5.23.2017

West Coast Road Trip

For our 3rd anniversary, Katey and I took a road trip on the West Coast. We flew to Sacramento, CA, where we made our way up the coastline to Seattle, WA over the course of about two weeks. There is so much that I could say about our trip, but I think the photos will say more. Katey and I planned our trip by looking up the National Parks we hoped to visit, and made highlights on a paper map that we bought in the cases where we wouldn't have cell coverage, but we ended up using the map the entire time (a first for us), and it was a fantastic way to travel. There was a lot of planning and saving for the trip as far as which roads to take, where to stay and when, or what food we'd eat—but it was all worth it, especially once we were out on the road in places we didn't know. We were so fortunate to have taken this trip, and we hope to do another out West again. 

I've always had this draw to the Western half of America. I've taken classes about it. I've watched and re-watched the Ken Burns documentary. Its size alone has been a part of America's history, a manifest destiny that has drawn people to its open spaces. Traveling it was much different than I imagined. I think that there are so many aspects of the West that are overly romanticized. And yet I can see why people are drawn to its beauty and size. The West is so big, and beyond comprehension.

On a plane over the Rockies.

Near our Airbnb in Midtown Sacramento, CA.

Getting coffee at The Mill, Sacramento, CA.

Driving to Yosemite from Sacramento.

Getting to the Hodgdon Meadows campsite in Yosemite, CA.

Driving into Yosemite Valley, CA.

Mandatory Tunnel View photo.

Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Valley, CA.

El Capitan, Yosemite Valley.

Walking to Mirror Lake, Yosemite Valley, CA.

Mirror Lake, Yosemite Valley, CA.

On the Valley Loop Trail.

Glacier Point, Yosemite.

Twin Peaks, SF.

Eating brunch at Plow, SF.

Muir Woods National Monument.

Driving North on Route 1, CA.

Nearing Redwoods National Park in northern CA.

Driving past Mount St. Helens, WA on the way to Mt. Rainier National Park.

Mt. Rainier National Park, WA.

Grove of the Patriarchs, Mt. Rainier National Park, WA.

Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, WA.

Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, WA.

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