Tag: California

Bachelorette Party – Chico, CA

Bachelorette Party – Chico, CA

Keelie Cox

Destination bachelorette parties are definitely a thing now. Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe you name it are all popular places for the bride-to-be to spend a wild weekend with her bridal party, but they can also take a hit on your wallet. My friend was getting married, and she wanted to go someone fun, where there was wine, not expensive, and nearby so no one had to take time off work. We live in Reno, so the only place for us to go to a city is west. San Francisco was out of the question, and I didn’t really want to go to Sacramento, so I suggested Chico. It had everything she wanted, less than 200 miles from Reno, cheap, a fun nightlife and nearby wineries. PSA: We went before the Camp Fire. I do not know the hotel and Airbnb situation post Camp Fire.

Where to Stay

The town of Chico is not very big, and taxis and rideshare are both available and relatively inexpensive. You can stay in a hotel downtown, however, the nicer ones and the branded hotels are closer to the freeway and maybe 10 mins from downtown. We voted for the Airbnb option, so we could all stay together. It was a cute little house near Bidwell Park. We felt like we were miles from town, but really it was maybe 10 minutes. We liked that we didn’t have to split between hotel rooms, and having a kitchen was great – one of the girls made us a delicious pancake breakfast one morning.

The Wineries

Chico is not your usual wine destination. And technically, the wineries are about 30 minutes away in the foothills of Orville, CA. We went to Hickman Family Vineyards first. Not only did they have delicious wines, but they have a pet pig that roams the grounds, and they rent out an onsite Airbnb. The view from here was absolutely gorgeous, and we took some obligatory bridal party photos. We picked up lunch from Wagon Wheel and went to Long Creek Winery and Ranch. I loved their tasting room. They have some cute hay barrels and trucks out front (again perfect for photos), and a pond nearby. The third winery we went to was an urban winery called Purple Line Urban Winery. It also happened to be Cinco De Mayo, so they had drink specials in addition to wine tasting. One of the girls doesn’t drink, so she was our designated driver, and we all fit in the explore. It was such a fun outing and perfect for our group. I can guarantee that the wine tasting fees in Oroville are nowhere near the same price and Napa or Sonoma. Plus, since we were the only bridal party, we got all the attention.

Where to Eat

Chico has some great places to eat. I grew up nearby and lived in Chico for a bit before moving to Reno, so I was excited to be heading back, so I could show the bride around. We chose, Tres Hombres for Cinco De Mayo and their avocado margaritas, B Street for breakfast and Burgers and Brews for dinner the first night. Other places I love are the Sierra Nevada Brewery, Madison Bear Garden, Moms and the Pour House.

Chico Nightlife

Chico is a college town, so the bars and the nightlife are plenty. Our first night we bar hopped a little bit hitting up places like Argus and the Bear (Madison Bear Garden). On our second night, we wanted to get a little country and spend all night at the Crazy Horse Saloon. If there is one thing Chico doesn’t lack, its bars. And since it was also Cinco de Mayo, there were drinks specials and people everywhere. It might not be your traditional bachelorette party destination (everyone thought we were celebrating a birthday), but it should be. It has everything you want minus the hefty price tag.

Depending on what time of year you go, or how much time you have to spend, floating the Sacramento River and exploring Bidwell park are other activities I recommend. In early May, the weather is basically perfect, but it can get quite hot in the summer, so anything in or near the water is always encouraged. Have you ever been to Chico for a bachelorette party? What did you think? Tell me in the comments below.

Until next time….

Cheers!

Keelie

A Mammoth Sized Adventure

A Mammoth Sized Adventure

Keelie Cox

Thinking of heading down to Mammoth California for some late spring skiing? Watch my video and get all the details to make your trip an epic one!

Mammoth is a popular destination for folks in the LA area, but if you live in Reno, it’s really just a 3-hour jaunt down the road. This place is also a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and offers something year-round. When I first envisioned our trip to Mammoth on Memorial Weekend, I was picturing us skiing, hiking, fishing, hot springing and I even considered bringing my bike or paddle board. However, Mother Nature blessed us with the snowiest May on record, and it kind of turned into your typical winter ski trip, but that’s okay.

No matter the direction you’re coming from, the drive down Hwy 395 is a pretty one. You’ve got the high-desert landscape on one side and the snow-capped Sierras on the other. Coming down from Reno, you’ve got some awesome vista points like Bridgeport, Mono Lake, or even Bodie the Ghost Town if you have time for a detour.

I highly recommend you take the June Lake Loop on your way to Mammoth. It’s about 25 minutes north of Mammoth Lakes and 15 mins south of Lee Vining. The loop is 15 miles long and will take you past alpine lakes, hiking trails, waterfalls in the springtime, a ski resort in the winter and a brewery.

We had originally planned to camp during our Mammoth adventure, but since there was snow on the forecast, we booked an Airbnb instead. It was a cute little condo right in the middle of town and about 7 minutes from the mountain.

When exploring the Eastern Sierra, definitely add Brewery Hopping to your list. I already mentioned June Lake Brewery on the June Lake Loop, but in Mammoth Lakes, there is Black Doubt Brewing and Mammoth Brewing Company. Mammoth Brewing Company recently joined forces with Great Basin in Reno, I’m curious to see if they start bringing any of the Great Basin beers down south.

Hot Springs is another must do. Most of them are near the airport. I always like to refer readers to Travel Nevada’s Hot Spring Etiquette. This is a fun and free way to enjoy nature, and we want to make sure the Hot Springs stay that way. If you found the Hot Spring on google maps and it was easy to get to, it will probably be crowded. Some of the springs in Mammoth comes with multiple pools and can accommodate a crowd of people. Even with the people, the views are gorgeous and the water is warm, so make your way to an Eastern Sierra Hot Spring.

And then there is the big reason everyone heads down to Mammoth Lakes – Mammoth Mountain. This mountain is gigantic, and it always stays open late into the spring with a base at over 7,000 ft and a summit over 11,000 ft. The mountain has over 23 chair lifts and 3500 acres of skiable terrain. We went for one (epic) spring day, and only got a taste of the mountain. With all the recent snowfall the conditions were amazing, and we essentially had the resort to ourselves (comparably).

Coming from Reno we have a lot of ski resorts within driving distance of our home, but we had such a good time in Mammoth Lakes, I know we will be planning a trip back soon. Have you been to Mammoth before? What was your experience like? Tell me in the comments below or tweet me at keeliecox5.

Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie

That Highway 20 Ride

Keelie Cox

There is something magical about the Northern California Coast. Its rugged coastline, windy roads, crisp air, and that golden sunshine. North of San Francisco you have fewer tourists. The coastline starts to look more like something you would find in Oregon, but you can still have gorgeous sun rays and that vibe only found in California.

My parents were invited to join some family friends in Fort Bragg for the weekend. Everyone would have their fancy camper and the campground had full electricity, flushing toilets, showers and even WiFi. Basically glamping. I decided to tag along because I can’t pass up an opportunity to explore a new place.

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Puppy Kisses ❤

I had only been to Fort Bragg once before. I was in the 8th grade, and it was for a friend’s birthday. However, Fort Bragg is an extremely popular travel destination for everyone in my hometown. I’m sure most of our town folk consider the coastal town a second home. The family friends we were joining have been spending their weekends on Hwy 1 since the early 70s. Obviously, I like to travel (hence my travel blog), and I really like to explore and see new things. So as soon as I found out I would be spending time in Mendocino County, I began researching what to do and see.

My journey started by taking Hwy 20 in California from beginning to end. I pick it up off the 80 just passed Donner Summit and got off at Hwy 1. I journeyed through the mountains of Gold Country and made my way to the valley floor. From there it is farmland as far as the eye can see until Clear Lake. It is slow going around the lake, but it provides nice scenery. You cross paths with the 101 and enter Willits. The quaint little town situated on the crossing of Hwy 20 and 101. This is the start of Mendocino County and the beautifully rugged Northern California Coast. The drive from Willits to Fort Bragg is windy, steep at some parts and exceptionally picturesque. The whole drive was scenic. And it truly shows you how diverse the state of Califonia really is.

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Family Photo Opt

I spent 3 nights there, and during that time we ate a lot of seafood, drank a lot of beer, and walked on a lot of beaches. We ate at North Coast Brewing Company, Sea Pal Cove, and Cafe Del Mar. All were great and unique in their own way. I am also an avid hiker, and I found quite a few hikes I would one day like to try. I suggested we go to Russian Gulch State Park and look around. We found a secluded beach to let the dogs run wild on, and I looked for this hike to a waterfall on the park map. I was alone on the ‘hiking business’ which is why I said I would like to one day try them. We continued down Hwy 1 and stopped in Mendocino. You can walk around the town in probably half hour. The area offers some great coastal views, pathways for short strolls, shopping, eating, and of course a few watering holes. There is a river inlet that was perfect for the dogs and looked like a great place to catch some summer rays.

After learning I would be visiting Fort Brag, and starting my research, I came across a place called Bowling Ball beach. The beach is covered with small round boulders that well look like bowling balls. Some photos had the water just covering the bottom of the boulders, and the place looked magical. It was an hour from where we were staying, and on our last full day in Fort Bragg, I convinced my company to go on a road trip. I will be upfront with you. We made it to Bowling Ball Beach. It was beautiful, but I did not see the bowling ball boulders. Pretty sure you have to go during low tide. See I am just destined to return to Mendocino. Even though our initial goal was not met, the day was not wasted. Our road trip down there provided some of the most secluded and untouched coastline the West Coast has to offer. We made a pit stop at the Point Arena Lighthouse, and of course, the second I climbed to the top, the cloud cover rolled in and I couldn’t see a thing. We had ‘linner’ at the Pier Chowder House and Tap Room in Point Arena. Everyone loved it. The restaurant was situated in a harbor, and we could watch people surf from the window. Overall Fort Bragg was outstanding. I recommend exploring the surrounding area. Glass Beach is a popular town attraction, but it was under construction when I was there.

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Where are the bowling balls?!

 I will definitely be going back to that part of the California coast. I must see Bowling Ball Beach! There is so much to explore in that area, you just have to get in your car and go!