Backpacking in the Trinity Alps

We hiked in the Trinity Alps Wilderness this past weekend, staying one night. The scenery was beautiful. The trails were well-maintained and weaved through forests, past rivers, and offered gorgeous views of the peaks.

My favorite peak was Wedding Cake Peak, which I suppose does resemble a wedding cake to a certain degree.

Enjoying San Francisco on a budget

With the fantastic climate and the plethora of outdoor sights, there are many great things to enjoy in San Francisco on a budget.

Golden Gate Park. San Francisco is home to one of the best urban parks, spanning the western half of the city. For free, you can enjoy the botanical gardens which are home to California-native and international plants and flowers. One of the more exciting gardens here is the "Mesoamerican cloud forest" containing plants with huge leaves that look straight out of prehistoric times. There are many other activities to enjoy in the park, including pick-up sports events, picnics and more.

The coastline. San Francisco is set along the coast, which means that you can enjoy sandy beach all the time. Ocean Beach is located on the west side of the city in the Sunset district, Baker Beach is just west of the Golden Gate Bridge, and of course Fort Funston is located further south and is a dream for dog owners.

Farmers markets. There are several great farmer's markets within San Francisco that make for great cheap activities. Check out the market at the Embarcadero, which features many fantastic bread and cheese artisans, or the market at Alemany Boulavard, which embodies the spirit of local produce.

Fisherman's Wharf. Although it is a touristy spot, walking along the wharf can also be quite fun. Grab a bite to eat at Boudin's and watch the bread-making process (Personally, I love seeing the loaves of bread made in the shape of animals!). For free, you can enjoy the Musee Mecanique which boasts old and classic mechanical toys and carnival games. Also be sure to stop by Ghirardelli Square and enjoy a free chocolate sample!

For next to nothing you can enjoy much of what San Francisco has to offer!

A sunny day in Dolores Park

When the sun is out, the crowds swarm to Dolores Park. It is one of the sunniest parts of the city to begin with and offers fantastic views of the downtown. The park spans two city blocks and has activities to please everyone-- tennis courts, play gyms for children, an unofficial off-leash dog area, and plenty of open grassy areas.

On this particular day, we brought Cooper to run around with the other pups and enjoyed a nice picnic in the grass.

The views at Twin Peaks

Today was a clear day, so we decided to head up to Twin Peaks to enjoy the views of our stunning city. This is a particularly special place for us, since it is where Nate first proposed to me! We enjoyed the memories of our engagement and soaked in the city views.

Fort Funston: Heaven for dogs

If you are looking for a daytime activity to do on the weekend, look no further. Fort Funston is one of the best day trips whether or not you own a dog. It boasts one of the most beautiful beaches on the coast-- with views of the Golden Gate bridge, rugged dunes, and sandy beach access. In addition to the views, you are able to meet every type of dog imaginable and can also enjoy the daring hand-gliders that regularly soar along the coastline.

On this particular Saturday, we took Cooper to enjoy the dogs and the beach. Cooper isn't too keen on going in the water, but LOVES to sniff and meet all of the other dogs. Today his favorite playmates included a whippet who was running around with a group of sighthounds who met up for the day and a young samoyed pup.