Tag: girls trip

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

Girls Trip – NYC

Girls Trip – NYC

Keelie Cox

I love a weekend away with my girls, and what better place than New York City. I had only been to the Big Apple during the winter months, not that there is anything wrong with that, but I wanted to see Central Park with some leaves on the trees and maybe catch a Yankee Game. And what better weekend to see the city, catch a game and experience some warmer weather than Memorial Weekend. So what does a Girls Weekend in NYC over Memorial Weekend look like?

Rally the Troops

I traveled to NYC with two of my best gal pals and my sister, and I thought it was way cool that we all came from different places. One girl came from the Bay Area, my sister from the Seattle area, another from north of Sacramento and me from Reno. We all took the red-eye to JFK ready for a weekend of fun.

Where to Stay

We rented a cute little 2-bedroom Airbnb in Williamsburg. It was perfect for us. We stocked the fridge with drinks and snacks and had a place we could all hang out together comfortably rather than in a small hotel room. I loved the location. We were right next to the subway and could be in Manhattan in about 10 mins. There were some awesome coffee and bagel shops nearby and we were located within walking distance to some fun bars, nightlife and the pier which has some of the best nighttime views of Manhattan. Not sure I would stay in the same Airbnb, but I love that location and the concept of having our own little place.

Downtown Manhattan and Staten Island

What isn’t there to do in New York City? Since we took the red-eye, we arrived in the city around 9am and had the whole day ahead of us to explore. We dropped off our bags in Brooklyn using Vertoe and headed to the 911 Memorial. Not only was in Memorial Weekend, but it was also Fleet Week. So the city was overrun with Navy shipmen and decorated with American flags. We paid our respects and headed up the One World Trade Center. The elevator ride was awesome, and we bought the package that comes with a drink at the bar up top. The view from up there is incredible.

I had learned from a local New Yorker that if you want free a view of the Statue of Liberty than take the Staten Island Ferry, so that’s what we did. We cruised across the harbor and saw stellar views of Lady Liberty and lower Manhattan. Once on Staten Island, we headed to the brewery for some refreshments and lunch. The brewery doesn’t serve, but there are some nearby restaurants that deliver.

Nightlife in Brooklyn

Go to a rooftop bar. The line might be a little long, but I think it’s worth it. You are a tourist in New York, and the view is one of kind. We went to Westlight, had an overpriced cocktail, took some photos and then headed to the next place. Other fun places are the Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn Bowl and Radegast Hall & Biergarten. I read a list from about the best bars in Brooklyn and one named Turkey’s Nest was on it. After our time at the rooftop bar, the ladies and I were headed home when I saw the Turkey’s Nest. We stopped by, and it ended up being my friend’ favorite place of the night. This place is a dive bar, and we attracted a lot looks because we were dressed to the nines and were now in a place that served your beer in large styrofoam cups. I’d go back, but I’d ditched my heels for my converse.

Yankee Game

If you want to catch a Sunday afternoon Yankee game on Memorial Weekend book early. We nabbed some of the last seats available and were stuck in the nosebleeds. But the weather was awful that day, and we had to walk around and watch the game from the covered hallway to get out the rain and warm up a bit. In one weekend we experienced hot, freezing, and perfect weather. No GoPros are allowed in Yankee Stadium, and if you have yours, there is a store nearby that will rent you an expensive locker. Before you go, double check their bag policy. I did bring my backpack in, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they transitioned to the clear bag policy. We took the subway from Brooklyn to the stadium and it worked perfectly.

Central Park and Times Square

Central Park with leaves on the trees is dreamy. After the game, we took the subway to Central Park to walk around a bit and enjoy the sites. My original thought was that New York City would be a little more crowded than usual – especially in the touristy area. The city was only crowded in the touristy areas because the locals were all gone for the holiday weekend. This was apparent in Times Square. This was my sister’s first time to NYC, so we decided to walk through Times Square on our way to dinner. We found where all the people were hiding, and quickly vacated the area.

Rockefeller Center and Natural History Museum

Three of us were catching evening flights back to the West Coasts, so we had a couple more hours to kill before we headed to JFK. I asked the girls what they wanted to do and it was unanimously the Natural History Museum. So we decided on the museum via Rockefeller Center and a bike ride through Central Park. We took the subway to Rockefeller Center and rented some Citi Bikes. Navigating to Central Park was a little tricky, but once we made it to the park it was smooth sailing to the museum. We docked our bikes and went into the world of Wooly Mammoths, our friends from Land Before Time, and the epic underwater exhibit. I have now ended two NYC trips at the Natural History Museum, and both times have been great.

If you’re looking to plan a destination girls trip, look no further than the Big Apple. It has everything you need for a memorable getaway. And if this is your first time to the city, or you are looking for more of the touristy activities, check out my other blog – 36 Hours in NYC. Have you gone on a girls trip to NYC? What did you and your squad do? Tell me in the comments below.

Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie

Backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail

Backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail

Keelie Cox

The Tahoe Rim Trail is 165 miles long and goes around the entirety of Lake Tahoe. You can choose to complete the thru-hike in one fell swoop, you can do day hikes on portions of it, or you can choose to backpack just parts of it. I have done the latter two, but I want to talk specifically about backpacking from Mt. Rose Summit to Spooner Summit on the Tahoe Rim Trail.

The Trail

You technically start just south of Mt Rose Summit (within walking distance) at Tahoe Meadows. There is a huge parking lot where you can leave your car and a proper toilet before embarking into the wilderness. This section of the TRT is about 25 miles long. We hiked around 15 miles the first day and 10 miles the last day. I recommend you leave a car at the Spooner Summit Trail head. You might be able to hitch a ride back, but I was so beat after this trek, that the last thing I wanted to worry about was how I getting back to my car. The trail takes you up along the east shore of Lake Tahoe, and the highlight of our first day is when you reach the summit above Marlette Lake. Here you get a view of Marlette and Tahoe in one shot. If you are keen on visiting Marlette Lake, read my blog about the Lake Tahoe Flume Trail. From this point, your first day of hiking is almost complete. There is a campground you can stay at called Marlette Peak Campground. They have vault toilets, bear lockers, a picnic table, a fire ring and most importantly – potable water. We made dinner, played cards and enjoyed some whiskey after a long day of hiking.

On day two, you’ll wind alongside a mountain offering picturesque views of Lake Tahoe before you head into the trees until you reach Spooner Summit and the end of the hike. Do look out for the TRT signs. At one point we ended up on the Flume Trail and had to back pedal. We probably added about 1 mile to our overall hike with this little detour.

The Essentials

You might be a seasoned pro at backpacking and not need a list. For me, this was my first trip. I had a backpack – it was the one I had trekked all through New Zealand, Europe, and Peru – and that was it. It’s a little small compared to some traditional backpacking backpacks – 46L – but I am just over 5’, and when that thing is stuffed, it’s heavy for me. Outside of my backpack and hiking clothes, I didn’t own anything needed for backpacking. I borrowed a sleeping bag from a friend. I opted for her warmer bag because I get cold easily, and we were going to be camping high in the Sierra. I didn’t have a stove, so I brought food that didn’t require heat. I packed tortillas, peanut butter, nuts, jerky, protein bars, and a couple of Mountain House’s freeze-dried meal Granola with Blueberries and Milk – just add cold water. One of my friends brought his Jet Boil and ended up trading me one of my Granola meals for a Steak and Pepper meal. It was pretty tasty, but then again anything is pretty tasty after a 10-mile hike carrying a 15 lb. backpack. I also brought a tarp to sleep on that night (I didn’t own a tent, nor would a tent fit in my backpack). However, one of my friends brought a tent but didn’t care to sleep in it, so he let me borrow it. I also packed an ultra-lightweight sleeping pad (borrowed), and whatever toiletries or clothes I thought I needed. Lucky for me, my friends had packed the playing cards and the whiskey.

Do pack extra socks! The last thing you want is your feet to develop blisters on this long trek, so a fresh pair of socks is mandatory! Also mandatory is water. I brought 4 water bottles. I did not bring a filtration system because the campground had potable water (and lots of bees, but that’s beside the point).

I don’t have a packing list for backpacking to share with you (though I most likely will end up creating one), but if you have any thoughts or questions about what to bring, or what life is like on the TRT either leave me a comment below or tweet me at @keeliec5. I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time…..

Cheers!

Keelie

Girls Trip – Bucks Lake, CA

Girls Trip – Bucks Lake, CA

Keelie Cox

You might have read my blog post on Why Costa Rica Should Be Your Next Girls Trip, well, this one is filled with just as much adventure but a little closer to home. Camping is always a great adventure, so why not mix it up and turn it into a Girls Trip?

Pick an Awesome Location

Although you can have an awesome time anywhere with your girls, picking a stellar location just adds to its amazingness. My choice for a camping Girls Trip is Bucks Lake, CA. Bucks Lake is located 25 miles west of Quincy, CA, and the perfect weekend getaway for anyone living in Reno. It has everything. About two hours from home, an awesome lake, hiking trails and some nearby restaurants. There are quite a few campgrounds along Bucks Lakes, most of them first come first serve. We were lucky enough to grab a lakefront site at Sundew Campground. We had to wait for the current people to vacate the site, so we decided to grab breakfast at Bucks Lake Lodge and then spend the early afternoon at Sandy Point Day Use. Sandy beaches, paddle boarding and swimming – sounds like the perfect day.

Play Some Fun Games

When the sun goes down, that’s when the games start. My camping games of choice are Drinking Jenga and Cards Against Humanity. In Drinking Jenga, each of the tiles has a task written on it. Its kind of like Kings Cup but Jenga style. Sangria, Jell-O Shots, beer and water are all necessary drinks for a girls camping trip. Both of these games will ensure a laugh-out-loud good time.

Don’t Forget the Propane Tank!

You might be thinking – what an odd heading? Well, for me, it was true. We had the car loaded and ready for our girls camping trip. As we were unloading the car and setting up camp, we came to the realization that I brought the camping stove, but no propane tank to fuel it! Luckily, I was with some bad ass girls and we were able to improvise. Dinner that night was kebabs that we could roast over the fire, and we did our best to make pancakes over the flame for breakfast in the morning. But that’s what makes a trip memorable right? We didn’t let a little lack of fuel ruin our trip!

Summer is right around the corner, so if you are looking for a place to plan a fun girls weekend getaway, go a little off the beaten path and explore Bucks Lake! Bring your favorite water toys, beach gear, camping games and don’t forget the propane! Oh, and on your way back to Reno stop by the Polka Dot in Quincy for a fantastic milkshake! Have you even been on an all-girls camping trip? Where is your favorite place to go? Tell me in the comments below!

Until next time…..

Cheers!

Keelie

Why Costa Rica Should Be Your Next Girls Trip

Why Costa Rica Should Be Your Next Girls Trip

Keelie Cox

There is nothing better than a good ole fashion girls’ trip, and Costa Rica is the perfect destination. From lush tropical jungles to beautiful beaches, the country is beautiful and has something to offer for everyone.

What to do  

Gather your girls and pick your adventure. Costa Rica has ziplining, surfing, canyoning, spas, snorkeling, white water rafting, horseback riding, yoga – you name it! And these activities take place all over the country, so it doesn’t matter what part you decide to visit.

Where to go

Rent a beach house in Manuel Antonio or a jungle escape in Arenal and enjoy a couple of days of relaxation and solitude with you best gal pals. Hire a car and go on a self-guided tour of the country.  Check out the capital city of San Jose, the rainforest in Monteverde or the Caribbean in Puerto Viejo. The driving in Costa Rica is a bit different compared to what we are used to in the States, so be prepared for a wild adventure.

The People

I went to Costa Rica with two of my gal pals and we had the time of our lives! We enjoyed all the fun activities and the beautiful scenery, but one of our favorite parts about Costa Rica was the people. Everyone was so friendly! Locals, fellow travelers, expats, you name it. We didn’t experience much of a language barrier problem as most of the people you will interact with speak English.

Budget

Compared to their neighboring countries, Costa Rica isn’t considered cheap, but it’s still cheaper than many of the places in America. You can take the budget route and stay in backpacking hostels, or splurge a little and rent a house or stay in a nice resort. Things like food and drink won’t break the bank nor will the activities. Just don’t do what I did and forget about your autopay when setting a budget!

Costa Rica is the perfect destination for your next girlfriend getaway! Enjoy the warm weather, delicious food and beautiful people. Trust me, it will be a trip you and your gals talk about for years, I know me and my girls still do! Where is your favorite girlfriend getaway destination? Tell me in the comments below.

Until next time…

Cheers!

Keelie