Who thinks this will pass as a carry on? My carry on approved rolly suitcase, may it rest in peace, is no longer with us (serious zipper malfunctions), but this rolly duffel bag is pretty awesome. It has actually been under my bed for the last two years and so I've never traveled with it via airplane. It was within the requirements when I measured it, buttt it also looks huge because it's a duffel bag. Fingers crossed.
I think it is hilarious that I have a tank top, ski goggles and a fleece neck warmer packed next to each other. Colorado livin'I have never been to the state of Colorado! I get excited to eat at restaurants I have never been to, so you can imagine the sheer joy I am feeling on the cusp of traveling to a new state. I have taken quite a few trips out west, absolutely falling in love with every state I have traveled to. It all began my freshman year of college during winter break, January 2003. (2003 feels really strange to type, that was so long ago!) My Dad spontaneously took my sister and I to Park City, Utah for a week of skiing. We stayed in downtown Park City, the namesake mountain ski lift was less than a block away from our Marriott Hotel. We also skied The Canyons, Deer Valley and Snowbird. The Sundance Film Festival was underway, so we saw a movie premiere and partook in the madness associated. We ate at all the best restaurants, I remember lots of Sushi and fancy three course meals. My Dad really splurged on us that year, it was an unforgettable vacation. I would post some pictures but freshman year of college I was still using disposable cameras. Same goes for that Summer when my Mom took me on a trip to Bozeman, Montana. I was captivated by Montana in all her big sky glory from the moment I stepped foot off the airplane. We had family out there at the time, so with them we did a lot of hiking, dancing around bonfires, swimming in hot springs, white water rafting and a road trip south through Yellowstone National Park to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was simply incredible. I didn't travel back out west until June of 2008 with Adam to Las Vegas, Nevada!
We spent 5 amazing days in the "dessert" carousing the strip from our home base of The Flamingo Hotel. 
We also took a day trip to visit the Hoover Dam, which is an incredible site to behold. The last time out west was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean. 24 years old, I was a Pacific Ocean virgin. I flew solo to San Francisco, California in November of 2008 for my best friend's Jen's 25th birthday celebrations.
That right there is view from Jen's neighborhood, the trendy Lower Pacific Heights. She told me you can rarely see across the bay due to intense fog (of course!) It was a rare and unbelievably clear afternoon.
So there was quite a bit of partying. My favorite bar of the trip was The Makeout Room located in the city's Mission District.
Pretty cool, right?
An afternoon spent at Mount Tamalpias with Jen and her roommates was one I'll never forget.
Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?
Breathtaking scenery.
Enormous Redwoods.
I had a fantastic morning exploring Alcatraz Island.
The jail cells are something else.
Here is what the prisoners ate on March 21, 1963. 1 Scrabled GG coming right up.
The island itself is also quite lovely. Below is the Agave Trail.
This is the lighthouse and Wardens house (what is left of it.)
I was able to take in some other major city landmarks and sights among various neighborhoods while I was visiting.
The Transamerica Pyramid
Market Street & Fishermans Wharf via Cable Car
Chinatown 
Wine bar in North Beach
And much much more (Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, City Lights Book Store, Napa Road trip...) It was an awesome albeit too short four days!! You need wayyy way more time to explore SF in all its glory.
So there you have it. My personal version of "how the west was won." I would love to be able to travel back to these cities and states, as I haven't stopped thinking about them since I visited. They all hold a special place, as do the people who were a part of the experience. But I also have a burning desire to journey places I haven't been. The possibilities for travel are endless. And so my friends, the first official Indulge Inspire Imbibe trip documentation begins. You can expect me back on Tuesday. Boulder, Colorado here I come.....
That right there is view from Jen's neighborhood, the trendy Lower Pacific Heights. She told me you can rarely see across the bay due to intense fog (of course!) It was a rare and unbelievably clear afternoon.
So there was quite a bit of partying. My favorite bar of the trip was The Makeout Room located in the city's Mission District.
Pretty cool, right?
An afternoon spent at Mount Tamalpias with Jen and her roommates was one I'll never forget.
Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?
Breathtaking scenery.
Enormous Redwoods.
I had a fantastic morning exploring Alcatraz Island.
The jail cells are something else.
Here is what the prisoners ate on March 21, 1963. 1 Scrabled GG coming right up.
The island itself is also quite lovely. Below is the Agave Trail.
This is the lighthouse and Wardens house (what is left of it.)
I was able to take in some other major city landmarks and sights among various neighborhoods while I was visiting.Ghirardelli Square
The Transamerica Pyramid
Market Street & Fishermans Wharf via Cable Car
Chinatown (Which apparently I really loved, I have so many pictures from this neighborhood.)
Wine bar in North Beach
And much much more (Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, City Lights Book Store, Napa Road trip...) It was an awesome albeit too short four days!! You need wayyy way more time to explore SF in all its glory.So there you have it. My personal version of "how the west was won." I would love to be able to travel back to these cities and states, as I haven't stopped thinking about them since I visited. They all hold a special place, as do the people who were a part of the experience. But I also have a burning desire to journey places I haven't been. The possibilities for travel are endless. And so my friends, the first official Indulge Inspire Imbibe trip documentation begins. You can expect me back on Tuesday. Boulder, Colorado here I come.....
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