A Teeny-Tiny Texas Travel Trailer

Most of you know that I have a serious obsession with eventually remodeling a vintage travel trailer and hitting the ole' dusty....well today I found my design inspiration from this Teeny-Tiny Texas Travel Trailer...

After remodeling a reclaimed 1981 aluminum Avion, the trailer was featured on apartment therapy in 2009, but I recently discovered all of it's amazingness while scouring my new favorite website pinterest.

 

Big thanks to Courtny, her husband and their dog for giving me the motivation to start searching Craigslist for my very own mobile abode. I mean seriously, what am I waiting for? 

Homeaway (from Home) Friday ~ Jalama Cañon Ranch Hoedown

Being that my boyfriend and I are originally from Northern California, we've been looking for the perfect middle ground to host a big party for his upcoming milestone birthday. After lots of looking and some great finds, I think I've finally found the perfect spot ~ Jalama Cañon Ranch. Now I just need to convince my adorably indecisive boyfriend that its perfection too (no pressure honey).

Five hours from SF and 3 hours from LA, this rustic but comfortable ranch is the perfect venue for a big old fashioned hoedown. Sitting on a thousand acres of open land and overlooking a private vineyard, for $365 a night you can have a private canyon all to yourself (or you can share it with friends). 

The thing I love most about the ranch, is it's summer camp feel, including a big screened-in eating cabin, filled with extra long picnic tables for family style dinners. The spacious lawn (perfect for a game of leisure ball) and an adorable tire swing dangling from an old oak tree. The outdoor shower and cabinets constructed out of old wine barrels just builds on it's already solid foundation of perfection. Another plus: You won't need to worry about the neighbors asking you to keep it down, at this ranch there is no noise ordinance (so bring your banjo).

 

Get Me There: For directions from LA click (here). For directions from SF click (here). Load up your car with friends and enjoy the quality time.

Give Me Something More: For the surfers, the ranch is only 15 minutes from Jalama Beach which sports three recognized surf spots: the Beachbreak, Cracks and Tarantulas (or "Ts" for short). For the adventurous, the ranch is the starting point for many scenic hikes in the Santa Rita hills. For the golfers, the ranch is 20 minutes from  La Purisma. For the drinkers, the ranch is about 30 minutes to the Santa Ynez wine valley. Enjoy! 

The Ulimate Arizona / Utah Spring Break Road Trip

I love a road trip. There is just something about the hitting the open road that is almost euphoric to me. Next week there are two major happenings that should combine forces and make the ultimate spring break holiday. They haven't...so I will!

1. Hertz is having a rental promotion that for just $5 a day you can rent a car in Arizona, go exploring and drop it off in one of nine other states --including California. Unlimited miles, no drop fees and its good for up to 14 days. Yes, this includes taxes and fees for only 5 buck-a-roos.

2. National Park Week which includes free admission to all of the country's 394 national parks from April 16 to April 24, 2011.

So....buy a super cheap one way ticket from LAX to PHX, pack a tent or take a quick trip to an AZ Walmart for cheap camping goods (it'll cost less than a hotel) and hit the open road. 
All the directions you need are right (here).

Day One: Tonto National Forest.

One of the largest national forests in America, the Tonto, embraces nearly three million acres of rugged land. This park is where the Rockies, the Sierra Madre, the Colarado Plateau and the Sonoran deserts meet and mingle. It is also home to the Apache trail, which is  America's oldest roadway and where we kick off our week long road trip.

Get me there: take U.S. 60 east all the way to Apache Junction to the cutoff for AZ88/Idaho Road. AZ 88 is the Apache Trail. About half the Apache Trail is unpaved, but suitable for a four door rental car. The winding terrain makes for slow going, but that's okay because you'll be busy enjoying the view.  Be sure to take time for a break at Tortilla Flat, where you can pull up a saddle at the Superstition Saloon and order a tall one of frosty sarsaparilla. After lunch, enjoy a scoop of prickly-pear ice cream at the nearby General Store. After approximately 40 miles AZ 88 hits, 187. Head north, and continue to enjoy amazing uninterrupted views all the way to Sedona AZ.
Let me sleep: In a tent in Oak Creek Canyon at the Cave Springs Campground (just 13 miles north of Sedona). It has a well-deserved reputation for its vast wealth of scenic beauty Think towering red rock walls and babbling creek-side camp fires. It's desert camper perfection.
Things to do: Located in the Coconino National Forest, make sure you take a leisurely hike up maple-lined West Fork and a thrilling ride down the moss-covered chute at Slide Rock State Park.

{Tonto National Park}

{Apache Trail}

{Superstition Saloon - Tortilla Flat}

{Oak Creek Canyon}

Death Valley Desert Bloom

It wasn't until last March that I finally conjured up the courage to go to Death Valley. It just had one of those ominous names (emphasis on the 'Death') that kept me away from the park for so long. Best know for being the hotest, lowest and driest place in America, I just figured there wouldn't be much there to see. I couldn't have been more wrong. Death Valley is absolutely amazing...

...and there is no better time to visit the desert than Spring. The temperatures are still in the 70's, the snow is still on the surrounding mountain tops and if you time it right, you can be there for the truly spectacular desert bloom. Right now it is projected for early March

Get Me There: Only about four and a half hours outside of downtown LA, you can make this trip as quick, or as long as you'd like. I think 3 or 4 days will give you plenty of time to explore. My only advice is that you stay away from the RV's and the valley floor as much as possible. I highly recommend the Wildrose campground. Its perched high above the valley floor, where the weather is a bit cooler and the traditional tourists (and their generators) further away. 

 

Give Me Something To Do: 

~Day One: Journey to the center of the Earth..or at least get a little closer to it by visiting Badwater Basin. Noted as the lowest point in North America, with an elevation of 282 ft below sea level its a bit of a tourist trap but also a must do. When you can't take the gravitational pull any more, take a hike (literally) and check out Golden Canyon. Its an easy stroll through a colorful canyon at the base of Red Cathedral rock. If you'd rather not work up sweat or fight the heat, crank up the AC and take the Artist Drive instead.

~Day Two: The Sand Dunes. Hike on em, slide on em, sit on em. Whatever you do, you'll enjoy them. It'll feel like you were dropped in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Done playing in the sand? Take a drive down Titus Canyon and then finish the day by hiking up Mosaic Canyon. Before heading back to the tent, pick up some ice cold brews at the Stovepipe Wells Village and head up to Aguereberry Point for an unforgettable sunset at 7,000 feet.

~Day Three: By now you are probably in need of proper meal and dying for a pool. Well, you are in luck. Pack up the tent, clean out the cooler and check in to one of the coolest, retro resorts SoCal has to offer. The Inn at Furnace Creek (Not to be confused for the Ranch at Furnace Creek). It is the definition of a desert Oasis and the perfect way to end your trip. Spend your last day in Death Valley sipping cocktails by the pool while overlooking the desert valley and majestic Panamint Mountains. You'll wake up perfectly rested for the drive home to LA.