Hello adventurers!
June has been one crazy month. I started the month leaving Tennessee and heading back to Minnesota for a week of friends, family and quirky events like a pencil sharpening ceremony.
I followed that trip with a quick 2 day stopover in San Francisco before heading back to Seattle.
Summer in Seattle is unbeatable. Typically after June, we have perfect summer weather, sunny, highs 75-82, low humidity and very few mosquitos. Truly paradise, and the reason we are willing to deal with 6 months of gloom. Summer comes with non-stop festivals and activities.
The kick off to summer is the Fremont Fair and the Solstice parade. This parade happens to be our most... expressive as it kicks off with a 30-40 minute naked bike ride. This is a *tasteful* naked bike ride as the majority of bikers are painted, usually with others, as part of a theme or "costume" of sorts.
On top of our usually packed summer schedule, Seattle is also one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup. We had 4 preliminary games, including USA vs Australia, and will host a round of 32 tomorrow, and 16 next week. It's been a fun and exciting time in the city.
If you can believe it, there's more.
I spent the past week traveling Virginia for another travel creator conference, this one called TBEX. The event was held in Richmond, and included a bonus FAM (familiarization) tour of Prince William County for 2 days.
As a bonus, I was even able to have a long lunch catch up in Washington DC with Janine, my oldest childhood friend.
Where in the world is Carli San Diego?
As you can see June was QUITE busy! Here's a rundown on where I went and what to do around San Francisco, Richmond and Prince William Co.
San Francisco
I haven't been to San Francisco since before Covid, and it has been so long since I've really acted like a tourist in the city. My more recent trips have either been for work, or as a quick stopover before going up to Sonoma and Napa to go wine tasting.
This was a quick 40 hour trip, but that didn't stop me from having a full itinerary. I also got to enjoy lunch with an old client turned friend, Clarence. He's also a travel lover and creates custom curated trip itineraries, especially if you are looking for anything related to CA wine country. Check him out at CK Curated.
I spent the first afternoon/evening hanging out with my friend AJ. We have a fun story as we were connected through a mutual friend while both solo traveling in Vietnam. Then ended up spending New Year's together in Thailand. Proof that you never know who you'll meet traveling.
SF Bay Cruise
- For a fun 1 hour adventure take the San Francisco Bay Cruise through Blue & Gold Fleet. This tour takes you around the bay, and even UNDER the Golden Gate Bridge for the best photos and vantage point. You'll also cruise around Alcatraz before heading back to Fisherman's Wharf
- Bring layers as it can be windy + cold on the water
- There are both indoor and outdoor spaces in case of inclement weather, or to get out of the wind
- They also offer a separate Alcatraz tour
Ghost tour
- The San Francisco Ghost Tour through US Ghost Adventures is a fun 60+ minute tour combining history, architecture, and a bit of the macabre.
- SF has lots of hills, and you will be walking to the top of Nob Hill
- This is a rain or shine tour, so dress appropriately
- The tour may go long, so buffer in extra time to your schedule
Free and low cost activities around the city
- Chrissy Field Beach: Unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge
- Palace of Fine Arts: Greco-Roman style park built for the 1915 World's Fair
- Alamo Square / Painted Ladies: Famous Tanner Family home from Full House + beautiful city park
- Cable Car Museum: FREE! Museum dedicated to history of cable cars and the working hub for all cable cars in the city
- Cable car ride: Incredibly iconic. Get a transit day pass to be able to have unlimited 24 hour rides on city transit & cable cars
- Lombard Street: Famous winding hill street. Has beautiful hydrangea garden blooming in spring
- Chinatown: Oldest & largest Chinatown in North America. Great for shopping and food
- Washington Square: Grab a pizza from Tony's across the street and enjoy a park picnic
Richmond, VA
Richmond is located in the center of Virginia, about 2.5 hours south of Washington DC, and is also the capital of the state. The city has an immense amount of history from both the Revolutionary War and Civil War.
Today it is not just a city, but really a region to visit with small surrounding towns and multiple counties. The area has a rich arts community, plenty of natural beauty, and great restaurants to keep you busy.
Since we were mostly occupied at the conference for two days, there's so much I didn't get to see in Richmond, so it's definitely on my list to visit again.
Things to do around Richmond
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Museums:
- Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
- Science Museum of Virginia
- The Poe Museum
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- Virginia Museum of History & Culture
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Art & Culture:
- Crossroads Art Center
- Mural Walk
- Riverfront public art
- Richmond Arts District
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Unique:
- Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum
- Nascar at Richmond Raceway
- The world's largest Arby's
Prince William County Virginia
Prince William County is located in Northern Virginia, southwest of Arlington and Alexandria. It stretches 40 miles inland from the Potomac River and is rich with history.
You pretty much can't throw a rock without it landing on somewhere that has historical relevance (whether or not it's obvious). Prince William County was a major factor in the Civil War. It is where the first battle of Manassas (Bull Run), the first major battle in the Civil War, was fought.
Today, Prince William County is the most ethnically diverse county in the state of Virginia and one of the most diverse in the entire country. They really celebrate their diversity and commitment to supporting the local community.
Things to do around Prince William County
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EAT! Because the population is so diverse, you'll find food from just about every country and culture. Here are some of the places we ate & drank:
- Carmello's
- Eavesdrop Brewing
- Murlarky's Distillery
- My Cravingz
- Repeal Speakeasy
- The Spot
- Vera's Kitchen
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History: as stated above, Manassas was an important battleground in Virginia. It was so substantial that multiple battles were fought here.
- African American History Trail
- Ben Lomond Historic Site
- Civil War History Trail
- Manassas National Battlefield Park
- National Museum of the Marine Corps
- Revolutionary War History Trail
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Visit historic city centers: the historic city centers of many of these towns are alive and well with amazing new shops and restaurants. We spent most of our time around Old Town Manassas.
- ARTfactory
- Calico Jack's
- Crossroads Tabletop Tavern
- Manassas Museum
- Sleepy Dragon Books
Travel Lessons Learned
When traveling on long haul flights, I am usually good about packing an extra outfit (shirt, underwear, and shorts or leggings). This is because 1) you never know if you're suitcase will go missing and 2) after 14 hours of traveling, you might not be all that fresh.
This week, I got dropped off at Regan Airport, just outside of DC and had 4 hours to kill before my flight. Most (sane) people would just hang out at the airport and work or watch netflix. I am not that person. Instead, I jumped on the Metro and took myself to the National Mall to visit some of the Smithsonian Museums.
I made it back in time for my flight AND a quick trip to the Centurion Lounge for food, no problem. What was an issue, was not anticipating the humidity for the day, and having to carry around a heavy backpack for 2.5 hours. (I thought they would have lockers, or a coat check.) Although I had some leggings to wear on the flight to stay warm (vs my shorts), I did not pack an extra t-shirt.
Let's just say I was thankful I had my little mini fan in my bag to help cool me off, and that I had an empty middle seat next to me 😅
Lesson:
Pack some extra clothes in your carry on bag *just in case* you want or need to change before or after your flight.
Need help with planning a trip?
Starting to think about summer travel, or a future milestone trip? Reach out for assistance with planning and booking your future travels.
I can book everything from hotels and cruises to private airport transportation and day tours and in between.
Blog Posts
Catch up on some of my blog posts below:
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Five of the Best Shaw Neighborhood Restaurants and Bars
The Shaw is a fun and vibrant DC neighborhood. These are some must visit Shaw neighborhood restaurants and bars for your next DC visit.
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How to Spend One Day in Bruges
Often referred to as the Amsterdam of Belgium, Bruges is a truly beautiful medieval city built upon canals. If you only have one day in Bruges, this post shares the highlights.
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How to Maximize a Layover in Amsterdam
Have a long layover in Amsterdam? Don’t waste your time in the airport, you can quickly leave and explore for the day with plenty of time to return for your flight.
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Travel Must Haves
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3in1 Handheld Mini Fan
Don't let the size of the fan fool you, it gets the job done. This is a 3 in 1 fan, meaning it is of course a fan, but it also can be used as a portable charger and it has a small built in flashlight.
It's low cost & lightweight, making it the perfect travel companion.
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Thanks for following along!
Carli
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