This trip marks one of my favorites of all. To be fair, I say this about a lot of places because I love traveling and exploring the country’s hidden corners. But Northern California was unlike anything else. Being from the Midwest, I have always loved places with mountains as they contrast with the flat lands of Illinois. Driving on California State Route 1 on the edge of the country, along the Pacific coastline is mesmerizing with beauty. However, do not eat crab chowder before getting into the car, as going through the many crazy turns around the mountains will not end well. My best friend Nick found that out the hard way.

We arrived in Mendocino County and stayed in a beautiful cabin. For anyone who is a fan of “Murder, She Wrote,” we were minutes away from where Jessica Fletcher’s house is in fictitious Cabot Cove. It was in a cute little town with a bunch of shops.

Down the road is Fort Bragg, where one can explore Sea Glass Beach. The beach covers 38 acres and is where trash was dumped in Fort Bragg from 1906 to 1967. Now it is a popular tourist attraction. My parents dropped me and Nick off, and we collected sea glass for hours. Nick caught crazy-looking fish, as well as a live sea urchin. He has an eye for critters; he can find them anywhere.

I think everyone should experience Northern California at least once in a lifetime; it is truly unbelievable, especially Sea Ranch, which is where we stayed for 2 nights. My mom found an incredible modern cabin in the woods. It also had a hot tub, so Nick and I spent hours in there just looking up at the towering trees and twinkling stars. Being surrounded by so much beauty can be overwhelming, but you also don’t want it to end.

We stopped at so many places along the road that I lost track. That’s what I love about my family: the adventures are big and small. My stepdad, Steve, always drives. He is always down to stop anywhere; the more exploring, the better. One of the best stops we had was a breathtaking beach. The walk wasn’t too bad down to the water, and it was worth the hike because some of my favorite photos I have taken are from this beach. Nick is a very active person, so he is often the subject of my photos. I love a subject that keeps moving; it creates a story and adds perspective.

Two people sitting outside a shop named Ocean Cove Store, with a wooden exterior, on a roadside with a double yellow line, and a background of tall trees.

A dirt trail with wooden fences on both sides, leading toward a coastal landscape with rocky cliffs and the ocean in the distance.

A person in a patterned long sleeve shirt and shorts standing on the sandy shore and using a stick to stir or remove something from the water, in a foggy beach landscape with cliffs in the background.