Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
The Sierra Nevada mountain range was just stunning after heavy winter storms dumped a lot of snow. Even though snow was badly needed, it closed roads to attractions like the ghost town of Bodie, California.
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
Death Valley was a great opportunity to get out of the Central Valley California winter storms and enjoy some warmer weather and sunshine.
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
California’s Central Valley stretches roughly 450 miles from Bakersfield in the south to Redding in the north, flanked by the Coast Ranges to the west and the Sierra Nevada to the east. It’s one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the world, producing more than half of the United States’ fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It’s also home to two of California’s most underrated wine destinations — Amador County and Lodi — where old-vine Zinfandels grow in volcanic soil that wine drinkers in Napa have never even heard of. We spent several weeks here by RV, working our way between river marinas, lakeside resorts, foothill wineries, and an orange grove in Bakersfield. Because of ongoing winter storms we skipped the northern end of the valley, but what we found in the middle and south was more than enough.
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
Yosemite National Park is breathtaking in any season, but winter transforms it into something almost otherworldly. We visited in February, coming north from Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and encountered back-to-back winter storms that closed most of the park roads. We were fortunate to get one hour of blue skies during our entire stay — but that hour was spectacular. El Capitan gleaming in the sun, Bridalveil Falls thundering over ice-crusted rocks, and the Yosemite Valley floor blanketed in fresh snow. If you ever get the chance to see Yosemite in winter, take it.
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were a few hours’ drive from Paso Robles, California. We knew there would be limited access to both parks because it was February, but a few days of brilliant blue skies following a major winter storm gave us exactly what we were hoping for — snow-draped giant sequoias, frost-encrusted trees, and a winter solitude that summer visitors never see. The General Sherman Tree, the largest living tree on earth by volume, was magnificent even from a distance. This is Sequoia and Kings Canyon in winter: raw, cold, and extraordinary.
Last Updated: June 6, 2026
The Central Coast of California stretches roughly from Santa Barbara to Monterey — a sweep of beautiful coastline dotted with small cities, agricultural valleys, and some of the most dramatic scenery on the Pacific Coast. No major airports, no snowbird crowds, no rush. We based ourselves in Paso Robles and explored the entire region on day trips.
