Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs is a cute little desert town and conveniently just an hour from joshua tree national park!

Palm Springs and Joshua Tree Tips: 

• Palm Springs is all very midcentury modern and trendy. The town itself is quiet small and can easily be explored on foot and in a short time period.

• The area is very pretty since it is surrounded by mountains. It does get very hot with being in the desert and is quite windy as well.

• Doing a road trip? Check out my Los Angeles guide here, San Diego guide here, and Las Vegas guide here!

PALM SPRINGS RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Las Palmas Brewing: A cute brewery downtown with a back beer garden space. They are focused on Farmhouse style beers and do a good job with them. They also have natural wine and usually a guest tap or two.

• Boozehounds: A super cute spot with indoor, atrium and outdoor seating. They have happy hour, brunch and a full food menu. They are dog-focused and super dog-friendly. The food and drinks I had here were superb.

• Townie Bagels: A cute spot for delicious bagels and coffee.

• Stay at Movie Colony Hotel: This is a nice midcentury modern hotel with a lovely pool and a great price tag. The location is conveniently walkable to everything downtown. It is also pet-friendly if you’re traveling with a pup! There are lots of cute and cheap hotels in town, but I did enjoy my experience here!

• La Quinta Brewing: This brewery has 3 locations—the brewery in Palm Desert, the taproom and grill in Old Town La Quinta and a quaint taproom in Palm Springs. In downtown Palm Springs they have a nice patio with misters perfect for people watching and gazing at the sunset. They have 10 taps, guest taps, and average beers.

• Hop on the Aerial Tramway: Unfortunately this was closed during my visit, but I have heard great things!

Boozehounds

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK:

• Joshua Tree National Park is not a very exciting national park. Expect lots of the namesake Joshua Trees and piles of rocks.

• The park is one hour east of Palm Springs and can easily be explored in a half of a day. You will need a National Park Pass or to pay to enter.

• The west side of the park (closest to Palm Springs) is much cooler with a lot of Joshua Trees whereas the east side is more much classic desert.

• Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park:

  • Hidden Valley Trail: This is a mostly flat loop trail that is 1 mile long and takes about 25 minutes. The views here are decent but nothing too crazy.

  • Keys View: A nice viewpoint of the surrounding mountains.

  • Cholla Cactus Garden: A cool area to go for a stroll and explore the various types of plants.

  • Arch Rock Trail: This is a mostly flat 1.1 mile out and back trail to Arch Rock. It takes about 30 minutes and you essentially walk through the desert to one rock and back.

  • See Skull Rock: A rock that does indeed look like a skull

  • Barker Dam Trail: This is a mostly flat loop trail that is 1.4 miles long and takes about 30 minutes. It is not super scenic and there are some petroglyphs but they’ve mostly been painted over.

Los Angeles Beer and Travel Guide

Los Angeles is as smog and traffic filled as you’ve heard, but it is also a city with some of the best beer in the world and plenty of fun things to do!

LA Tips: 

• Rent a car. I don’t always recommend renting a car, and you may think I am crazy with what you have heard about LA traffic, but I do recommend it. The city is massive and very spread out so a car is the easiest way to get around. Plus, rideshares like Uber and Lyft are quite expensive in the LA area.

  • If you are planning to Uber/Lyft from the airport you will need to take a shuttle from the terminal. You can’t actually order your ride until you get into the pickup zone but there are cars waiting for riders there.

• Intentionally plan out your time. There are several cities within the Los Angeles area worth exploring—downtown, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, the beaches, and more—that are all spread out, so be sure to have a plan of attack for your visit.

• If you are in town on a Monday or Tuesday be prepared that a lot of businesses (especially breweries) are closed.

• Downtown LA and tourist sites like the Hollywood Walk of Fame are pretty run down—overall I found central LA to be quite dirty. It’s not quite the glitz and glam that movies make it out to be.

• San Diego is closer than you think! It is about two hours from one downtown to the other, but both cities are sprawling so much that you can easily traverse between the two! I highly recommend exploring San Diego while you’re in the LA area—check out all of my San Diego recommendations here!

• Doing a road trip? Check out my Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park guide here and my Las Vegas guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: 

• Monkish Brewing Co: Monkish is arguably one of the best breweries in the country. Their original taproom is located in Torrance, conveniently close to LAX if you are flying in/out of the city. They are best known for their New England IPAs which are absolutely spectacular, but their funky beers are delicious as well. They have a great patio space and food pop-ups Thursday-Sunday.

  • Monkish has a second location in Anaheim next to Farmer’s Park and the Anaheim Packing District. Parking can be a challenge here when the market is busy but it is worth it for their fantastic beers.

• Bottle Logic Brewing: A powerhouse brewery specializing in Stouts located in Anaheim. They have a nice patio, a large tap list, and phenomenal beers.

• Green Cheek Beer Co.: A top-notch brewery with locations in Costa Mesa and Orange. They have a wide array of beers to choose from, including a few guest taps, and they are best known for their Lagers. They also have a small food menu.

• Windsor Homebrew and Bottle Shop: A curated bottle shop and homebrew supply store with locations in Anaheim and Costa Mesa. Their bottle shop selection is incredible and the Anaheim location also has a selection of beers on tap that are hard to find and highly rated.

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your booking!

• Highland Park Brewery: A fantastic brewery in downtown Los Angeles with a wide variety of beers and delicious food. Chill vibes, great beers.

• Kings Brewing: Located in Rancho Cucamonga, Kings is best known for their thicc Fruited Sours but they also highly value a good crisp Lager. They have a massive tap list and a friendly team.

• Homage Brewing: Homage has two locations—their original taproom is in downtown Pomona and they have a smaller secondary taproom in the Chinatown neighborhood of downtown LA. They are best known for their Saisons and Lambics which are top-notch.

• The Bruery: The Bruery is a highly awarded brewery creating uniquely delicious beers. Their main brewery and taproom is located in Placentia, right near Anaheim, Their second location, Bruery Terreux Tasting Room, is 5 minutes away in Anaheim proper. This location houses their Lambics and Wild Ales, but you can get those on tap at the main taproom as well.

Monkish Brewing

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Griffith Park: A massive park with hiking, an observatory, access to the Hollywood Sign, a Greek Theater, the L.A. Zoo, tennis courts, a golf course, an equestrian center, and more!

  • I enjoyed the Glendale Peak Trail in Griffith Park that was 3.6 miles long and 67 flights up. It is quite exposed so be sure to bring lots of water. The trail can be popular but on a weekday morning I only saw a few folks. You get great views of the skyline, Hollywood Sign, and surrounding mountains.

• Hit the beach! Whether it is Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, or any of the smaller beaches in between, spend some time at the Pacific Ocean.

• Getting a picture of The Hollywood Sign: While in L.A. this is basically a must do, but it turns out it’s a bit harder than you would expect. You can go to the top of the park but then you are behind the letters and can’t actually read them, so I set out to take a photo from the front of the letters. As a heads up, Google says you can do this from “The Last House on Mulholland” but you cannot, they have closed the road. The entire Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood that is in front of the Hollywood Sign has signs up throughout it preventing parking and there are several roads closed because of tourists. I managed to snag a quick photo near 3389 Deronda Drive, but even that was technically not allowed.

• Elysian Park: Another massive greenspace in the city! There is a good view of the skyline at Angel’s Point.

• Check out the Top of the World: I did the Top of the World via Canyon Acres Trail in Laguna Beach that led to a great viewpoint of the surrounding mountains, ocean, and city. You can also drive up to right below The Top of the World if that is more your style. For the hike it was short but steep—2.7 miles long and 70 flights up. It is very exposed so be sure to bring lots of water. Overall it took me just over an hour and was a great workout with great views.

Griffith Park

Other ideas:​​

• Radiant Beer Co.: Located in Anaheim, Radiant is a young brewery with vibrant branding and a nice patio. Their beers are solid and they were named 2021 GABF Small Brewery of the Year.

• The Camp: A cute development in Costa Mesa with a bunch of shops and restaurants to explore.

  • Slurpin’ Ramen Bar: A small ramen bar located near The Camp in Costa Mesa with delicious ramen and other appetizers and sides.

• Mumford Brewing: A solid brewery in downtown Los Angeles.

• Sandbox Brewing Company: Sandbox is a small spot known for their Fruited Sours. They are located in an industrial complex in Montclair.

San Diego Beer and Travel Guide

San Diego is as glorious as you are imagining. Great weather. Great Beaches. Great Beer.

San Diego Tips: 

• San Diego is massive. The county is quite spread out and encompasses multiple different cities within itself. I would recommend only a couple of days in the downtown area and then get yourself to a cute beach town and relax for a few days.

• There are over 150 breweries in San Diego, so it can be quite overwhelming to start planning your San Diego trip. Don’t fret! A lot of those breweries have multiple taprooms throughout the San Diego area, so once you decide what areas you would like to visit you can narrow down your selection.

• Expand your trip into the Los Angeles area! I loved getting to roam around SoCal and was surprised at how close the two cities are to each other because of their large sprawling sizes. Check out all of my LA recommendations here!

• The airport in San Diego is central to downtown so it is very convenient to fly in/out of.

• Doing a road trip? Check out my Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park guide here and my Las Vegas guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: ​

• Pure Project: The best brewery in the San Diego area. Pure has several locations to check out—Vista, Miramar, Balboa Park, and Carlsbad. They also have a North Park location that will be opening soon. I visited Balboa Park and Carlsbad and thoroughly enjoyed them both!

  • Balboa Park: This location is, you guessed it, right off of Balboa Park in downtown San Diego. They have a cute patio, a biergarten across the street, and pizza onsite from Urbn Pizza.

  • Carlsbad: This location fully emits the chill, beach vibes of Carlsbad. They have a nice set-up with a fire table, casual seating, plants, and super friendly staff.

• Mostra Coffee: An absolute must-visit while in the San Diego area! They have 3 locations—Banker’s Hill is the closest to central SD, Carmel Mountain Ranch is the original spot, and the 4S Ranch location has a great selection of craft beer. I loved the Crème Brûlée Latte and Choconana Cold Brew.

• Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten: A cute taproom directly on the marina. The seats are right along the ocean and you can see the San Diego skyline and surrounding mountains in the distance. The Lagers here were great. Eppig also has another location in Vista.

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your stay!

• Societe Brewing Company: A great brewery with delicious beers and an onsite food truck, Chachos Tacos, serving up really tasty eats.

• Mujeres Brew House: San Diego’s first Latina-founded community brewing space. The beers here are tasty and they have the option to do a chamoy rim which I highly recommend. They also have a cute patio space and a food menu.

• The Lost Abbey: This Belgian brewery has four tasting rooms in the San Diego area—The Main Tasting Room in San Marcos, The Church in downtown San Diego, The Sanctuary in San Marcos, and The Confessional in Cardiff-By-The-Sea.

  • I visited The Confessional that is housed in a shopping center with multiple food options around that you can grab takeout from and enjoy at The Lost Abbey. This taproom is quite small and has beachy vibes. Their Barrel Aged beers are great.

• Get lost in the Miramar brewery scene: This industrial area has over 15 breweries within just a couple of miles. Many of these breweries have other locations as well.

  • AleSmith Brewing Company: This Miramar brewery is one of the older breweries in San Diego and one of the most popular. They are best known for Speedway Stout and the different variants they make of that beer. Their taproom is very large and commercialized with a full gift shop and tour buses frequently stopping in, but the beers are solid and worth checking out.

Pure Project Carlsbad

North Park:

• North Park Beer Co.: A solid brewery with chill vibes. Their West Coast IPAs are top notch. Mastiff Sausage Company has a location inside for food.

• Bottlecraft: A great beer bar and bottle shop with 12 taps and a plethora of cans and bottles to choose from. They are also home to Venissimo Cheese so you can enjoy charcuterie with your beers. Bottlecraft has several locations throughout the San Diego area.

• The Original 40 Brewing Company: Another solid brewery with a wide selection of taps to choose from. They have a full food menu and their pretzel is particularly delicious.

• Pariah Brewing Co.: Another brewery option a bit further north. The beers were tasty but the environment was a lot. Beer pong and staff getting drunk at the bar is not particularly a great look.

• Rouluer Brewing Company: An average brewery with a full food menu.

Oceanside:

• Bottlecraft: A great beer bar and bottle shop. This location is smaller than North Park but they still have a fantastic selection of beers. They also have a restaurant inside, Shootz, that specializes in fish tacos. Their back patio has great vibes, and from 4-6pm they have no corkage fee so you can enjoy a something from their can/bottle selection at list price.

• Craft Coast Brewery & Taco Stand: A solid brewery that has a patio, a full food menu, and is quite popular.

• The Buccaneer Cafe: A cute little shack right across from the beach that is a great spot to grab breakfast. I would not recommend their coffee drinks, but the food is delicious.

• Booze Brothers Brewing Co.: An average brewery in the heart of Oceanside. You can order food from Rosewood, the restaurant next door, if you are hungry.

• Kilowatt Brewing: I was super unimpressed with Kilowatt. They intentionally create a party vibe with their loud music, bright lights, and games, which might be fine, but there were several people that were absolutely trashed that the bartender continued to serve. The Sour I tried was tasty but the rest of the beers were not good.

Carlsbad:

• Burgeon Beer Company: A great brewery with a wide variety of beers to choose from. This is one of the few spots in San Diego without outdoor seating, but the beers are worth leaving the sunshine behind for a little bit.

• As I noted above, Pure Project Carlsbad is a fantastic brewery with a great vibe. They have a nice set-up with a fire table, casual seating, plants, and super friendly staff.

• Carlsbad State Beach: The large beach that runs through Carlsbad! There are volleyball courts and it is a great spot for dolphin watching.

• Café Topes: A cute spot for breakfast/lunch but overall I would say the food was average at best.

• Pizza Port Brewing Company: One of the OG’s of the San Diego beer scene, Pizza Port now has 6 taprooms in the area: Solana Beach, Carlsbad, San Clemente, Ocean Beach, Bressi Ranch, and Port Side in Carlsbad. My intent was to visit the Carlsbad location but it was an absolute madhouse when I visited. The wait for one small pizza was an hour and 45 minutes and the line for beer was winding through the entire restaurant.

La Jolla Cove

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Mission Beach: A great beach to lounge at and watch the surfers. I enjoyed the Ocean Front Boardwalk Trail for a morning stroll. There are several access points to the beach so you can make your walk as long or as short as you’d like. I saw a plethora of dolphins from the shoreline which is always fun. They also have beach volleyball and free parking at this beach.

• Children’s Pool at La Jolla: You can see seal pups here December-May or the beach is open the rest of the year. There were a ton of seals in the area when I visited in January, it was awesome to see. Heads up if you wander onto the little bridge you may get soaked by a wave!

• La Jolla Cove: So. Many. Sea. Lions!!! Extremely cool spot to check out. This is again seasonal, but highly recommended if you are in the area in the winter/spring months.

• Windansea Beach: Not actually a beach, but instead a cool rocky area where waves smash into the coastline.

• Cowles Mountain from Big Rock Trail: Cowles Mountain is the highest point in the San Diego area so the views from the top are fantastic. There are a few different trails that can lead you to the top, but this one was quiet until you joined the other trails at the top. The last section is very steep, but overall it was still moderate. Overall this trail was 5 miles and 99 flights up. As a forewarning if you do this hike from this starting point there is no bathroom at the trailhead.

• Explore Balboa Park: This massive greenspace is home to the San Diego Zoo, several museums, walking/hiking trails, a golf course, Japanese gardens, and so much more!

• Ocean Beach: A cute little beach town to explore. There a fun little cafes like The Template and a large fishing pier. They’ve also got a solid beer scene with Pizza Port Brewing Company, California Wild Ales, and OB Brewery.

• Sunset Cliffs: It’s recommended you visit at sunset for awesome views, but it is still a cool sight to see anytime of day. There is also a hiking trail you can follow along the cliffs—Sunset Cliffs Trail.

• Torrey Pines State Reserve: There are a lot of different hikes in this park to explore, but be aware that it is either $20 to park inside the park or you can park on the road but then for most trailheads you have a long uphill walk to the trail. I enjoyed the Torrey Hills State Beach and Broken Hill Trail Loop. It was a 3.3 mile/28 flights up hike that was quite popular. It was a beachy hike with nice overlooks.

• The Cedros Design District in Solana Beach is a cute area to explore!

• Drive the Coronado Bridge to Coronado Beach. The bridge has great views of downtown and the ocean. The beach is pretty and the sand is very soft here. There is free street parking throughout the area.

• Point Loma Tide Pools and Cabrillo National Monument are two popular spots to check out as well, but be aware that the road closes after 5pm. It is $20 to access the area unless you already have a National Park Pass.

• Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala: A beautiful old mission established in 1769. There is a $5 entrance to access the interior.

Mostra Coffee

Other ideas:​​

• Et Voilà!: A French Bistro in a cute part of town worth hopping around. They have a great Happy Hour, a cute back patio, delicious food + drinks, and fantastic service.

  • Blind Lady Ale House is also in this neighborhood but had shortened hours when I was in town.

• California Wild Ales: An interesting brewery specializing in Sours. Their original taproom is near Torrey Pines and their second spot is in Ocean Beach. I think they have the potential to make some great beers but they did not have a great tap list when I visited.

• Panchita's Kitchen and Bakery: A quick stop for delicious breakfast burritos.

• Border X Brewing: A brewery focused on community, culture, and Mexican craft beer. They also have a food menu.

• Abnormal Beer Co.: A restaurant-style brewery with a cute patio and a full food menu.

• Half Door Brewing Co.: An average brewery in downtown San Diego. The space is super cute in a converted house-style setting with a porch and upstairs balcony. It is right by the baseball stadium and has food as well.

• Best Pizza and Brew: A brewery, beer bar, and pizza spot with a bit of ocean views in Cardiff-By-The Sea.

• Spill The Beans: A cute coffee shop in the heart of downtown with tasty food

• Harland Brewing: An average brewery with several locations in the San Diego area. The Bay Park location has a cute patio but there is very limited parking and the beers are just okay.

• Chicano Park: An area under the freeway filled with street art.

• Resident Brewing: A brewery in the heart of downtown San Diego housed inside The Local. Overall it had restaurant vibes and a full food menu. The Stouts were great but other beers didn’t quite hold up.

• Duck Foot Brewing: An average brewery in the Miramar area with a variety of beers to choose from.

• Torrey Pines Gilderport: A spot on the coast to watch the hang gliders. Overrate in my opinion, but some people really enjoy it. There is a little cafe onsite as well.

Lake Tahoe Beer and Travel Guide

Lake Tahoe is a gorgeous place to visit that I absolutely loved & highly recommend!

​Tahoe Tips: 

• Make South Tahoe your base! There are far more things to do in the South Tahoe area than any of the other spots you can stay around the lake.

• Tahoe is primarily a ski town and a lake town, so most folks choose to visit in the snowy months or June-August for the most lake usage.

• There are bike paths throughout the city and a trolley in town that you can utilize as well.

• Hop around the South Tahoe Beer Trail! I detail the breweries below, but this website has a handy map and information.

• There are a ton of great hikes in the Tahoe area, most are about 20 minutes from town. Many trails will either be closed or difficult to hike due to snow for a majority of the year, so be sure to check conditions ahead of time on websites like AllTrails. Also be bear aware! Tahoe is full of bears both in neighborhoods and on trails.

• Stateline, Nevada is directly adjacent to South Tahoe. This city is full of casinos and somewhat trashier vibes.

• Doing a Northern California trip? Check out my San Francisco recommendations here (update coming soon!) and my Yosemite National Park Guide here.

• Bend, Oregon has very similar vibes to Tahoe, so if you like one you’ll like the other. My Bend guide is linked here.

South Lake Brewing Company

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations: 

• The Hangar: My absolute favorite stop in Tahoe! The Hangar is a beer bar and bottle shop with a fantastic beer selection. Their outside area is truly majestic. They also have frequent food pop-ups.

• DL Bliss State Park to Emerald Bay State Park via Rubicon Trail: This section of the lakeshore is incredibly beautiful. There are a couple of access points to the water as well. The route I took was 6.8 miles long, 62 flights up, and took about 3 hours.

  • While I do love this trail, I would highly recommend not actually doing the AllTrails route. This route has you park on the side of the road, walk down a very steep section, walk across the road, walk through a campsite, and then join the Rubicon Trail. This first stretch has zero views and is just unnecessary. Park at the Rubicon Trail access point, at DL Bliss State Park, or at Emerald Bay State Park.

• South Lake Brewing Company: A fun brewery with delicious beers and great branding. They have a nice beer garden on the side of the building and a small patio space out front. South Lake offers flights in the form of skis and snowboards which is adorable and their beers are arguably the best in Tahoe. Get Rad pizza is also based here for your food needs. South Lake will soon be opening a second taproom in the village neighborhood near Stateline.

• Stay at The Jeffrey Hotel: A super cute and very Tahoe-esque hotel. Enjoy contact-less check-in, a fireplace, a mini-kitchen, and a plethora of thoughtful touches. They also have a fantastic upper patio space with a firepit and chill vibes. The Jeffrey is within walking distance to a TON of different spots in The Village and Stateline.

• Secret Cove: This is a fun “secret beach” on the Nevada side of the lake. The water in insanely pretty here and I highly recommend a visit. It is a little difficult to access—you can park at Chimney Beach when that lot is open, but it is not year-round, so when it is closed you need to park on the side of the road. Depending on where you are able to get a spot it can be a very steep start down to the beach, so be prepared. It is about a half mile from the road to the beach. This is a nude beach, but early in the morning you can generally avoid anything too crazy if you want to.

• Dragonfly Bagel: A delicious bagel spot that also serves beer and wine at night with some New Orleans flair. Located directly next to Sidellis Brewing.

• South of North Brewing Company: A fun brewery housed at the Base Camp Hotel with a fantastic outdoor space. They have a full food menu with delicious sandwiches and snacks. They have live music every night, fire pits and are super dog friendly. South of North exudes chill vibes, their beer is solid and they also have several guest taps.

• Eagle Lake Trail: This a great hike to an absolutely stunning lake back in the woods. This trailhead is in a popular area near Eagle Falls and Emerald Bay, so start early. You will also get to see Upper Eagle Falls at the start of this trail. Overall this hike took just over an hour, was 2.5 miles long, and 36 flights up.

• Cold Water Brewery & Grill: A delightful woman-owned, food-focused brewery. Their food menu rotates seasonally and is the perfect spot for dinner after a day of adventuring. They have a large and diverse tap list as well. In the summer they open an adjacent taproom, The Runoff, to allow for more service and seating outside.

• The Idle Hour: A cute wine bar right on the lake. You can choose between a glass of wine, a tasting or a bottle. They also have a small food menu. This is the perfect spot to catch the sunset and beautiful views of the lake.

• Sidellis Brewing: Sidellis is a barrel aging and sour-focused brewery, but they always have a variety of beers on tap that can please anyone’s palate. Their kitchen serves up a simple but delicious menu to accompany their brews. There is also a nice back patio space. Their flight boards are shaped like Lake Tahoe, and their Stouts are particularly delicious!

Eagle Lake

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• El Dorado Beach: A large public beach with restrooms, a snack shack, picnic tables, and kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals. The water is extremely clear and stays shallow for quite a long distance out into the lake.

• Inspiration Point: A nice viewpoint to stop at while you’re around the trails. There is a box for a $5 fee based on the honor system. I highly recommend going early, I was the only one there at 8am and there were cars backed up trying to get into the parking lot all afternoon long. There are restrooms and nice informational signs here as well.

• Cascade Falls Trail: This is a pretty easy trail that was 2.5 miles, 28 flights up, and took just over an hour to complete. It is essentially a straight line from the trailhead in the campground to the waterfall. There are great views of Cascade Lake nearly the entire hike. There isn’t a great viewpoint for the waterfall itself since you end at the top of it, but it is still a nice hike overall.

• Lakeside Beach: Another nice beach with restrooms, a snack shack, and a playground. This is a great spot to catch the sunset, but bring bug spray. There are fees to enter from Memorial Day to Labor Day when a gate attendant is present.

• Fallen Leaf Lake Trail: There are multiple access points to the Fallen Leaf Lake Trail, so you can choose where you’d like to jump in. The trailhead is inside a campground, but you can keep to the left to drive along the road with the trail. If you follow the AllTrails route it is 3.6 miles and mostly flat. The water here is gorgeous (like everywhere in Tahoe!) and there are views of Mount Tallac.

The Jeffrey

Other ideas:​​​

• Kings Beach: The public beach for North Tahoe. There are kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals on this end of the lake as well.

  • JavaHut: A solid coffee shop right along Kings Beach.

• Cuppa: A cute bookstore, café and coworking space. The staff here is super friendly and the pastries are great—I’d skip the bagel though.

• Monkey Rock Trail: This is a nice 2.7 mile long, 22 flight up hike to Monkey Rock—which actually looks exactly like a monkey. It takes just about an hour and has great panoramic views from the Nevada side of the lake. You do have to pay to park at the trailhead, they will 100% give you a ticket if you don’t.

• Alibi Ale Works: An average brewery with a full food menu. They have 3 locations in the area: the Brewery & Barrel House in Incline Village, NV, Incline Public House in Incline Village, NV and Truckee Public House in the city of Truckee.

• Free Bird: A cafe with two locations in town with coffee, smoothies, and a small food menu.

• Lake Tahoe AleWorX at the Y: A self-pour beer bar and pizza restaurant offering mostly local brews. They have a great shared outdoor space with the neighboring businesses.

  • Lake Tahoe AleWorX Stateline: This is the Nevada location for AleWorX with more self-pour taps, a full bar, and a food menu.

• Revive Coffee and Wine: A cool spot with a nice outdoor space, but be aware that their hours are not always accurate.

• Stateline Brewery & Restaurant: A very mediocre brewery with below average beers and below average service. Highly recommend that you skip this basement spot. Also to note if you do choose to visit, it is called Stateline but it is actually in California, not in Stateline, NV.

The Bay Area Beer and Travel Guide

I absolutely Love the Bay Area—it is stunningly gorgeous, there are tons of great breweries, and the hiking is incredible!

The Bay Area Tips: 

• This area is massive. San Francisco itself is a huge city that takes several days to explore, and you can spend several days exploring the areas to the south side of the bay and several more exploring the north.

• While you are in San Francisco be sure to soak in all the architecture! Everywhere you look there is unique and beautiful buildings

• While you are in San Francisco always carry a rain jacket! Even if there is no rain in the forecast it still happens all the time, and the fog makes things generally damp.

• Avoid driving if you are just staying in San Francisco itself. The city is known for car break-ins and parking is really a nightmare.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations for San Francisco:​

• Mission Dolores Park: A perfectly placed park that provides fantastic views of the skyline in the heart of the Mission District​​. This is the perfect spot for a picnic and the park is also very dog friendly.

• Hike! I started at Fort Point and followed the coastal trail. There are amazing views of the bridge, hang out at Baker Beach (heads up this is a nude beach), and then you can do the Land's End section as well that takes you around the peninsula down to Golden Gate Park. This trail on AllTrails is similar to what I did but I did it in the opposite direction & went further down the coast to Golden Gate Park.

• Cellarmaker Brewing: Arguably the best brewery in SF! They have two locations—the original taproom and their House of Pizza which has phenomenal Detroit-style pizzas with their beers. HOP is quite small so try to visit during an off time or you will need to wait for a table.

• The Rare Barrel: A fantastic brewery in Berkeley specializing in Sour Barrel Aged beers. They also have their own IPA and Lager subsidiary, Hello Friend.

• Toronado: One of the top beer bars in the country! They have an insane tap list and 40 taps. This spot is cash only and has dive bar vibes.

• Holy Water: A religious-themed craft beer and cocktail bar. They have a great tap list and chill vibes. Located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood.

• Barebottle Brewing Co.: A great brewery with a wide variety of beers, but specializing in IPAs. They have a large taproom with games and a nice little beer garden. As a forewarning if you go the flight route they are quite expensive, but the beers are great.

• Breakfast Little: A cute spot for delicious breakfast in The Mission. They have breakfast burritos, tots, coffees, and more.  

• The Monk’s Kettle: A tavern in the heart of The Mission with a top-notch tap list and tasty food. Overall a cool spot with fun vibes.

Tartine Bakery in Mission Dolores Park

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in San Francisco: ​

• Tartine Bakery: Located in The Mission & worth the wait. Amazing breakfast and baked goods. Pro tip—grab some baked goods and walk over to Mission Dolores Park. 

• The Golden Gate Bridge: Duh. It's stunning. But also don’t be surprised if it is hidden in the fog.

• Muir Woods: A national monument in the Redwoods! This is an extremely popular spot since it is close to San Francisco and easily accessible. It is $15 to enter unless you have a National Park Pass and you are required to book your parking ahead of time, or you can also book a seat on the shuttle. Learn more about both here. This area is very lush and there are a variety of hikes/walks you can choose from to explore.

  • I did the Fern Creek, Lost and Canopy Trail which was 5.1 miles and 69 flights up to the top of the Redwoods. The AllTrails map is not quite accurate so just follow the signage on the trail. If you’d rather just have a nice flat and easy walk you can do that at the base of the Redwoods as well.

• Ferry Building Market: A cute indoor market where the ferry stop is. Fort Point Brewing has a little mini tap room here as well

• Clairon Alley: Social justice murals line the alley

• Ghirardelli Square: So touristy. But also chocolate, so it's worth it. San Francisco Brewing is here as well.

• Fisherman's Wharf: So touristy. See the sea lions, but then escape!

• Crane Cove Park: A nice green space on the water right near the Chase Center.

Holy Water

Other Ideas in San Francisco: ​​

• Original Pattern Brewing: A hazy IPA focused brewery in Oakland. The also partner with Good To Eat for dumplings onsite.

• Magnolia Brewing: A solid brewery on Haight Street with a full food menu and restaurant style set-up.

• Almanac Beer Co.: A popular brewery in Alameda known for Barrel Aged Stouts and Wild Ales. They have a large outdoor space and are super dog friendly.

• Faction Brewing: Another brewery just down the road from Almanac that has views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. They are part of Spirits Alley with distilleries and wineries surrounding them, so you could make a day of bopping between businesses.

• Southern Pacific Brewing: A popular brewery with a large space, full food menu, and solid beers.

• The Page: A fun dive bar in the Lower Haight neighborhood.

• Standard Deviant Brewing: A solid brewery in The Mission with an outdoor patio and several TVs for sports.

• Harmonic Brewing: Another brewery option. Located in an industrial area with frequent food pop-ups and average beers.

• Laughing Monk Brewing: A solid brewery in an industrial area with food pop-ups and games. Their tap list mainly focused on IPAs and easy drinking beers.

• Barrel Head Brewery: Solid beers and yummy pretzels, what more could you ask for? 

• Noe Bagel: A nice spot for a bagel in the heart of the Noe neighborhood. Pop up the street to Bernie’s Coffee for a drink to pair with your bagel.

• ThirstyBear Brewery: Organic beers and a large space!

• 21st Amendment Brewing: Solid beers that are largely distributed around the country

Humble Sea Brewing

Santa Cruz County

• Santa Cruz is an adorable little beach town full of great breweries, wineries, and restaurants.

• Sante Adairius Rustic Ales: SARA is one of the top breweries in the world and has two locations—their original taproom in Capitola and The Portal in Santa Cruz. They specialize in Rustic Ales, so be sure to try their Saisons. In Capitola they are located at the end of an industrial road with a quaint little taproom and outdoor patio. The Portal has a small patio out front and larger taproom inside. Here they partner with Bookies Pizza for Detroit-style pies and be sure to ask what Private Press Brewing bottles they have for onsite consumption as well.

• Humble Sea Brewing Company: This fantastic brewery has three locations: Santa Cruz—Located right in the heart of downtown, this is their main taproom and brewery. It is a cute spot with killer beers and they have Fonda Felix empanadas. Pacifica—This taproom is right next to the beach and has a full food menu and a great outdoor space. The Tavern—Located in Felton and has a full food menu and cocktails as well.

• Natural Bridges State Park: This is a nice beach with a very cool rock formation. If you are staying longer than 20 minutes you have to pay for parking, or you can park on the nearby street and walk over.

• Woodhouse Brewing & Blending: A nice brewery in Santa Cruz with an IPA-heavy tap list. This is a popular spot with frequent live music and food trucks. They have a nice outdoor space as well.

• Discretion Brewing: A solid brewery in Soquel with a wide variety of beers and a full food menu from Sugo Italian Kitchen onsite.

• Firefly Coffee House: A nice little spot in Santa Cruz for coffee and bagels.

• Beer Thirty: A bottle shop and beer bar in Soquel. It is a cute spot with mostly local draft beers but they are quite pricey.

• Santa Cruz also has a large boardwalk and amusement park along the beach which are quite touristy.

Big Sur:

• Explore this gorgeous coast and do some hiking along the way! Be sure to start your day early because the parking at each viewpoint fills up quickly.

• Don’t miss: Rocky Creek Bridge, Castle Rock Viewpoint and Bixby Creek Bridge. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the road, so just pull over whenever you want to check it out!

• For the hiking in Big Sur there is a $10 admission fee that is good at all of the state parks in the area for the day.

• Partington Cove: This hike has nice views of 2 different coves, make sure you check out both. There is not a fee here, you just park along the road. This is a short and quick trail at just 1.3 miles long, 24 flights up, and about 25 minutes.

• McWay Falls: It is about .7 of a mile from the parking lot to the Falls viewpoint and back. There is also a longer trail but it was closed for maintenance while I was there. The $10 entrance fee also applies here. McWay Falls is a small waterfall that you are viewing from high up, but the bay view is very pretty.

• Pfieffer Big Sur State Park: There are several trails here after you pay the $10 entrance fee. The Valley View Overlook trail and the connection to Pfeiffer Falls is a nice hike. From the parking lot take the River Trail past the visitor center to the trailhead. Prepare for lots of stairs and quite a bit of incline as you are gaining 500ft of elevation in less than a mile. From the summit there is a nice view of the surrounding valley out to the ocean. Pfeiffer Falls is a small waterfall but it is still nice and it is an easy add-on to make the trail a loop. Overall it was 2.6 miles, 48 flights up, and took just about an hour.

The Lone Cyprus on the 17-Mile Drive

The Monterey Peninsula:

• Carmel Beach: A beautiful beach with incredibly white sand in Carmel-By-The-Sea

• 17-mile Drive: You guessed it, a 17-mile drive around the edge of the Pebble Beach peninsula. It is $11.25 to drive it or if you spend $35 at a Pebble Beach restaurant it is reimbursed. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the drive and they give you a map at the entrance. Some of my favorites were the Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point, the Lone Cyprus, and Seal Beach.

• Wander Monterey—this cute little beach town is quite fancy.

• Alvarado Street Brewing: Alvarado Street has two locations—one in downtown Monterey and one in Carmel-By-The-Sea. Their Monterey taproom has a front and back patio space, full food menu, and restaurant-style vibes. Yeast of Eden is their Wild Ale subsidiary so occasionally they have one of those beers on draft and bottles available.

• Fieldwork Brewing Company: Fieldwork has a ton of different taprooms around the Bay Area, so be sure to check out at least one while you are in the area. Their Monterey spot is an outdoor beer garden with a huge tap list and a wide variety of beers. The service was exceptional and West Coast IPAs were great.

• Point Lobos is just south of the Monterey Peninsula and has several different hiking trails. Parking can be absolutely insane—go early because the parking lot and surrounding road fill up quickly.

Watsonville:

• Fruition Brewing: A great brewery in Watsonville! They have a front patio space, restaurant onsite specializing in oysters, and impressive beers.

• Beer Mule: A bottle shop and beer bar in Watsonville. A cool spot with great beers and frequent food pop-ups.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Explore Sonoma County:

• When you drive into Sonoma County there are wineries and sheep everywhere—the views are great!

• Russian River Brewing: One of the best breweries in the world! They are located in downtown Santa Rosa and make insanely good, award winning beer. It is a popular spot for both locals and tourists so expect it to be busy. I recommend doing a flight to try a variety of their beers—you can do their California style beers, Belgian inspired beers, the full tap list, or build your own. They also have a full food menu. The beer for both onsite and to-go is quite cheap which is delightful coming from such a world class brewery.

• Stay at Cambria Hotel Sonoma Wine Country: I loved my stay at this new and budget friendly hotel in the heart of wine country. It was 1 mile off the highway, 10 minutes from Russian River, and had great amenities. They have an outdoor pool, workout room, fire pits outside, and a great bar and restaurant inside.

• Check out the wineries! Obviously Sonoma County and Napa Valley are best known for their wine so be sure to check it out. There are wineries everywhere in the region and most require reservations in advance and have limited hours, most spots are generally 10am-3pm.

  • Iron Horse Vineyards is where I chose to visit because they have a great view and are known for their sparkling wines. The tasting was $30 for 5 pours and takes about 1 hour. It is a nice set-up with super nice staff members and lovely views.

The Best Breweries in Southern California

Southern California is full of fantastic breweries, including some of the top breweries in the world! It can be overwhelming to plan a beer trip to this area just because there are simply so many breweries and a lot of those breweries also have multiple taprooms. For full guides to this area, check out my San Diego beer and travel guide here and my Los Angeles guide here.

In ranking order, here are the best breweries in Southern California:

Monkish Brewing Co: Torrance and Anaheim

Monkish is arguably one of the best breweries in the country. Their original taproom is located in Torrance, conveniently close to LAX if you are flying in/out of the city. They are best known for their New England IPAs which are absolutely spectacular, but their funky beers are delicious as well. Monkish has a second location in Anaheim next to Farmer’s Park and the Anaheim Packing District.

Bottle Logic Brewing: Anaheim

Bottle Logic is a powerhouse brewery specializing in Stouts. They have a nice patio, a large tap list, and phenomenal beers in Anaheim.

Pure Project: San Diego Area

Pure Project is easily the best brewery in the San Diego area. They have several locations to check out—Vista, Miramar, Balboa Park, Carlsbad and North Park. Their “Murky” IPAs, Stouts, Sours and Lagers are all superb.

Homage Brewing: Pomona and downtown Los Angeles

Homage is best known for their Saisons and Lambics, which are top-notch. Homage has two locations—their original taproom is in downtown Pomona and they have a smaller secondary taproom in the Chinatown neighborhood of downtown LA.

Green Cheek Beer Co.: Costa Mesa and Orange

A stellar brewery with a wide array of beers to choose from, including a few guest taps. They are best known for their Lagers and IPAs and have taprooms in Costa Mesa and Orange.

Highland Park Brewery: Downtown Los Angeles

Highland Park is a fantastic brewery in downtown Los Angeles with a wide variety of beers and delicious food. They have great beers and chill vibes.

Kings Brewing: Rancho Cucamonga

Kings is best known for their thiccc Fruited Sours but they also highly value a good crisp Lager. They have a massive tap list and a friendly team, located in Rancho Cucamonga.

North Park Beer Co.: San Diego

North Park does all styles of beer well! West Coast IPAs, Hazy IPAs, Lagers, Stouts—they are all fantastic. Their taproom in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego has chill vibes.

Burgeon Beer Company: Carlsbad

Burgeon is a great brewery with a wide variety of beers to choose from. Each style is executed well and their taproom is a fun place to hang out.

The Bruery: Placentia & Anaheim

The Bruery is a highly awarded brewery creating uniquely delicious beers. Their main brewery and taproom is located in Placentia, right near Anaheim. Their second location, Bruery Terreux Tasting Room, is 5 minutes away in Anaheim proper. This location houses their Lambics and Wild Ales, but you can get those on tap at the main taproom as well.

The Lost Abbey: San Diego Area

The Lost Abbey is a Belgian brewery with four tasting rooms in the San Diego area—The Main Tasting Room in San Marcos, The Church in downtown San Diego, The Sanctuary in San Marcos, and The Confessional in Cardiff-By-The-Sea. They focus on Belgian-style Ales and barrel aged beers.

What are your top breweries in southern california? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

Yosemite National Park Guide

Yosemite National Park is on many people’s bucket list, but it can be overwhelming to try to plan a trip to such a large park that is also incredibly busy. Check out my guide below with tips for visiting Yosemite, hiking in Yosemite, and where to stay.

Vernal Falls

Yosemite Tips:

• If you’re visiting during peak season (mid-May-September) you will need a reservation to enter the park. Learn more and book your reservation here. If you do not have a reservation you can enter the park before 6am or after 4pm.

• You will also need either a National Park Pass or to pay $35 for 3 days of access to enter the park.

• I cannot emphasize this enough: start your days early. You will avoid crowds, parking issues, and the heat if you just set that alarm a little bit earlier and get moving early.

• If you enjoy waterfalls, visit during the spring or early summer when they are the most active. The snowmelt creates an abundance of water.

• I would also recommend that you get out of Yosemite Valley. Many people who visit the park only visit the Valley which is the most touristy area. There are 6 distinct areas to Yosemite: Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy, Glacier Point, Wawona and Mariposa Grove, and Tuolumne Meadows.

• While in Yosemite Valley there is a convenient and free shuttle to take you to different points without having to move your car. If you are staying at certain locations in the park this is also a great option for getting around the Valley. There are two different shuttle loops that operate about every 10-20 minutes—learn more here.

  • You can also bike in Yosemite Valley via the bike rental shop and bike lanes are everywhere.

• Tioga Pass Road cuts through the center of the park and is only open seasonally. Each year it differs depending on conditions, but it is generally open late May through September. Many hikes and lakes are along this road, so be sure to plan ahead.

• Be bear aware! All of the bears in Yosemite are black bears, so if you see them in the wild keep your distance, if you see them in a public space get as large and loud as possible. Do not leave food in your car and always have your backpack within reach. Drive the speed limit throughout the park to save bears.

• If you are visiting in the year 2022 Glacier Point and Glacier Point Road will remain closed all year. Any trails along the road are inaccessible and Glacier Point, a popular viewpoint, is inaccessible. Bridalveil Falls is also closed for 2022.

• A note, Crane Flat Lookout Trail is not a trail, despite what AllTrails thinks. It’s a road to a fire tower which you actually can’t even go up for views. You’re welcome!

Tunnel View

Hiking in Yosemite:

There are two viewpoints I would recommend that are not hikes, but rather areas to park and enjoy the view:

• Tunnel View on Wawona Road is the classic Yosemite viewpoint as you enter Yosemite Valley. Here you can see El Capitan, Horsetail Fall, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall.

• Yosemite Valley Viewpoint on Big Oak Flat Road is essentially the other side of Tunnel View across the park with great views of Half Dome.

Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail

Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail 

This trail is 7.2 miles long from the trailhead, 164 flights up with 2,162 feet of elevation gain, and is rated as hard. Keep in mind the closest parking lot is an additional 0.7 miles away. You can also take the shuttle to the stop near the trailhead.

The first section is paved and uphill and leads to the Vernal Falls footbridge. This is the most popular area of the trail as most people make it to the footbridge and turn around. There is a bathroom here and a water refill station as well. It is 0.9 miles/36 flights up from the trailhead to the footbridge.

Next you will come to Vernal Falls itself, where you should expect to get quite wet from the waterfall mist. This section has steep, wet steps and you will walk directly next to the waterfall.

From here you will continue up more stairs to the top of Vernal Falls before heading deeper into the wilderness. Next you will hike alongside Nevada Falls for a while, with great views and frequent switchbacks.

When you have finally reached the summit at the top of Nevada Falls there is an outhouse if you need it and great views of the valley below. As you start your descent there are great views of Half Dome, Nevada Falls and Mount Broderick.

At Clark Point you will have one last great view before taking the John Muir trail back down. There are quite a few switchbacks until you reconnect with the Mist Trail at the Vernal Falls footbridge.

Overall this hike took me 4 hours with lots of stops for photos and was a fantastic trail. It was not very crowded which was one of my concerns with it being in Yosemite Valley itself, but the difficulty of the trail means less folks are on it, and again I would emphasize starting early.

Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake Trail

Mirror Lake shares a trailhead with the Vernal and Nevada Falls trail, so I would recommend doing this after you finish your long hike as it is short and easy. If you are not hiking the Vernal and Nevada Falls trail, Mirror Lake is shuttle stop #17.

The Mirror Lake Trail has two sides—the left hand side is paved, the right hand side is not paved and has slightly more incline. On either side you walk along the water to Mirror Lake which has crystal clear water providing great reflections of the surrounding mountains. You also have nice views of Half Dome.

As an easy hike in the Valley, this trail and area in general is quite crowded. From the trailhead shared with Vernal and Nevada Falls the Mirror Lake trail is 2.6 miles total out and back and 12 flights up.

Lower Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls

This is another easy and popular trail in Yosemite Valley with great views. It is a flat, paved 1.1 mile loop that takes about 30 minutes with stops for photos.

The trail leads to the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls which is crowded, but still beautiful. You can also see the Upper Yosemite Falls at certain angles throughout the trail, so be sure to look up!

Wapama Falls

Wapama Falls Trail

This trail is in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park. This area is only open from 8am to 5pm unless you are camping. There is a locked gate that a park ranger will come open at 8am and then you can drive through the park entrance gate to the trailhead.

This trail is 4.8 miles long, 38 flights up over 1000 feet of elevation, and is rated as moderate. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes with lots of stops for photos. The trail is extremely quiet, especially compared to any trail in Yosemite Valley. You are exposed in the sun for most of the hike, so be sure to plan accordingly.

To start, you will cross over the massive O'Shaughnessy Dam, which provides water to the San Francisco Bay area. From here you will hike towards Wapama Falls with great views of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. There is also one smaller waterfall first that is higher up, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

Wapama Falls is absolutely roaring in the late spring and you will get soaked if you walk on the bridges under the falls.

Tuolumne Grove

Tuolumne Grove Trail

This is a 2.5 mile long, 22 flights up over 656 feet of elevation gain, and is rated as moderate. This is a paved trail that is downhill to the giant sequoia trees and uphill on the way back.

It is a quiet trail overall but still touristy since it is pretty accessible, but the hike back up is quiet steep. Overall I wasn’t super impressed, the giant sequoias are giant, but it was pretty boring and not really worth the time spent.

Valley View Point

Where to stay when visiting Yosemite:

You can choose to stay in Yosemite National Park or outside of the park itself, just depending on what you are looking for and what makes the most sense for you. It also will depend on where you are coming from—East, West, North, or South.

If you plan to stay in the park be sure to book your reservation far in advance—I would suggest 8 months to a year out just depending on when you are going. If you wait until even 6 months out all of the lodges are booked solid. Reservations open 366 days in advance and can be booked here. There are both hotels/lodges and campsites available in the park.

Personally I chose to stay outside of the park because of scheduling, pricing, and activities after hiking—if you are in the park you are a bit confined to the food/drink/activities there and I like to explore. I also was coming from Santa Cruz so the South entrance was closest and therefore I chose to stay in Oakhurst.

Bass Lake

Oakhurst recommendations:

The Yosemite Southgate Hotel and Suites is a newly remodeled hotel with clean and spacious rooms. They have a pool, hot tub and continental breakfast. It is 22 minutes from the hotel to the South Gate entrance of Yosemite.

South Gate Brewing Company in Oakhurst has a full food menu and solid beers. It is a great spot to visit after a day of hiking for tasty food and a cold beverage. They also have a small outdoor space.

Bass Lake is another spot worth checking out while in the south Yosemite area. This lake is nestled in Sierra National Forest and is a nice spot to relax after a day of hiking.

• The Willow Cove trail is a short .7 mile out and back trail to a private beach on the lake. It is overgrown, rarely used, and full of bugs, but the spot it leads to is the perfect place to relax on the lake.

• Ducey’s On The Lake is a nice restaurant with great service. They do not have any draft beer as a forewarning. They also have an upstairs patio bar/restaurant with great views, but it has limited hours.

Have you visited Yosemite National Park? What are your favorite hikes and tips? Let me know in the comments!