I know it is nauseatingly cliché but I am finding it hard to believe that the year has just about come to an end. I don’t know if I am ready for it, but who is ever really ready for it? So to help ease the transition into 2015, Grace and I have come up with our favorite trips of the past year.
My favorite places this year are (in no particular order):
Since I was there during the off-season, it had the feeling that my friend and I were alone in the park which was at once enthralling and terrifying. The silence was only interrupted by the sounds of the mountains thawing and the occasional wildlife (not to mention our amazing singing as bear repellent).
2. Mount Tamalpais State Park/Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
There is something very special about this strip of the pacific just north of San Francisco. You can't go wrong with trails that lead you from hillside to lush overgrowth to the beach and back. Also, an abundance of amazing oysters and a hidden hot spring make this my happy place.
This quaint, little island off the coast of Maine is only accessible by boat. We explored up and down and along the coast, hopping from rock to rock and keeping an eye out for seals. Rumor has it there are wild blueberries and raspberries along the paths as well. I only had a day trip there but I fully intend to go back in 2015 and camp a few days.
Last winter my cousins and I had an impromptu ski weekend up in Vermont. Do this. Find people you like and trap yourselves in the coziest of accommodations with some good food, booze, and games. We spent one day at the slopes and the other day at the farm sledding. Where we stayed had a great sledding hill on the front of the property. Also, sheep. Adorable, fluffy sheep. Need I say more?
It’s no secret that I am smitten with Utah, well at least with the southern part I got to ramble around. Zion was extra special though because not only is it stunningly beautiful to look at but I got to climb up and then rappel down cliffs and canyons. Since then I've had to get my fix at Brooklyn Boulders but I can't wait to head back outdoors come spring.
Nothing can compare to that epic trail to the falls nor just lounging about in the falls themselves. The water is an incredible color of turquoise and I could easily spend my days exploring about the canyon walls. Apparently you can make it all the way to the Colorado River by following the falls. I'll have to work up my courage to try that out next time.
7. Rincón, PR
I had the great fortune of spending the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 in Rincón with my family. We’re a close bunch and tend to be pretty happy as long as there are waves to surf. Also, that beach weather helped me get through the brutal winter that followed. Perhaps some sunshine will be needed this winter too!
Grace here! I'm all about welcoming 2015 with open arms, but I can't deny I dipped my feet in some beautiful places this year. Coming up with my picks, I got to reflect on how much I hopped around for work in 2014... may 2015 bring on more adventures!
8. Big Sur, CA
I'd have to say, I hope making it to Big Sur is becoming an annual tradition for me. We tagged on a few extra days after a work weekend to hike the redwoods, soak in Highway 1, and consume all the local food and wine. A day I won't forget: watching the sun go down on Pfieffer Beach's purple sand, eyeing the surfers riding the ebb and flow, going over to a local's house on the cliff above for dinner, and seeing 5 shooting stars while soaking in a natural hot bath.
9. Portland, OR
I only got one night out on the town in Portland, but it's surely a place I'd like to return. It could have been the combination of Voodoo Donuts, strolling through the shops and restaurants, and catching one of the first screenings of HER in an old vintage movie theatre.
This place is like a wild west cartoon. Are we really allowed to just hop out of the car and go climb up all the rocks and and on any trail? The answer is yes. It's terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time. I highly suggest checking out Red Rock State Park, Bell Rock, and a dip in Oak Creek Canyon. Also: sunscreen. It's the desert after all.
11. Martha's Vineyard
I got to spend a Fall weekend in a beautiful home on Martha's Vineyard with several girlfriends while teaching a dance workshop. What's better than ending the day with some wine on the beach in some quality sweater weather? It was such a breath of fresh air, and we had a typically nudie beach all to ourselves. I can't wait to return to it during the summer sunshine when it is inhabited with all of its classy folk (and surfers) during peak season.
12. Venice Beach, CA
I also had a quick trip to LA while working on a project, and my creative heart is happy (and simultaneously stimulated) when I find my way to Venice Beach. Thus, I strategically made my team wind up there several times over the course of the long weekend...oops. Its graffiti walls, tacky souvenirs, and ocean-skater-yogi vibes during golden hour get my juices flowing when it seems I'm at my wit's end in the concrete jungle.
13. New Hampshire
Sometimes all you need is to feel small. A quick hike up to West Rattlesnake Mountain where you overlook Squam Lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, and beyond, and you're reminded there's a large world out there. Makes the restless heart calm again.
14. Fire Island, NY
This place may always make our list. And I'm not sorry. Fire Island and the beach (and not needing an airplane to get there) will never disappoint. Meg's family knows how to beach well. They are my people.