The Low Country

With the trip coming closer to an end; the driving distances getting longer, the funds depleating and the meals much less decadent, we realized that the South East would be traveled through quickly. So after driving from Dallas to New Orleans for two-days, we were delighted to be welcomed back with the famous and super simple Cafe DuMonde beignets! That is until the bill came and those pieces of fried dough ended up costing $10! Sheesh.

But after eating fried dough doused in powdered sugar, we had lots of energy to walk around the streets of NOLA. Being there on a Sunday was a blessing and a curse. We pretty much drove there for the famous muffuletta sandwich from Central Grocery (which we missed last time) and apparently it's closed on Sundays. However, the Saints were playing, which brought about lots of excitement. 

Strolling down the French Quarter we came across a recently opened joint called Saints and Sinners, where I had one of the best burgers of the trip and the perfect accompaniment to those pitchers of game-time Miller Lites. The chef was so amazing and made me a custom burger, which was cooked to a prefect medium-rare. We also got to sample what the low country is known best for--gumbo!!! And what better place to have the perfect cup of gumbo than in a cozy little spot in New Orleans.

We continued on the next day, but not before stopping by a sketchy gas station/casino on the bayu where we had a crawfish sausage sandwich. I know, gross right? Perhaps asking to get food poisoning? No way! It was so delicious!!! And The great eats kept on comin' as we rolled through Alabama and straight to Wintzell's Oyster House in Mobile. OMG (Oh My Gumbo)! The food was spectacular. The grilled oysters drenched in garlic butter melted in your mouth and the spicy flavorful gumbo was magic.

As we continued our southeastern route, we stopped by the Gulf Shores National Seashore in Pensacola, FL to check out the beach--and to say we have dipped a toe in every body of water bordering the US! There I also had my first encounter with an armadillo. Yes, an armadillo in Florida!

Later that night the oysters fest continued at an oyster happy hour in Mirmar Beach, FL--I mean a dozen oysters for $8 and $1 beers?! And did I mention they were delicious meaty gulf oysters! The next day we kept on trekking towards Jacksonville, but more specifically Timicuan National preserve where we enjoyed the Florida marshes and finally got a chance to relax at the beach. Well not exactly. While we did finally make it to the beach, so did the cold front. Thus we fought the winds, hiding in our tent. But hey, at least we made it back to the Atlantic Ocean! 

The next morning we continued north along the shore of the Atlantic--which is definitely not as scenic as the Pacific Coast Highway. As we made our way through Georgia, we had one thing on our minds, and that was good ol' southern BBQ. And slightly off the beaten path, in what appeared to be a convenience mart, we found the best of the best (at least in that neck of the woods)! The meal was complete with a pulled pork sandwich, a brisket sandwich, Brunswick stew and baked beans, smothered in their top-secret BBQ sauce!

We continued cruising north towards Savannah, Georgia, where we took a break just long enough to hear the talented Walter give a street performance, try some boiled shrimp and take a walk down the main drag along the water. Savannah is definitely a place to come back to on a warm weekend in the summertime, but on this trip we just had to keep trekking along.

That night we arrived at my favorite gal's house in Charleston, South Carolina. After too much wine and lots of catching up, we finally got the long deserved sleep, in a bed, indoors, that we were longing for! The next day, being beyond well rested, we saw the beautiful city of Charleston the way it was meant to be--by bike. We even got to see the famous theatre where the movie The Notebook was filmed!

And of course, knowing the most popular girl in town had its perks besides a bed and bikes, she also knew the best local spots to eat! We went to the most wonderful waterfront oyster house, where we enjoyed "steamed" oysters and a magical sunset.

While in Charleston I got to catch up with my favorite people! Our hostess with the mostess can't be thanked enough for the amazing welcome back we received to the East Coast.

As the journey is quickly coming to an end, with just a few hundred miles left, what can possibly be next? Why family fun in North Carolina and Maryland!

Everything IS Bigger in Texas!

Making our way into Texas we were greeted with the most stunning sunset. I knew at some point I would have to pull the car over, inconveniently in the middle of the highway, when that perfect sunset came about. And sure enough, it was in Big Country Texas. Can someone say ambience attack?! All that was missing was some Brie cheese, a glass of rosé, and perhaps not sitting on a highway with a slew of border patrol vehicles roaming around.

The first destination in Texas was Guadalupe National Park--a place that not many people know about, or travel to, but probably should. There we climbed to the top of the highest peak in Texas, which of course was blanketed in a huge cloud, thus the views were limited to 10 feet of visibility. 

Also in Guadalupe NP, we did an epic overnight trip up to the ridge line of McKittrick Canyon. Stunning! There is a reason they call it the "most beautiful spot in Texas," but you definitely have to work hard to get there. Think of climbing a StairMaster for 6 hours! 

5 days, 4 nights and $18 later, we hightailed it to Big Bend National Park to get ready for our final and toughest backpacking trip. Upon arriving, we got our permits, reached out to our families, cached water, prepared our packs and ate an excessive amount of carbohydrates for dinner. And of course, the next morning we woke up to violent winds, which collapsed our tent, rain and temperatures in the 30's. So we did what any other hardcore backpackers would do--sit in the lodge the entire day then watch documentaries in the visitor center parking lot. 

Since the terrible weather did not break, due to a cold front sweeping the nation, we had to move on. Don't worry Big Bend, we will be back! But off we were with the next destination being San Antonio, or what I call "Venice of the Southwest." 

We saw the Alamo, walked along the river and checked out the San Antonio missions. However, the rich culture and history did not overshadow the ridiculous burger challenge that took place. Two one-pound beef patties, all the fixins, onion rings and a pound of sweet potato fries, to be eaten in one hour. And he did it! With seconds on the clock, those last scraps of fries were eaten and he was one of 14 people to be named the burger challenge champ.

The next day we were off to Austin where my amazing friend set us up in a cozy bed at his sister's last minute. We checked out an all Texas microbrew bar, drove around downtown and had what I've seen all over the Food Network and Cooking Channel--The Mighty Cone--cornmeal encrusted chicken, shrimp or avocados, slaw, chipotle sauce, wrapped in a warm tortilla. Yum!

After a quick day in Austin, we were off to Dallas. Again, my amazing friend set us up with a place to stay there. We drove around checking out the city, saw the site where Kennedy was shot, had some killer Texas BBQ, and the Texas burger chain Whataburger. But then, then, we went to what can only be described as a religious experience--the Pearl Jam show! 

We only have so much left on our journey so what's up next? Oysters in the Low Country!

The Stunning Southwest

After a month and a half of driving down the West Coast, it was about time to kick off the next leg of the journey--the South. We said farewell to the Pacific, and headed towards the Southwest region of the country. But before we could fully embrace what lied ahead, we took a quick dip into Tecate, Mexico, for some complimentary beers at the famous Tecate Brewing Company and authentic tacos. The town itself is tiny and only took a few hours to circle around. However, going in a little off the beaten path was well worth it, as we stumbled upon a churro stand, which had the most amazing freshly fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar!

Let's also not forget the main attraction--the fish tacos! We walked past what looked like a restaurant advertising fish tacos for 10 pesos each (less than $1) and were immediately sold. Inside, it was a home kitchen with a woman serving up the greatest bites. And these baja style fish tacos were on a whole different level than anything you might think you have had that was awesome.

With Mexico checked off, we had to keep moving. After a few hour drive through eastern California, we arrived in Arizona. While it does fit the stereotypes of long stretches of desolation, desserts, cacti and mountains, there is so much more to discover if you want to. And we wanted to! With a tiny fraction of annual visitors to that of the  Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park is an often overlooked point of interest when in Arizona. However, it's is a magnificent with six biotic communities and well worth checking out. So for 3 days, 2 nights, temperature extremities (85 hi-28 lo), 10,000ft elevation gain, with scarce water availability, we backpacked to the top of Mica Mountain and took advantage of it all! It was definitely one of the touchest backpacking trips, but knowing a handful of people yearly get to enjoy what we did, made it that much more special. 

Making our way east, we drove through the town of Tombstone; or a place where grown-ups go to play dress-up. Seriously, it looks like something you see in a Western film. With a booming population of just over 1,000, the historical town is the home of the infamous gunfight at the OK Corrale. 

The next day we were ready to get some more hiking in, and going off of references from some Arizonians we met along the way, we went to check out the Chiricahua National Monument. It's hard to accept that the "Island in the Sky" exists. Due to a volcanic eruption millions of years ago, subsequently followed by millions of years of erosion, tons of massive rock pillars were formed. Hence the name--it's seems like you are on a sky island.

We wanted to keep the Southwestern National Parks tour going throughout New Mexico, by making our way to Gila Cliff Dwellings. Little did we know that driving there, we would discover one of the most amazing places on the trip and the best food we've had! Tucked away about 10-miles north of Silver City, NM lies a town of Pinos Altos. There, you will find the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House. The place dates back to the 1860's and is not one of those recreations of an Old Western Saloon that has been many things since--it's the real deal! The green chilie stew (what NM is known for) was absolutely to die for and the perfect pork chimichanga was like sinking your teeth into heaven. And that's just the food! The people there were the warmest and kindest we have met on the trip, including an amazing gentleman who treated us to the whole meal and drinks just because!!! We'll definitely pay it forward!

After an evening which seemed almost unreal, we did finally make it the next day to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. In the Cliff Dweller Canyon, you will find homes of the Ancient Puebloans dating back to 1276-1300 in caves! The area is also the home of many hot springs. Considering that the temperature dropped down to the teens that night (while we had to sleep outside), we sat in those hot springs for hours!

Next up was White Sands National Park--a desert made of gypsum rock, which gives it a blinding white appearance. It looks like an arctic tundra full of snow, when really it's far from it. Well, maybe the nightly temeratures are similar.

To finish off the New Mexico portion of our National Parks tour, we had to make a stop at Carlsbad Caverns. This is yet another natural wonder that makes you question how it even came into existence?Or who discovered it? Or how deep it goes beneath the earths surface? And, all your questions can be answered if your read the signs in the cave. 

What could possibly be the continuation of the Southewestern extravaganza? Brisket and Big Bend NP in Texas!

The Wild Wild West: Final Chapter

As we made our way down to LA we knew we had to get one more hike under our belts before the SoCal food fest began. A nice day hike in the Santa Monica mountains, up to the highest point (Sandstone Point), was the way to do it. From the peak, the 360 views were hard to beat--Channel Islands, Malibu, rolling hills, hidden valleys, and of course the blazing California sun illuminating the Pacific. 

When we finally did make it to Los Angeles, we were in for a treat--a $10 treat of a lifetime that is. As our stomachs started rumbling, we knew we had to find something that spoke to us. Sure enough we did! And that was an amazing taco stand on the side of the road, which has been voted "Where Chefs Eat in LA." Two fish tacos, a shrimp taco, hefty sides of rice and beans, and a loaded crab ceviche tostada for $10!? Did I mention it was also delicious!

For the next few days we had the pleasure of staying with my best friend and fiancé at their fabulous place in Marina Del Ray. We finally got to relax, do some home cookin', walk around the famous Venice Becah, check out the Santa Monica Pier, and marvel at amazing pieces of land in The Hills, perhaps not using the most conventional ways (i.e. fence hopping).

We continued our LA adventure by doing what all people in LA do...drive long distances, sit in traffic and eat In n' Out Burger animal style!

Of course, we did some sightseeing and checked out the famous Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood stars, and rode bikes into the sunset!

Someone also had a big exciting 30th birthday, which we spent in a Hollywood highrise playing dominos! Okay, okay, there was also an amazing gourmet cookout with friends to celebrate!

After a week in LA, it was time to make moves, and Joshuah Tree National Park was next on the agenda. As luck would have it, we happened to go with two seasoned rock climbers to one of the world's greatest rock climbing parks. As first timers, climbing a 50ft. rock wall with tiny crevasses used as climbing guides was incredibly nerve-wrecking to say the least, however, facing my fear of heights and climbing up that thing like it was just another day of climbing was incredible!

A few days in the Mojave, and we were ready to finish off he Cali coast in San Diego. We stayed with a pal in San Diego's little Italy, where we were welcomed with chocolates on our pillows! And our gracious host even arranged for us to go sailing in the San Deigo harbor abroad the Frolic. It was one of the trip's most magical moments, as we cruised around the sparking waters, on a perfect sunny California day. The captain even gave us a mini sailing lesson!

We also reconnected with the fam while in San Diego, and did some serious grubbing. By that I mean we re-created 2/3 of a Man v. Food San Diego episode by going to Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop and Phil's BBQ. Both joints certainly did not disappoint but seriously, the Phil's BBQ Tri-Tip sandwich overflowing with BBQ sauce somthered beef for under $8 was mind blowing! Yummmm. 

And now with the West Coast complete, what's next? Why, the Southwest! 

Parks Get Political

The amazing Frisico hosted us well, and with our stomachs full and our dancing shoes heavily worn, it was time for the next great adventure--the Sierras. Well, kind of. After driving three hours from San Francisco over to Yosemite, we were informed of the government shutdown, which resulted in closures of the national parks. Thus, we had to do what any outraged citizens and park enthusiasts would--break in! It was quite eerie driving through a park, which sees almost 4 million annual visitors, in such desolation. Nevertheless, we got our photos before everyone got evacuated in strange Armageddon-like fashion. 

Since Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks were supposed to be a two-week backpacking excursion, we had to come up with a backup plan. And somehow hippie hot springs in the wilderness made it to the list, which we later found out did not favor modesty (a euphemism for fully nude).

But back to the coast we went. First, a weekend in Santa Cruz. We lucked with some budget friendly events in town, including gallery hopping with complimentary wine and a fall harvest festival with a ton of free food samples. Yum! But the most memorable Santa Cruz treasure, aside from the majestic beaches and radical roller coaster, the Tacos Moreno burrito--an overstuffed mammoth full of crispy succulent carnitas, all the fixins', warmed up on the griddle. Incredible. And absolutely in the top 3 bites of Roadtrip USA!

As we cruised further south, a trip to the Salinas Valley and the home of John Steinbeck was an absolute must. And it turns out Steinbeck took a very similar route in his Travels with Charlie!

The posh Monterey was just a quick drive through, where again the reverberations of Steinbeck remain. Then, the only toll road we've had to pay for through the ultra swanky 17-miles of Pebble Beach. Beautiful? Definitely. A $10 toll? C'mon, Pebble Beach residents--you're already rich!

However, just miles south, lies one of America's most beautiful landscapes and Kerouac's inspiration. I mean the Big Sur of course, where the winding road guides you along the coast to admire marine wildlife and eroded rock formations protruding from the endless Pacific. 

We were lucky enough to do a 50-mile backpacking trek in the Ventana Wilderness, regardless of the park closures. The solitude and ridge line nature-scapes were indescribable. But running out of water, hiking 14 miles in the dessert sun while gaining 3,600ft of elevation and the destination (which we thought was a town) being a shut down campsite with no water, CAN be described--ahhhhhh! Nevertheless, survival instincts kicked in and we survived! But that's a whole other story.

Coming up next? The West Coast conclusion!