Indian Cove Campground, California

Indian Cove Campground, California

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 260
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: CA
Budget for 2 people: $180 ($20 camp, $40 gas, $100 food, $20 other)

  • Day 1: drive to the campground, hike in the area (Indian Cove Nature Trail), relax in the campground
  • Day 2: breakfast and drive back home

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Galleta Meadows Sculptures

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Galleta Meadows Sculptures

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: ~300
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: CA
Budget for 2 people: $130 ($30 gas, $70 food, $30 camp)

  • Day 1: drive from Irvine, CA to Anza Borrego, CA (140 mi, 3 h), hike Slot Canyon trail, visit Galleta Meadows statues, overnight camping
  • Day 2: relax in the campground, drive back home

2 Days in Bay Area, California

2 Days in Bay Area, California

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 1000
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: CA
Budget for 2 people: $300 ($120 gas, $150 food, $30 other)
No hotel expenses since we stayed at a friend's place

  • Day 1: explore San Francisco (Golden Gate bridge area)
  • Day 2: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, local beaches, Santa Cruz

10 Days in Mexico: Mexico City, Cancun, Tulum and Much More

10 Days in Mexico: Mexico City, Cancun, Tulum and Much More

Flight: San Diego -> Mexico City -> Cancun -> Mexico City -> San Diego
Duration: 10 days
Mileage: ~350 in Yucatán area
Starting point: Mexico City
Countries: Mexico
Budget for 2 people: $2930 ($1500 flights, $215 hotels*, $275 car rental, $125 gas and taxis, $50 buses, $420 food, $90 tickets, $140 snorkeling, $115 airport parking)

  • Day 1: fly to Mexico City, visit Museo Nacional de Antropología
  • Day 2: explore Chapultepec park, dinner with local family
  • Day 3: visit Teotihuacan, explore CDMX Zócalo
  • Day 4: visit Tepoztlán
  • Day 5: explore CDMX Xochimilco
  • Day 6: fly to Cancun, drive to Chichén Itzá, swim in Ik Kil cenotes, drive to Tulum and enjoy local food

Fall Colors and Apple Pie in Oak Glen, California

Fall Colors and Apple Pie in Oak Glen, California

Duration: 1 day
Mileage: ~160
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: CA
Budget for 2 people: $90 ($20 gas, $70 food)

  •  Day 1: drive from Irvine, CA to Oak Glen, CA (80 mi, 2 h) and back

Dogwood Campground, California

Dogwood Campground, California

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 160
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: CA
Budget for 2 people: $163 ($33 camp, $30 gas, $100 food)

  • Day 1: drive to the campground, visit Lake Arrowhead Village, hike
  • Day 2: relax in the campground; drive back home

Weekend in Montana de Oro State Park, California

Weekend in Montana de Oro State Park, California

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 500
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: CA
Budget for 2 people: $210 ($58 camp, $60 gas, $70 food, $20 other)

  • Day 0: drive to Montana de Oro State Park, California
  • Day 1: explore the park and nearby hiking trails
  • Day 2: relax by the beach; drive back home

2 Weeks in Europe: Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Munich

2 Weeks in Europe: Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Munich

Flight: Los Angeles, LAX –> Paris, CDG –> Los Angeles, LAX
Duration: 16 days 
Mileage
: 2000 by trains
Starting point: Paris, France
Countries: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria
Budget for 2 people: $5640 (1900 flight,  $1370 hotels, $970 transport, $1300 food, $100 other)

  • Day 0: flight from Los Angeles to Paris
  • Days 1-2: explore Paris, train to Brussels
  • Day 3: explore Brussels
  • Day 4: daily trip to Brugge
  • Days 5-6: morning train to Amsterdam, explore Amsterdam

4 Days in Vancouver and Whistler

4 Days in Vancouver and Whistler

Duration: 4 days
Mileage: na
Starting point: Los Angeles, CA
Countries: Canada
Budget for 2 people: ~$1500 ($500 flight, $200 hotels, $90* snowboard rental, $180 airport transfers, $300 food, $200 other)

  • Day 0: flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver (2.5 h), dinner with friends
  • Day 1: Stanley Park, then Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
  • Day 2 : explore downtown, Gastown, Granville island, Charleston Park and Olympic Village areas
  • Day 3: snowboarding in Whistler
  • Day 4: explore another part of Stanley Park, flight to Los Angeles

* We have Local Epic passes that include 5 days of snowboarding in Whistler

Vacation in Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Vacation in Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Duration: 10 days
Mileage: ~400
Starting point: Los Angeles, CA
Countries: Dominican Republic
Budget for 2 people: $3220 ($1150 flight, $450 hotels, $220 car, $100 gas, $300 food, $700 kitesurfing, $100 surfing, $200 other)

  • Day 1: flight from Los Angeles to Santo Domingo via Mexico City
  • Day 2: drive from Santo Domingo International Airport to Cabarete (150 mi, 4 h)
  • Days 3 - 9: enjoy beaches, kitesurfing, surfing, caves, food and drinks!
  • Day 9: drive from Cabarete to Santo Domingo International Airport (150 mi, 4 h)
  • Day 10: flight from Santo Domingo to Los Angeles via Mexico City

4 Days in Northern California: Pacific Coast Highway, Redwoods, Lassen Volcanic, Sacramento

4 Days in Northern California: Pacific Coast Highway, Redwoods, Lassen Volcanic, Sacramento

Duration: 4.5 days
Mileage: ~2000
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: CA
Budget for 2 people : $450 ($65 for 2 nights in camps, $45* for 2 nights in hotels, $200 gas, $120 food, $20 other)

  • Day 0: drive to San Francisco after work
  • Day 1: drive to Redwoods National Park along Pacific Coast, explore Glass Beach and Avenue of the Giants (420 mi, 10 h overall)
  • Day 2: explore Fern Canyon, Big Tree of Elk Creek Prairie SP, Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy, Crescent Beach, Enderts Beach, Howland Hill Road; drive to Lassen Volcanic National Park (400 mi, 9 h overall)
  • Day 3: hike to Cinder Cone; drive to Sacramento (300 mi, 6 h overall)
  • Day 4: explore Sacramento; "17 mile drive"; drive home (600 mi, 10 h)

* We used our Wyndham rewards to book hotels, one night price was $15, second $30

9 States and 6 National Parks in 10 Days: Yellowstone, Glacier, Badlands and Much More

9 States and 6 National Parks in 10 Days: Yellowstone, Glacier, Badlands and Much More

Flight: Orange County, SNA –> Salt Lake City; Denver, DEN –> Orange County, SNA
Duration: 10 days
Mileage: ~3200
Starting point: Salt Lake City, UT
States: UT, ID, WY, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, CO
Budget for 2 people: $1953 ($22.5* flight,  $500 car rental, $700 hotels, $300 gas, $330 food, $100 other)
Map

  • Day 0: flight from Orange County, SNA to Salt Lake City, SLC; night walk in the downtown
  • Day 1: explore Salt Lake City, UT; drive to Jackson, WY via Idaho Falls, ID (300 mi, 5 h)
  • Day 2: explore Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park; stay in Jackson, WY
  • Day 3: continue exploring Yellowstone; drive to Hungry Horse, MT (550 mi, 10 h)