my favorite bay area day trip: mill valley, ca [marin]

mill valley is one of my happiest places. after living in the city for over 6 years, we realized a lot of people didn't know that just 25 minutes north of san francisco, there is delicious food, epic hikes, the smell of wood and wilderness, cozy shops, the beach!, beautiful drives, and so much more to have the perfect day trip escape out of the city. some of my favorite marin experiences include:

EXPLORE

public library a gorgeous interior thats perfect for doing work, curling up to a good book, or just browsing the aisles | mill valley lumber yard a renovated old lumberyard that now urges creative minds to gather, connect and create | sweet water music hall see live folk or rock music, pop into their tasty café or catch a movie screening | proof lab surf and skateboard shop full of fun gear for your next adventure 

HIKE AND WILDERNESS

tennessee valley trail, coastal hike – about 4 hours [10 miles round trip] | rodeo beach shorter coastal option that is ~ 5 miles [ 2.5 hours round trip] | tourist club only open to the public on certain days [check their calendar here], but a perfect place to bring a group of friends and spend the afternoon drinking beers on the sunny patio – get here early and bring your own lunch | pelican inn & muir beach cozy up to a warm drink or a picnic on the lawn at this 16th century england inspired inn. the dog friendly beach is right down the street with sand firepits | mountain home inn a favorite place to grab lunch or drinks in the mountains – a polished inn with gorgeous views and trail access 

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EAT AND DRINK

sol food puerto rican heaven | mill valley beerworks, perfect for post hike beer and bites  | joe's taco shop a favorite stop for pre-hike fish tacos | boo koo good asian street food | super duper burger if you're in the mood for burgers these are the best | equator coffee with two locations in the area, it's our favorite place to grab coffee  | molina everything cooked over a wood fire stove [fancier night out] | cavallo point right before the golden gate bridge, we love to stop here for a glass of wine and a few snacks before heading back into the city
 

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outdoor voices: our favorite adventure gear & tips for staying fit on the road

WHY OUTDOOR VOICES?:
packing for this trip was tricky – on my first attempt, almost half of the stuff i wanted to bring wouldn't fit. when i realized i would likely be wearing the same thing over and over; i knew i needed good quality gear that would last through wear & tear, random weather situations, be comfy for travel days, durable for adventure days, easy to clean and ideally look cute for city exploring days. OV's pieces are interchangeable, easy to layer, light but sturdy and straight up STYLISH. these clothes have been on our bodies about 85% of the last 4 months and the mix of gear we chose could not have been more perfect. 
 

HOW WE STAY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY FIT ON THE ROAD:
staying fit while traveling can be really tough. we hike a lot which is great, but we're also often on long bus rides, car or train rides and spend a lot of time out eating [and drinking] local fare. i for one get really bad headaches and anxiety if i don't at least take the time to stretch for 10 minutes a day. being both mentally and physically healthy is really important [duh], and here are a few ways we've tried to keep up with being out of our usual at-home-routine:

1. HEADSPACE: have you tried it? these guided meditation and mindfulness sessions are a really great way to bring awareness to your inner thoughts and set the tone for the day. 
2. KAYLA ITSINES BBG: this 28 minute work out is HARD and can be done almost anywhere. it's all against your own body weight, so it's also great for men too.
3. BANDS, STRAPS & STRETCHING these bands pack up small and are perfect for strengthening workouts and getting in a really good stretch. we often use them in a park or in a communal area if it's too cold out. 
4. LOCAL PARKS or HEALTH CLUBS on a warm day, running or working out in a local park is a fun way to see the city but also get some exercise in. if it's cold, we look for a budget friendly gym deal, places where we can swim laps, lift weights or take a yoga class at a good price. most places usually have a deal for first-timers.
5. WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER staying hydrated while traveling is something a lot of people forget to do and it can make or break a trip. we packed a lot of nuun which has been a great way to get replenished.
    

we have linked our favorite OV gear below | also check out more travel tips and my full packing list! 

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SHOP OUR GEAR:

woodsy [& budget friendly] holiday gift ideas

how has thanksgiving come and gone? as i get older, i've realized the holidays are much more about the fun of spending time with friends and family, lighting candles, drinking mulled wine, wearing comfy clothes, listening to holiday tunes and getting straight up cozy together. little mini gift exchanges are of course always fun, too – but breaking the bank is not necessary. here are a few favorite things that are [mostly] under $25. 
 

glamping @ chateau ramšak | maribor, slovenia

THE WINE REGION OF MARIBOR, SLOVENIA:
a big reason we chose to take this trip and love travel in general is the opportunity we get to meet incredible people from around the world and create friendships with them. when we were in lake bled we got to know andrej, the owner of the hostel we were staying at [gh bled]. he was there to relax in the mountains and check in on a few projects. originally we had planned to leave slovenia after ljubljana and head south to bosnia. however, after andrej told us about his new project back in his hometown of maribor, yet another beautiful hilly wine region, we were stoked to add an additional two nights to our slovenian obsession. 

THE EXPERIENCE:
this new glampsite is tucked in the charming wine region of stajerska, with beautifully designed tents, a tree house, wonderful views of the vineyard, an open-air bar, private jacuzzis attached to your deck [!!] and a natural stream running through the grounds. breakfast is included each morning and i found myself craving it after we left – europeans just get how to do breakfast: fresh and healthy fruit, yogurt, bread and museli, charcuterie, cheese... even though you are only 15 minutes from downtown maribor, this place feels like you are in a different time all together and it is by far the most glamorous site we have stayed in.  [price per night: €150-250 | depending on season]

THE WINERY:
the entire campsite sits on a 200 year old winery in a very small village. the chateau boasts its own wine cellar and houses the largest wine press in europe. they offer tours and tastings of course, and interestingly only make white wine [the grape that has traditionally grown here] which helps them stay focused as a small batch winemaker. their wine is shockingly good and the 'tasting' was heavy handed on the pours. it went down a little too easy and i'm already wishing we would have left with a few more bottles. for anyone visiting slovenia soon, this spot is truly a must!

* this stay was part of a collaboration, all opinions are my own. 

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4 reasons to love ljubljana | slovenia's capital

i honestly had zero idea what to expect when we went to ljubljana. i knew that it was slovenia's capital and largest city [which relatively speaking is quite small] but i certainly didn't know that it would end up being one of the coolest places we have visited yet. this town has more soul and style than the other spots we visited in slovenia. coffee shops, boutiques, restaurants, art museums, city parks, all intertwined with a very authentic slovenian vibe. its size is one of the big draws, even though fairly small, it's dense and easy to cover in a couple of days. according to locals the city has really evolved over the past 20 years and their investment in infrastructure and supporting the growing economy shows. here are 4 reasons why you should go check it out:

1. BIKE SHARE SYSTEM for €1 a week you join their city bike share, download the app that has a map of all bike locations and you're ready to go. when you rent the bike, all you need to do is return it within one hour to another location in the city to not be charged extra. it's brilliant and the docking stations are everywhere. we biked every single day we were here, saw so much more of the city and never spent a euro more.

2. THE FOOD there are plenty of places to try traditional slovenian dishes and have that authentic experience. we had already been in the country for a few weeks and had our fair share, so we were happily surprised by the diversity of the food scene here. especially at odprta kuhna "open kitchen" which happens every friday from april to november (weather pending). it was one of the coolest food markets we had ever seen and the food was crave-able. they have vendors from almost every restaurant, winery, brewery or coffee shop in town and great music pumping. our favorite was egyptian tauk, street pad thai, zimbabwe stew and trying small portions from some of the city's best traditional establishments. pop's place was also a hip place to grab drinks and burgers on their cozy patio. all of the food we had on this trip was delicious. if you visit in the fall, you must try the roasted chestnuts which will be sold in small stalls throughout downtown. 

3. THE ARCHITECTURE represents an enticing slice of history, from its medieval castle to the decorative joys of the austrian empire. some of our favorites: the famous triple bridge (designed by jože plečnik) that connects the main square with the main market. & the dragon bridge, of course.  hike up to the ljubljana castle for sunset. tivoli park is perfect for a walk and relax. the best way is to start form tomšičeva ulica 14, where the museum of modern art is [pop in here to browse if modern art is your thing, or even just for a drink / coffee before you continue on – the coffee shop in their basement is awesome]

4. THE PEOPLE every single human interaction we had in slovenia was wonderful. the vibes are really great here and as a tourist, you feel so welcomed to experience this beautiful city they are all so proud of.  
 

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