Big Sur is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful drives in California (if not the entire world). With a rugged coastline lining the west and towering mountains to the east, stunning views galore are guaranteed the entire length of the road trip. Even though the drive is relatively short at just 90 miles, a Big Sur road trip is all about the incredibly beautiful destinations and activities offered every mile of the way. Simply put, a Big Sur road trip is all about the journey rather than a destination! If you’re feeling overwhelmed while planning your Big Sur road trip, here’s an excellent route and itinerary you can follow. Not only will this itinerary have you seeing the very best of Big Sur, but you can also adapt the amount of time you spend at each spot to your needs!
The Ultimate Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary
Carmel
Carmel is a small town with a village feel that makes for the perfect starting point of the road trip and an ideal pit stop to do some last-minute shopping to prepare before hitting the road.
Carmel’s picturesque vibes can be felt every step you take through its narrow cobblestone streets. With petite cottages draped in greenery and flowers, cute boutique shops offering all sorts of local goodies, and the sound of the waves crashing in the background, a visit to this quaint little town will have you wondering if you’ve stepped inside a storybook!
Time Required: 1 to 2 days
Bixby Bridge
Offering sweeping views of the California coastline, Bixby Bride is one of the most iconic stops to make on a Big Sur road trip. Its unique location offers views of the canyon on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, making it a must-stop to snap a picture and take in the views!
Time Required: A few minutes
Andrew Molera State Park
Compared to other parks along the Big Sur region, Andrew Molera State Park is quite untouched and thus offers an authentic immersion into the nature of the place (plus incredible vistas of Monterey Bay below!).
Even though you could easily decide to spend the day laying at the beach here, the best way to explore the park is by putting on your hiking shoes and hitting a trail (or several of them!). Meadows, hilltops, bluffs, and dreamy beaches are all examples of the views you’ll get to see while hiking through Andrew Molera State Park!
For a pretty easy trail full of both beach views and forest goodness, the Bluffs Trail is an excellent choice to test out your skills. If you’re eager for a challenge, you can continue further up to the Panorama Trail, which is a bit steeper but well worth the effort as it provides the most magical views of the coast down below!
Time Required: 1 to 2 days
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
A Big Sur road trip is all about ocean views, but there’s one place in particular with no coast that’s also worth checking out: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Located on the western slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains, this state park is all about hikes by the river surrounded by maples, redwoods, conifers, and other flora. If you’re a wildlife buff, this is probably the best place in Big Sur to spot fauna (keep your eyes out for bobcats, black-tail deer, and a huge variety of birds!)
Required: 1 to 2 days
Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach is one of the most unique places to visit while on your Big Sur road trip, especially if you love epic sunsets. Believe it or not, this glorious beach boasts a striking natural rock arch and purple sand (yes, you read that right!).
Pfeiffer Beach is located roughly two miles south of Pfeiffer State Park, but make sure you plan a bit more time to get there as the road can be a bit tricky to navigate. Once you get to Pfeiffer Beach, though, its beauty will make every twist and turn worth the effort.
Insider tip: Try to visit Pfeiffer Beach for sunset, when the last rays of the sun cut through Keyhole Arch, painting the most magical scene ever!
Time Required: Half a day
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is quite likely one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline and a favorite stop for most Big Sur road trippers.
With the 80 feet McWay Falls crashing down from cliffs straight into the ocean, enchanting hidden beach coves, lush forests you can walk through, and the most incredible vistas Big Sur has to offer, Julia Pfeiffer makes for a grand finale to your Big Sur road trip.
Even though McWay Falls is usually the main reason most people visit the park, do try to spend at least an entire day exploring it to the fullest. On the menu of things to do are fabulous coastline hikes, walks through alluring forests, and even searching for the remains of an authentic shipwreck.
Required Time: 1 day
I hope this itinerary gave you a better outline of the must-do stops during your Big Sur road trip. The best thing about driving down this area of California is the fact that the locations are close to each other, so you can easily adjust the amount of time you want to stay at each place depending on how many days you have to dedicate to the trip!
Having kids at home can feel a little overwhelming at times. Getting work and chores done while they are in the house sounds almost like moving a mountain. It’s true that having kids in the house means countless interruptions and constant chaos. Getting any work done is possible only when you plan your time effectively. If you try to wing it and be spontaneous, you will find yourself feeling like a complete mess, pulling your hair out. After the year 2020, I think we all can attest to letting our kids do some things while we try to work as best as possible. So maybe there are other tips I haven’t included. Also, don’t get down on yourself if you are still trying to figure things out, it’s an everyday process. Here are my tips to get more done at home with kids:
Simple tips to get more done at home with kids
To save you all the trouble, here are five simple tips on how you can get more work done at home with kids, even toddlers.
1.Create a Routine
The key to getting more work done at home with kids is planning and chalking out your daily activities in the form of a routine. And adhering to it as strictly as you can. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge says that a written schedule is most important. You need to map out your daily activities, and that of your child as well. So that your kids have something meaningful and enjoyable to do when you are in work mode. Dr. Hodge also recommends showing your kids the list of things they can do while you are working.
2. Take a Quick Break
When you are at home, dealing with one thing after the other, it makes sense to take short breaks in between to recharge your energy. You can take a ten-minute break every two hours of work. And use this break to relax. Have a snack, take a deep breath, meditate or spend some time with your kids. It’s important that you release the tension of the two hours in those ten minutes. So that the next two hours are just as productive and don’t tire you out.
3. Naps to Save the Day
This works extremely well for younger children. They tend to sleep at certain times. And you have those quiet hours to you to get the majority of your work done. Make the most of them, and according to a priority list, finish the most important chores during their nap time.
On the flip side, it’s also very important for you to take time to rest when needed as you can’t pour from an empty cup. So if that means you need to rest during nap time because you were up all night with a child or couldn’t sleep, take the rest. You won’t be productive or get as much done if you are tired.
4. You don’t have to Bear the Burden Alone
It is almost impossible for one person to get everything done from home management to looking after the kids to working. This is where your partner steps in and shares your duties. So that both of you can work more efficiently.
Figure out a way to involve your partner in some of the daily activities that your kids do. So that he or she can get some quality time with the kids as well while you work.
You don’t become a bad parent if you hand over the reins to your partner for an hour or two. In fact, that is actually recommended for your and your family’s healthy lifestyle.
This was the single biggest hurdle I had to get over especially when the girls were very young. My husband has a very stressful job and I thought everything he complained about was my fault and the girls being kids was also my fault. When I realized this was a team effort, I was able to relax and get more done. I no longer felt bad when asking Steve to share some of the parenting and house responsibilities and our relationship grew stronger because of it. I no longer felt that my job or my responsibilities were a burden.
5. Netflix and Work
Today, the thousands of kids’ movies and shows available at the tips of our fingers on Netflix is like a boon to every parent. After all, what can be better than to let your child watch an enjoyable movie and be completely engrossed in it while you get your work done? It’s true that this tactic works quite well, but only when you put a cap on the time your child gets to sit in front of the screen. Too much screen time is bad for your child’s health, and it makes you look like a lousy parent at best. Hence, Netflix time should be limited only to an hour or two during the day. — If this works for you. Some kids don’t do well with screens and would rather play. Others (like mine) could sit and watch all day so I have to really limit them.
Further, you can get your kid involved in some other meaningful activity, like painting, reading, or gardening. Research has proved time and time again that these activities help in your child’s psychological and emotional development, and are a must.
Tell your child to sit and read a storybook, or draw something nice while you work. Later, don’t forget to reward them for it. This will work as an incentive to them, and they will be indulging in these activities more frequently, on their own.
Working from home with kids can be a challenge, but there are some simple things you can do to make it work.
First, create a schedule and try to stick to it as much as possible. This will help you to stay focused on work during work time and to enjoy quality family time during other parts of the day. It’s also important to cut yourself some slack – remember that you’re doing the best you can. Older children can play independently for short periods of time, so use that time to get some work done. If you have younger children, try to schedule conference calls or other meetings during their nap times or quiet times.
And finally, give yourself some undivided attention at least 15 minutes each day – either in the morning before everyone else wakes up or at night after the kids are in bed. A house full of kids is noisy, messy, and can be chaos but it doesn’t always have to be if you can discipline yourself as well as your child. These nifty tactics will definitely help you balance out your work and parenting. No more pulling your hair out!
Many people don’t know what they want in life. It is indeed one of those great questions of life that goes unanswered. Everybody is in the search of their passion, their purpose in life. But most people don’t actually have an idea about what their true passion is. They just whimsically chase whatever holds their interest for more than a few weeks, then forget about it a month later and pick up a new hobby.
Your true passion in life is more than just your favorite hobby. It’s that one thing you were born to do in this world. Figuring it out can be quite tricky. However, if you know how to ask yourself the right questions, then you can find out the real answer to it as well.
5 Questions to find out What you Want in Life
Here are five questions that you can ask yourself to know yourself better and find out what your true passion is.
1)What do I have a true knack for?
Or in other words, what is it that comes so easily to you but doesn’t to others? What is that one thing you can do better than the rest of your friends and peers? For me, I have always been good with words. From childhood, I used to take great pride in the essays I would write at school. That was my cue to pursue writing or literature.
However, sometimes we are not too close to realize what we are truly good at. This is when the opinions of those who know you, friends and family, can come in handy.
2)What makes you forget to eat?
Or in other words, what activity gets you so engrossed that you forget about the rest of the world? This is actually a method used in psychology to map out an individual’s aptitude.
Think hard about that one activity that makes you forget your worries and relaxes you immediately. Something that is therapeutic and enjoyable, calming yet exciting all at once.
3)What did your 8-year-old-self would love to do?
Or in other words, when you take away the money and materialistic want from it, what appeals to you the most? Something that you do purely for enjoyment, just for the love of doing it.
For example, I would write even if no one ever read it. I always enjoyed learning new words and listening to stories.
By asking yourself what your 8-year-old self would have loved to do, you are stripping away the mercenary aspect of a job and asking your inner child what it is you actually enjoy doing.
4)How can I redefine passion?
What does passion mean to you?
There is this misconception that passion is something that you have to enjoy lifelong and that your passion should be your profession. However, for many people, that is not actually the case. Some people keep discovering new likings every once in a while, and for them, their passion is fluid, ever-changing with time.
Write down what the word passion means to you. Map out all possible descriptions you have and see what overlaps.
5)It doesn’t have to be forever, but what can you see yourself doing in the next five years?
Last but not the least, with every purpose comes a commitment. Ask yourself honestly what you’d be able to enjoy and do for the next five years, if not forever.
If you think you enjoy doing something but doing it for the next five years would bore you, then that is not your true purpose. It is ever-changing, but at the moment, you should be able to envision yourself sticking with it for the coming years. At the same time, you might be going through hobbies and have probably not found your true purpose yet.
To conclude
When you ask yourself these questions, the goal is to get a discerning answer. Usually, you get to know yourself better when you ask these questions. Have self-talks to figure out what you are truly meant to do. The main idea is to do something that you enjoy, that helps others, and is not a waste of time.
So, what do you want in life? Ask yourself these five questions to find out. Once you know the answers, you can start working towards making your goals a reality. 1) What kind of life do you want to live? Do you want a life of adventure or a life of stability? Do you want to travel the world or settle down in one place? 2) What kind of relationships do you want? Do you want to be surrounded by family and friends or are you content with a small circle of close companions? 3) What are your health goals? Do you want to be fit and active or do you just want to be healthy enough to enjoy your hobbies? 4) What kind of work do you want to do? Do you want a job that challenges you or one that is easy and enjoyable? 5) What are your personal growth goals? Do you want to learn new skills or become more knowledgeable about the world around you? Answering these questions can help you identify your goals in life and started working towards them. It may take some time, but the process can be a very positive experience. So, take the time to answer these questions and figure out what YOU want in life.
Parenthood can be the greatest blessing for anyone, but it cannot be denied that it can take a toll on your mental health – especially in the beginning. This is when you have to take things into your own hands. You have to know that you will have people you can call upon for help, but knowing you can get through it by slowing down and enjoying the little moments will help you remember them when the kids aren’t so little anymore.
Even when parenthood can feel overwhelming, you have to find ways to enjoy it. Here’s how you can do it.
10 simple ways to slow down and actually enjoy parenting
1. Be present in the moment
Staying present in the moment can prove to be a distraction you’ll need. Moreover, staying in the present or practicing mindfulness can help you control your thoughts. You need it to happen more than you can imagine – consider mindfulness as your savior because you wouldn’t want your thoughts to wander in the wrong direction. Remember to take a picture or two and then put the phone away and really enjoy your time with your children.
The moments you might think are the most dull and not important will actually be the ones your kids talk about year after year, and tell their kids about. So don’t glaze over a simple lunch or dinner or practice and think it’s nothing. It’s everything to them and you may be able to enjoy something new they learned that day.
2. Spend time in nature
You might not love nature as Wordsworth did, but you’d love nature enough to know staying around it would change your mood for the better. All the more, spending all day inside might at the time suffocate you. But being in nature makes sure it doesn’t happen.
Thus, try to go out for a walk in the park every day. Take your kid along – kids enjoy nature too. You can also go for some proper nature visits – perhaps a lake, river, waterfall, or a hill station near you with your family. The more you can get your and your kids’ energy out, the better you all will feel for ensuring you are able to relax and enjoy the joys of parenting. I find when I go in nature or even clear my head, I’m more patient with our girls.
3. Have me-time
The secret to peace and happiness is some time spent with oneself. Thus, a little me-time can help you a lot. But then again, you may not find time for it. Trust me; you don’t need hours for it. Even if you get 10-15 minutes of free time, that would do. Just don’t use it to scroll your phone.
Personally, I prefer to get a workout in, either a run, some yoga, or a spin class. I then do some weight training and stretching to get some of the anger out if it’s still there after the cardio. I know for me, when I don’t have days where I can get a workout in, I’m more short-tempered, I have to take more breaks and deep breaths because my fuse is shorter, and I can’t enjoy the everyday activities as much. And my girls know it’s important to me and my mental health but also my physical health so I can play and keep up with them.
4. Stay connected with your friends
Things change after you become a parent – your whole world starts to revolve around your children and your family, so you begin to lose touch with your friends.
But, don’t let it happen. Stay connected with your friends because you need to stay connected with your former life in order to feel like yourself. It’s easier if you have friends that also have children, but always incorporate your kids when you can, into your friendships. I find when my girls know who my friends are, they are able to form a relationship and carry on a conversation with my friends and other adults much better and aren’t as shy.
It might make you feel that even when things have changed, you still have your old life.
5. Master the skill of time-management
The root of all problems is that you don’t find time to relax and unwind. A little time management can save the day. Here are some dos and don’ts.
Don’t try to multitask. Do one thing at a time.
Don’t spread chores throughout the day. Finish them in the first half so you can have the rest of the day to yourself.
Don’t do the same chores every day. A one or two-day gap in between won’t be the end of the world.
Challenge yourself into finishing your chores faster. Use a timer.
Draw some boundaries.
6. Do things that you love to do
If you think peace is distant from you, doing things that you love can shorten the distance tremendously. You’ll feel much more alive and stay in touch with yourself. So whether it is painting, playing musical instruments, watching a movie, or something else, just do it! You might as well do it with your kid if doing it alone is not an option.
Don’t feel guilty wanting to do things you love either. It took me a long time to really start working out and doing other things I love after my girls were born because I thought I should be pouring everything into them instead of also taking care of me. The more I did the things I love, the better my relationship with them came and the feeling of guilt and resentment went away. And don’t be afraid to say you resent or are angry at your children, it’s a common feeling and something I don’t think many of us actually talk about. We as Moms change our entire lives to give birth and raise our children and are expected to just forget everything we did before them.
It’s common to think we would have those feelings until we realize we can still do things we loved before kids and find the time to do them after our kids are here. We no longer need to wait until they are out of the house or even out of diapers to start doing what we love again. Feel your feelings and then get on with doing what you love. It will help them subside much faster, promise.
7. Always look at the bright side of the things
Parenthood can bring a lot of breakdowns to the surface. But the only way to keep going on is to look at the positive things. If you want to cry about how your life has changed, think of how much you have grown. You’re managing everything while taking care of your kid passionately. These are the things you have to be proud of.
Tying into the previous tip, you always have to look on the bright side. The other side is where sadness and anger can live, and we don’t want that, especially for your child(ren) who did nothing wrong and don’t deserve to be the brunt of your emotions. I’ve always been a glass half full kind of person and the same thing carries over into parenting.
Moreover, tell yourself it’s not going to be the same always. Things will definitely change in a year or two.
8. Encourage your partner to contribute
You are not the only parent, so encourage your partner to contribute the same way. For instance, if your child cries a lot at night, draw up a schedule as to who of the two will take care of the child in such an instance. If today is your turn, then the next turn would be of your partner’s.
9. Maintain a journal
Trust me, when it comes to parenthood, you’ll have plenty to vent out. So, if you don’t have a friend to listen to every day, turn back to journaling. Just write down what you feel – be as raw and as honest. You’ll feel better in the end.
10. Lastly, ask for help
There’s no shame in asking for help. Parenting can be overwhelming, so it’s understandable if you ask for help – you can perhaps hire a nanny, go for a daycare service. You can even talk to a therapist if you think parenting is taking a toll on you.
The most important thing to remember is the world doesn’t have a perfect parent, they don’t exist. So do your best, try not to worry about the judgement or “advice” others try to give, and be there for your children because they are the ones who really matter most. If you ever need a shoulder to cry and ear to listen, know I’m here and the comments are open for you.
Striking desert landscapes are the staples of Arizona. So much that, in fact, The Grand Canyon State is the only state in the USA that houses four entirely different desert regions. Each with its own distinctive scenery, fauna, and flora. If you’re currently plotting a trip to Arizona, chances are you’re extremely excited to experience a true adventure in the desert. With so many incredible places to choose from, though, I bet you’re having a pretty tough time deciding where to go! If you’re a first-timer to travel in Arizona or you’ve visited but haven’t seen much outside the cities, here are some of the best places in Arizona to visit for all things desert magic.
Places in Arizona You’ve Got to Visit for Desert Magic
1. Monument Valley
Shared between Utah and Arizona, Monument Valley is an icon of American Southwest Scenery.
Made up of towering sandstone formations, striking mesas, and captivating buttes. The desert landscape you’ll find at Monument Valley is so incredibly beautiful that it has been the setting of countless movies, including 2001: Space Odyssey, Stagecoach, The Lone Star Ranger, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Forrest Gump (to name just a few!)
The most popular way to explore the landscape of Monument Valley is by driving the 17-mile scenic road that winds through the area. But if you want to explore further afield, you can also choose to hike a few of the trails in the park. If you’re keen to go deeper, you can also book a guided tour of Monument Valley. Where a Navajo will take you beyond marked areas.
2. Saguaro National Park
Set close to Tucson, Saguaro National Park is a sea of gorgeous desert scenery towered by enormous saguaro cacti.
Saguaro cacti are commonly nicknamed “the kings of the Sonoran Desert”. Known to grow as tall as 50 feet, these desert giants can live up to 200 years. And Saguaro National Park is one of the very few places in the world where you can see them in their natural habitat.
Besides the gorgeous desert scenery that blankets the park, Saguaro National Park also homes mountains and pine forests. Which pretty much guarantees you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to choosing what to see and what adventures to take on!
As if that weren’t reason enough to visit, Saguaro is also known for being the home to unique desert wildlife. Be it on a hike or during a scenic drive. Encounters with animals like deer, coyotes, javelinas, and desert tortoises are quite common!
3. Canyon De Chelly National Monument
Looking for a lesser-crowded alternative to the Grand Canyon? Canyon De Chelly is a wonderful choice!
Set in northwestern Arizona, Canyon De Chelly is a humongous canyon that sits in the heart of the Navajo Indian Reserve. During your visit, you won’t only get to see striking landscapes and unique geology. But you’ll also get the chance to get close and personal with Native American culture.
What makes Canyon De Chelly so unique is the fact that the canyon and the area around it have been continually inhabited for thousands of years and up to the present. Today, this national monument continues to be the home to Navajo people. Which will give you the chance to learn more about them. As well as see and explore ruins from the canyon’s first inhabitants, the Anazaki and Puebloans.
4. Sedona
Sedona may just be the most sought-after destination for Arizona desert magic. Thanks to the town’s location close to some of the most beautiful state parks and hiking trails in the entire state, Sedona is the perfect gateway for those looking to explore the desert while also enjoying city-like amenities and culture.
Think sweeping river canyons, maze-like rock formations, desert spires piercing the sky, and a landscape of red rock to get a pretty good picture of what the scenery around Sedona is all about. Among the most popular things to do here include hiking in the desert, checking out vortex sites. Driving in search of unique landmarks, and even checking out a cathedral located atop red rocks!
5. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Tucked away in the middle of the striking Sonoran Desert, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is the only place in the entire United States where organ pipe cacti grow in their natural habitat.
Organ pipe cactus look quite similar to saguaros. But instead of consisting of one trunk, organ pipes have several, making them look even more impressive!
Aside from its glorious landscape dotted with organ pipes, the park is also home to several archeological sites. As well as unique desert flora and wildlife, including Gila monsters and rattlesnakes.
6. Bandelier National Monument
Way back in time, what we know today as Bandolier National Monument was the home to Ancestral Puebloans before they moved to the Rio Grande Valley. For that reason, the area that makes up this national monument is considered sacred. And is protected in order to preserve the wonderful history of the Pueblo people.
The park is made up of sweeping canyons and glorious desert mesas. As you explore them, you’ll also come across ancient petroglyphs and cliff dwellings. Which will give you the chance to glimpse into what life 10,000 years ago at Bandelier was like!
Are you currently planning a trip to explore Arizona’s deserts? If so, which of these destinations are you looking forward to visiting the most? Let me know in the comment section below!
ideal pit stop to do some last-minute shopping to prepare before hitting the road.
love epic sunsets. Believe it or not, this glorious beach boasts a striking natural rock arch and purple sand (yes, you read that right!).
need to rest during nap time because you were up all night with a child or couldn’t sleep, take the rest. You won’t be productive or get as much done if you are tired.
you can do better than the rest of your friends and peers? For me, I have always been good with words. From childhood, I used to take great pride in the essays I would write at school. That was my cue to pursue writing or literature.
the most? Something that you do purely for enjoyment, just for the love of doing it.
know yourself better when you ask these questions. Have self-talks to figure out what you are truly meant to do. The main idea is to do something that you enjoy, that helps others, and is not a 
practicing mindfulness can help you control your thoughts. You need it to happen more than you can imagine – consider mindfulness as your savior because you wouldn’t want your thoughts to wander in the wrong direction. Remember to take a picture or two and then put the phone away and really enjoy your time with your children. 
change your mood for the better. All the more, spending all day inside might at the time suffocate you. But being in nature makes sure it doesn’t happen.
family, so you begin to lose touch with your friends.
feel much more alive and stay in touch with yourself. So whether it is painting, playing musical instruments, watching a movie, or something else, just do it! You might as well do it with your kid if doing it alone is not an option.
cacti.
close to some of the most beautiful state parks and hiking trails in the entire state, Sedona is the perfect gateway for those looking to explore the desert while also enjoying city-like amenities and culture.
place in the entire United States where organ pipe cacti grow in their natural habitat.
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