american west, breakfast, Brunch, california, Camping, coffee, dogs, Food, Hiking, Historical sites, Lunch, outdoors, Shopping, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Idyllwild, California

Tucked into the San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild, California is an idyllic retreat from the desert below. With miles of nearby hiking trails, dining, shopping, and the arts, this town offers something for everyone- including a chance to meet Mayor Max and his deputies.

coffee, Europe and the United Kingdom, Family, Historical sites, history, Museums, Opinion, Shopping, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Amsterdam

In the fifth post of the Netherlands series, the Cranky Camper family visits Amsterdam, the bustling, historic capital of the Netherlands. Highlights include the Van Gogh Museum, shopping, and Amsterdam's many canals. Included in this post is a bonus summary of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert at Johann Cruijff Arena.

Europe and the United Kingdom, Historical sites, history, Museums, Opinion, Shopping, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Mauritshuis and Miffy

On our first full day in The Hague, we visited Mauritshuis, which houses the Royal Cabinet of Paintings. On display are over 800 works from the Dutch Golden Age of the seventeenth century. We also find a relic that sparks many happy memories from primary school days: Miffy, who is also known as Nijntje.

coffee, Europe and the United Kingdom, Family, Historical sites, history, Museums, Opinion, outdoors, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Den Haag

In this first in a six-part series, the Cranky Camper family heads to the Netherlands and stays in The Hague. Famous for being a seat of international and Dutch politics, there is much to learn, explore, and appreciate in The Hague. We also share a few practical things we learned on our visit.

american west, breakfast, Brunch, california, Deserts, Family, Hiking, Historical sites, history, outdoors, safety, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

LA Weekends: Hey Hollywood!

The Cranky Campers celebrate the start of the summer solstice in true LA style. We attended the second night of Noah Kahan's "We'll All Be Here Forever" set at the Hollywood Bowl, then returned to Griffith Park to hike up to the famed Hollywood sign and visit the Batcave.