Homeaway (from home) Friday ~ Mountain Mama

I'm getting out of LA this weekend and heading to the mountains to enjoy some spring skiing and good times with old friends. While I'll be couch surfing in Lake Tahoe, I've found the perfect mountain getaway for you and yours. This adorable A-frame is one of only 2 dwellings on 20 acres of private land near Bass Lake, California and for just $220 a night you get more peace and silence than money can buy.

Located within the Sierra National Forest at an elevation of 7000 feet, the property is surrounded by amazing meadows, secret swimming holes and hiking trails. Similar to last Friday's post, this house is also entirely off the gird.  

Get me there: Located about 5 hours outside of LA and bordering Yosemite National Park you won't be bothered by...well...anything. Make a good mix (I recommend of blend of the Allmen Brothers, Black Keys, and maybe some Etta James), pack up some snacks and play M.A.S.H or punch buggy.  I mean honestly, who doesn't love a good road trip.

Give me food: Be sure to stop at Safeway, because this remote cabin isn't close to... well...anything. Just make sure marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers are on your list. The fire pit has me craving a s'more. 

Give me something more: How about a walk in meadow, a hike to a glacier pool or maybe just a good book, in a great chair with an awesome view.

Have a great weekend! xx

Wild Wild Western

For this trip all you'll need to get away from LA is a free afternoon and a full tank of gas.  Easy to get to, fun for photos and surrounded by great hikes. Take an afternoon to journey back in time to the Paramount Ranch. 

With a rich film history, this park has fooled movie-goers into mistaking it for the Ozark Mountains, Albuquerque New Mexico, Tom Sawyer's Missouri and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman's Colorado Springs, but you won't need a ticket to this show because admission is free (and so is the parking). The set is an honest homage to the Wild Wild West, and luckily for us, its located an hour away in the Agoura Hills. 

Get me there: Just 40 miles north on the 101 (but a century back in time) you can almost drive right into the famous faux-ghost town. Multiple hiking trails are tucked away in the valley behind the town but some of the trail junctions are unmarked, so bring a copy of the Paramount Ranch Trail guide before setting out.

Give me something more: Throughout the year there are multiple fun festivals that take place, but the one not to be missed is the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest in early May.

Give me food:  If the mock-western town wasn't fix enough, top off the day with dinner at Old Place. The name says it all. Recently written up in LA Magazine and reviewed by the LA Times, this restaurant is my definition of perfection. Sip on a Craftsman 1903 pre-prohibition Lager while enjoying a reasonably priced and completely delicious dinner. The ambiance is king, the food is top notch and reservations recommended. What are you waiting for? Make John Wayne proud and go.

 

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.