Postcard from Santa Cruz, CA

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I visited my hometown this past weekend for the last time before my travels, and to say a temporary goodbye to my family and friends.

In order to celebrate my last views of Santa Cruz and to serve as a reminder of why I love this place so much, here are a few photos of what home means to me.

“What a life I lead when the sun breaks free, as a giant torn from the clouds. What a life indeed when that ancient seed is a-buried, watered, and plowed.” – Fleet Foxes

What’s your favorite photo from Santa Cruz?

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Travel Writer/Blogger at The Atlas Heart

Mimi founded The Atlas Heart to create a community of travelers inspired to see the world. The Atlas Heart is a space where you'll find anecdotes on slow travel, craft beer, outdoor adventures, and all the eccentric bits in between that this world has to offer.

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Latest posts by Mimi McFadden (see all)

30 Things to do in Orange County, California | The Ultimate Bucket List - January 21, 2021
100+ Things to do in San Francisco, California (From a Local) - January 14, 2021
15 Best Sedona Hikes for All Hiking Levels – Full Hiking Guide - December 27, 2020

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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San Francisco, CA

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What’s the first thing you think of when someone

What’s the first thing you think of when someone mentions San Francisco?

Growing up in Santa Cruz, I used to always think of it as a glamorous place, somewhere I’d live when I was in my 20s, with my closest friends in a quirky apartment (queue “Friends” montage).

Now that I’ve had 20+ years of visiting and getting to know the city, I have different images that come to mind. I have a more realistic picture of San Francisco with all of its imperfections, but a picture that is still full of a warm fondness, almost like a first love.

It’s taken me a while to write about the city, I always thought I wouldn’t know where to start (which is partially true). It seemed like such a daunting task to write about a place where I’ve had so many memories throughout my life.

But, I finally did it.

I put together a massive post on my favorite things to do in San Francisco (once things open up again safely - although there are some COVID-friendly things in it too). And now I want to share it with you so you can get as much out of the city as it’s given to me over the years.

Head to the link in my bio for the full guide. 🌁🧉☀️

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Jain a

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Jain and McFadden household. 🎄🎅🎉 Wishing you all a safe and restful holiday ❤️

Although we won’t be doing a big Thanksgiving ce

Although we won’t be doing a big Thanksgiving celebration with family this year, we’re thankful to be moving into our own place in Berkeley this week!

It’s a historic house built in 1910 with a private deck, office space, formal dining room, and a living room that could fit 3 of my SF living rooms inside of it.

So far furnishing ideas (mostly from Suneel) have included an indoor slip ’n slide, arcade basketball, pool table, and a life size batman painting.

Excited for more at-home karaoke nights, board game marathons, and, really, just having as much fun as possible as we explore more of the East Bay in this next chapter together.

Full walkthrough coming soon!

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

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