If you are looking for a weekend escape in California that will allow you some real downtime, then you must check out Oxnard. Located in Ventura County, Oxnard offers many of the amenities of Santa Barbara and Santa Monica, but without all the crowds. The 7 miles of wide beaches sand dunes offer a relaxing and approachable atmosphere. Oxnard also has a variety of excellent cuisines to sample, scenic biking paths, and water sports in the Channel Island Harbor.
What's unique about Oxnard is that from the coast, you can see California's Channel Islands. These islands are known as the Galapagos of North America and feature plenty of marine wildlife. Travel Vlog: We are staying that the Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Bay, the only all-suite oceanfront resort in Southern California. The resort is complete with a pool, waterfalls, and beach-front suites that are perfect to work from home on your staycation. In fact, this is the first time I have stayed on the beach in California with a white water view. Where to stay: Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach
To start off the day, we visit the beach and Port Hueneme Pier, which offers plenty of picnic and seafood spots.
You cannot visit Oxnard without getting out on the water. We rent kayaks at the Channel Island Harbor. The harbor is filled with surprises and wildlife, including sea lions. Channel Islands Kayak Center: http://cikayak.com/
A great way to explore Oxnard is by surrey bike, where you can ride along the Hollywood Beach path.
Wheel Fun Rentals: https://wheelfunrentals.com/ca/oxnard/embassy-suites-mandalay-beach-resort/
Step in to the history of Oxnard at Heritage Square Park which is filled with old restored Victorian homes.
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Otani's Seafood: http://www.otanis-seafood.com/
Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine: http://www.moquecarestaurant.com/ Casa Agria Specialty Ales: https://www.casaagria.com/ Heritage Coffee: https://www.heritagecoffee805.com/ â
Fall is our favorite season for travel - the weather is crisp and with back-to-school, the crowds tend to be low. With the change in seasons, it is also the perfect time to stock up on new gear. Whether you are exploring your own city, or venturing to new destinations, here are the top items to bring on your fall travel adventures.
Shoes:
Fall is a great time to switch from casual flip flops to sneakers. With the weather more unpredictable, it is time to stock up on shoes for a variety of activities and conditions.
1. ALLBIRDS
These are the go-to travel shoe, known as worldâs most comfortable shoe. The Dasher shoes are comfortable and made of natural marino wool material. The shoe fits like a sock and passed the airport security slip off-and-on in a breeze. It packs performance and can take you on runs and with its sleek design, it can translate to even the office
2. Merrell - Hiking Shoes
Going hiking this fall? You'll need a responsive shoe when hiking, that is also well-cushioned and lightweight. We tried the men's Cham 7 Slam Luna Leather shoe which is perfect for the trails. A small bonus was that Merrell shipped the shoes with two pairs of laces in different colors in case we want to switch up our style on the trail or when going business casual.
3. Newton
As you all know, at Run The Atlas, we love running so we had to try out some fresh running shoes. Newton is a Colorado-based brand that we were familiar with through various running clubs. We wanted to take a deeper look to see how these shoes perform. We tried the Newton Fate and Gravity. Breathable, lightweight and supportive, these are excellent for runs or active travel, and add a pop of color to your wardrobe.
4. VivoBarefoot
We became familiar with this brand during the Isle of Scilly swimrun. In fact, if you do any sort of water sport - from canoeing to rafting, you will need a good water shoe. We tried the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG. It provides traction for when crossing rivers and streams, or just dealing with a sudden downpour.
After months of being in the city and postponing our international travel plans, it was time to search within our own country for something fresh and unexpected. We spent the weekend in Idaho, a state that I mostly knew about for its famous potatoes, but had no idea that the natural wonders were on the scale of a national park but without the crowds.
Nicknamed the "gem state", Idaho challenges you to look beyond the surface and uncover what you may have overlooked. There are ancient volcanic landscapes, canyons, waterfalls, and natural hot springs that seemingly appear out of nowhere. As one of the least populated states in the US, Idaho offers plenty of wilderness and space for social distancing. â1. Staying at a creekside cabin resort
The first night we woke up to the sound of a babbling creek at the peaceful Billingsley Creek Lodge in Hagerman, located an hour and a half south of Boise. This unique accommodation features cozy fully-equipped cabins nestled in a tree-lined pastoral landscape. The creek outside the cabins is fed from the natural springs from the Snake River Aquifer. The water is 58 degrees year-round and has been underground for hundreds and thousands of years.
â2. Swimming in natural springs: Next, we visit the waterfalls in Ritter Island State Park, which is filled with natural swimming pools and waterfalls. The water is so clear that it looks drinkable.
3. Malad Gorge
Be sure to leave your fear of heights behind when stepping on to this next landscape. The Malad Gorge seemingly appears out of nowhere. Stepping on to the flat arid terrain, the faint sound of a waterfall seemed like the last thing I would see in this area. I approached a rocky area off the side of the I-84 interstate. As I climbed over the large black basalt boulders, suddenly the ground revealed a sudden drop to an expansive volcanic canyon floor and river with a waterfall billowing out of the freeway overpass.
â4. Box Canyon State Park
The Box Canyon State Park is an unexpected landscape reminded me of Iceland, only with sun. The volcanic terrain drops 200 hundred feet to reveal rivers, waterfalls, and natural springs that are pure aquamarine blue. It looks like an oasis in the middle of the pastoral landscape.
5. Shoshone Falls
Adventuring around the Niagara Falls of the West! The Shoshone Falls are actually taller than Niagara Falls at 212 feet and are truly spectacular. The numerous walking paths around the falls provide a mesmerizing view of the water power.
Clothing featured in this video:
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Published Travel ArticlesWelcome to Run The Atlas!
We are two adventurous young professionals who turned our passion for travel into a blog to help others travel more.
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