Don’t Miss the Beauty in Your Own Backyard!
Miles of stunning beaches, virutally uninterrupted by humans, waves crashing on the rocks and into tidal pools, misty mountains and mesmerizing sunsets, saved my sanity during the lock down. California certainly has it’s share of stunningly beautiful destinations, and now that everything is open again, it is time to explore those captivating small towns that move at a deliciously slow pace, and sip my way through SLO Wine Country. Fun Fact… San Luis Obispo County is known as SLO County, inferring that we should SLO down and enjoy the 80 plus miles of stunning beaches, beautiful hotels, delicious farm to table food, and world class wine!
When we went on lockdown in 2020, I could feel the beginnings of a panic attack start in my stomach and with every month that went by, it became more and more pronounced. For someone who traveled since I was two, this nightmare seemed never ending and I had to go somewhere, anywhere as it felt like the walls were starting to close in. So I packed my bags and headed North up the California Coast and I could almost feel the stress leaving my body. I found a few places to stay, triple sanitized, got delivery, and breathed.
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Well it is finally 2020 and I wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. As for me, this past year was a very difficult one for my family and I, as my father passed away in September, the same month my mother passed, but several years ago. Two months after he passed away I had my birthday, then came Hanukkah, Christmas, my sister’s birthday and of course, now the New Year. All these “celebrations,” one after the other, were firsts without my father and extremely painful. Waking up in the morning and thinking about wishing him a happy new year and then the realization that I will never get to do that again. Suddenly I am an orphan and the month of September really sucks. When I talk to my sister we cannot talk about memories without breaking down and whereas before it was just mom we missed, now it is both of them and the “remember when” chats are doubly devastating and it has gotten worse during the Holidays.
needless to say, memories of our family’s many vacations there came flooding back! The 2am wakeup calls to get to the gate of the Park early in time for breakfast and so that we can watch the sun rise in that most incredible of places. We visited the KNP so often that my dad became a honorary game ranger. I don’t know whether they still do that, but years ago it was a big deal. Mom’s ashes are sprinkled there and now dad’s will be too, and I know they are in their “happy place,” and at peace. While I have not been back there for many years, I kept looking at the posts and beautiful pictures in a Facebook group about the Kruger National Park, and remembered all the places they mention, almost as if it was yesterday. Each camp has a special memory… a boyfriend I met, the BBQ or party on my parent’s birthdays or anniversaries… and the peace that is indescribable.
Dream Destinations Travel 