The Uncomfy Room is the most bizarre room of Un-Natural Gardens at Descanso. I step into a space covered in pink, fuzzy fur carpet. The walls have wigs growing out of them. I feel disconcerted. Also, I am a little creeped out by the hanging nylon stuffed objects dangling from the ceiling. I navigate through the weirdly lit room, and there are nooks and curves that should be invitingly cozy, but it just makes me more uncomfortable. Turn the corner, and the passages are tighter, with more of the pink things (reminds me of intestines) hang in my face. Part of me wants to stay and figure out what this is, and part of me wants to get out of there as fast as I can. It's funny, and bizarre, and definitely thought provoking. The interactive exhibit at Descanso Gardens. #WhereGalsWander

Any reason to travel and I am all on board. I have my life list, which shows my must-see locations and must-do activities, but actually, I am happy to travel anywhere to explore. I even believe strongly in exploring locally. No matter where you are, make sure to see something new. It is easy to capture something extraordinary, but the key to true joy is finding something extraordinary in all the things that seem ordinary.

Space Needle in Seattle just opened the weekend before I was there! For the...

Lehman Cave in Great Basin National Park marks my final destination on my journey driving the loneliest road in America. National Parks take us to a different world, and this would be my first time exploring the Earth from deep inside a cave. It did not disappoint. Here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your adventure exploring Lehman Cave in Great Basin National Park.

We received a lot of advice about getting to Yosemite early, parking in one of the main lots and then taking the Shuttle, which takes you to just about every popular place, or you can hike from those popular places to where you want to be. This was our plan until my 14-year-old daughter sprained her ankle literally two days before our trip and ended up on crutches.  Our plans for hiking now had to be adjusted to Plan B: driving and parking as close to the sights as possible.

Sipping morning coffee in the mountain air at Half Dome while watching the sunrise in Yosemite is one of the greatest moments I've ever had. I've written previously about my goal not just to see Yosemite, but to experience Yosemite. There is nothing like the experience of mixing fresh, hot coffee, with cold pine air, watching the light bounce off the icy needles in the trees.