix Vortex of food content. I devoured Ugly Delicious and The Chef Show while I worked on blogs and photo editing, and after watching the Jeremiah Tower, The Last Magnificent documentary I moved Berkley to the top of my wishlist.

As much as I’d love to give you a beautiful guide to sightseeing San Francisco, it’s been a really long time since I made a point to visit the tourist traps here. For me, San Francisco is all about the beautiful buildings, bridges and views. Is it weird that I think bridges are beautiful? I have a soft spot for symmetrical rows and patterns- give me a bridge at sunset and you knock out the better part of my list of favorite things. I think it’s a toss up which American bridge is more famous- Brooklyn or Golden Gate, but you’re crazy if you think I don’t peep them both whenever I’m in the vicinity.

You know I love me a Victorian mansion. Tell me there is one with creepy ghost stories, crazy quirks, and inspired the Haunted Mystery Ride at Disney and it was going to make it on my wishlist. San Jose is just over an hour from San Francisco and 2 from Sacramento, so I built an adventure day around it and had a fabulous time!

I was not prepared for how adorable the town truly is. It feels like Whistlestop from Fried Green Tomatoes. The beautiful train station, sweet shops and boutiques, and beautiful bridges make it the perfect way to spend a day.Folsom was full of galleries, antique shops, bars and restaurants. You can get history and hijinks here and you should definitely make the time to check it out.

Sacramento was never high on my must-see travel lists, but a paid pet sit with perfect timing presented itself. If you asked me about my dream sit, it wouldn’t be watching 5 very old dogs, a sassy cat with the most melancholy meow, and a huge yard and garden with a more complicated schedule than anyone I’ve ever executive assisted. A paycheck, a shaded pool, and exploring this creative capitol city were intriguing enough for me to give it a shot, and I’m supremely confident that Sacramento changed me in the best of ways.

I have a little beef with Portland since keeping it weird is Austin’s thing- but oh man, no one prepares you for how great it really is. I had a team retreat in West Linn, Oregon a couple of years ago and we did a quick field trip into Portland. We sampled Voodoo Donuts, strolled around Powell’s Books, took a gorgeous hot air balloon ride over orchards and vineyards, sampled plenty of Willamette Valley wine, dragged our butts around the Trail of Ten Falls, did a silly scavenger hunt around town, and discovered my first McMenamins. Goonies Fans absolutely must make a detour to Astoria and Cannon Beach, it’s a beautiful view and a fun walk down memory lane.

Tacoma is just 30 miles south of Seattle but it feels a world away. It’s also a coastal town with fantastic food and breweries, beautiful art museums, proximity to gorgeous natural treasures, and relatively convenient to several wonderful day trips. It was a perfect home base for me and my family for some eventful weeks.

Is it weird if I tell you that my favorite experience in Seattle was technically leaving Seattle? I can’t tell you how many people told me to take the ferry to Bainbridge Island. When I asked what to do there, no one could give me any actual recommendations. “The ride itself is worth your time,” seemed like a silly use of minimal time in Seattle. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is a MUST DO in Seattle.

Most of the time, I plan my trips around monuments, museums, and landmarks that I want to visit, and I seek out great food around the sightseeing. Some cities you want to plan your sightseeing around you meals (New York City, Chicago, Charleston, San Francisco, and Seattle.) Some cities make you wish for a second stomach, Seattle is one of them, and I was bummed to not participate. But not this time! This time I did SOME sightseeing and a LOT of eating.

I planned a couple of short trips to dip my toe in this nomadic lifestyle, but when I sat down to plan my first stop on a one way ticket to full time wandering, a ticket to Seattle and a sojourn down the west coast was top on my list. I legitimately planned my new life around a sandwich, and I am not ashamed. Honestly, it’s really on brand for me.

New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment for a reason, there is truly something for everyone there. Taos is a charming little artist community. It is full of unique shops, galleries, history, delicious delights, beautiful sights to admire, and natural landscapes that will take your breath away.

I am already counting on coming back to this tiny town in New Mexico. Let me show you why :)

Taos is pretty northern New Mexico, but if you keep heading North towards Colorado you pass some diverse and breathtaking views.

Taos was a beautiful place to visit and explore, but Sante Fe stole my heart and would have been a more convenient home base. I found myself there at least once a week and I never ran out of things to see or do. I really miss it already.

The airport is tiny and so old fashioned. You pretty much land in the parking lot and walk to the car. It is INSANE. I wish I had flown in to see the aerial view, but if you are flying rather than driving- do everything you can to fly to Sante Fe instead of Albuquerque.

Despite its proximity to Texas, I have never spent any quality time in New Mexico. I have big dreams of an epic Wild West Road Trip, but I wanted to start this crazy nomadic adventure with a trip to Marfa, New Mexico, and Colorado. I just had to figure out the best way to get myself there.

I joined Trusted Housesitters, an agency of vetted pet and house sitters that barter their services for a place to stay. (Use my link for a discount on your membership.) I immediately started looking up options in New Mexico and Colorado, and was thrilled to find three adorable cats in need of some company in a great adobe house in Taos, New Mexico.

Prada Marfa is a 15 years old permanent art installation in the middle of nowhere, Texas. It’s been on my wish list for at least 10, but my travels haven’t brought me to West Texas in closer to 20 years. I have a thing for quirky and cool hotels. I’ve wanted to stay at Hotel San Jose on South Congress for quite sometime, and when I learned that their parent company opened a boutique RV park in Marfa with yurts and teepees, I knew I needed to find my way west ASAP.

I had a mini-melt down processing the Atlanta Spa shootings. My whole family has been struggling to figure out how we got here. I know how and why my family is here physically.They left their war torn country to escape the horrible internment camp my grandfather absolutely would have been sent to for his work fighting communism. They worked 2-3 jobs each to give their four, then five, kids a better life. My youngest aunt was the first one born in the US, but I’m the first grandchild. The first of many mixed children people can’t quite identify, and one that’s spent my whole life laughing off the awkward racist and uncomfortable actions and conversations. Until now, now it’s just too much to ignore and brush aside.

Antiques, Bluebonnets, and Cattle Calls. Round Top, Texas Antique Week in all its glory. Want some tips for seeing it yourself?