USA Travel Guide
With Carae being from Texas, we have a lot to say about the United States. It’s such a diverse and massive country that it’s hard to summarize in just a few sentences. From iconic cities like New York and Los Angeles to stunning national parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, the US is packed with cool things to explore. And let’s not forget about the delicious food, from BBQ in Texas to lobster rolls in Maine. The US also offers plenty of opportunities for adventure, whether you’re into hiking, skiing, surfing, or even skydiving. With 50 states to explore, you’ll never run out of things to do and see in this vast country.
Where to Stay in Monterey California: My Favorite Areas & Hotels in 2026
I had a fantastic weekend in Monterey, and it’s actually a place that really surprised me with how many cool hotels and things to do there are. We spent 2 nights in Monterey, staying at a really cute little bed and breakfast, and used it as our base to explore the city and the surrounding…
The 5 Best Cafes & Coffee Shops in Monterey California: My Favorite Spots for Coffee in 2026
I’m one of those people who needs coffee first thing in the morning before I can function like a normal human being. So whenever I’m traveling or visiting somewhere new, the hunt for a good coffee shop starts all over again. I only spent a weekend in Monterey, so obviously I didn’t manage to try…
The 10 Best Things to Do in Monterey California: My Favorite Activities in 2026
I was actually pretty surprised by how much there is to do in Monterey itself, but also in the surrounding area. I only spent a weekend here, and somehow I still managed to pack in a bunch of really fun activities. Looking back at this list, I also think Monterey is a great place to…
Is The 17-Mile Drive in California Worth It? My Honest Review in 2026
We obviously had to drive the 17-Mile Drive while we were in Monterey. It was basically the number one thing that kept coming up whenever I was researching what to do around Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, so I wanted to see for myself what it was actually like. We started in Monterey and drove down toward…
How Many Days in Monterey Do You Actually Need? My Honest Review in 2026
I actually enjoyed my time in Monterey a lot more than I expected. It wasn’t necessarily at the top of my must-visit list in Central California, but since we were driving down the coast on our month-long California road trip, I figured we might as well stop here for a couple of days. And I’m…
Is Monterey California Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026
I visited Monterey, California, as part of a pretty massive road trip down the coast from San Francisco to San Diego. And even though Monterey wasn’t necessarily at the top of my list of places I absolutely had to visit, I ended up having a surprisingly great time here. Monterey itself is pretty small, but…
Where to Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea: My Favorite Areas & Hotels in 2026
Staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea for a weekend was definitely a bit of a dream come true for us. I mean, when else do you get the chance to stay in a little fairytale-like town full of cute cottages, right on the California coast? We spent a weekend here exploring all the little streets, restaurants, cafes and…
The 3 Best Cafes & Coffee Shops in Carmel-by-the-Sea: My Favorite Spots for Coffee in 2026
I’m the type of person who genuinely needs a good cup of coffee in the morning before I can even function, let alone head out and explore somewhere new. Whenever I travel, I have this little ritual of hunting down the best coffee shops in town, and of course, I had to do the same…
The 7 Best Things to Do in Carmel-by-the-Sea: My Favorite Activities in 2026
I’d had Carmel-by-the-Sea on my list of places I wanted to visit for quite some time, so when we finally started our California road trip, I made sure to include it as one of our stops. We spent a weekend here, and Carmel is definitely one of the cutest little towns I visited in California.…
2 Days in Carmel-by-the-Sea: How I Spent Amazing 48 Hours Here in 2026
I couldn’t wait to finally visit Carmel-by-the-Sea. It had been on my California bucket list for years, so when we planned our road trip, I made sure to add it as a stop along the coast. The little cottages, the old-fashioned architecture and the whole look of the town reminded me so much of the…
Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026
Carmel-by-the-Sea had been on my California bucket list for literally years, so when we finally planned our California road trip this year, I just knew I had to stop here and spend a couple of nights. And I’m so glad we did. Carmel reminded me a lot of the little seaside towns I’ve visited in…
How Many Days in Carmel-by-the-Sea Do You Actually Need? (2026)
I feel like Carmel-by-the-Sea has become more and more popular over the past few years, especially on Instagram and other social media. I’ve seen countless videos of people showing off how beautiful this little town is, and after visiting myself, I can definitely understand the hype. Some people come here just for a day trip,…
The 7 Best Restaurants in Palm Springs CA: My Favorite Foodie Spots in 2026
I spent quite a bit of time in Palm Springs trying as much food as I possibly could because I’d heard so many good things about the food scene here. So obviously, I figured I had to give it a proper try and eat my way through as much of the city as I could.…
The 5 Best Cafes & Coffee Shops in Palm Springs: My Favorite Spots for Coffee in 2026
I really don’t think I could’ve explored Palm Springs the way I did without a good coffee every single morning to get me going. Especially when you’re waking up early to beat the heat, hiking around the desert and then spending the rest of the day riding bikes around town, I definitely needed my coffee…
Where to Stay in Palm Springs: My Favorite 7 Hotels and Areas in 2026
Luckily, we picked a really good place to stay in Palm Springs, and I really think the location made a huge difference in how much we enjoyed our weekend here. We could walk to a bunch of restaurants from our hotel, and they also had free bike rentals, so we could just hop on a…
The 9 Best Things to Do in Palm Springs + 2 Things I’d Skip (2026)
I really tried my best to do as much as possible while I was in Palm Springs because who knows when I’ll be back here, but at the same time, I also wanted to give myself at least a little bit of free time to just hang out by the pool. I spent a long…
How Many Days in Palm Springs Do You Actually Need: My Perfect Weekend in 2026
My whole weekend in Palm Springs was pretty jam-packed because I wanted to make the most of it. I just didn’t know when I’d be back, so I figured I might as well see as much as I could while I was there. I spent a full 3 days in Palm Springs, and I could’ve…
3 Days in Palm Springs: How I Spent My 72 Hours Here in 2026
Some of the coolest and most unique activities I did during my entire California road trip were right here in Palm Springs. I went hiking through some incredible canyons, took a cable car up onto a massive mountain, got a picture with Marilyn Monroe, and saw some of the coolest architecture I’ve come across anywhere…
The Best Time to Visit Palm Springs California + When I Wouldn’t Visit Palm Springs (2026)
I feel like knowing the best time to visit has never been quite as important to me as it was when I realized I was literally driving into the desert to visit Palm Springs. We just got back from a weekend in Palm Springs, and after experiencing it for ourselves, I definitely have a much…
Where to See Cool Houses in Palm Springs California: My Favorite Spots for Mid-Century Homes 2026
One of the main reasons I even wanted to come to Palm Springs in the first place was, of course, the incredible architecture here, specifically all those super cool mid-century modern houses. You know the ones with weird geometric shapes, flat roofs, huge windows and the colorful pink or pastel doors? I’m sure you’ve seen…
Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026
I had absolutely no idea I would love Palm Springs as much as I did, looking back, I think it might actually be one of my favorite places I visited in California. We just got back from a weekend here and, yes, it was ridiculously hot, but it was also so much fun. We rode…
Where to Stay in Ojai California: My Favorite Areas & Hotels in 2026
For my weekend in Ojai, the hotel I stayed at was definitely part of the experience, and it was for sure one of the reasons I loved my weekend here so much. Ojai is a super cute little town in California, and it has some of the most amazing, quirky boutique hotels and spa resorts…
The 7 Best Things to Do in Ojai California: My Top Activities in 2026
California is packed with cool little towns like Ojai, which I visited this past summer. And while I definitely wouldn’t describe Ojai as an activity-filled destination where you’re running from one attraction to the next all day, I still had such a fun time here. That’s right, Ojai doesn’t have a crazy amount of things…
The 5 Best Restaurants in Ojai California: My Top Foodie Spots in 2026
Since my time in Ojai wasn’t exactly packed with activities and was much more of a spa weekend and treat-yourself kind of trip, I made sure to try as much good food as I possibly could while I was here. I spent a whole weekend in Ojai, and I basically went out for every meal…
The 5 Best Cafes & Coffee Shops in Ojai: My Favorite Places for Coffee in 2026
Heading out in the morning and finding a new coffee shop for my morning fix is literally one of my favorite things to do, especially when I’m traveling. At this point, it’s basically become a little ritual for me. I’m a huge coffee lover, and after spending so much time traveling around California, I can…
The Perfect Day Trip to Ojai California: How I Spent 24 Hours Here in 2026
Going on little day trips around California and exploring smaller, less touristy towns was definitely one of my favorite things I did last summer. One of my favorite little California towns I visited was Ojai, and it’s basically the perfect size for a day trip. There isn’t a huge amount of sightseeing to get through,…
The Best Time to Visit Ojai California: My Seasonal Guide in 2026
One of the cutest little towns I visited in California this past summer was definitely Ojai. We spent a whole weekend here, and we really treated ourselves a little bit with good food, a great hotel, and just an overall relaxing few days. We visited in July, and I was actually really happy with that.…
Is Ojai Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026
California is packed with small, cute little towns that are definitely a bit more off the radar when it comes to tourism, and one of my favorites that I visited this summer was Ojai. I honestly didn’t know that much about Ojai before we went, but we ended up having such a great weekend here.…
Where to Stay in San Luis Obispo California: My Top Hotels & Areas in 2026
I just got back from an amazing weekend in San Luis Obispo, and I stayed at one of the cutest hotels I’ve been to in a very long time. I spent pretty much the entire weekend wandering around the historic center of SLO, grabbing coffee, checking out little shops and restaurants, and just enjoying the…
The 5 Best Cafes & Coffee Shops in San Luis Obispo: My Favorite Spots for Coffee in 2026
You might already know that I’m a huge coffee lover, and I basically can’t start my morning without a good cup of coffee. Luckily, San Luis Obispo has a really good selection of little cafes and coffee shops, especially for such a small town. I spent 3 days in SLO, and during that time I…
The 7 Best Things to Do in San Luis Obispo + 1 Thing I Would Skip in 2026
One of my favorite little towns in California that I’ve visited this past year was San Luis Obispo (SLO), and because of all the fun little, and even kinda romantic, things to do here, I think it makes for a fantastic weekend getaway. I just spent a long weekend here and got to do most…
Santa Barbara vs. San Luis Obispo: My Perfect Weekend Getaway in 2026
I do love a good weekend getaway, especially when it involves a cute California town, beautiful architecture, good food and wine country nearby. And on my recent road trip, I got to visit Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo back to back. I had a great time in both, but it did make me wonder:…
Is San Luis Obispo Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026
One of the cutest little towns in California has got to be San Luis Obispo, or SLO as the locals call it. I just spent a whole weekend in this cute little town, and between the historic city center, awesome restaurants and cafes, and all the super cool vineyards nearby, it kinda had everything I…
The 5 Best Restaurants in Morro Bay: My Favorite Food Spots in 2026
Originally, I didn’t even plan on coming to Morro Bay. I had never heard of it before and honestly had no idea what to expect. But I ended up stopping here during my California road trip this year, and I’ll tell you what: Here I had some of the best seafood I ate anywhere in…
Where to Stay in Morro Bay California: My 5 Top Hotels in 2026
One of my favorite little seaside towns that I’ve visited this past year in California was definitely Morro Bay. I spent three full days here exploring the town, trying to spot all the wildlife and eating some amazing seafood pretty much every day. Morro Bay is fairly small, so the number of hotels here isn’t…
The 5 Best Cafes in Morro Bay: My TOP Coffee Shops & Breakfast Spots in 2026
I’m a huge coffee lover, and while I’ve been traveling through California this year, I’ve definitely noticed that some cities and towns have a much better coffee scene than others. I spent three days in Morro Bay, and looking back, I was actually pretty surprised by how many cute and quirky cafes and coffee shops…
2 Days in Morro Bay California: My Weekend Itinerary in 2026
Morro Bay is a cute little and pretty quaint seaside town in Central California, and in my opinion, it’s one of the great destinations for a weekend getaway or as a stop on your California road trip. I just spent 2 days in Morro Bay as part of my 1-month California road trip, and it…
The 9 Best Things to Do in Morro Bay California: My Top Activities in 2026
Morro Bay is for sure one of those California towns that surprised me quite a bit, mainly because I didn’t really know what to expect before I got here. But in the end, I had such a great time. I spent 3 full days in Morro Bay as part of my 1-month California road trip,…
Mini Guide: Where to See Sea Lions & Otters in Morro Bay 2026
One of the biggest reasons people come to Morro Bay, and one of the things I ended up loving the most, is the awesome wildlife here. And that mainly means sea otters and sea lions (Oh and whales of course!). I just spent 3 days in Morro Bay, and pretty much every day I got…
Is Morro Bay Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026
Morro Bay in Central California is a beautiful little seaside town that I honestly had zero expectations for. I didn’t know much about it before visiting, but it ended up really surprising me, and I actually loved it. With some cities in California being super busy and chaotic at times, it was really nice to…
Where to Stay in Santa Barbara California: My Top 7 Hotels & Areas in 2026
Santa Barbara is one of my favorite cities I’ve visited this year, not just in California but in the USA in general. The second I drove into the city with the ocean and palm trees around me, I was literally obsessed. The Spanish architecture, the beach, the food, the wineries… I love it all. Santa…
The 5 Best Wine Bars in Santa Barbara: Where I’d Go for a Glass of Wine in 2026
The wine bars in Santa Barbara are for sure one of the coolest things about the city and 100% something you should experience while you’re here. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m a sommelier or anything, but I love a good glass of wine, I love visiting vineyards and wine bars, and I have to say,…
The 7 Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara California: My Favorite Foodie Spots in 2026
I always say that one of the major things to do in Santa Barbara is check out the amazing food scene, and honestly, trying different restaurants and food spots was basically my number one activity while I was here. I just got back from a 4-day visit to Santa Barbara, and I tried quite a…
The 7 Best Cafes in Santa Barbara CA: My Favorite Coffee Shops in 2026
As you might already know, I’m a huge coffee lover. Some might even say I’m a little overly obsessed with having a good cup of coffee, and I also genuinely enjoy putting in the effort to try different cafes and coffee shops to find that said cup of coffee. Luckily for me, Santa Barbara has…
Is Santa Barbara Expensive to Visit? My Honest Cost Breakdown in 2026
There are definitely a bunch of places in the USA, and California in particular, that have a reputation for being on the more expensive side, both to live in and to visit as a tourist. And I feel like Santa Barbara is definitely one of those places. Whenever I hear the name Santa Barbara, I…
Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026
If I was moving to California tomorrow and had to pick a place to live, there’s a really high chance I’d pick Santa Barbara. I literally just got back from a visit there and I loved it so much. Santa Barbara just feels so stereotypically California to me, with the huge palm trees, the beach,…
2 Days in Santa Barbara California: How I Spent 48 Amazing Hours Here (2026)
I really do think Santa Barbara is one of the best places in California for a quick little weekend trip. I literally just got back from spending a few nights here and, honestly, I kinda fell in love with the place. We spent our days shopping, eating, drinking wine, hanging out at the beach and…
How Many Days in Santa Barbara Do You Actually Need: My Honest Opinion 2026
If you’re looking for the most beautiful California beach town with huge palm trees, Spanish-style houses, stunning beaches, wineries and just an overall great vibe, then I honestly think Santa Barbara is one of the best weekend trips you can take in California. I just got back from Santa Barbara and had such a fabulous…
The 11 Best Things to Do in Santa Barbara: My Favorite Activities in 2026
Santa Barbara in California is for sure one of the most stunning and most fun little cities I have visited in the past year. I just got back from a visit to Santa Barbara myself, and while I was definitely more busy with shopping, drinking wine, eating good food and hanging out by the beach,…
The 7 Best Restaurants in South Lake Tahoe: My Favorite Food Spots in 2026
I was definitely a little surprised by the food scene in South Lake Tahoe and I mean that in a very good way! There are so many amazing restaurants, cute pubs, breweries, and bars all around town, and I honestly didn’t expect there to be such a great variety of food here. I’m definitely a…
The 5 Best South Lake Tahoe Cafes & Coffee Shops: My Top Coffee Spots in 2026
Pretty much every single morning, whether I have a big hiking day planned or I’m having a lazy day by the lake, I need to start the day with a good coffee. Before coming to Lake Tahoe, I was actually a little concerned about whether I’d be able to find any good coffee shops here.…
The 12 Best Things to Do in Lake Tahoe + 2 Things I’d Skip in 2026 (Summer)
Out of the 4-week road trip I did through California recently, I have to say that when it comes to activities and things to do, Lake Tahoe was by far my favorite stop. I’d say I’m pretty big into all sorts of outdoor activities. I love biking, hiking, backpacking, spending the day on the lake,…
Where to Stay in Lake Tahoe: My TOP Areas & Hotels in 2026 (Summer)
Lake Tahoe is definitely one of my top places that I’ve visited this year, not just in California but probably within the whole of the USA. I was honestly obsessed with this place. For a start, there’s the sheer beauty of Lake Tahoe with the crystal clear water, mountains and huge pine trees, but then…
The Best eSIM for USA Travel in 2026: Why I Use Holafly
With one of us being born and raised in Texas, USA, we love coming back to visit family, but we’ve also been trying to explore more of the country over the past few years. Because of that, we’ve been getting an eSIM basically every time we visit the USA. Just this year alone, we visited…
My Lake Tahoe Packing List: 13 Things I Absolutely Need When I’m at Lake Tahoe in 2026 (Summer)
Since I’m a full-time traveler and I’m barely ever at home, I’m also somehow pretty terrible at being prepared for certain trips, especially when it comes to outdoorsy destinations. I often end up arriving somewhere and realizing that I’m missing some piece of gear I really wish I had brought with me (Looking at you,…
How Many Days in Lake Tahoe Do You Really Need (2026)
I honestly had no idea this would happen to me, but Lake Tahoe might have become one of my absolute favorite places I’ve visited in California so far. The incredible scenery, the mountains, the huge pine trees, and the crystal-clear water in the lake…I genuinely couldn’t get enough of it. The longer I stayed, the…
The 6 Best Lake Tahoe Hikes I Actually Did in 2026 (Mostly Easy Hikes)
I love pretty much any type of outdoor activity, from biking and snowboarding to swimming and, of course, hiking. And after spending about a week exploring Lake Tahoe, I can confidently say that this is one of the best places in California for incredible hiking trails. During my time in Lake Tahoe, I tried to…
The 5 Best Lake Tahoe Beaches + My Secret Swimming Spot at Lake Tahoe
Before coming to Lake Tahoe, California, and this sounds a little embarrassing, I had absolutely no idea how many incredible beaches there were around the lake. I didn’t even realize there were proper sandy beaches here in the first place. I visited Lake Tahoe for the very first time during summer and spent about a…
Is Lake Tahoe Worth Visiting? My Honest Review 2026
I just visited Lake Tahoe for the very first time in the summer, and I can already tell you, I’m fully obsessed. I always used to say that if I ever settled down somewhere, it had to be near the ocean. But after spending a few days in Lake Tahoe, I’m not so sure anymore. …
The Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe California (And When I’d Go Again) 2026
I’ve now visited Lake Tahoe both in the summer and in the winter, and after experiencing both seasons, I can confidently say it’s one of the best year-round destinations I’ve ever visited in the USA. My first trip to Lake Tahoe was a quick little winter getaway, mainly for skiing and snowboarding. More recently, I…
Is Lake Tahoe Expensive? My Honest Cost Breakdown for 4 Days in Lake Tahoe CA
One of the biggest questions and honestly, worries I had before planning my trip to Lake Tahoe was: Is Lake Tahoe expensive, and can I actually afford to visit? I don’t know why, but I had this idea in my head that Lake Tahoe was going to be really expensive. Maybe it was because I…
My Perfect Lake Tahoe 3 Day Itinerary: What I Loved & What I’d Do Differently 2026
If you’re looking for one of the best 3-day weekend trips in California, Lake Tahoe should honestly be very high on your list. I just visited Lake Tahoe for the very first time in the summer, and I became obsessed almost immediately. The crystal-clear water alone was incredible, but then you add the pine forests,…
The 7 Best Cafes and Restaurants in Big Sur California: My Top Food Spots in 2026
Big Sur California is for sure one of the best weekend road trips on the California coast that anyone could ever do and that I have ever done, you guys! I did a huge California road trip where I spent three days in Big Sur, and on top of all the incredible hiking I did,…
The Perfect 3 Day Big Sur California Road Trip: How I Spent 3 Days in Big Sur 2026
I have always wanted to do a huge road trip down the coast of California, and now that I finally did it, I can tell you two things: first, it was absolutely amazing, and second, Big Sur was definitely one of my absolute highlights of my entire trip. Big Sur is the beautiful coastal region…
The Best Time to Visit Big Sur California: When I Would Visit Again 2026
Big Sur is for sure one of my top outdoor destinations on the California Pacific coast. Between the amazing waterfalls, the hiking trails, the hidden beaches, and the stunning views, it is an absolute dream if you love being outside. I did a massive road trip down the California coast, and since I’m a huge…
Where to Stay in Big Sur California: My 5 Top Lodges & Hotels in 2026
I know loads of you are planning a weekend trip to Big Sur soon, and one of the first things you usually have to sort out is figuring out where to stay. I spent quite a bit of time in Big Sur myself, and for my trip, I had pretty much only a handful of…