After coming back from Southeast Asia, i was hungry for more! Instead of dreaming about new countries to visit, i was now dreaming about everything AMERICA had to offer. With 61 stunning national parks, and over 10,000 state parks where does one even start?

Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, i would call myself a city girl with a country edge. My family was athletic but not outdoorsy. We never went camping or hiking.

It was time for my 27 year old self to finally learn how to make a fire, pitch a tent and really appreciate natures beauty.

My boyfriend had just moved back to California after a year with the Carolina Panthers. I was easily persuaded when he asked for me to come out and do a month of parks.

The Plan:

Starting at Patrick’s Point State Park on the northern coast of California to ring in the 2018 New Year.

Then head to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park to walk with The Coastal Redwoods.

After the Redwoods, make a pit-stop in Chico, CA. (where Jordan is from) Then work our way to Yosemite National Park

followed by Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, home of the Sequoia Redwoods

and ending in Joshua Tree National Park!

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

P A T R I C K S P O I N T S T A T E

P A R K

Starting our Journey on the stunning northern coast of California. In the heart of the redwood country, Patrick’s Point has me speechless. Just 25 miles north of Eureka, CA is a true beauty that i hope everyone has the opportunity to explore.

From the park you get a panoramic view of Agate Beach – where instead of sand dominating, you have 2 miles of secluded beach covered in what looks like pebbles but are known as Agates.

“Agates are semi-precious gemstones that are a variegated form of chalcedony (pronounced kal-sed’-nee), which is silicon dioxide in the form of microscopic fibrous quartz crystals”

So in love with California sunsets!

Fun Fact: Jurassic Park was filmed here for most of the movies forest scenes!

Off to discover Dinosaurs!

We were lucky enough to get a clear day the first day we were there.

The rest of the days were overcast, and misty. Creating this mystical perception.

A Full Moon lit up the night sky allowing us to see without a flashlight.

One of the biggest full moons i have seen to this day.

Moonlight on the ocean and clouds at midnight.

Queue “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader

I went back to Patrick’s Point to ring in the 2020 New Year! The campground ended up being full due to most of their campsites under construction from winter storms. AND What use to be first come, first serve during the winter, you can now make reservations online!

We ended up camping at Big Lagoon Campground! Definitely a great second option with easy access to the beach!

We call our tent the “Kapua Suite” *Sarah Marshall reference*

We drove to fern canyon to see the infamous fern walls, to only find out that you have to pay to get in and we didn’t have any money… dang it!

We ended up hiking a random trail off the dirt road & I still got to experience ALL THE FERNS!

New Years Eve! We hiked the Rim Trail at Patrick’s Point to to Agate Beach. Then all of Agate Beach to our campsite at Big Lagoon! It was around 6 miles total! It was the perfect day hike to finish out 2019!

We stumbled upon what I though was a huge redwood washed up on shore, but was in fact a dead whale!

WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO BELOW

Catching the last Sunset of 2019!

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

J E D E D I A H S M I T H

R E D W O O D S

S T A T E P A R K

THE REDWOODS!

There is nothing more exciting then your first time seeing a redwood.

Majestically, Magical, Marvelous, enormous, kings and queens of this earth!

The park is home to The Coast Redwoods!

Camping in January, most campground are first come first serve and usually not crowded which means first dips on prime camping spots.

Bear being a good boy!

Cutest lil Fungi

HUMANS FOR SIZE BELOW

When traveling Thailand and Vietnam, we read a book called

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World by Pete Wohllenben

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!! Opens your mind to another world and is something that Jordan and I reference often when hiking and backpacking.

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

Y O S E M I T E N A T I O N A L P A R K

Driving into the park, you understand why 4 million people visit the park each year.

The magnitude was unmatched to what i expected.

I have been back to Yosemite twice since this visit. It truly is remarkable.

The hike to Half Dome (the beaut you see below) was by far the hardest hike/ thing in general i have ever done in my life. A 17 mile hike with a lot of mistakes, temptation of quitting and tears but man oh man was it worth it.

Check out my Hike to Half Dome here!