There are very few places as near and dear to me as the backroads of California. My favorite part about California is that you can drive 45 minutes in any direction and the landscape changes dramatically. It is home to many outdoor activities, and when I visited, I had the pleasure of bouldering, going for long hikes and taking loads of photos, running an impromptu 5K race, wine tasting, shooting shotguns, and taking in the amazing sunsets on the beach. If you get a chance to visit the Bay Area, I highly recommend checking out the beauty it has to offer. Read on to learn what to do in Northern California!
Bouldering
Climbing is definitely one of my favorite parts of visiting California. There are endless options for climbing in the Bay Area, especially if you head up towards the Tahoe area. On my visit back home, I was lucky enough to meet up with some of my climber friends and check out some of the local bouldering. It was great to be back on granite, get on some volcanic rock, and end the trip attempting some of the traverses in San Francisco on the beach. If you have plans to visit the area for some bouldering, here are some pictures to check out:
Hiking & Photography
There’s loads of opportunities for exploring the outdoors, and taking awesome photographs in California. I spent a few days with friend Marie (from Marie Hardy Photography– who has done most of the portraits you’ve seen of me on my site here) hiking, exploring, and taking awesome photos all around Echo Lake, in the Tahoe area. Here’s a list of awesome hikes you can do around Tahoe.
Running 5K
Once I got back to the Sacramento area, I was spontaneously invited to run a 5K race with my friend Teressa and her pals. Without any training, I signed up for the Urban Cow Marathon and hoofed it on through to the finish line. It was amazing to be a part of such a large event. I’ve never done a race, and the sense of camaraderie and accomplishment from everyone there was nothing short of amazing.
Shooting Shotguns
Being back in America, one suddenly has the urge to shoot large guns. So, I went out to the Auburn Trap Shooting Club, and learned how to get my shotgun on. Here’s a picture of me and Sharelle trying to look super gangster…
Wine / Beer / Music
California is full of opportunities to enjoy great wine selections. I went to a wine tasting event and had amazing wine and food with friends. Be sure to check out local wine tasting events, or go to the wineries in Napa, Loomis, or Sonoma.
If you are more in to beer, there are a couple of places you need to check out. One is Swabbies on the River in Sacramento. You can sip on your favorite cold beverage here (mine was the apricot hefeweizen), eat amazing tacos, and listen to live blues music. The restaurant is on the water, so it has a fatastic view to take in while the afternoon slips into evening. Another awesome place is the Yard House. The Yard House has hundreds of beers on tap, select from a wide variety of ales around the country while you munch on delicious food.
Beaches
And, of course, you must check out the beaches. My favorite beaches in the Bay Area are: Fort Funston, Baker Beach, and Ocean Beach. Here’s some photos from my last day in California before I flew out to go back to Thailand.
Thanks, California! It’s always a pleasure to visit 
