31 Days of California: Come Along With Me

Beginning next Monday, October 1st, things will look a little bit different around here. I'm going to be joining up with an epic blog link-up hosted by The Nester.  I don't know how many visitors will be hopping on over here from the link party -- I think there's something like A THOUSAND other blogs linking up with her -- and my link will be just one little button out of many, many other buttons that her readers can click on.

The purpose of the 31 Days link-up is to challenge yourself to write for 31 days (that's um, like every day of the month) about one particular subject. And since I need a challenge, and a kick in the pants, and to just finish something, I'm a-gonna do it.  But what to write about ALL MONTH LONG, that I, and especially my five devoted readers, would find compelling enough?

First, I was going to write about books, since this is The Reading Nest, and reading and books are so dear to my heart.  Each day, I was going to share one of the 31 (mostly obscure) books that I love.  Upon further mulling, though, I decided my 31 obscure titles would just be a little too...specific and niche-y for this project.  Also, my Reading posts always take the longest to write, and if I'm going to do this thing for 31 days, I need to get-in-and-get-out with creating my content.

SO. What else do I love passionately? What else am I a total, obnoxious know-it-all about?  Of course: California and road trips, and travelling with my family.  Specifically, I'm going to feature 31 places I love in the great Golden State. Most places will be new here to the blog, but some might be familiar. (Spoiler: one is going to be Disneyland, and y'all know how we love the Magic Kingdom in this house.) But if nothing else, the photos and information I share will be new.   

I hope you'll join me!  And now, here are some old photographs (actually, scans of slides) of me with my mom & dad, on one of our many roadtrips within California.   Camping and road-tripping up and down the state are some of my fondest and earliest memories, and are certainly the reason that I still love to throw myself into the car and head off to Anyplace But Here.

Somewhere in Northern California, circa 1974-ish.  Now excuse me, because I'm all awash in old memories and can just about hear that old John Denver 8-track playing in my ears.

Come back on Monday for Day 1 of my 31-Day Series: a beautiful place the husband and I visited before we had kids, and haven't been back to, since.