Picks and Pans – Pismo Beach and Shell Beach, CA

PICKS: Pismo Beach

Although at first glance there doesn’t seem to be anything special about it, Pismo Beach is a solidly good beach. Nice sand, hardly any trash blowing around, lots of space and just enough people for good people watching, but not so many that it seems crowded. Plus, it was warm enough in […]

Picks and Pans – Abingdon, VA & Bristol, TN

PICKS Jeannine’s Fabrics and Quilt Shop

We stopped in to pick up some supplies for Sean’s heart wristband, but we stayed for the conversation. Jeannine, a lifelong Abingdon resident (for all of 76 years!) was so incredibly welcoming and so very proud of all that her town had to offer, I kept wondering if this […]

Picks and Pans – Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia

PICKS Camping at Slacks Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Unlike Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway allows overnight parking in a number of their pull off spots. We spent a delightful, if slightly cold, night at Slacks overlook where we at beans and hot dogs and hung out together in the van with conversation […]

Picks and Pans – Charlottesville, VA

PICKS: Marco and Luca’s Dumplings

Deliciously crispy dumplings, cold sesame noodles and steamed pork buns all for under $10….ummm, perfect.

Walking in Ragged Mountain

Cate and Ashton introduced us to Charlottesville in style by taking us straight to this nature preserve. The walk around the lake at sunset is highly recommended, especially if accompanied by […]

The High Road to Monticello

Our tour of Charlottesville was a fantastic one, principally due to Ashton being such a great tour guide. Charlottesville is a funky little town, steeped in Jeffersonian tradition. Certainly one of the greatest minds to contribute so much to American history, we felt indebted to visit the many testaments to Thomas Jefferson’s greatness. So off […]