Official Road Trip Round Up [Summer 2021]
While I’m a total sucker for fall, especially October (because #halloweenlover), I was really bummed to see this summer come to a close.
For the first time in my life, I got rid of the limiting belief that I had to be stationary in a geography to be successful in my career, and I took off (with Teddy and Frankie) on the open road. For the record, Teddy did all the driving.
It’s already one of the most special memories I will carry for the rest of my life with hundreds of other baby memories stored inside of it. There’s something about carrying around life in a suitcase for an extended period of time with the only familiar “home” coming in the form of a vehicle.
If you’ve ever considered doing something like this, stop thinking. Go. You don’t even need to have some type of master plan. The beauty of short term rental options is that you can very much fly by the seat of your pants. I think a huge misconception about creating experiences like this for ourselves is that we have to have it all figured out. You don’t. The moments of not having it figured out are also, usually, some of the best moments (speaking from experience).
If you’re about to embark on a road trip, you can check out my Five Road Trip Tips blog here.
Without further adieu, I present to you the official summer 2021 road trip round up. Here are the final stats:
Months: 4 (June 3, 2021 - October 1, 2021)
States: 10
Countries: 2
New Locations: 36
National Parks: 8
Miles: 13,582
And here’s a detailed list of itinerary with recommended lodging options, food joints, exploring spots, and the occasional gym (this became less interesting to me as time went on because I had so much access to the outdoors):
Ridgway, CO
Stayed:Teddy’s Family’s Home
Ate: home cookin’
Explored: mountain biked The Ratttro
Kanab: Bryce and Zion
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Oscar Cafe Zion, Deep Creek Coffee, Jakey Leigh Coffee, Escobars Mexican, Wild Tyme
Explored: Horseshoe Bend, Zion National Park (Angel’s Landing), Bryce National Park (Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail), Grand Canyon
Phx/Scottsdale
Stayed: Friend’s House
Ate: The Clever Coi (PHX), High Ball, Ocotillo, Zookz
Explored: Joshua Tree on the way to San Diego
Gym: Lifetime Biltmore
San Diego
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: James Coffee Co, Banh Thai, Jimmy Carter Mexican, Harry’s Burritos, Baked Bear
Explored: Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Balboa Park
Gym: Glute Lab
LA
Stayed: Brandi’s House
Ate: The Village LA, Granville Studio City, Mendocino Farm, Sidecar Donuts, Coffee Fix
Explored: Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica, hiked Fryman Canyon Trail, Marina Del Ray, Malibu on the way to Arroyo Grande
Gym: Gold’s Gym Hollywood (I don’t recommend)
Arroyo Grande
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Quintessa coffee, Dutchman’s Morro Bay
Explored: Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Oxnard, mountain biked Pismo Trail (Discovery, Lone Oak Loop)
On the way: Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, Mission Bay, Monterrey
Milpitas
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: 1 Oz Coffee, Cat & Cloud Coffee SC, Verve Coffee SJ, Poke Run, Falafel Drive In, Kathmandu Cuisine, Sugar Mama Ice Cream
Explored: mountain biked in Santa Cruz, Knob Hill Trail in San Jose
On the way: Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Hollow Bean State Park
San Francisco
Stayed: Hyatt San Francisco
Ate: Blue Bottle & Coffee Movement, Chubby Noodle
Explored: walked around Bay, Union Square, Painted Ladies, Lombard Street
Gym: Hotel Gym
Sacramento
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: 18 Grams Coffee, The Pour Choice Coffee
Explored: hung out with Teddy’s friends
On way: Bassi Falls trail hike
Lake Tahoe
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Azul Latin Kitchen, Ten Crows BBQ, California Burger, Drink Coffee Do Stuff
Explored: hiked Echo Lakes, mountain biked The Flum, SUP at South Lake Shore
“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.
”
Wendover, UT
Stayed: Best Western
Ate: n/a
Explored: Salt Flats
Salt Lake City
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Salt Lake Roasting, Sugar House Coffee, Space Tea, Peach on Earth (Provo), Eating Establishment (Park City), Red Iguana, Moochies Meatballs
Explored: hiked Cecret Lake from Albion Base, mountain biked Park City (Jenny Trail to Tommy’s Trail)
Gym: EOS Fitness Murray
Fruita, CO
Stayed: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/48082094
Ate: Hot Tomato Pizza, Best Slope Coffee
Explored: mountain biked 18 Road Trails (PBR and Kestlerun) and Rustler’s, drove around Colorado Monument
Reno, NV
Stayed: Garden Inn Hilton
Ate: Getto Subs, Ike’s Sandwiches, Moo Dang Thai, Homegrown, Perenn Bakery
Explored: downtown Reno, Bowling Stadium, casinos (won a total of $30)
Petaluma
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Wild Goat Bistro, Side Street Kitchen, What a Chicken
Explored: mountain biked at Anadelle State Park in Santa Rosa (11 miles), Tamales Point Hike (10 miles) at Point Reyes Seashore Park, drove out to Marshall on the coast
Healdsburg
Stayed: Friend’s House
Ate: The Charter Oak Napa, Plank Coffee, Flying Goat Coffee Express
Explored: hiked Fitch Mountain Trail, wine tasting at MacRostie
Arcata
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: home cookin’
Explored: Hiked James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon
Medford
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Ostra's Tapa's (Ashland)
Explored: n/a
Bend
Stayed: AirBnB
Explored: Crater Lake, hiked Misery Ridge at Smithrock, mountain biked Phil’s Trail to Ben’s Trail, hiked Lucky Lake trail, Nathaniel Rateliff at Les Schwab Ampitheathre, last Blockbuster
Eugene
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Prince Puckler Ice Cream, Vida y Tacos, Fisherman's Market, Isaka Meiji, Sparrow
Explored: Spencer Butte Hike via Ridgeline Trail, saw U of O
Coos Bay
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Front Street Provisions (Coos Bay), Restaurant O
Explored: Dune Buggies on Oregon Sand Dunes
Rockaway Beach
Stayed: AirBnB (I don’t recommend)
Ate: Taste of India, Antonette's Kitchen (Tillamook)
Explored: Tillamook Creamery
Portland
Stayed: Friend’s House
Ate: The Observatory, 50 Licks, Salt and Straw, Three sisters, Thump Town
Explored: Wahkeena Falls
Port Angeles
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Artisan Pizza
Explored: Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail, Crescent Lake and Devil’s Punch Bowl swim from Spruce RR Trail, Hoh Rainforest and Hoh River Trail, Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge
Vancouver
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Richmond Food Market
Explored: Grouse Grind, walked around downtown and The Drive (Commercial), Stawamus Chief Trail (Squamish)
Seattle/Thorp
Stayed: Friend’s House
Ate: Pestle Rock Seattle, Cedar and Spokes, San Fermo
Explored: Chulily Museum, Space Needle, and ATV in Thorp
Leavenworth
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Yodelin (so good!), Muchen Haus, J5 Coffee
Explored: Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake Trail and Sauer’s Mountain
Spokane
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Surge Coffee, Collective Kitchen (CDA)
Explored: Sharon Rock Hike
Columbia Falls, MT
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Huckster’s Grill, The Which Haus
Explored: Grinnell Lake, Avalanche Lake, Highline Trail, Going to the Sun Road, all over Glacier National Park
Missoula , MT
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Camino
Explored: n/a
Sun Valley
Stayed: AirBnB
Ate: Rick Shaw and Saffron Indian food
Explored: Greenhorn to Imperial Loop and Croy Creek Loop mountain biking
Victor, ID
Stayed: Cobblestone Hotel & Suites
Ate: Agave Mexican, Teton Thai, Trio (Jackson, WY)
Explored: drove to Tetons and spend the day, hiked at Taggart Lake (6 miles) or Phelps Lake, scenic spots were Schwabacher Landing and Oxbow
Hike: Packsaddle Lake
Don’t worry, friends, we have more up our sleeves in the upcoming months. Make sure you stay tuned to my newsletter for all the fun adventures!