2017 Travels and Adventures: A Year in Review - Part 1

Happy 2018!

I need to get my act together in celebrating the fun adventures of 2017 before I hop on a plane in another 10 days to start off on my first journey of 2018.    Between the things planned and the unscheduled fun to come, I can only hope that 2018 is as memorable as 2017.

Cheers to travel, whether near or far!

January 2017

The year started off strong in January.   I hiked into 2017 with a visit to Joshua Tree National Park,  followed by a long weekend trip to Maui to visit my friends (first visit back since I moved in May 2016) and then wrapped it up with my first trip to Disneyland.    Being a midwestern girl, we went to Disney World because it was closer, so it was fun to see the OG.  

Joshua Tree National Park 

Maui

Disneyland

February 2017

I stayed in California for the whole month.  (WHAT?)

First ski trip since Spring 2013, this time at Big Bear and a weekend trip to see my mom and one of her friends in Rancho Cucamonga.  

Big Bear Views

This restaurant - so much character 

March 2017 

Spring in San Diego included the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden.    Then, I needed more flowers, so it was time to go to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad.    The month wrapped up with a weekend trip to Dallas where we played tourist and ate all the things.  

So very cherry 

Flower Fields 

Give me some of that Texas BBQ! 

April 2017

Naturally when it comes to holidays, we don our festive hats, or ears in this case, to celebrate.  

I also traveled to Chicago for work and it was an added bonus to catch up with friends and family for a few days before actually going to my meetings.  

Somebunny in San Diego says Hi! 

Big city reflections in Chicago 

May 2017

I finally made it to the Galapagos Islands, a destination that has been on my life list for quite a while.  I  can't pick just one photo....

In other fun, I checked out the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla and my sister came to visit - the picture with TREX sums up what happens when we get together. 

 First off, I got to travel with my mom over Mother's Day

Giant Galapagos Tortoise 

Adorable Sleeping Sea Lions

Sea Dragons

If this isn't the best day ever, what is? 

June 2017

Hey there summer!  The June Gloom faded away and it was time for:

• Road trip to Long Beach
• My one Padres game for the year
• The San Diego Fair (and bonus 5k) 
• An urban hike up to Mount Soledad

Fun in the sun in Long Beach

Not sure who won

Fair Time:  Where the West was Fun

 Mount Soledad 

Up Next:   Part 2 

Including the First Bratsgiving and a foam party in Cabo.   The second half of 2017 didn't disappoint. 

What were some of your great memories from 2017?  

Explore San Diego: 7 Bridges Urban Hike

Only recently have a I heard, much less used, the phrase urban hike.  What makes it a hike rather than just a walk? Because we know I'm not doing any urban running.   

For me it's the element of discovery and exploration with a longer distance than your standard neighborhood walk.    We're looking at an urban setting in a fresh new way.

Last weekend I explored San Diego through the 5.5ish mile 7 Bridges hike through Balboa Park, Bankers Hill, and Hillcrest.     The bridges in Balboa Park were familiar.   I'd also gone on the hunt for the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge last year.    My new favorite after this adventure is now the Vermont Street Bridge.   

Let's go!

This hike starts at Balboa Park on Park Avenue by the Rose Garden and the Cactus Garden.    I love the rose garden because I can enjoy all the flowers without having to do any actual gardening.   

Bridge #1 
Cross Park Avenue and go from the Rose Garden into Balboa Park. 

Bridge #2

After walking through Balboa Park on the Prado, you'll pass the Museum of Man, and then you'll cross the bridge that goes over Highway 163.    It's very dramatic when you're driving under it, but it's hard to capture that when you're walking over it.  

Bridge #3

The First Avenue Bridge 

Fun Fact:  It's the only steel arch bridge in the city 

Views of the harbor to the left and one of the many San Diego city canyons on the right

Bridge #4
Quince Street Bridge

Bridge #5

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge 

This is a fun one!  

Bridge #6

You get some of your fitness between bridges 5 and 6.   Good news, you're strolling along University Ave in Hillcrest and there are no shortages of restaurants and coffee shops if you need to stop.   This is a urban hike - coffee is what we do.   

I had no idea the Vermont Street Bridge existed and now I love it.   It's full inspirational quotes and connects Hillcrest with University Heights.  

Snack Stop

On Sunday the Hillcrest Farmers Market runs from 9a-2pm.     Feeling adventurous, I tried these hot Cheeto spam balls.    This farmers market is great -  good produce, beautiful flowers, and tasty food vendors.  

Bridge #7
The Georgia Street Bridge is currently under construction, so at this point, you have to walk around and imagine that you urban hiked over this last bridge.   

For more fun facts about this hike as well as map, check out this article from the San Diego Reader. 

Looking for other ways to explore San Diego?

How about some Sign Spotting?  

Maybe a visit to Cabrillo National Monument? 

 

 Delicious Places to Eat? 

(Traveler in the Kitchen is the hungry portion of this blog)

Do you love San Diego?    Where do you go?  

Sign Spotting: San Diego

The signs of San Diego have been catching my attention since I moved here.

Sometimes it's a neighborhood sign.   

Sometimes it's a restaurant sign.   

Sometimes it's sweet. 

Sometimes it's snarky.    

And sometimes it's a warning that I should stay far away from snakes.

Neighborhood Signs

Inspirational and Entertaining Signs

Spotted:  Little Italy

Spotted:  Little Italy Farmers Market

Spotted:  South Park 

Spotted:  Liberty Station, Point Loma

Rattlesnake Signs

Definitely NOT a sign I came across in Hawaii

Aircraft Carrier Signs

USS Midway 

Only in San Diego Signs

Need your picture with this sign?   It's in North Park. 

Amusements by the beach - that's SanD style right there

I've lived in San Diego just under 14 months.    There is so much exploring to do!   If you have recommendations of what to see, do or restaurants to enjoy, put 'em out there for me.  

If you have a favorite San Diego sign,  share on Facebook or tag @travelerforgood on Instagram. Speaking of Instagram, if you follow there, you'll see more SanD signs.  

Explore San Diego: The Flower Fields

Imagine a place where everyone is photogenic.
Every nature shot is instantly shareable.  
Every family photo is Christmas card worthy.
Every selfie is magic.

Where is this place?  
The Flower Fields

This being my first spring in Southern California, I had no idea these fields exited until friends started talking about it and posting all the pictures.    Not wanting to miss out, I knew I needed to make the trip to Carlsbad before the season ends.

What flowers make up the fields?   It's 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers and they are all different colors, planted in rainbow rows.  

You can walk through the fields or take a wagon ride.  Maybe even get a strawberry sundae made with local Carlsbad-grown berries.    The fields are a beautiful way to spend an hour or two in the spring.

So many colors 

And, of course, make sure to take a lot of photos.

Flowers in your future?  
Visit their site to see the hours and the length of the season.   For 2017, the season ends on May 14th.

Looking for other San Diego adventures? 

 Explore San Diego:  Art Walk

National Parking:  Cabrillo National Monument