California

My home state, California. When I told people I was from California when I was studying abroad in Italy, they would immediately break into the theme song from the OC. (It was 2010, what can I say?) I have tender memories of being in waters of the Mediterranean after cliff jumping and being surrounded by a group of local Italians I hardly knew who were singing their brains out to that song with a hint of wonder in their voices. The choice to say California in stead of the United States had been an unconscious one. It made me sweet memories and begin to understand how lucky I was to be a native Californian. 

Backpacking the world in 2017, the OC theme song was no longer the song of choice in response. Ironically it was none other than 2Pac and Dr Dre’s California Love. 

Since returning back to the states after Covid-19, I really feel that I am first a Californian, then and American. This state holds my family, my way of thinking, my love of the ocean and the mountains, temperate weather and most of all my heart. 

Being that I’m from California doesn’t mean I don’t have experience backpacking it as well. Soon you will be able to sift through my blog posts and find the best camping spots, beach spots for those on #vanlife and the glory that is BLM lands, as well as spotlights on some of the best National Parks this country has to offer. Backpacking California does not have to cost an arm ad a leg.