The Atlas Heart

Hi! I'm Mimi.

I created The Atlas Heart with the intention of not only seeing the world, but understanding and writing about cultures from the perspectives of locals – what I call ‘seeing the world through a kaleidoscope lens’.

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101 Best Things to Do in Santa Cruz, California (From a Local)

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California, Outdoor Travel, USA

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my travel essentials

All of my favorite travel essentials in one place! Find out my recommended travel resources, preferred products, and must-have gear that I use in my own travels so you can be prepared for your next trip.

Just finished up a month of living in Tahoe, recon

Just finished up a month of living in Tahoe, reconnecting with nature, spending almost every night stargazing in a hot tub, and enjoying the outdoors whenever we had clear days and good air quality.
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To sign off our time in the Sierras we did the @tahoevia with @alpenglowexpeditions. It was a 4-hour private guided rock climbing and hiking tour with one guide who kept more than 6ft of distance from us the whole day. There was mask wearing to and from location, a temperature check, and a thorough sanitization of gear. This is the new normal and I appreciated every precaution Alpenglow Expeditions took to keep us safe and having fun.
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More to come soon about Tahoe - for now I’m still soaking up just how magical this past month has been in the Sierras.
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📷All pictures were taken by our guide @tim_mincey

#ad One of my favorite outdoor date activities in

#ad One of my favorite outdoor date activities in 2020 - having a BYOW picnic at the beach or enjoying a day hike in a beautiful place.

With most bars still closed in San Francisco, as well as most of the “city things” we’re used to enjoying for more date-like activities, I’ve been leaning more into outdoor “bar” dates.

Having good wine and delicious takeout from a favorite local restaurant to enjoy at the beach or a scenic park - or going on a short hike to a stunning vista point to do the same - has become my bread and butter for a fun date night with my partner.

Once a week or every other week, we bring a bottle of wine to enjoy in nature. It usually involves adventure, gorgeous views, board games, and just the two of us.

So I was excited to discover the new Horizon Drinkware Collection by @camelbak that includes vacuum insulated camp mugs, tumblers, and even a wine bottle.

I’ve been using their 25 oz wine bottle and wine tumblers on these outdoor adventure dates recently and it has been a convenient way to keep our wine fresh and at the perfect temperature for the whole day, no matter how hot it is outside.

And if you’re drinking white wine or rose, it stays cold for up to 35 hours!

I bought my first piece of @camelbak gear back in 2015 when I started getting more into hiking and liked the idea of having a durable daypack with a decent-sized hydration bladder.

I still use that @camelbak backpack five years later (!!) for hiking, which shows you just how durable their products are and why I’m a big fan of them.

And their new Horizon Drinkware Collection is no exception - offering up a unique way to enjoy your favorite beverage in a beautiful place that’s safe and convenient.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Horizon Drinkware Collection, head to the link in my bio for more info.
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What has been your favorite outdoor date activity lately?

#BeyondTheHorizon #camelbak

My face when I’m daydreaming about Al Pastor bur

My face when I’m daydreaming about Al Pastor burritos. 🌯
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Many thanks to my friend and talented photographer @thepanipoori for this shot. We spent a day around Bodega Bay at the start of summer to get out of the city, explore a new place, and do some photography. Would highly recommend if you’re looking for a good day or weekend trip from San Francisco.
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I’m constantly amazed at how much natural beauty California has to offer, so happy that I decided to move back here after 5 years abroad to call this place home again. ✨ #bodegabay #californiaroadtrip

It’s hard to believe that I was walking through

It’s hard to believe that I was walking through Big Basin redwoods only a couple months ago.
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I hope I’ll be able to do that again someday. The fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains have destroyed all the buildings in Big Basin but the trees remain standing - charred but still here. Pretty much the mantra for 2020, right?
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Fire season in California comes back with a vengeance every year without fail. A clear reminder that climate change is VERY REAL and that we should appreciate nature not just by visiting and supporting local parks but by voting in the politicians who actually take climate change seriously.
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Stay safe everyone ❤️

Have you heard of the Berkeley Fire Trails? 🔥✨

My boyfriend, who went to UC Berkeley for undergrad, recently took me to visit these secret trails near campus. Trails that he used to hike and run on a weekly basis when he was in school.

The 7-mile fire trail system cuts along Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve and through UC Berkeley campus.

And these trails offer some of the best views I’ve found in the East Bay.

The most popular fire trail to start with is the Stonewall-Panoramic Trail, which starts from the Stonewall Road entrance to the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve and takes you to the East-West Trail once it gets to the portion of land that’s run by UC Berkeley.

Be prepared for a steep and unshaded, dusty ascent but stunning panoramic views from the top make the journey very much worth it.

You can make the hike as long or as short as you want. The best views are towards the beginning of the hike, so we ended up doing around 3-4 miles roundtrip.

Along the way, you’ll get views of colorful houses on the surrounding hills, windswept perspectives of the San Francisco Bay Area, and some desert wildlife - we saw a rattlesnake while we were eating lunch! 🐍

This hike reminded me a lot of the hikes you might fight in San Diego or LA - that feeling of urban nature combined with desert landscapes.

And speaking of desert landscapes, I’d recommend hiking this trail either in the early morning or around dusk to avoid too many people and the worst of the heat. We hiked this around 3pm and it was hot and crowded.

Also, make sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and energy to tackle those steep climbs. And don’t forget your mask! 😷

This hike has been one of my favorite activities to do during COVID-19 this summer, made complete with eating burritos at the summit on a hot day.
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#berkeleyfiretrails #berkeleyca #berkeleyhikes #berkeleytrails #berkeleycalifornia #bayareahikes #bayareahiking #eastbayhikes #eastbay #eastbaytrails

Looking to get lost in a redwood forest this weeke

Looking to get lost in a redwood forest this weekend? 🌲🌿
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I hiked the French Trail Loop a few weeks back in Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. Here are the deets if you want to hike it soon too:
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🌲This 6-mile loop trail starts on the main Stream Trail from the Skyline Gate parking area and cuts over on the Chown Trail, which then takes you to the French Trail (my favorite trail in Redwood Regional Park - it’s everything you’d imagine a magical redwood hike to be). I actually did a slightly longer hike that was probably closer to 7 or 8 miles and hiked the full length of the Stream Trail and took the West Ridge Trail to the Orchard Trail, which then took me to the French Trail.
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🌲Whether you go for the 6 or 8 mile option, this hike is relatively flat but filled with diverse landscapes and hushed redwood forests.
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🌲 Besides redwoods, you’ll find evergreens, chaparral, and grasslands around the park. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a golden eagle or Alameda striped racer.
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🌲 COVID-19 Info - I hiked this trail at the end of June and about 60%-70% of people were wearing masks on the trail. Trails were two-ways so you sometimes passed other hikers. All restrooms along the trail, water fountains, and picnic areas were closed. Although the restroom at the trailhead was open. The Stream Trail is a super wide trail, so if you want to keep 6-feet or more distance, it’s easy to do so. Although it’s also the busiest trail in the park. The trails that are more inland, like the French Trail, are quieter but much more narrow, so you just have to be mindful when you come across other hikers and move to the side as they pass.
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🌲There’s free street parking or $5 paid parking in the lots (although these fill up quickly). If you’re parking on the street near the park, don’t leave anything valuable in your car as car break-ins happen from time to time.
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I’m going to try and share a new California hike with you guys every week. Right now, it’ll mostly be Bay Area hikes, but I may be staying up in Tahoe in September/October to explore some unique hikes and outdoor adventures in the Sierras so stay tuned. ✨

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