New Zealand is known for its incredible landscapes and outdoor adventure opportunities. One of the best ways four outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the natural beauty of this country is by hiking the Great Walks.

The New Zealand Great Walks are a series of premier hiking tracks that showcase some of the most breathtaking scenery in New Zealand, established in 1993 as part of a government initiative to promote hiking tourism in New Zealand.

California is one of the most visited places in the United States, and as a born and bred Californian, I think it’s easy to see why. It has a little something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, deserts, cities, or any combination in between, here are 15 must-visit places for anyone coming out to the Golden State.

It’s no secret that being gay isn’t the easiest thing in life. That said, fortunately, the world is becoming increasingly more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. Nowadays, plenty of cities are now known for being particularly gay-friendly. These cities offer a welcoming atmosphere, a vibrant nightlife, and a diverse range of activities that make them perfect tourist destinations for gay travelers.

San Diego Urban Adventure Quest took us on a ride none of us expected. I can’t remember the last time I’ve done a scavenger hunt. When the opportunity to try this one came about, I jumped on it. I gathered a few friends for some team building and bonding, and we all had a great time.

Even though it completely fried our brains by the end.

If you’re looking for an epic way to see San Diego, look no further than San Diego GoCar Tours. Seriously, as a newbie to America’s Finest, I’m overwhelmed at the options of things to do here. As a small-town kid, I’m not used to having so many options around every corner.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon San Diego GoCar Tours and saw an opportunity to dig a little deeper into the city.

Palm trees lining the highways. Sun almost always shining. Big city vibes in a small city space. Smiles and laughter heard from every corner.

Welcome to Oceanside, California.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love Oceanside. I wasn’t expecting to be as enthralled with this city as I have become over my various day trips out here from San Diego.

Looking for something to do for Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego? Listen, we’re all excited to get our vaccinations and move forward to normal life, and San Diego is ready to party.

Although social distancing and mask mandates are still happening through June 15, here’s a few things for you to enjoy for Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego.

Looking for some places to eat in San Diego? As a recent transplant to SoCal, I’ve been on the hunt for the best places to eat in San Diego. Nothing here disappoints. There’s so much culture, so much life, and so much food here that I hardly even know where to start. I thought Monterey had some good choices, but out here, every turn is a surprise.

As of now, here's a small list of places I've had the fortune of taste testing so far.

The Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California, is an awesome deep dive into California's history. As a native Californian, I never thought too much about our history until recently. In fact, as a kid, history was my least favorite subject. We visited a few missions in elementary school, but I never cared too much about them as I moved into my adult life.

Things changed as I got older.

Got a minute? Or an afternoon? Consider spending it in the fabulous Oceanside, California. Oceanside — often overshadowed by its bigger brother down the beach known as San Diego — is the ultimate California Surf Town.

Seriously.

The Museum of Man — now renamed to “The Museum of Us” — is an absolute must-visit in San Diego’sBalboa Park. Across a slew of exhibits and artifacts, travel through time and cultures to witness the evolution of mankind as we know it.

And no, I’m not talking about the evolution of man from monkeys. I’m talking about man as a society, as a culture, as a race. 

So, you’ve got a weekend in San Diego. You may notice there’s more than one thing to do here. Every corner opens up the opportunity for another experience, and it can be overwhelming trying to decide where to go and what to do. Well, as someone who came here to “visit” and decided not to leave for that very purpose, let me tell you:

I feel you.

Remnants of trees once bursting with life line Oregon Highway 138 — more affectionately known as “The Highway of Waterfalls.” The tree’s carcasses may provide a less disrupted view of the roaring tides found in the Umpqua River rushing between them, but the abundance of deadened trees stripped clean of their natural beauty draws the eye even more.

In the middle of it all, caught between the flames but not destroyed by them, sits The Steamboat Inn.

Most people immediately associate Oregon wines with the Willamette Valley. I know I did. That was all I was familiar with when it came to Oregon wines during my bartending days. This is why seeing the sheer amount of wineries while driving through the Rogue Valley intrigued me so much.

One stop landed me along the Upper Rogue Wine Trail at an incredible Southern Oregon wine tasting room called Kriselle Cellars.

Southern Oregon may not be your first choice for Mexican food, but Shady Cove’s Miguel’s Family Mexican Restaurant is authentic as it gets.

COVID-19 has damaged a lot of restaurants, but Miguel’s continues to thrive. That may be in part to having dinner with a view sitting next to the river.

But the views aside, let’s talk about what we’re really here for: The food.

Located about 45 minutes northeast of Medford equidistant southeast to Crater Lake, the Joseph H. Stewart Recreation area is ideal for anyone looking for a quiet place to picnic or ride their boats.

The lake spills into the Rogue River, which trails across the entire state of Oregon until it births into the ocean at Wedderburn.

If you’ve ever wondered about ways to roast your own coffee at home, Dan Gorman and his wife, Donna, of Punto Fino Coffee Company have an awesome class in Fairfax, California that will teach you everything you need to know! Don’t worry, any method of roasting coffee won’t cost you more than $40! Through Dan’s Roast Your Own Coffee AirBNB experience, you can learn all the tricks of the trade.

Trudging through the lists of Monterey Bay eateries is a job within itself, and picking the right food options can make or break a vacation or night out. Most people stick to review sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp to make their assumptions based on customer reviews. However, a mix-and-match of customer voices can make the right choices harder to come by.

Thankfully, people out there like Casey Aguilar of Monterey Bay Food Tours take it upon themselves to show you your options.

Over 3,000 glaciers rest on New Zealand’s South Island, but the Franz Josef holds its own as the most inspiring. A hike on its walls is on most people’s “NZ Must Do” list, and missing the experience is regrettable.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wield Aragorn’s sword as you wandered through the fields of Edoras? Would you love to be surrounded by the mountains that cradle the horse-fueled land of Rohan? Or to prop your feet with a glass of champagne and a picnic as you gaze at some of the finest scenery in Middle-earth?