Californiacation

We're now at the end of our West Coast - Road Trip and about to fly to New Orleans. 

California has been so good, even driving through the Prairie while seeing nothing else than dead hills was somewhat exciting and definitely different to all the shades of green we'd been seeing in Oregon. 

Our first big stop was Yosemite National Park. We stayed in a cabin-tent in Half Dome Valley, which treated us to some amazing views across the Valley and of Half Dome. 

We hiked along the Merced river up to the Nevada- and Vernal falls. It had gotten slightly hazy in the afternoon because of forest fires in the region, so we weren't able to see as far as we thought we could, but it was still really impressive to see those steep granite walls and unique rock-formations. One of my favorite things was the star-covered sky at night.

After three days, we already left to San Francisco. It was my family's first time in San Francisco, and we were all really excited for it. And the city didn't disappoint. 

San Francisco is still as gorgeous and busy as I remember it. We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and took the ferry back, which went past Alcatraz. This way, my dad at least got the chance to see it from the outside, since we'd decided we didn't really want to go inside. 

Taking a cable car from Fisherman's Wharf to Downtown and being able to hop on and off whenever we wanted was so much fun, because that way, we didn't have to walk those insanly steep streets. 

We stayed in a lovely Airbnb, which was located right at the Golden Gate Park, and it was easy to go everywhere by bus. 

Chinatown is always worth a visit, and has some amazing street food, like giant sesame-balls. 

It's incredible how diverse and multicultural San Francisco is and how easily districts change.

One minute you're walking down Chinatown and the next, you find yourself in midst of Little Italy, experiencing a completely different vibe.

San Francisco was the perfect way to end our time at the West-Coast and we're all very excited to go south and see something totally different (and also see some family!). 

Love, Malin

Nevada Fall

The Valley

Golden Gate Bridge

Cable Car

Lombard Street

China Town

Back in the Northwest

Seattle, WA. Portland, OR. Corvallis, OR.

Three cities, two states, one car.

I fell in love with the Northwest during my exchange year and now I returnes to the place that feels like home - even if only for a short time. This summer, my whole family came with me. We flew from Frankfurt Airport to Seattle and stayed with Lily’s grandparents for a couple of days. Together, we explored West Seattle and Downtown, enjoyed the warm and welcoming atmosphere at the Beach house and had the best start of our trip we could have had. 

We drove down to Portland and stayed there two nights with a family, who was so kind and showed us around. Portland, Portlandia, the city of stumps, the city of roses; no matter what you want to call it, the city that stands behind those names is one of the most charismatic cities I’ve been too. With unique ice-cream shops, ginormous bookstores and music and fairy lights woven through trees everywhere, it’s been so much fun to poke around and enjoy the hipster-y lifestyle.

Two days later, we drove down to Corvallis. It was so great seeing everybody and spending time with my family and my friends, no matter what we did: 
Whether we went to the coast, where we were lucky enough to see whales, floated down the river in canoes, or just hung around.

Continuing driving down 101 along the rough Oregonian coast towards California was breathtaking, because after every turn there was another gorgeous scenery.

We arrived in California today and our trip will take us further through the Redwoods, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco.

Hope all is well, Malin & Family

Seattle skyline

Alki beach

Pike's place market

Portland

Newport