Picks and Pans – Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas is a strange, strange place. People spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to fly in from all over the world, stay in hotels and drop oodles of money into machines and onto felt table cloths. And for what? To get drunk and watch blinky lights and strippers? For my dollar I’d just […]

Picks and Pans – In and Around L.A.

PICKS: Thanksgiving weekend with friends

I never really thought that L.A. would be one of the spots on the trip that would feel like a temporary home, but thanks to our friends Norbert, Yolanda, Xavier, Michael, Judith, Teddy, Charlene and Aaron, we had a Thanksgiving weekend surrounded by loving, generous, intelligent friends that made us […]

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 – From Pinnacles National Monument to Fresno, CA

PICKS: High Peaks and Balconies Cave Loop in Pinnacles National Monument

Pinnacles has been on the road trip itinerary ever since Sean’s mom showed us a picture of Sean, at the ripe old age of 18 months, peering into the mouth of one of the caves in the park. We returned to those caves, and […]

Picks and Pans – Santa Cruz, CA

PICKS: Taqueria La Cabana

In the land of the taqueria, otherwise known as California, it seems a bit remiss to recommend any one over the other because nearly all of them serve up yummilicious grub. I would say that Taqueria La Cabana falls in the acceptable, but not outrageously good part of the yummy […]