Published Work - The Atlas Heart

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Interview About Life & Travel on Sivana East

WHV Australia Interview: The Atlas Heart on Diaries of a Wandering Lobster

Blogger Interview: Mimi McFadden’s Slow Travels on TraveLibro

Featured Posts

A Perfect Itinerary for 3 Days in San Francisco on Bobo & Chichi

5 Popular Day Trips from Paris, France on Voyager

The Best Things to do in the Blue Mountains on NOMADasaurus

What You Need to Know Before Studying Abroad in Florence on Go Overseas

Safe International Travel: 11 Tips for Traveling Confidently in 2018 on Go Backpacking

Where to Stay in San Francisco – A Guide to the Best Neighbourhoods on The Planet D

Tips & Tricks to Getting International Flights for Under $400 this Summer from the US on Skyscanner

5 Reasons Why Cruising the Mekong River in Vietnam is a Must on Go Backpacking

Where to Begin? 8 Powerful Things we can do to Promote Justice on Elephant Journal

This is the Surprising Reason Why I Hated Living in Portland, Oregon on Thought Catalog

San Diego is my Happy Place on The Idyll

A Guide to Portland, Oregon on Anita Hendrieka

Travel Moments: Florence, Italy on Little Things Travel

Wednesday Wanderlust: Sydney on Valerie & Valise

Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Winter on The Global Couple

5 Free Things to do in Melbourne, Australia on Globetrotter Guru

The Abel Tasman Coast Track, New Zealand on The Adventure Junkies

Collaboration Posts

Best Animal Sanctuaries to Visit in the World on A Southern Gypsy

10 Jaw-Dropping California Hikes You Can’t Miss on Eternal Arrival

The Lesser Known Islands of Thailand on Live Less Ordinary

18 Bucket List Ideas from World-Class Travelers on The Petite Adventurer

Where 30 Digital Nomads are Going in 2018 on One Weird Globe

45 Most Beautiful Places in California on A Passion & A Passport

Quintessential Rome – What You Can’t Miss in the Eternal City on In Pursuit of Adventure

20 Responsible Travel Tips on Girl Vs. Globe

The Ultimate Travel Playlist on Willful and Wildhearted

Camping Tips on Bunch of Backpackers

What’s Your Worst Travel Fear? on The Boho Chica

Go See Write Posts

12 Things to Do in San Francisco

How to Spend 24 Hours in Singapore

The Best Summer Music Festivals in Australia

The Top 10 Foods to Try in New Zealand

Why Dark Tourism is Important

Best Stops to Make on an Oregon Road Trip

Finding Wanderlust: Introducing The Atlas Heart

Top 8 Walks to Take Around Wellington, NZ

#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. ✨

Summer in the city 🌞✨ *hand sanitizer not pic

Summer in the city 🌞✨ *hand sanitizer not pictured*
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I’ve been discovering so many good date ideas around the Bay thanks to @nudgetext. Not sponsored at all, but I’ve been using them as a resource for things to do around the city and beyond for the past few months. It’s a free service and they text you multiple ideas for things to do every month (all COVID-friendly) around the Bay Area (and they’re in other cities too). We added on to this pizza at the beach recommendation with a game of Mille Bornes and champagne, because we fancy. 🍾🍕

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