By now, you probably know that traveling/exploring is my thing. As much as our budget will allow, anyway. After our Boston-to-Sacramento move last summer, we’ve slowed down a bit, but here are a few of our latest adventures in sightseeing.

In April, we celebrated a belated anniversary (22 years!) in Stinson Beach, California. This little town—population 600—is nestled in a gorgeous cove on the Pacific Ocean in Marin County, about 20 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1. It backs up to Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods.

Stinson Beach, looking northwest toward Bolinas

A view of the mountains from a town park near the beach

The cozy cottage we rented up the hill, with a view of the ocean

Stinson Beach after the weather cleared

While there, we drove up the coast a few miles to the adorable town of Bolinas, which sits just off the northern tip of Stinson. You could wade across, but there's no bridge, so the drive is about 20 minutes around the inlet, where we saw seals lounging on a sandbar.

Homes in Bolinas

An inlet in Bolinas, just off the northern tip of Stinson Beach

Bolinas, just up the coast from Stinson Beach

Mid-May, we flew to Colorado for a friend’s retirement from the Air Force. Colorado Springs never disappoints, with its towering peaks, thick forest, and red rock. We even got snow! On Friday, we ran through our little rental home's neighborhood and happened upon a back entrance to the Garden of the Gods (GOTG) park.

Garden of the Gods, camera facing southwest toward Pikes Peak and Manitou Springs

More Garden of the Gods

On Saturday, we hiked through Red Rock Canyon Open Space with friends, only a mile or two from GOTG, with fabulous views.

A view of GOTG (top right on horizon) from the Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Last summer, while waiting to close on our house, we hung out for a week in Redding, California (among other places). Since my oldest son had gone back to college for the summer term, he missed out. So, during his short pre-internship stay at home at the end of May, we took him north to see the amazing volcano that rises 14,179 feet above sea level at the southern end of the Cascade Mountain Range (i.e. Mt. Shasta).

Mt. Shasta peeking over the hills around Lake Siskiyou

Closer to Mt. Shasta on a hike up Spring Hill

Shasta framed by pine and manzanita from Spring Hill

We also checked out the impressive Sundial Bridge over the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding at Turtle Bay.

Looking west toward the Sundial Bridge (taken July 2016)

On the Sundial Bridge, facing north (taken July 2016)

Spire of the bridge from below

Looking west from the bridge, up the Sacramento River

Been on any cool trips lately? Have any fun travel plans for summer?