How Many US States Have You Visited?
I came across this fun little interactive map on my Facebook feed. I was surprised to see how many states I’ve actually been to. I’ll have to work on visiting the rest!
Santa Barbara Art Show
Santa Barbara Art Show on the Beach
I just was had my art screening and was accepted! I am happy to announce that I will be joining the Santa Barbara Art Show on the beach. It is every Sunday from 10am until dusk. It’s located from Cabrillo Boulevard, East of Stearns Wharf to Calle Cesar Chavez. Make sure to stop by and see me! I will be posting some sneak peaks of art every week, so check back and see what’s new!
My start date is November 23, 2014! See you then!
Art being screened.
Waiting for photos to be screened.
Waterfront Town – Morro Bay, CA
Charming Waterfront Town – Morro Bay, CA
We arrived in Morro Bay late afternoon. After settling into our hotel, we headed down to the waterfront to check out the town. Morro Bay’s most famous landmark, Morro Rock, welcomes you upon arrival. It sits between the harbor and the beach, and belongs to a series of ancient volcanic plugs called the Nine Sisters. They are situated between the cities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo.
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After seeing all the boats out on the bay, we decided we needed to be on one! We had heard about a Tiki Boat Booze Cruise and went searching for it.
If you have a chance to ride on the tiki boat, do it! The price can’t be beat, plus it’s a great way to see the Bay, learn some local history, and of course be entertained. This boat has a bar on board, and the Captain mixes your drinks. I recommend the Leaky Tiki! Yum! Once you have your drink in hand, your tour begins with the Captain playing the theme song from Gilligan’s Island! I’m not kidding… I did say it was entertaining!
After our cruise we were ready for dinner. The Embarcadero is lined with shops and restaurants, so we asked the captain for a recommendation. We were looking for good food, drinks, and more entertainment. The Captain recommended the Otter Rock Café. It did not disappoint! The food and drinks were great, and the entertainment fantastic! We were lucky enough to catch the Phil Friendly Trio. They are a rockabilly band from Los Angeles that frequently plays in the area. Check them out the next time they’re in Morro Bay… Just make sure you have on your dancing shoes!
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A Seaside Village – Cambria, CA
Cambria, CA… Here we come!
I picked up my friend and fellow photographer Jenna Dosch in downtown Los Angeles. She had just taken the bus in from Las Vegas, and we were more than ready to be on our way to Cambria, CA! We had a 222 mile road trip ahead of us, and expected to arrive early evening just in time for a nice dinner and some wine. That was the plan anyway… Instead, we ended up severely stuck in LA traffic for hours! Our new ETA was 9:00 pm!
We called our hotel to let them know we were running late, and were told to get something to eat along the way if we weren’t going to make it by 9:00. We should have listened… Cambria is not a late night party town! We arrived just as all the restaurants were shutting down!
We checked into the FogCatcher Inn which is right on the coast, across from Moonstone Beach. It’s a perfect place for a weekend getaway, and the location can’t be beat. The rooms are cozy, and equipped with fireplaces for chillier nights.
Still determined to find something that was open, we headed into the Village. The downtown area was adorable, but pretty much shut down too. We finally came across the Cambria Pines Lodge, which was not only open, but had live music as well! We went inside to the Fireside Lounge and found a very lively crowd and wine. Finally! Success!
The next morning we headed down to Moonstone Beach. We were in Cambria to photograph California Coastal Clean-Up Day along CA’s Highway 1 Discovery Route, and wanted to get some photos before the volunteers starting showing up.
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Moonstone Beach is such a lovely, serene beach. The coastline is absolutely gorgeous with all the cliffs and pine trees. Make sure to look for the shiny Moonstones while strolling on the beach. They are the very reason why the beach is called Moonstone.
If you like fishing and solitude, you will find it here. The uncrowded beach is a fisherman’s dream. I only counted three all morning.
If surfing’s your thing, you’ll appreciate this area too! The waves were good and there weren’t any crowds to speak of!
If you’ve ever been out on a surfboard in the ocean, you know what a zen-like experience it is while you wait for the next wave. There’s nothing quite like it, and something I think everyone should try at least once in their lifetime.
Coastal Clean-Up Time!
Coastal Clean-Up Day is held annually, and is one of the state’s largest volunteer events. The Volunteers will be collecting over 700,000 pounds of trash! That’s right… 700,000 pounds of trash! So, think about that the next time you are visiting your favorite beach or enjoying yourself while vacationing. You would be surprised to see what people leave behind!
I appreciate all the volunteers that came out for this event! They are an amazing bunch of people who really care about our beautiful coastline. If you would like to participate in
eco-tourism while vacationing along CA’s Highway 1 Discovery Route check out some Stewardship Travel opportunities. You can make a difference to the environment while you explore some wonderful nature preserves.
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9/11 Memorial
9/11 Memorial – Remembering Those We Lost
I spent the past New Year’s Eve in New York City. It was one of the shortest trips I’ve taken there, and I had not planned on going to the 9/11 Memorial. I’ve never been able to bring myself back to the spot where we were attacked… The place where so many were lost, and forever changed our country.
Just hours before the city started celebrating, I found myself waiting in a long line to get into the 9/11 Memorial. It was so cold, and had just started to snow. It was the last place I had expected to be on New Year’s Eve, yet there I was.
As I walked towards the two pools, I remembered the last time I had stood on that ground… The towers were still standing. I had been inside of them with a friend… It was so surreal. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it, despite the fact I was standing right there.
I walked around the pools, touching the names of the victims which are inscribed in bronze parapets. I wondered who they were, and what kind of lives they had lead. I thought of the families that were left behind, and the unbearable pain they suffered.
As I watched the waterfalls cascade towards the center abyss, I couldn’t help but think of all the tears that had been shed… So many tears for all who were lost.
As I walked away, ready to begin a new year, I reflected on all the lost souls that no longer could…
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Historical Sites To Visit
Top Ten Historical Sites in the World
Do you have a bucket list? And, if so, would you pick historical sites to visit? I’m debating on what I should add to my travel list… I’ve only been to one of the top ten historical sites so far, and there are a couple in the running for the very near future.
The List
Machu Picchu
Tikal
Pyramids at Giza
Angkor Wat
Petra
Stonehenge (Been There)
Colosseum/Forum
Parthenon
Easter Island
Taj Mahal
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Gallery Store Is Up!
The Gallery Store – It’s Up and Running! I
I finally have the Gallery Store up and running! There several different galleries. Be sure to check them all out! All images are available in a couple different finishes. The metal prints have the image directly infused into the aluminum, and have a float mount hanger attached to the back. The Metallic prints are unframed with a glossy finish, and metallic appearance.
Come on in! There are many images to choose from! Come back often, I am always adding more!
Available in the Panoramic Gallery
Available in the Image Gallery
Available in the Mandala Gallery
Hiking and Camping in Sedona, AZ
Twisty Things & Other Stuff – Sedona, AZ
I recently returned from a camping trip in Sedona, AZ. It’s one of my favorite places, and it had been far too long since my last visit. After looking forward to this trip for several weeks, a wildfire broke out in Oak Creek Canyon on May 20, 2014. Our campground was shut down, the road into the canyon was closed, and people were evacuated. After much contemplation, my friend and I decided to go anyway. We were able to find another campground that hadn’t been affected by the fire, and another route into Sedona, AZ.
It was a vacation of contrasts, to say the least… It was one of the most peaceful I’ve had in a long time, and one that ended with a traumatic injury. I slipped while hiking, tried to save my camera, and ended up plowing face first into a small boulder. Thankfully nothing was broken, however, I did end up with a concussion. It’s been three weeks since the fall, and a very slow recovery.
In the end, the fire was finally contained on June 4, 2014… 21,227 acres had burned.
We arrived at Lo Lo Mai Springs Campground and were happy to find a tent site right along Oak Creek.
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After we set up camp, we headed into Sedona, AZ. This quickly put things into perspective. Signs of gratitude were everywhere.
The next morning we woke up to the smell of a campfire… Not a good sign since they had been banned countywide! The wind had shifted, and smoke from the wildfire was hanging low over our campground. Air quality was poor, so we went back into town to find some sort of air masks. We ended up with bandanas and goggles!
The smoke was so bad, we decided to go kayaking on the Verde River. We met up with the Sedona Adventure Tours team for a three hour guided tour. These guys are awesome, and the tour was tons of fun!
Thankfully the smoke shifted and we were able to go hiking. We chose the Bell Rock Path.
The higher you climb up on Bell Rock, the more twisted the juniper trees become from the vortex energy.
The views in Sedona are phenomenal.
After a four hour hike at Bell Rock, we headed over to the Airport Mesa Vortex. We wanted to grab a couple more photos, and it was a quick hike to the top.
I was just about at the bottom, when I started sliding on some loose dirt. I landed face first into a small boulder, and my faced swelled up like an inflated balloon! I also had multiple scrapes, and cuts on my legs and arms.
Thankfully the hospital was close, so I was able to get to Emergency Room quickly. By the time I got there, I couldn’t even remember my last name!
The official diagnosis was a concussion. Thankfully nothing was broken, except my sun glasses, and a camera lens.
It definitely was not a good way to end the trip!
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A Chicago Christmas
Downtown Chicago Christmas
I had expected snow for my Chicago Christmas adventure, but instead it was a balmy 48 degrees! At first I was a bit disappointed, however, it was pretty nice walking around downtown Chicago and not freezing to death!
First stop was Macy’s… I was heading there with family to see the holiday window displays, the Great Christmas tree in the Walnut Room, and of course to see Santa!
We skipped Santa… There was a two hour wait! I can’t imagine waiting in any line that long, especially with a child under two years old! We headed over to Christkindlmarket. It is an open-air market that features unique gifts, German food and drinks, and holiday entertainment.
This place was packed! The people were squished inside like sardines… There was no chance we were getting a stroller through that crowd! Luckily there were a few vendors on the outside perimeter! It might be better to visit during the week. The crowds might be thinner!
Switching gears, we headed to Lincoln Park. We stopped in at Bricks Pizza. I had never been there before, but was drawn in by their sign. It said they were the best on earth! Could it be! I might live in Cali now, but this Chicago girl knows her pizza!
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The atmosphere was great! We ordered our pizza, some beers, and waited to see if it was really the best.
It looked promising! And, it was good… But, I don’t believe it’s the best on Earth! I have definitely had better pizza in Chicago. Bricks has a great neighborhood bar, and it would be fun to go back again sometime for drinks.
Our next stop was Lincoln Park Zoo. ZooLights was almost about to begin! This is a fun event for children and adults. The zoo is decorated with lights throughout the grounds, and there are many festive activities going on too!
After a walk around the zoo, the light show began. I have to say, this was one of my favorite parts of the day. Well done Lincoln Park Zoo… Well done!
A peek at the light show. Click for video: ZooLights Chicago
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Venice Beach Day Trip
Day Trip to Venice Beach, CA
When my friends suggested a day trip to Venice Beach, I couldn’t resist. It had been several years since I had last been there, so I packed up the Lensbaby
We started our day on the boardwalk. With so many shops, restaurants, and things to check out, you can wander for hours. And, it’s definitely a great place to people watch!
Next it was time to hit the beach, and bust out the surfboards. The waves weren’t huge, but they were big enough for the kids.
We finished our day with a Margherita Pizza and Beer at Danny’s on Windward Avenue. Yum! What a perfect way to end a super fun day!
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