Los Angeles, California

LA.'s downtown is thriving business center by day and an emerging arts and entertainment district at night. The area between Sunset and Wilshire Boulevards, westward to the Pacific, is the heart of the modern city and is most often called L.A.'s Westside. Most tourists will find the L.A. they've always envisioned here, whether it's shopping in Beverly Hills, checking out the record shops and music clubs of the Sunset Strip, tracing the walk of stars in Hollywood.

Of course Los Angeles is known for its uniquely gorgeous stretch of beaches, each with its own identity. Starting with the stunning scenery in Malibu, drive down Pacific Coast Highway to check out Santa Monica and maybe even ride the Ferris wheel on the pier. Definitely head further south to experience Venice Beach.

Crystal Cove Park is a stretch of coastal cliffs and a beachfront cove situated between the Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean just north of Laguna Beach. The 3,936-acre park was established in 1979. The entire park hosts a total of 3 miles of beaches and tide pools, a 1,400 acre marine Conservation Area as well as underwater park, 400 acres of bluffs, and 2,400 acres of canyons.

Still not enough? Within 40 miles of Downtown L.A. are miles and miles and miles of sandy beaches and, of course, Disneyland.

San Fransico, California

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks as well as a piece of engineering art. You can walk across the bridge if you want (recommended), drop in at the visitor’s center to be briefed on the history of the park, or just stare at it from every angle. Don’t forget to make your way to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which offers a waterfront promenade, views of the bridge, and a number of hiking trails.

Tour Alcatraz

This former federal prison on Alcatraz Island was home to some of the worst criminals in the US. It was shut down in the 1970s and has since become a national landmark people can explore. There’s no charge to visit the island, but you’ll have to pay for the boat there. I’d suggest taking a tour during your visit so the rangers can provide you with some historical context. Be sure to book the ferry to the island early if you’re going in the summer, as it gets very full!

Visit Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square

This area covers numerous blocks along the waterfront and is one of the most popular things to do in the city. There are street performers, souvenir shops, and tons of restaurants. This is a good place to wander and for people watching. If you want to try some of the mouthwatering seafood that San Francisco is famous for, I really liked Waterbar and the Anchor Oyster Bar.

Ride the Cable Cars

Riding the cable cars is an excellent way to tour the city and experience various neighborhoods in San Francisco. Catch the cable cars from Market Street. They’re fun to ride and will save you lots of time walking up and down those hills.

Visit Lombard Street

While riding the cable cars, make sure to get off at Lombard Street and see one of the world’s windiest streets.

Head to Chinatown
Next to NYC, this is the most famous Chinatown in the United States (it’s also the biggest). Chinese immigrants first came to the West Coast and set up shop in San Francisco. Due to racial segregation, this neighborhood became predominantly Chinese and has remained so, though the segregation is over. Chinatown here has some of the best places to eat Chinese food (dim sum) in the country, teahouses, bars, souvenir stalls, and fortune cookie makers. Eat your heart out here. I do.

Mesa Verde, CO Moorefield Camping

Mesa Verde is a 6 hour drive down from Denver. We left after I got off work at 3 pm so we ended up getting in alittle after midnight and were worried we wouldn't have much to pick from at the Morefield Campground, 4 miles inside the park gate.

Once we arrived we stopped are the trading post and found our name taped to the window with our tag to add to a site of our picking and a map. When we got more into the campground it was really spread out and weren't really sure what we were getting into but we finally picked a site on the UTE Loop and couldn't have been happier with the site when we woke up in the morning. We had a gorgeous view of a couple mountains and deer feeding outside our tent by our picnic table.

Multiple bathrooms around the campground so you didn't have to walk far and they were lite all night long. Also had heavy duty garbage containers to keep bear out. Showers were at the trading post which was within walking distance but we ended up driving over when we needed to shower it was kind of far away and didn't want to walk back with wet flip flops.

Camping fee was $30 a night and an additional fee for the park pass to get in was $20 so it was really reasonable the only downfall was that we couldn't have a campfire but that wasn't the campgrounds fault. Colorado has been really dry and to be expected mid summer to have a fire ban.

Later that day we about 18 miles further into the park to the cliff dwellings and they were incredible. My family went a few years back without me, I had to work :(. So I had only seen pictures which didn't really intrigued me to want to drive down. But I'm glad we finally did it. You won't be disappointed if you have never seen them.

One of the things I didn't realize is you have to buy tickets to take a tour of the cliff dwellings they sell them at the museum right before entering into the cliff palace so just keep that in mind. It was amazing to think this was carved by our ancestors years ago. The hike to get up to the dwellings was intense hard to know what they were thinking or how they picked/ended up in this area.

Has anyone else gone to Mesa Verde? What was your favorite part?