Emma @ theweekendabroad.com, Author at The Weekend Abroad

I Locked Lips with a Giraffe at B Bryan Preserve

As mentioned in my last post on my amazing weekend in beautiful Mendocino County, visiting the B Bryan Preserve was the highlight of my trip. After talking to friends and family about the place, it’s apparent to me that it’s still very unknown, which is why I wanted to dedicate an entire article to the magical destination. B Bryan Preserve is an African wildlife sanctuary that promotes the education and conservation of animals, in which all its inhabitants are bred or raised on-site. I personally felt my experience at B Bryan was better than any zoo I’ve visited. Granted, I’m sure there are some pretty incredible zoos I haven’t been to. Here are the basics on B Bryan Preserve if you’re hoping to visit and why I loved it so much.

Weekend Trip: My Ultimate Mendocino County Travel Guide

Every Labor Day weekend, Roger and I choose somewhere new to visit for a whirlwind weekend trip and this year was no exception. We drove 3.5 hours north from our home in Berkeley, California for a two night stay in the quaint seaside town of Fort Bragg with a range of stops and sights along the way. Fort Bragg exceeded my expectations – its shops offer great local Etsy-esque pieces, their restaurants provide beautiful scenic views, and I loved how we found parking literally everywhere we went. Mendocino County as a whole was a gorgeous destination with its numerous state parks, wineries, and friendly small towns. We packed as much as possible into our three day visit! If you’re planning a trip to the area, here are my Mendocino County tavel guide and recommendations on what to do, see, and eat/drink.

5 Ways to Travel Affordably (and More Often!)

The question I receive most often regarding my travels is, “how are you able to travel so often?!”. It’s certainly not because I have a sugar daddy or unlimited vacation days from work. For me, traveling often goes hand in hand with traveling affordably. The more money I save on one trip means more money saved up for the next. I was still able to plan vacations and weekend getaways when I was just a part-time nanny due to frugal travel practices. Needless to say, I also try to save money when I’m not traveling either; you’ll never find me buying things regular price. If you want to travel more often, here are my top 5 ways to travel affordably:

Unlimited Beer and Cider Heaven at Bay Area Brew Fest

This past weekend marked the 6th annual Bay Area Brew Fest, which featured 70 breweries, over 200 beers, local food vendors, and a bevy of freebies. Last year was my first time at the event and it appears they’ve made quite a few additions to the fest, including the freebie vendors, apparel booths, and an entire corner dedicated to ciders. I paced myself much better this year and had a really enjoyable time. If you’re curious about the event, I’m here to give you the basics and what to expect at Bay Area Brew Fest. If you’re a beer or cider fan, I highly recommend getting your ticket next year.