The Travel Chica

Live Simple. Consume Less. Experience More.

PHOTO: A cold Winter sunset

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    This Winter in Columbus has been a bit brutal in terms of temperature.  I forced myself out to capture this sunset on the icy Scioto River. Have you been braving the cold to enjoy the pretty side of Winter?

PHOTO: Golden Gate Bridge at 3am

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On my way back to the airport from Sonoma, I stopped to take some night photography of the Golden Gate Bridge. I think this was worth staying up all night before my flight back to Columbus. Golden Gate Bridge at Night

How to make the most of a road trip

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When I picked up the rental car at the San Jose airport in the early morning, I was greeted with rainbows and mountains. A great start to a road trip. My plan was to drive to San Francisco where I hoped to drive across the Bay Bridge and across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods. […]

PHOTO ESSAY: Quiet, quirky Bolinas

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I made time for a slow drive up the coast of California on my way to Sonoma.  I did a bit of research and hit the road from the San Jose airport.  I had read that Bolinas is different than most coastal California towns.  They have actively tried to keep outsiders away, so of course […]

My top four vineyard picks in Sonoma and Napa

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Now that you know my tips for surviving wine country, I will share my top five vineyards to visit in the Sonoma and Napa area. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of vineyards, and while I certainly had my fair share of wine, there are hundreds out there I have yet to explore. If […]

How to survive four days in wine country

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I developed an appreciation for wine (i.e. became a wine snob) when I lived in Buenos Aires and explored the wine regions of Argentina and Chile. Upon returning home after two years of travel in Latin America, I was looking forward to the opportunity to experience more of my own country. Last year I learned […]

A taste of Italy in San Francisco

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San Francisco is known as a foodie destination. I only had a few days to explore the city, so I decided a food tour would be the best way to get lots of small bites and learn about the culture and history of San Francisco.  After extensive research (and wiping the drool off my keyboard), […]

Portland’s Bridges at Night

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Portland is becoming an annual trip for me. There is so much I love about the city.  The food is fresh, affordable, and creative.  Portland has the best concentration of craft breweries in the country. And I love the people, the culture, the vibe. On my recent trip, I wanted to leverage what I learned […]

Photography 101: Black and white at night

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I love black and white photography.   However, I have rarely converted my own photos to black and white.  I found it difficult to “see” which photos would look best without the distraction of color. Monochrome forces the photographer to focus on the building blocks of a quality photo:  texture, tonal contrast, shape, and light. […]