Elena P

Rockaway is a dark sandy beach located in the south of Pacifica, CA.  It has numerous hiking trails around it, most notably Mori Point.  The Mori Point trail will take you through the hills and overlooks Rockaway Beach. There are paths to come down to the beach.   There are biking paths and parking lots near Rockaway beach. This beach is also sometimes surfable. Rockaway beach is accessible t...

This is the main beach in Biarritz, France. It's a very popular summer time destination, but the waves are on the smaller side during this season. The waves begin to pick up during the fall and winter months. This is a beach break, providing rippable waves up and down the beach. There is a rip that takes you out to the lineup on the south end of the beach by the rocks. Use this on a bigger day....

The best way to visit this beach is to take a small boat or ferry that goes past the famous El Arco.  You get an up close view of the arch!   Located at the tip of Cabo San Lucas, Lover's beach is beautiful with ocean views on both sides.  One side is called Lover's Beach, while the other side is called Divorced Beach.  Divorced Beach usually has people sunbathing topless, while Lover's Beach i...

This is a big beach park.  There are large grassy areas with trees that are perfect to hammock in.  There are also many picnic tables.  The are two sides to the beach, with one side being very kid-friendly.   The waves can crash very hard into the rocks and create a lot of spray.  There are little tide pools to explore, but always be careful of incoming waves.

Ala Moana Beach Park is a popular spot for many locals to spend the day and relax.  There are several different reefs to surf at Ala Moana Beach Park and the paddle out is quite a distance. However, you will be rewarded with fun waves, regardless of which peak you choose.  The best time to surf is during the summer months with a south swell.

Grant Park is located on the east side of Chicago. It is a great place to spend the day and explore. From the famous "Bean", which is actually named "the cloud", to Buckingham Fountain there is plenty to see in this park. It is also a great place to see the Chicago skyline, as well as have a picnic in the many different fields!

This short but intense hike on the north east side of San Luis Obispo, offers an amazing view of the town. This hike is roughly 3 miles with 1300 ft of elevation gain. It provides a great cardio workout!  It is also a very popular spot to hike but is less crowded than Bishop Peak. It's a dog friendly trail, but must be on leash.

Creek Street is a historic boardwalk that is on the bank of Ketchikan Creek.  You can take a stroll along the boardwalk and venture over to the Salmon Ladder Vista, to see loads of salmon working hard to go upstream.  If you are luck, you might be able to see the creek swarming with salmon trying to leap vertically up a waterfall.  There are many places to taste or buy salmon in all forms here.

Shell Beach is north of downtown Pismo Beach. This is a fun wave that works best during the fall and winter months. It's a beach break with both lefts and rights. The wave is rippable and is less popular than waves at the pier or at Morro Bay. However, the wave is much less consistent than the other 2 waves.

This trail starts out going downhill towards the ocean for the first half, which makes for a tough end to the hike as you trek back up the ridge.  However, there are nice ocean and hilltop views that are worth the climb. On this trail, you'll pass 60+ banana slugs if conditions are right. They are spread out along the trail, so watch your step!

Pompeii and its inhabitants were buried after the catastrophic volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.  It is now a vast archaeological site with excavated houses, streets, and artifacts that visitors can roam and explore. There are 2 main entrances to Pompeii:  Porta Marina (main entrance) - Guided tours and audioguides can be bought here. Piazza Anfiteatro (less trafficked) - You can g...

Explore Lake Tahoe's southern shores by paddling from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay.  There are many places to stop along the way for photographs, snorkelling, or swimming. The more popular ways to paddle from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay are by SUP or kayaks.  But paddling a foamie can be extra fun, as you'll likely be the only one.  It's about a 3-4 mile paddle, depending on how direct your ro...

Just south of Ragged Point, San Carpoforo Creek is an open beach that is fun to explore. There is a quick hike from the highway to the beach.  During heavy rain years, the creek will be flowing deeper, so you might need to do some swimming. There are waves occasionally here with a couple of surfers. The conditions are fickle and it isn’t the easiest place to check so it limits the crowd.  This ...

This is a popular trail that has beach access to Cowell Ranch Beach.  Along the trail, there is a steep staircase that goes down to the beach.  The trail also features fields, a bridge, and beautiful views of California's rugged coastline.  This trail is paved in some parts, and can also be biked or jogged.

This is a short hike on the outskirts of Corvallis.  It's a popular hiking/trail running destination. There are several vantage points that overlook the city of Corvallis and Willamette Valley.  It's a great place to visit if you want to do a short hike in the town of Corvallis.

Take a short little hike down from HWY 28 to Secret Cove to relax on the beach on sunbathe on rocks. The water is incredibly clear and has different shades of turquoise. There are many rocks to climb on and the water is great for swimming. It gets crowded early, and is a nude beach, so plan accordingly. There is a parking lot as well as street parking.

Spend a day exploring Golden Gate Park by jogging, cycling, or leisurely strolling.  There are so many fantastic stops in the park including a variety of lakes, playgrounds, a golf course, the California Academy of Science, the Conservatory of Flowers, and much much more!  It is definitely worth spending a day here. The Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse and botanical garden that houses nu...

Bear Valley is a family friendly destination for snowshoeing and snow play.  There are numerous trails to explore while snowshoeing.  Don't be afraid to take a break and start a snowball fight!  There are shops located near the resort to rent snowshoes and other snow play accessories. There are spacious parking lots with nearby hills for sledding.

Does this place look familiar?  That's because San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is the location where HBO's Game of Thrones filmed the fictional location of Dragonstone.  This relatively short hike is absolutely beautiful.  It is in the Basque country of Spain.  This memorable and iconic location will have you looking up to the sky wondering where the dragons are!

Marias is a popular surf spot in Rincon, Puerto Rico.  Rincon itself is a beautiful surf town on the west side of the island.  The wave is primarily a right hand reef break that works best on north swells.  It's also a great place to catch a sunset!

This is a very popular spot to hike up to from Conzelman Road. You can find parking in the lot or on the street and do the quick hike up to Battery Spencer. You can get a perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge and SF from the Marin side of the Bay. This is a unique perspective as you also get the City in the background.