In light of a smattering of far-flung posts documenting this trip, and more for my own purposes than anyone else's, below: a comprehensive list of links to posts from that best of camping trips, jeeping through the Canadian Rockies. I am also including a section on LOGISTICS, for those wishing to plan a similar trip, with my tips/observations/suggestions having done so myself.

January 2017: Lauren and I escaped Utah's cold for the California sunshine (and for Lauren to go to a pseudo-job interview). We spent a couple of days each in San Diego with my dear friend Layne, and a couple in Orange County with our extended family. It was such a lovely trip and I still remember so many little funny moments that made us laugh (and the lavender mint lemonade, all of the heart eyes, it was delicious AND FREE REFILLS).

First, the funny:

My crown-braided hair miraculously survived a long through-the-night roadtrip. Lauren could not stop laughing when she saw my hair in the morning/daylight, and I made her take a photo so I could see it for myself. FRIZZY LIZZY.

Lauren giving me a lesson about lenses and light refraction at the Cabrillo National Monument lighthouse.

Baby Heidi dropping to the sidewalk and crawling around when she saw these dogs and wanted to befriend them. She is so full of fire and spunk (and has loved Sia since she was tiny, which fact I love).

When we were preparing to leave for the drive to Coronado, Layne's husband Jesse tried to take this too-small jacket off of Heidi and find another layer better suited to the day's activities. Heidi threw a FULL-OUT TANTRUM, laying down on the blacktop outside Layne and Jesse's home, crying the most crocodiliest of tears that I have ever seen. As soon as Jesse and Layne gave up and let her wear the tiny too-small coat, Heidi's tantrum instantly ceased, lingering crocodile tears still leaking from her eyes. When I'm around my friends and their kids, I really try hard not to laugh at their antics, thereby rewarding less-ideal behavior, but I could not help myself, because Heidi was so small a child and so clearly faking it. We all had a good laugh about this and Heidi's staunch determination to wear what she wanted.

Second, the company:

Layne is a dear friend, our friendship dating back to our Siena days. I admire so much about her and her thoughtful, endlessly kind ways, and moments of mirth. When I was unexpectedly laid off from my job four years ago, Layne was one of my friends who opened her home to me and welcomed me during an emotionally taxing time in my life. Spending quiet days (pre-kids) with her and enjoying making good food, discussing books, and going on walks was just what I needed. Spending time with her in Chula Vista then was such a restorative time, and I remain grateful to this day for her kindness and hospitality. They have since moved to another part of the state, so I am even more grateful that Lauren and I could visit (again for me) while Layne and Jesse were still in the San Diego area.

The two photos immediately above are film images taken by Lauren. <3

Thirdly, the environs:

Coronado is just dreamy and we also visited Cabrillo National Monument, which is on the coast and boasts tide pools and a beautiful small lighthouse. I'd been to Coronado with Layne previously, and we enjoyed showing Lauren the area and dipping in and out of the ocean.

I'm not sure what I love most—the cheerful typography or the leafy shadows.

We were there over the holiday weekend in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth. This small token of acknowledgment on the beach was touching.

Whale-watching <3 Above shot, by Lauren (on film, naturally); the two immediately below with tiny whale splashes and spouts, by me. I had read that during the winter months, whales are often traveling south to warmer waters and climes. Coronado and the San Diego area are perfectly situated for spotting some of these off-shore visitors, so I borrowed a pair of binoculars from a coworker, and we could see whale activity far offshore!

The light was absolutely gorgeous at Cabrillo National Monument.

The tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument were so amazing. Growing up on the east coast in New Jersey, my beloved Jersey shore is more of the sandy beach variety, rather than the rocky and scrabbling kind. I came prepared with some waterproof boots, but I wished we had more time to explore. There were some NPS employees in the tide pool area, teaching children about different creatures who called the area home. It was delightful to watch several little girls gently hold tiny hermit crabs in their hands, with the aid of the rangers. 

Bird of paradise, which makes me think always of my grandmother.

palm trees and pink skies <3

The LDS Temple in La Jolla, San Diego. I straightened and sharpened this image, but apparently during this blogger upload, it reverted back to the previous/original iteration. It is more honest, to be sure—a blurry cell phone photo taken out the window as we drove by, but the glowy rosy light is absolutely perfect.

Utah has received many many inches of snow this week, with more due this weekend—looking back at these warmer days is a lovely reminder of happy times past, and surely more that will come.

Last year and the year prior, my friend Allison invited me to her grandparents' cabin in Columbine Lake, Colorado. With a beautiful lakeside setting, tons of puzzles and board games and vintage VHS stock, and a short drive from Rocky Mountain National Park, spending a weekend at the cabin was delightful. These photos are from October 2016 and include exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, enjoying walks around Columbine Lake and hanging out at the cabin, and on our return trip, a brief stop at Dinosaur National Monument. And plenty of puppy cuddles (as Allison's miniature goldendoodle Buckwheat was a roadtrip buddy as well).

We took Buckwheat on lots of walks, at all times of day, circling Columbine Lake. I loved how still the water would be in the early morning, with the surface a perfect mirror of the sky above.

Rocky Mountain National Park is amazing—you pass through several different ecosystems as you drive through the park and increase in elevation. The evergreen forests at the lower elevations are dotted with aspen trees, some of which had already lost their leaves, but some of which were undergoing their seasonal color change. As you continued through the park and the winding mountain roads, you eventually pass through the tree line and the landscape turns much more barren and snow blown—marking your arrival to the high tundra and an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. The roadsides were piled high with snow and the wind was unbelievable! We braved the walking path to an overlook point and by the end had tears streaming down our faces on account of the cold, cold winds. The mountains were truly majestic, and even towered over us from where we stood and observed. It was a relief to return to warmer climes at the lake (relatively speaking; it was still quite brisk at the lake). I've only visited Rocky Mountain National Park twice now, and both times during October; sometime I'd love to experience the park during the summer season, as what I've seen in photographs of the wildflowers and wildlife is also amazing.

Close to Columbine Lake is the slightly larger lake and town of Grand Lake. Main Street Grand Lake was darling and I loved the local bookstore, with its moose-themed book display in the children's section. The ice cream parlor a few doors down also had fantastic peppermint stick ice cream (I am a sucker for peppermint ice cream no matter the season) and they also had doggy bowls of a scoop of vanilla, which Buckwheat loved (to put it mildly).

When a baby puppy climbs up on your shoulders and curls around your neck like a mink stole.....you let her.

I'd been wanting to visit Dinosaur National Monument for several years, but had never wanted to make a special trip—conveniently, it was not far out of our way, so we made a stop on our return drive. I was amazed by the monument and dinosaur skeletons and fossils on display. Many of the artifacts had not been fully removed from the surrounding rock—instead, the visitors center was constructed around the excavation sites. It was amazing to see 30-foot high rock faces with dinosaur skeletons intact within. The viewing platform was about halfway up the vertical height of the rock and it was such a neat way to showcase the site. I was pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem and the amazing specimens they have on display there, in the locations where they were discovered.

see also: the prettiest roadtrip scenery of colorful Colorado.