where i need to be

Yesterday was one of those perfect days that reminds us why we love to travel.

We started our morning with breakfast at From Scratch in Carmel-by-the-Sea, enjoying breakfast, visiting the local Farmer's Market, and taking in the relaxed coastal atmosphere. From there, we wandered through the charming boutiques and hidden courtyards that make Carmel so special. I love the vibe here, and there were quite a few young ones, that where very curious about the ducks in my jeep. I handed out a few. One child, probably 4 years old, asked if my JEEP was electric or gas... too cute!

One of the highlights of the day was driving the iconic 17-Mile Drive. The scenery was breathtaking, with dramatic coastline views, towering cypress trees, and the endless blue Pacific stretching as far as the eye could see. We stopped at Pebble Beach and had the opportunity to see the famous finishing hole of one of the most celebrated golf courses in the world. Some of the homes on this stretch, were brilliant!

Later, we visited Fisherman's Wharf, where we watched the sea lions put on a show. Their barking echoed across the harbor, and although we spotted several sea otters floating offshore, they proved too camera-shy for me to capture. I will try again today.

We spent time walking the beach, soaking in the ocean air, sipping wine, and grazing on fresh ceviche, oysters, and clams. The weather could not have been more beautiful.

Todd and I are blessed for a reminder to make time for each other, to explore, and to embrace the beauty that surrounds us.

We are grateful for every mile, every memory, and every moment of this adventure.

So many emotions surround this road trip and this season of our lives. We feel incredibly blessed to have carved out this time together and to capture these moments along the way.

What makes this journey especially meaningful is that these road trips began nearly ten years ago, after the loss of my beautiful mother,  Mia Bella Mamma.

What started as a way to heal, reflect, and honor her memory slowly became a tradition for Todd and I. It became a chance to step away from life's demands and reconnect with one another.

Our first stop, Paso Robles, was the perfect bridge into the journey ahead. The 10 hour drive gave us a chance to catch up.

The accommodations at Allegretto have been absolutely wonderful, but what has meant the most is the gift of time: time for conversation, reflection, and reconnection. Long overdue and craved.

Dinner at Sabor & Sazon was a highlight of the evening. One dish immediately inspired me—a caramelized pork belly served over a lemony arugula salad with shaved Parmesan and pine nuts. Don't be surprised if a version of that finds its way onto the Bellas menu this fall.

Life has a way of moving quickly. Between the restaurant, responsibilities, and the challenges that inevitably come our way, it's easy to forget how important it is to simply be present with one another. This trip is serving as a beautiful reminder of that.

As we travel, I carry my mother's memory with me. In many ways, these journeys are still for her, while giving an opportunity to see beautiful places, share meaningful conversations, and appreciate the precious gift of time.

We are grateful for every mile traveled, every conversation shared, and every memory being made. Sometimes the greatest luxury isn't the destination, instead it's having the time to reconnect with the people who matter most and revsiting yourself..

Next stop: Monterey

A different kind of road trip

For quite a few years, following the death of my beautiful Mother, Todd and I began our journey. A kid growing up in the city, I felt the need to see this country from the ground. My love for nature had become insatiable. I needed to see everything of nature, I think we did and are doing a great job. So many changes occurred in me after my mom’s passing. I constantly recognize my changes and…

Day 20: 365 days of Gratitude 2021 While reading a passage from the book, “The Places That Scare You,” by Pema Chodron, she discussed the core of focus; “stay”. When I began my Mindful Breathing, it was extremely frustrating. It was very difficult to focus, I would be distracted by a piece of dust, skipped patch of paint, a crack in the wall, an uneven shade; you name it. I gave up numerous…

Day 14: 365 Days of Gratitude 2021 “The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” It took me quite a few years to decipher the difference between religion and spirituality. There is no fine line, however, as a kid growing up in the city, I thought they were the same. My lessons in discipline, back then, were driven by conscience and guilt. Nothing more, not even my…

Day 11: 365 Days of Gratitude 2021 What is forgiveness? There are many circumstances where we may be asked for forgiveness or ask for forgiveness. When I talk about this, I remind myself, a person’s perception is their reality. This becomes a touchy subject, as individual’s we carry our own baggage, and our environment and experiences alter how we handle direct hits to our pride. Some people…

Day 9: 365 Days of Gratitude 2021 fo·cus/ˈfōkəs/ verb (of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly. pay particular attention to. We sometimes starve ourselves emotionally. We allow daily distractions and put needs of others before ourselves. We do this, and ultimately, it results in animosity toward the very things we intended to care…

you’re only as good as your last show

Day 7: 365 Days of Gratitude 2021 Packed dance floor, register ringing, the crowd is pumped, everyone is having a great time. You play longer and make lots of tips. You are feeling like a rock star, it is Friday night. Same club, quiet night, it snowed, people stayed in, not the normal crowd, bartender frowning, owner throwing you disgruntled glances and the tip jar is empty. It is Saturday…

start where you are

Day 6: 365 Days of Gratitude “How can I do this”? “It’s been like this all my life, why change it now”? “It is too late”? “I am too old”. “We have been together since high school”. “I can’t loose weight.” “I wouldn’t know where to start.” Then we enter a new year, and along with the new year comes the traditional and antiquated resolutions. “I will be serious about working out”. “New year new…

Welcome to day 5: 365 days of Gratitude 2021 Thank you for stopping by! I hope your new beginning has kicked off positive. Although I use a social media platform to deliver my daily dose of goodness, I prefer documenting it here. I have followers who are not on social media and this allows me to include them. Please feel free to weigh in, as I encourage discussion, suggestion and welcome your…

you were brought here to grow

My decision to relocate and reinvent did not come without the emotional coaster ride. There were a few reservations, and I had to address each one. While looking inside myself, I was able to identify what clipped my wings for so many years. “Guilt and fear,” presented. I suspected both had become obstacles over the years. I dug a little deeper. Guilt and fear rear their ugly heads, mostly, when…

Wow!  Where do I begin?  On July 2, 2020, Todd and I would have been on the road in route our annual road trip.  This would have been our 4th trek cross country to whichever destination we flipped a coin and agreed on.

This year we were scheduled to road trip in New Mexico, Colorado and AZ.  These plans were disrupted when COVID came to city, town, state, country and world.  To be honest, one…

First stop of the day:  Antelope Canyon. It was an early morning reservation with Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours.  You must make reservations for these tours. We made ours several months ago.  They do not accept payment at the time of the reservation, however, they hold your spot and guarantee admission, weather permitting.

There are the upper canyon and the lower canyon tours.  We have only done the upper canyon (reserve here), twice.  Both canyons possess equal beauty but are structurally different.  The upper canyon is widest at the bottom and narrow at the top, creating the magnificent lighting you see in my photos.  Note that my photos have not been retouched, they are filter and flash free. The upper canyon is a simple .25 mile stroll, which is an in and out.  The lower canyon is shaped as a “V”, narrow at the bottom and wider at the top, making it brighter.   In addition, the lower canyon is a one way hike, but involves  physical strength to navigate ladders and heights, making this canyon less crowded.

Arrive 30 minutes early to check in.  You will then be loaded onto jeeps and SUV’s to take the trip out to Antelope Canyon, about 15 minutes.  You could never find these canyons on your own, they do not appear on any map, google earth, nor are the GPS coordinates anywhere.  You have to just know where they are.

Vanessa was our Navajo guide. Each and every one of the tour guides are wonderful.  They are knowledgeable of the canyons history.  The owners of the tour companies are related to the canyons founder.  You are not permitted into the canyons without a guide.  You are not allowed to bring anything in but a camera and water bottle.  No backpacks, camera holders or bags, no water bottle holders or fanny packs.  The canyon is narrow and the last thing they want is anyone marring the surface of the canyon walls with clumsy bags.

The tears well up as I enter Antelope Canyon.  There is an energy in this canyon that I don’t feel any other place, except Sedona.  It’s overwhelming beauty brings me closer to nature and confirms what I already know to be true about energy and spirituality.  It was the best blessing to have shared this with Tammy and Tom.

Antelope Canyon is considered by many to be one of the Eight Wonders of the World. Carved from Navajo sandstone over the course of thousands of years, the canyon holds a sense of wonder from its narrow passages that allow enough space for small groups to pass through and for rays of light to shine from above.

How was Antelope Canyon discovered?  Who discovered Antelope Canyon?  

In 1931, Sue Tsosie discovered the slot canyon while herding sheep as a young Diné girl.  She lost her sheep and went searching, she found them laying in the cool canyon.  Sue Tsosie is still alive, about 98 years old, and lives on the reservations that encompasses Antelope Canyon.  Today, her daughter Carolene operates and watches over the canyon tours.  Prong-horned antelope herds roamed the area at the time of the canyon’s discovery, hence the name.

Thanks for reading and following our journey.

xo Nancy and Todd

I am embarrassed to be so behind, but truth be told, it has been an amazing, action packed, adventurous trip.

Upon our arrival to Salt Lake City, we found a pretty desolate city.  It was a Saturday night in a large city with a lack of action and pulses.   We checked in at The Peery Hotel.  This is a five star hotel with old charm and a lot of history, perhaps too much.  We scored this space for a mere $108 a night, which included all hotel taxes.  We payed an additional $15 parking fee to park safely in a lot.

A hotel established in 1910, adorned with antique furniture and fixtures.  Leaves you wondering what may have taken place within the walls of its structure.

The bones of room decor was legitimate, late 1800’s/early 1900s. I could not help but imagine the room in black and white,  I could vision Al Capone at the sink shaving and plotting out his next hit; talking over his shoulder to his patsy.  The bathroom was all original tile and shower stall, complimented with a glass swing door, but less the chain toilet.  The entry door had a Transom window, a staple of the late 1800s.  The overall architecture of the building, inside and out, was historical.

The Peery Hotel gave me bad vibes and made Tammy and I question, “Could it be haunted?”    Needless to say, we asked the staff and they confirmed that there has been hauntings in the hotel.  In fact, most hauntings occurring on the third floor, where our accommodations were.  It was an unsettling stay.   I did not sleep well, in fact was woken  by the most unsettling feeling at 3AM, I was frightened, but not knowing why.  Early rise and exit was not fast enough!

Daylight revealed just how seedy and sketchy Salt Lake City really was.  A city lined with homeless, sleeping on the street; drug addicts, gathering in ally’s; bums, shuffling around on city scooters while panning for money.  We held on securely to our belongings while walking to the Red Rock Brewery for dinner.  Great place to eat, if you have to be in that area.  “Bizarre,” is the best adjective describing the scene in “Seedy Lake City”.  Certainly not what we expected from a city in Utah.  Nevertheless, this did not put a damper on our road trip experience, it just gave me additional blog material.

On the road again, we continued down 15S and headed toward Kanaaraville.  I lead our group to a hike to Kanaara Creek, and Todd led the hike. This canyon hike was brought about from a facebook photo of a gorgeous waterfall.  You know the posts I am talking about, the post with the unbelievable image of a waterfall, the one that raises the questions, “Where is this?  I want to get there, how do I get there?”

The answer is simple, you have to hike there.  As a matter of fact, you have to hike into most of these hidden treasures.  This is what makes them even more spectacular.  So we did it, we hiked in 1.75 miles on land and through water.  This was not an easy hike, but it was not too difficult.  You need hiking sandals and poles.  The waterfall is so beautiful and strong.  Tom went under the waterfall and to his surprise ended up in a pocket and got pretty wet, thank God the car keys and the electronics survived.  If you plan on adding this to your adventures, make online reservations.  This hike sells out quickly, as only 150 people are permitted per day.

We made the hike back out, lots of laughs and a couple of falls, sometimes I am not so sure footed.   We hit the road and made our journey toward Zion National Park.  We headed straight to La Verkin, UT and checked into our hotel.  We spent the night at the Best Western Plus.  Great hotel with nice accommodations and a great breakfast.  This space was a mere $89.00 for the night.

We hit the road early and ventured a few miles into the Zion National Park.  It was a chilly 64 degree morning, none to fear though, as the temp rose to 97 by 10AM.  They had a rough February out here, 16 inches of precipitation, creating some rock slides that left some trails closed.  You park your car at the visitors center and rely on the speedy shuttles to navigate you through the park.  The shuttle system is very easy to navigate, actually a no brainer and fast!  Due to some rockslides we were unable to do the upper Emerald Pools, but did the lower pools hike.  Angel’s Landing was alive and well, but the park was very crowded, so we accomplished most of Walter’s Wiggles.  We did not make it to Scouts Landing, nor the Angel’s Landing.

The Narrows was an amazing hike, though the current very healthy and strong.  It was difficult to plant our poles, and the rock bed very jagged.  We accomplished what we set out to do.  If you plan to do The Narrows, set out as early as you can.  The park is open 24 hours a day, just keep an eye on the weather to avoid potential flash floods.  They kill!

We wrapped up Zion and upon our exit caught a pack of rams spying on us as we left the canyon.  Zion is an amazing space, one of my favorite spaces.  God does exist, if you have any doubt, come out west.  This did not happen on accident.

We had a 2.5 hour ride out to Page, AZ.  We checked into another great space.  The Red Rock Motel.  This is a husband and wife operation and they are meticulous and make you feel at home.  Each room has a sitting patio, some with grills.  We rented an apartment and it was spacious.  We checked in and visited Horseshoe Bend.  Todd and I did this two years ago.  It was a free entry with no guardrails, just common sense.

Unfortunately, ignorance does exist everywhere and we were sad to find a fee station.  They now charge $10 per car and there is a railing  which borders the lookout.  Seriously pissed us off, once again stupid people create boundaries, where boundaries need not be.

We concluded a beautiful day with lots of steps and miles. It was topped off with a wonderful dinner at the Lake Powell Marina, in a beautiful floating restaurant named Antelope Marina, on the Navajo reservation.  A marina graced with beautiful and massive house boats and a view of Lake Powell.  You can also see Antelope Island, a sacred space to the Navajo tribe, where we are not allowed.

Thank you for following our road trip 2019.  Get out there and travel America.

Peace xo

When we planned our trip we were stoked to be ending up in  Yellowstone and Cody, Wyoming on the The Fourth of July.   A very American way to celebrate our countries Independence. 

Cody is a spectacular, all American, western style town.  Lot’s of tourist pass through and stay while visiting YNP.  These tourist feed the towns economy.  Hotels and restaurants line the streets as well the rodeo and a beautiful state park named, Buffalo Bills State Park.  

The ride from Cody to Yellowstone east entrance is rather long, It is 54 miles to the park entrance, which involves a ride over a mountain range which is unnerving.  Once in the park, you are approx. 1.5 hours from the Fishing Bridge.  We had already made our hotel reservations and our friends were scheduled to fly into Yellowstone Regional, so we kept it the way it was.  

Next time we will stay in Gardiner and  enter from the North entrance located in Gardiner, Montana.  A neat little town with hotels and easy access to the park entrance.  

After the airport arrival,

we went over to YNP to share some of our favorite hi-lights with Tammy and Tom.  This park is very spread out, the best way to manage the park is to have a plan.  We visited Artist’s Point and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  The Grand Prismatic was visited also.  There were a couple of animal jams that allowed for good photo opportunities.  We got to see a beautiful moose, a grizzly and a baby grizzly.  May have been a Kodiak, we are not sure.

  This guy had a tracker on his neck.  They do this to track their migration patterns and to keep the visitors safe.  Unfortunately, the visitors do not keep themselves safe.  Quite a few deaths occur annually as a result of “bad listeners” These are the stats through 2017.

Yellowstone is on the list of the 10 most dangerous parks.

Young children to not belong in these parks without strict parent supervision, if at all.  There is a certain age to expose a child to something this spectacular.  That age is when the child is able to comprehend what they are experiencing.  In the three years of our road trippin, we have witnessed quite a few careless incidents with children.  We have  witnessed children go missing in Bryce, a near fall off a cliff at Grand Canyon, tiny tots being posed in dangerous situations with squirrels so the parents can get “the shot”.  Yes, they are adorable.  Prairie Dogs, Squirrels and Chipmunks are the cutest, but can carry plaque.

After the day at Yellowstone, we returned to Cody for dinner at 8th Street at The Ivy for some awesome Bison burgers, pulled pork and Idaho Rainbow Trout.  Lemon Drops, wine and beer, oh my!  We stayed at the Best Western Hotel and got to see some serious fireworks light up the sky!  Happy 4th of July.

Early rise and out to Jackson Hole, WY.  It’s Grand Teton time!  Jackson is an amazing hot spot, Greenwich on steroids.  We stayed at The Ranch Inn.  A great space, a little too pricy for the accommodations, but in the heart of town.  Grand Tetons is an amazing park.  A hike around Jenny Lake took us to Hidden Falls.  Great elevation, a feel good burn.  We could not resist getting on Jenny Lake via a ferry ride.  A one way trip is $10  and a roundtrip is $18.  A drive out to Mormon Row.

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, sent parties from the Salt Lake Valley to establish new communities and support their expanding population. Mormon homesteaders, who settled east of Blacktail Butte near the turn of the 19-century, clustered their farms to share labor and community, a stark contrast with the isolation typical of many western homesteads. These settlers first arrived in the 1890s from Idaho establishing a community (named Grovont by the U.S. Post Office) known today as “Mormon Row.”

Moulton’s Barn was the focus, no pun intended, of photographer Ansel Adams.  I did not attempt his shot, but I captured what my eye adored about this space.  The Tetons was a favorite among our group.  I would have enjoyed one more day there to do Taggart Lake, there is always next time.

We ventured back to the Greenwich of Wyoming and had dinner at “Local”.  Oysters, burgers, wings, Manhattans, beer and wine.  Caught this spot for Happy Hour, still expensive, it’s vacation time though.  We walked about town and caught this 18 year old musician that was mind blowing.  Good musicians walk all around the world.

Back to the hotel for some good rest and a morning White Water Rafting trip down the Snake River.

  Thanks for following our adventure.  Get out there and see America!

Peace xo

  Despite its beauty, all 2.2 million acres of it, Yellowstone National Park is a Supervolcano that will potentially blow its top over the next 40,000 years.  So scientist predict.  The effect would be catastrophic and the ash could block out the sun for 10 years.

Early accounts of Yellowstone’s geysers, hot springs and fumaroles were often dismissed as frontier legends, but scientists now know that they are the result of a “supervolcano” located beneath the park. The system is still considered active and contains a reservoir of magma big enough fill the Grand Canyon several times over. While scientists are not concerned about an eruption occurring any time soon—the last was some 640,000 years ago—the volcano is powerful enough to potentially shroud much of the continental United States in ash.

We have spent two days in the park and have gotten a good taste for what the park has to offer.  If you are a lover nature, love hiking, camping, fishing, exploring, climbing, photography, geysers and science; this is the place for you.  Todd and I could easily spend a month here and still long for more.

Despite its size and as overwhelming it may look, it is not.  Just driving though the park will leave you in awe.  Here is how we did it.  This was our two day itinerary:

Day One:  Arrived at park entrance 1:00PM

We entered the park on the North entrance, Gardiner, MT.  Highly reccommend entering this way.  I base my preference not only on beauty, but convenience and the stinking cute town of Gardiner.  Also, its the only entrance that brings you a short couple of miles into the parks action, Mammoth Hot Springs.

We Drove a few miles out to Mammoth Hot Springs.  Restrooms, visitor center, restaurants and gasoline are available here.  One thing for certain, they do not overcharge for anything in the park.  The gas was a few cents higher, but understandable, once you consider the trek to get it into the park.

Drove through the park to the East entrance/exit.  Taking in wildlife and wonderful photo opportunities.  There are many well marked nooks and crannies heading out of any one of the 5 exits/entrances.  The dirve into Cody is most beautiful, with grand views of the Yellowstone Lake, which resembles the ocean, breathtaking.  It was a bit of a hairy ride through the mountain range, but a small price to pay.

Day Two:  Arrived at park entrance 9:30AM

Photos at Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  This is a must see.  Whether you hike it or drive about it and take photos.  This part of the park offers breathtaking views of the eroded canyon and stunning waterfalls.  We chose to hike and take photos.

We hiked the South Rim to Artist’s Point.  This is a great hike for the family and rated easy at 2.6 miles.

Not a physically challenging trail, but Artists Point is one of the most spectacular natural views in the United States. Absolutely gorgeous!

Norris Geyser Basin is a spectacular 1.6 mile loop on an elevated boardwalk.  I felt as if I were walking around after the apocalypse.

Grand Prismatic Springs located at Midway Geyser Basin was my favorite.  The smell was horrible, but quite a sensation.  It felt as if you were in a caldron.

Old Faithful she was right on time!  She blows approx every 90 minutes.  I reccommend downloading the app for Yellowstone, it is a handy tool.

We then returned to Cody, via the east exit.

  There is no easy way to see the park, it is a park that calls out to you and guides you as you drive.  DO NOT get hung up on trying to see every geyser.   Pick a few that appeal to you and complete those.  Take some walks and always be on the lookout for wildlife and enjoy what nature has afforded us.

Tonight we had dinner at a wonderful Mexican Restaurant named, Zapata’s in Cody.  It really was wondrful and extremley reasonable.  I had a lobster enchilada and Todd had some amazing beef tacos.

The night ended with an amazing electrical storm that threw out our little cabins electricity for a moment and shook the wee structure.

Thanks for following our road trip.  Get out there and see America!

Tomorrow we gather our friends at Yellowstone Regional and off to another adventure!

Peace xo