1. California Coastal Trail, CA

This one is especially close to my heart… and my home! This is my favorite not only because it’s so beautiful, but because I have direct access to it. The 1200 miles of the Pacific Coastline stretch from Santa Barbara to Oregon with views of Big Sur and Tijuana.

California Coastal Trail

2. Umpqua Dunes of Winchester Bay, Oregon

Where are the camels? oh wait, it’s in oregon…

You’ll feel like you’re in an exotic land on these amazing sand dunes!

Umpqua Dunes in Oregon

3. Third Beach to Oil City, Olympic National Park in Washington

During low tide, you can see starfish, anemones and slugs

Third Beach to Oil City, Olympic National Park in Washington

4. Dungeness Trail, Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia

Explore the moss covered ruins of the Carnegie Mansion… beautiful and creepy at the same time! One of the coolest things about Cumberland Island is that wild horses roam free on the beach…

Ruins of Cumberland Island, Georgia

Wild horses on Cumberland Island, Georgia

5. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI

The North Country Trail stretches from Crown Point in New York’s Adirondacks to Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota. Here it is in Michigan along Lake Superior…

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

6. Sunken Forest, Fire Island, NY

I haven’t been to Fire Island since I was a kid, but I remember riding my bike from one end to another and enjoying this rare holly forest…

Sunken Forest Fire Island NY

7. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Anchorage, Alaska

You might spot a bald eagle here, flying through the snow-capped mountains along Knik Arm, home to some of the world’s fastest tides…

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage, Alaska

8. Clayhead Trail on Block Island, RI

Walk along the beach and enjoy views of the Block Island Sound

Clayhead Trail on Block Island, RI

9. Precipice Trail, Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park, ME

This trail is not for the faint of heart! It’s a dangerous, vertical climb up Champlain Mountain using boulders as stairs. From the top you can see views of the Cranberry Islands and the Maine coast.

The Precipice Trail on Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park, ME

I’ve never been to Seattle, and as a West Coast Resident this is unacceptable! I hear it’s beautiful in the fall…

Things to see in Seattle:

- The Space Needle (that would be my first stop!)
- Original Starbucks (it would be nice to see the original culprit that feeds my daily caffeine addiction)
- Bill Gates’s House (66000 square feet!)
- Seattle Art Museum and the Hammering Man outside
- The Exotic Meat Company? I don’t know about that one… I mean, they have lion on the menu – can they really be trusted?
- Smith Tower Observation Deck
- Seattle Waterfront Garden
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Public Market Center
- Shopping in Downtown Seattle

Seattle Public Market

Seattle Waterfront in the Fall

Seattle Sailing and Skyline

Seattle Fall Fashion

Keep the scarves coming!

Military Jacket + Fedora + Cute Booties + Umbrella, of course

New York City is always buzzing, but there is something special about the fall. Just like Boston, the foliage changes and the temperature cools down. Summers in NYC are hot and humid and the cool air is a welcome change. As the nation’s fashion capital, nothing compares to NYC’s Fall Fashion Week. New Yorkers take fall fashion very seriously and bring the chic from runway to sidewalk.

Central Park is a must during fall. You can take a boat out on the water and walk around and people watch. I love doing things like that when i go back home to NY, even though they’re touristy. NYC is one of those places that makes you feel like you’re in a movie. There are amazing restaurants everywhere, stylish and interesting people, some of the best shopping in the world, and an extremely fun nightlife scene! It’s easy for east coasters to travel between NYC and Boston, and if you’re planning a fall trip to either city you should consider extending your stay for a few days and visit both!

Fall in New York City

Central Park in the Fall

<3 walks like this

Major Sex and the City moment

Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington at Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week Street Style - Don't forget your camera!

Fall in Boston is my favorite time of year. The foliage, crisp air and fall fashion are the best things ever! I’ll be going the second week of October, when the leaves have changed and the air has gotten colder. I can’t wait to stroll down Newbury Street, ride in the swan boats in the Common (a touristy thing I never did as a resident), and have a picnic on the Esplanade along the Charles River. The up-and-coming Waterfront neighborhood in South Boston has gotten tons of buzz so I will have to check that out too!

Boston in the Fall

Boston Commons

Boston Commons Swan Boats

The Boston Esplanade along the Charles River

Sonsie on Newbury Street in Boston

The North End is the perfect place for Italian food and coffee after a night out!

I plan on packing plenty of cozy sweaters, boots, jeggings, giant wedges, a leather jacket, tights, and faux fur leopard coat! I love fall fashion because of how comfortable and warm everything is, plus you get to layer and wear lots of pieces at once, which means more shopping!

Trench and Boots

Toggle Coat, Leopard Bag and Knee Highs

Patterned tights make these shoes fall appropriate

Love the sweater with elbow patches

Shopping is one of the best parts of traveling. You can find authentic souvenirs that will look great in your home or as gifts for a fraction of the price it would cost in the States. Haggling and bargaining is common overseas, especially with street-side vendors and at markets. These tips from experienced overseas shoppers will help you get the best price for your travel souvenir!

Moroccan Market

Be Friendly. Haggling should be kept light and fun, so make sure to smile and be polite. Sit and have a drink with the seller, and bargain while chatting.

Pretend You Have Done This Before. Sellers often decide how much to quote you from your initial conversation. They may ask you how long you’ve been visiting for and if you’ve spent much time there. If they sense that you have some experience, they will quote you less. Tell them you’ve visited several times before, even if you haven’t!

Do Your Research. Find out the standard prices of the items you want to purchase, either online or at stores in the area. Knowing the normal price will keep you from getting ripped off and you will know exactly how much of a bargain you’re getting.

Ask Specific Questions. How do they know it’s authentic? Politely ask questions about the quality and background of the item. The seller will lower the price if the quality and origins of the item are questionable.

Don’t Buy The First Thing You See. Chances are, especially at large markets like Marrakesh or Parisian flea markets, several vendors will sell the same thing. Take your time and look around to find the best quality and price.

Find A Reason For A Discount. Purchasing multiple items may warrant a discount. Look at the item carefully, and if you see any imperfections, don’t hesitate to ask for a lower price – without offending the seller, of course!

Know When To Walk Away. The best way to find out the lowest possible price is to act disinterested and walk away. If they can go lower, they will speak up when they see you leaving.

Look For The Destination Specialty. Certain destinations specialize in something, like silver or paper goods. Find out what it is and avoid buying the overpriced kitschy stuff. Specialty items are usually the things you won’t find in the States at all, or that you will find there for a much better price.

Moroccan Ceramics

If you’re in Morocco:

- Leather: Make sure you smell the leather first. Some of the cheaper products achieve suppleness from pigeon feces and urine treatments and the smell is incredibly hard to remove. If possible, rub the leather with a damp cloth. Cheaply dyed leather will run easily. If it doesn’t smell good and the dye runs, keep looking! It’s worth the extra effort.

- Moroccan Hair Oil: This popular oil is made from the argan tree. Don’t buy it from street vendors as they often dilute it with vegetable oil. Head to the pharmacy instead and make sure to take a whiff. It should smell like roasted nuts!

- Ceramics: Only the plain terracotta tagines can be used in an oven. Make sure the lid fits tightly on the base because only well-sealed tagines circulate the air properly. Painted ceramics may contain led, so be sure to ask the seller about that and only use them as serving dishes, don’t put them in the oven!

- Rugs: You may want to save the rug purchasing for last, when you’ve gotten some haggling practice. Settle in and have a drink while the seller shows you some rugs. A good rule of thumb is to start at a quarter of the price they initially offer you and work up from there. If you’re planning to send your rug home, make sure they include the taxes and shipping in the price.

If you’re in Asia:

- Jade: Real jade is cold to the touch, and when held under light will reveal smokey threads of minerals. If there are bubbles it is most likely made of glass.

Jade Jewelry Vendor

If you’re in the Middle East:

- Amber: Rub the amber against fabric hard enough so it warms up and then smell it. It should have a nice aroma, like resin.

- Camel bone/hoof: Light a flame near the object. It should smell of burning hair if it’s genuine.

Camel Bone Bracelet

The Sutro Baths at sunset

The Sutro Baths of San Francisco are the eerie remains of what used to be the world’s largest indoor swimming pool establishment. Adolph Sutro, an eccentric, wealthy entrepreneur and one-time mayor of San Francisco, built this impressive public facility in the 1800s. It was made of mostly glass, iron, and reinforced concrete and featured 7 different kinds of pools – 1 freshwater, and 6 saltwater pools with different temperatures. During high tide, water from the ocean would flow into the pools and recycle 2 million gallons of water. There was also a concert hall with seating for 8000 people and an ice skating rink. Unfortunately, the maintenance costs were too high and the Sutro Baths were eventually deserted. The building that housed the pools burned down in a fire in 1966, and the site has been in ruins ever since. The Golden Gate National Recreation area purchased the land and preserved it as one of San Francisco’s most picturesque landmarks.

The Sutro Baths in 1936

The Sutro Baths in the 1900s

Located along Lands End, San Francisco’s wildest and rockiest coastline, it is one of the most photographed parts of San Francisco by tourists and photography clubs. Walking along the Lands End trail is a great tourist activity and will make for some great photo ops!

Sutro Baths at Lands End

The Cliff House is located next to the Sutro Baths and can offer an excellent view for those who are curious, but not brave enough to walk directly through the ruins.

Also on my wish-list… Sorrento is a beautiful town in Campania, Italy, near Naples and Pompeii. From the beautiful coast you can see Naples, Vesuvius, and even the Isle of Capri from the right spot. I can imagine driving down Amalfi Drive through the cliffs down to the beach, where I would relax and drink limoncello!

The coast of Sorrento, Italy

Sorrento Sailing

Sorrento Sunset

The perfect spot for dinner!

Evening cocktails overlooking the Sorrento Marina

Parco Dei Principi Hotel Restaurant

Sorrento Coast and Marina

Sightseeing at the Sorrento Ruins

If you love Farmer’s Markets, you will love Night Markets. Originally started as a way for vendors to avoid the heat, they are now a fun event to attend on a weeknight or while traveling. If you’re a local, it’s the perfect opportunity to get great ingredients and produce, and if you’re a tourist, it’s a great spot to taste the native cuisine and get some souvenirs.

1. Underground Market, San Francisco CA

San Francisco Underground Market

You’ll have to register online to attend this monthly night market, which adds to its “underground” mystique. It began in 2009 and now hosts 35 of San Francisco’s best home chefs. You’ll find lots of free samples, bacon caramel popcorn, orange marmalade sandwiches, and french fries deep fried in duck fat.

2. Yamashiro Farmer’s Market, Los Angeles CA

Yamashiro Farmer's Market

This is the second year for the Yamashiro Farmer’s Market, held in the parking lot of the renowned Hollywood Hills sushi restaurant, Yamashiro. One its best attributes is the view – from this elevated location you can see Downtown, the Hollywood Sign, Culver City, and the Griffith Park Observatory. You’ll also get a chance to try some of Yamashiro’s own Chef Brock’s street food, like the pulled pork sliders. Other gourmet street food includes duck confit and chicken satay tacos and sausages.

3. Audrix Night Market, France

Audrix Night Market, France

Every summer, from mid-June through September, a dozen or so vendors gather in the town square to sell food from the Perigord Noir region of southwestern France. Walnuts and local wine are the most popular products of the region.

4. Marrakech Night Market, Morocco

Marrakech Night Market, Morocco

Held in the Old City Main Square. They have open air food stalls and henna tattoos.

5. Barranco Night Market, Lima Peru

This travel blog photo’s source is TravelPod page: Always Talk to Strangers!

This small market is held in the main square late at night, taking advantage of those exiting bars and clubs. They sell traditional items like alpaca shawls, gourd art and seed jewelry.

6. Ratchada Night Bazaar, Bangkok Thailand

Ratchada Night Bazaar, Bangkok, Thailand

Find secondhand items and souvenirs here. It originated as a swap meet for used car and scooter parts, but now includes vintage fashion and kitschy items.

7. The Summer Night Market, Richmond BC

Summer Night Market Richmond BC

This Canadian market features live music, salsa groups, and plenty of food. With over 200 vendors, it’s one of the largest night markets on this list. You can find Chinese, Italian, and Thai food and plenty of gadgets and accessories at a bargain.

Have you been to any of these Night Markets?

Slim Aarons, famous Hollywood photographer, photographed “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” He followed the jet-set crowd on vacations and to parties, many of which were centered around beautifully designed pools in glamorous destinations.

A home in Palm Springs designed by Richard Neutra, photo taken in 1970

Villa Artemis in Palm Beach, Florida taken in 1955

Fontainebleu Hotel, Miami 1955

Eustaquio Escandon Estate in Acapulco

El Venero Moorish Villa in Marbella Spain, taken in 1971

Boardman Estate in Palm Beach, Florida, taken in 1985

Villa Gli Arieti in Italy, 1986

Lake Tahoe 1959

Home of James Pendleton, interior designer, in Beverly Hills 1960

Bouldereign Estate in Carefree, Arizona, taken in 1973

Palm Springs Tennis Club in California 1970

Which pool is your favorite?

Photo credit: Photographers Gallery

Leather, cozy sweaters, tees, and sunglasses

Rosie Huntington-Whitley in leather pants and cozy sweater

Cheryl Cole in a chic fedora, sunglasses and leather jacket

Penelope Cruz looks casual chic in bootcut jeans, tee, and blazer

Jennifer Aniston with a cozy sweater vest, tank, and white denim