A travel year in review: 2017 / January 24, 2018 by Tara Tayan Hey there friends. I'm keeping it short and simple - A year in review of different 2017 adventures. Weeks of erosion left the California coast in disarray. Massive mudslides and flooding. CA Residents said they hadn't seen rain in California in 6-7 years. The coast was completely transformed. As we travelled down, we soon realized this trip wasn't going to be what we thought. Big Sur dreams were put off for next time. Fitting for the dreary days ahead... I might be witnessing a murder here... Shark Fin Cove, a one of the many nondescript parts of the the coast along PCH in Davenport. Absolutely breathtaking views. The rain cleared just as we drove into Santa Cruz, stopping to eat, then walked out to the wharf where there was a lot of tourist shops and and barking seals. Stopped in Carmel for coffee. Joshua Tree National Park. I love the desert. One of the many beautiful sunsets in California at Arch Rock. Pioneertown! Originally built as a Western movie set in the 40's even with places to stay for the actors, this town is a strange and definite stop while in the Joshua Tree area. Our car almost didn't make it up here. Sunrise colors :0 Sunday morning we woke up to Gabby yelling "OH SHIT! IT SNOWED." I simultaneously wanted to look and keep sleeping. And sure enough I got out of bed, looked outside and saw a pristine soft white over everything. Quickly we got dressed and rushed otuside to take advantage of the lack of people and gorgeous light. White turkey hunting, I found lost treasures at the Delaware Water Gap in NJ. Natural terrarium. Spring break started at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, looking for Sika deer ( google it.) Stopped for some pulled pork at Woody's Beach BBQ in Chincoteague. Assateague Island National Seashore Longwood Gardens, opening of the new fountains. Ocean City, NJ. Stayed at some pretty rad Airbnbs but this one in Ashland, at the beginning of our road trip through Oregon, tops many of them. You don't need a license to fish at Crater Lake, just patience. Rainbow trout and kokanee salmon were dumped in here by some rich dude in the 1800's. Preparing for the solar eclipse! You could see the ash fall from the sky and there was a constant smell of smoke. Here's just one of the bloody, apocalyptic sunsets in Bend. Pacific City Cape Kiwanda ECLISPE 2017! I fell in love with Portland. SCRAP PDX, a funky junk/ art supply store heaven. Thought I saw dinosaurs in Redwood National Forest. A banana slug's favorite snack is dandelions. Epic picnics in the backcountry of Salem, NJ. Ended the year at the happiest god damn place on earth.