One year (and one day) ago today…
I completed my move from California – but not before enjoying some California adventures in the last few months of my stay…
April
In what turned out to be one of the best weekends of my life, I attended Maria Popova‘s Universe in Verse event at UC Santa Cruz – a magical evening celebrating the intersections of science, poetry, art, music, and nature.
The event was held in the Quarry Amphitheater, nestled in a redwood forest. It was the one time in my life where I didn’t mind that I was freezing cold. Highlights of this evening of wonder and awe included learning of the movie Arrival and hearing Zoë Keating play the cello.
This experience was expansive and inspirational – a unique and unforgettable memory that will stay with me for a lifetime.
After spending the night *glamping* in the redwood forest with the full moon light peeking through the trees, I embarked on one of the most scenic drives in the world – Pacific Coast Highway (PCH1) – winding its way along the California coast and offering breathtaking views of the ocean, cliffs, and beaches. Along the way, I made stops at Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur for food and photos and near San Simeon to see the elephant seals. It was a long day to get all the way from Santa Cruz to Anaheim in one go, but definitely worthwhile!
May
On a Thursday morning near semester’s end, I gifted myself a celebratory sunrise hot air balloon ride, complete with a champagne toast! We floated over the vineyards and rolling hills of Temecula Valley and were treated to stunning views of the sunrise and the surrounding countryside. This was a fantastic way to start my day, and I carried the spirit of adventure with me through the entire day and into the weekend.
The next day, I hopped on an Amtrak train headed south as soon as my morning meeting was done – I was on my way to the Carlsbad Flower Fields. Every Spring, millions of flowers, including ranunculus, tulips, and daffodils, carpet the grounds of the flower fields. In some spots, there were flowers as far as the eye could see!
June & July
Last but not least, a mother-daughter cross-country road trip ❤️ (the abbreviated version):
Huntington Beach, CA > Joshua Tree, CA (10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat 🧘♀️) > Las Vegas, NV > Zion, UT > Bryce Canyon, UT > Capitol Reef, UT > Canyonlands, UT > Arches, UT > Denver, CO > Odessa, MO (Kansas City BBQ 😋) > London, OH > THE Ohio State University > Canton, OH
