A land of lost rivers, with little in it to love; yet a land that once visited must be come back to inevitably.

Mary Austin

I really can’t think of a better quote to describe Death Valley National Park. There is so much to see in this park because it is so big. I’m already itching to return, but here are the places that captured my heart on my frist trip. 

• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Popular for sunrise and sunset, these dunes are not to be missed. Walking around this area for even a few minutes will make you feel like you’re in Aladdin. Yes, I was singing Arabian Nights in my head, sometimes out loud, the entire time I was exploring. Suggestion: wander off the beaten path to find a few untouched dunes for magical pictures. 

• Badwater Basin: Want to visit the place with the lowest elevation (-282 feet below sea level!) in North America? Get there early. This salt flat is magical. We lucked out with the rain the night before made it look like you were seriously walking on water in places. However, this place is hot. Even in the winter. I recommend an early morning visit before the temperatures get too intense. 

• On your way back to the center of the park take a detour through Artists Drive. Enjoy this nine-mile drive through chalk colored hills. Not literally, but that is what it looks like. There is no need to get out of your car for this, you can simply enjoy the fun, windy, hilly roads, but if you feel the need to explore, hop out at Artists Palette Viewpoint for a better look at this geological wonder.

• Zabriskie Point: Whether you’re starting your day here or ending here, this spot is not to be missed. This point overlooks the badlands and catches some of the best sunrises and sunsets. There is also ample hiking around the area. You can do the quick Badlands Loop (2.5 mi.) or hike all the way to Golden Canyon. 

Looking for a place to stay? There is one free camp site (Emigrant – we got lucky and got the last spot here) and plenty of paid camping sites for tents and RVs. There are also a few hotels/resorts in the park. Which is definitely a good option for comfort and AC if you’re not into camping.

Bonus: If you’re a sucker for ghost towns (I am) head towards Beatty, Nevada, and check out Rhyolite. A once-booming mining town, it is now remnants of buildings and elaborate art displays. 

Meet Erin

Erin Leigh Frederick, agirlcalledfred, is a Lake Tahoe resident and enjoys everything her home has to offer with her two dogs. An avid traveler she is constantly planning short weekend trips to longer international trips. When she ends up taking them is another story! 

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So, let’s dive right in… just in case you are planning a weekend trip to SF.

STAY

We stayed at the G Hotel near union square. It was the perfect location. Near a ton of shopping if that’s your thing. There are also a number of restaurants and bars as well. You can truly park your car and uber/lyft your way around the city and we did just that.

EAT

The Ferry Building is just a short walk from the G Hotel and is lined with various restaurants, etc. This is the perfect stop for a quick glass of wine and nosh after checking into the hotel but before dinner.

The first night we dined at lolo. All I have to say is it’s AMAZING. From the atmosphere to the food lolo did not disappoint. Reservations are a must and I highly recommend a spicy skinny Margarita and the ‘A La Diabla’ Shrimp. While we tried a few tacos (mini) the ‘A La Diabla’ Shrimp was hands down the best dish we shared (IMO).

After dinner, we headed to the Tonga Room at the Fairmont hotel for a quick nightcap and old SF charm. You would never know this tiki bar even exists, but again it is a must do.

Breakfast at Outerlands

Saturday morning we drove to outer Richmond for brunch at Outerlands. I wanted everything on the menu but ordered the chili verde. Again amazing! The other girls ordered eggs in jail and skillet pancake. Which were equally as good. The homemade bread is to die for. Depending on the time there might be a long wait. We arrive around 9:30 a.m. and were seated within 15 mins.

Looking for something different Saturday night dinner was dumplings! Yes, please. We ended up at Dumpling Time and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for tasty dumplings in the city. No reservations needed. We arrived via an uber around 7 p.m. and were seated right away even though the place seemed packed! Make sure to order the Shrimp Goyza and Pork Bao.

The night ended at Marianne’s for a nightcap. It’s cozy, swanky and reservations are a must.

Sunday we grabbed a quick bite in North Beach. Breakfast was good, but what was even better was the coffee we grabbed from Sight Glass beforehand. The roasting house is massive and the coffee is delicious. A tad on the pricey side, but worth it. Oh, and pick up a pistachio blackberry croissant to share.

After breakfast and before heading back to Tahoe we stopped by Victoria Pastry. Known for its desserts, this family-owned business has served the North Beach community since 1914! I picked up a few treats to bring home.

EXPLORE

Aside from eating our way through the city, we explored various parts the city.

Saturday after breakfast we headed to the Lands End area for a little hiking and to check out the Sutro Baths. Unfortunately, it was a tad too foggy to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Painted Ladies

On our way back to the hotel we stopped by Almo Square to see the infamous painted ladies. Hello, Full House!

Sunday after breakfast we headed over to Crissy Field to see if we could catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge. It was still somewhat foggy…

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do any shopping. Maybe next time….

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Thinking about visiting Apple Hill? Here are my tips:

+ Keep it simple. Pick a few places to visit and plan your route ahead of time. This makes the world of difference. I would suggest only picking 2-3 apple farms to visit.

+ Go early. Traffic can be crazy so I suggest arriving at the first farm between 9 to 10 a.m.

+ Check the weather. It was 70-ish yesterday making jeans, sandals and a t-shirt perfect.

+Remember to have fun, eat apple pie and snap a ton of photos

Our 2017 route/farms we visited:

O’Halloran Ranch + Pumpkin Patch


We start here every year because it’s a tad off the beaten path. This means there are less crowds, but they have the best you pick pumpkin patch!

It makes for a picture prefect backdrop. Now if we could only all the kiddos to look at the camera at the same time. HAHA

…. and pulling a red wagon, like the one she has at home.

Apple Ridge Farms

This was a fairly quick stop for Apple Cider Donuts. We opted to skip the infamous Rainbow Orchards for donuts this year. The verdict… We’ll be back at Rainbow Orchards next year as they serve them to order meaning nice and warm and extremely fresh.

Delfino Farms
This place is the perfect stop for lunch with a big grassy area for picnics, BBQ and pies! World Famous pies to be exact. We grabbed a pie to go, along with a 10 lb box of apples and let the kids burn some energy running around lawn.

They also have a corn maze, face painting, etc.

Boeger Winery
We wrapped up our day here. The grounds are gorgeous, perfect for lunch, and letting the kids play. We grabbed a few bottles of wine, enjoyed lunch and relaxed before heading home. They even have a sand pit for the kiddos!

All in all, it was a successful trip. Now I just need to figure out what I’m going to make with 10 lbs of apples! I’m open for suggestions.

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While the temps might have felt more like summer than fall over the weekend, it didn’t stop us from spending a day in Apple Hill, California. [Warning cuteness overload to follow] Apple Hill, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills an hour West of South Lake Tahoe and East of Sacramento, makes for a fun day trip.

This year’s annual trip, to Apple Hill [2012], was a little different. Different because it was a family affair including Natasha, Jess and their families — six adults, three babies, one toddler and one dog to be exact. Fingers crossed it will turn into a fun fall tradition.

We might have only stopped at three locations, but it was just the right amount of time.

One | O’Halloran’s Apple Trail
Although, they offer a variety of activities it’s a must stop for pumpkins.  The ranch is complete with the cutest pumpkin patch where you can pick a pumpkin right off the vine. It also makes for a perfect photo opp.

Girlfriend is giving us serious attitude here. Oh,vey.

via: Schue Love

Two | Jack Russell Brewery
Clearly, a must stop for dad. Don’t get me wrong this mama wasn’t complaining either. We timed the brewery stop for lunch — which was perfect. Aside from a variety of beer, wine, and hard ciders there were a number of vendors offering tasty treats from kettle corn, apple sausages, to hand squeezed lemonade. We grabbed a picnic table in the shade and laid a blanket on the grass for the babies to play. #winning

Three | Rainbow Orchards
Home of the infamous Hot Apple Cider Donut — enough said.  This place was packed! I waited nearly 20 minutes in line for apple donuts, 6 lbs of apples, and a half-gallon of apple cider. However, it was worth the wait. The grounds are ok, but there’s plenty of shady/grassy areas to hangout, enjoy a  donut or caramel apple, and let the babies/kids play.

We didn’t visit any u-pick orchids this time around, but there’s always next time. FYI: I only scratched the surface of things to do in Apple Hill — I guess I’ll just have to go back.

Now, what to make with all the apples! Stay tuned for a delicious apple recipe.

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