Gennifer Rose blog
Welcome to our California Travel and Lifestyle blog where youβll find our collection of all the content weβve created. Whether youβre planning your next California vacation, searching for some new healthy recipes or seeking seasonal style tips, youβll find that perfect blog post here.
This page allows you to filter to your interests or browse everything the Gennifer Rose Blog has to offer. You may discover something new!
The San Diego city of La Jolla is the perfect spot for a quick weekend getaway. It's got all the vacation essentials you need including colorful murals, artesian food and endless beach sunsets. We all have our favorite activities and foods we like to enjoy during vacation, so I've built a quick and easy guide to popular spots in La Jolla. Looking for amazing Instagram photo spots? Want to eat a delicious meal on a rooftop while gazing on a sunset sky? It's all here!
Read MoreThe adorable little neighborhood of North Park, San Diego has been blowing up all over Instagram lately and it's not hard to see why. The streets are painted those pastel colors we love, the walls are filled with urban succulent gardens and the matcha is oh-so-trendy. Not to mention the foodie scene is really happening with cuisine from all over the world, and of course plenty of fusions. Forbes named it one of Americaβs best neighborhoods for hipsters, which really sums it up.
My husband and I lived in San Diego and North Park was one of my favorite hangout spots. Our perfect afternoon out-and-about in North Park would be eating tacos Γ la lucha libre style and then sipping green matcha latte while window shopping boutiques. Read on to see North Park's top spots and begin planning your visit to one of San Diego's favorite neighborhoods.
Read MoreThe list of reasons why people loved to visit lavender fields is literally endless. Amazingly scented and full of olfactory delights, a visit to the vast fields of purple blooms is nothing short of time well spent.
Besides their captivating floral fragrance, the alluring beauty of lavender fields makes them picture-perfect as well as a great source of photography inspiration. But thereβs more to lavender fields than just being the perfect backdrop source for your next Instagram post. Visiting a lavender farm is a wellness and holistic experience.
But when is the best time to visit Californiaβs lavender fields? What are some of the best fields to visit, where, and what are they like? Read on to see our comprehensive list of visitor-friendly lavender fields in both Northern and Southern California.
Read MoreLooking for a winter road trip destination where you can walk through a real life winter wonderland? California is a great place to go! With its many snowy mountain ranges, there are plenty of places to explore.
Winter is a wonderful time to enjoy the snow, whether you're hitting the slopes or simply playing in the snow. Snowboarding and skiing are great ways to get out and enjoy the winter weather. Sledding and snowman-building are fun activities for families with young children. There's something about being in the snow that just makes people feel happy, and there's nothing quite like relaxing in a cozy cabin after a long day of playing in the snow. If you're looking for a reason to love winter, start with snow travel. It's an experience you'll never forget.
In this blog post, we will outline and give the highlights to some of the best snowy destinations in California. Whether you're looking for a place to ski or just enjoy the scenery, we have you covered. Keep reading to plan your trip to some of the best winter road trip destinations in the Golden State!
Read MoreFoodie travel is a top trend for travelers of all ages. Maybe it's the influence from foodie rockstar Anthony Bourdain, but it's not uncommon for vacationers to build their travel itineraries around the restaurants and cafes they hope to visit. Coffee lovers are particularly devoted to their caffeinated brews and find it necessary to fuel their addiction with quality coffee while on the road.
Each city has its own popular and tried and true coffee locations. If you are planning to road trip and venture around California, you'll need to know where to get a great cup of joe. Donβt worry as we will introduce you to the most exceptional coffee destinations that you shouldnβt miss in the Golden State. These places will be just perfect for your morning routine and help start your vacation days off right.
All of the coffee shops listed here are places I have personally visited during my many travels around the state of California. Each one had some special qualities which made it stand out as exceptional. Iβll do my best to paint a picture of what itβs like to sip a hot cup of coffee inside one of these noteworthy cafes.
Read MoreDesert, cacti, funny looking trees, giant round boulders, and an indescribable feeling of mystic magic in the air - this basically describes Joshua Tree National Park in a nutshell. Named after the uniquely shaped trees (which actually aren't trees at all), Joshua Tree is located inland in Southern California and offers a popular wilderness destination for hikers, rock climbers, photographers and nature lovers.
The Joshua Tree park is comprised of over 795,000 acres of land, which is bigger than the state of Rhode Island! So you may be asking, how could I possibly see this enormous park in one day? While you canβt see everything in such a short period of time, you can definitely hit up some highlights and get the overall feeling of the park.
In this guide I will give you all kinds of options for your one day trip to Joshua Tree, giving you plenty of activities to fill up your itinerary. They will range and vary as far as how physically strenuous they are, from leisurely park walks to ambitious hiking trails. In short, thereβs something for everyone!
Read MoreSan Diego is the perfect Southern California destination for a family vacation. The weather is almost always warm and sunny year-round and thereβs endless fun things to do with children, toddlers and babies. In San Diego youβll find world-class beaches, scenic neighborhoods, all kinds of fresh cuisine and tons of parks.
My husbandβs family lives in the greater San Diego area and we often take family trips to visit them. We have endless experience taking the kids and their cousins out to many of the places Iβve outlined in this blog post. I speak from experience when I say that San Diego is very kid-friendly!
In this blog post I will outline our favorite spots to hangout with our kids in San Diego. This guide includes great places for stroller walks, beaches, family-friendly neighborhoods, nature and amusement parks and of course the two zoos.
Read MoreElopements have become increasingly more popular in modern times as couples are sometimes less willing to pay large sums of money to get married. A traditional wedding can easily cost up to $10,000. In contrast my husband and I spent less than $500 on our San Francisco elopement. We are the type of couple whoβd prefer to spend our savings on buying a house and travel.
California is a popular state for elopements because of both the beautiful scenery and pleasant weather. Unlike other areas of the country, thereβs always a region in both Northern and Southern California with mild and somewhat predictable temperatures. Outdoor weddings and elopements are always an option which means that you donβt have to plan and budget for an indoor venue.
In this blog post I will outline my top recommendations for California elopement cities and locations. The locale themes will vary from urban metro spots to nature and wilderness areas. They will all have excellent backdrops for wedding photography and your elopement will be so sweet and memorable.
Read MorePasadena is known for beautiful tree-lined streets, lotβs of greenery and flowers, and grand architecture. Being more inland, when you visit Pasadena your trip will be less about the beach and more about the finer things in lifeβ¦ like good food! During our visits to Pasadena, we pretty much eat our way through the town with pleasant city walks in-between meals. In short, Pasadena is a foodieβs paradise spot for a weekend retreat.
Read MoreI grew up in the small coastal town of Half Moon Bay, located 30 miles south of San Francisco. Driving up and down the Pacific Coast Highway (also known as Highway 1) was a regular occurrence in my childhood. I didn't realize until later on in my adulthood how lucky I was to experience such scenic ocean views everyday. As a local I love to share the love and tell where to find my hidden gems spots.
Beginning from North to South, I've built the ultimate guide with the top spots along Highway 1 worth pulling over for!
Read MoreI grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and my husbandβs entire family lives in San Diego. Needless to say we have spent many vacations road tripping from Northern California to Southern California. Over the years we have become bonafide experts on driving up and down the state of California.
This California road trip guide will break down all the driving route options and highlight the pros and cons of each one. When youβre planning out your trip itinerary you should account for gas stops, restroom stops, food options and sightseeing. Some road trips are meant for sightseeing, and others are just a straight shot to your destination of San Diego (or Los Angeles).
Read MoreThe state of California is known for its natural beauty. The landscape varies greatly from region to region - from majestic mountains with dense forest floors to dry and vast deserts. The amount of outdoor recreation activities in California is enormous, and with the ever-changing seasons thereβs new adventure to explore throughout the year.
California has nine national parks, which is the most of any one state (Alaska comes in second with eight national parks). Across the United States thereβs a total of 62 national parks. The definition of a national park is land set aside by the federal government to protect it from development so that the general public can enjoy its natural beauty.
Read MoreSometimes when you travel, it can be equally about both the journey and the destination. When you decide to road trip in a car thatβs just plain fun to drive, it adds some adventure and whimsy to your travels.
Many folks also rent retro and classic cars for weddings, photos and special occasions such as prom, anniversaries, and more. Whatever your reason for wanting to incorporate a cool ride into your life, youβll find many rental options for California in this blog post.
Read MoreWe are so lucky in California because there are several places to see these beauties bloom. The flowers across the state of California begin sprouting up in late February and can last until the heat of summer dries them out.
Fresh blossoms can be found in fields and others are in tree orchards. Some of these places occur naturally in the wild, and others are cultivated on farms. Either way, vibrant flowers looks stunning both in person and on camera. I know all you Instagrammers are looking for that perfect shot!
Read MoreSan Diego's neighborhood of Little Italy has evolved into one of the most modern and trendy areas of SoCal. The lively social scene makes it the perfect place to enjoy both a day and night out on the town. I've compiled a comprehensive list of the best 45 spots to eat, drink and be merry in Little Italy. From the swanky high brow spots to the cool and comfy, it's all here. Plan a romantic evening with that special someone or invite your pals out for a brunch date.
Read MoreSpring is a great time to travel in California because thereβs a good chance youβll be treated to some awesome weather. Spring break is also a popular time to vacation because many students have time-off from school.
This California Spring Break Guide works for both college students and parents with kids who are on break from school. My top destinations have a bit of something for everyone!
Read MoreThis blog post gives you some great options for summer festivals and events where you can feel comfortable bringing your littles ones. Some of them are even dog-friendly too!
In California we have beautiful summer weather and itβs a shame to spend too much time indoors. Summer festivals are definitely a thing in Cali, but most of them are too loud and rowdy for families with children.
Read MoreEscondido is an inland city located 30 miles from the city center of San Diego. It's an up-and-coming area of the San Diego suburbs and also happens to be the hometown of my hubby. In my guide I've included the popular big attractions as well as secret gems only known by Escondido natives.
Read MoreOur trip to Dana Point and San Clemente was a bit on a whim and I felt so lucky that it turned out to be one of the cutest areas weβve ever visited in SoCal. My goal is always to find California towns with photo worthy scenery, fresh and healthy eats, and if Iβm lucky a colorful mural to brighten up my feed. We got everything on my checklist and then some!
Read More
