Balabanova All Over
#TakeYourTimeOff
About Nadya
Hi there! I am so glad you found me! My mission is to empower you to #TakeYourTimeOff and explore the world. I started this blog as a way to keep family and friends in the loop when I went on a 3-week trip to Asia in 2011. Although I’ve always enjoyed traveling, it wasn’t until a trip to Peru in 2012 that I started to think about ways to make travel a… Read More
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Top Posts
[Paso Robles, CA, Nov 28, 2021] We had enjoyed our scenic drive up to Pinnacles, so we wanted to do something fun on the way back also. Paso Robles, known for its wineries and olive groves, sounded appealing. In addition, there was a movie location to be scouted. B and I had seen the 2017 movie Destination Wedding not too long ago. Starring Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder, it was partially filmed… Read More
[Pinnacles National Park, CA / San Juan Bautista, CA, Nov 27, 2021] On our second day, we left even earlier than the day before. We knew the gate to the west entrance of Pinnacles didn’t open till 7:30 am and we were there just a few minutes after that. We had our sights on Balconies Cave, one of the most unique features of this park. Balconies Cave is a talus “cave” but… Read More
[Pinnacles National Park, CA / Soledad, CA, Nov 26, 2021] Don’t let Pinnacles’ reputation fool you – this little gem gets busy. The parking lots can fill up quickly on weekends, especially holiday ones. Luckily, we are both early birds so we were on the road just after sunrise. We knew we were getting close when the road turned into a one-lane road. The landscape just outside the entrance showed signs of… Read More
[Los Angeles, CA, Nov 25, 2021] Pinnacles National park protects a mountainous area in California’s Central Valley. The park is an easy drive from both Los Angeles and San Francisco (4.5 and 3 hrs, respectively). Nevertheless, it remains fairly unknown due to steep competition from various other tourist spots nearby and, of course, California’s bigger and better-known national parks like Yosemite and Sequoia. Pinnacles became a national monument in 1908. President Barack… Read More
If you’ve never been to Idaho and want a taste of what this state has to offer, this is a great starter itinerary. You’ll get both city and outdoor adventures, which is my favorite type of vacation. This itinerary does not include travel time; we arrived the evening before and left early the morning after the 3 days described below. How to Get There You’ll want to fly in and out of… Read More