Rest Stop Sunset

The sun was setting over a dusty rest stop off I-8 in southern Arizona.

We stood among the typical collection of bathroom buildings, empty picnic tables, and overflowing garbage cans, while the sky turned a brilliant gold. The color intensified, spreading upward from behind the silhouettes of jagged mountains before transforming into a fiery pink.

I think it’s easy to quickly dismiss a place or experience or a moment as being too ugly or just ordinary. But when you look past the obvious, you may be able to find what makes it special.

Because where you are is not as important as where you look.

September 17, 2018September 17, 2018

Car Games

Both Phillip and I grew up in road-trip-taking families before the time of iPads or backseat DVD players.

Back in that age of analog entertainment, there were books and snacks and fighting with your sibling(s) and staring out the window.

We counted Volkswagen “slug” bugs, spotted the letters of the alphabet on road signs, looked for license plates from other states, and tried to get truckers to honk.

I didn’t think about this type of games not being universal until Phillip and I were driving our friends from China to go on their first camping trip and realized this was another new thing for them.

Of course, it makes sense that not everyone went on road trips as a kid, and, therefore didn’t play road trip games. I just hadn’t thought about it before.

What did you do on long trips growing up (whether you took a car, train, bus, etc.)? Did you play any games like these?

August 10, 2018December 10, 2025

San Diego Sights Worth a Second Trip

While I’ve never spent more than a few days at a time in San Diego, it’s been part of some very memorable trips.

We camped at a State Park just outside of town on the final night of our trip down the coast in 2012.

Back when Phillip worked for an airline, we flew in just for an afternoon once, because we could go for free.

Another time, we took the San Diego Trolley south to the end of the line. Did you know it goes all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border? We crossed over to visit friends in Tijuana.

And, of course, there’s the trip I took with my grandma. We packed a lot of sightseeing into just a few days!

Fast forward to this year. When Phillip and I decided we’d join my brother, sister-in-law, their kids, and my parents on their San Diego trip in July, I started thinking about previous trips and what I’d want to see and do again.
Continue reading “San Diego Sights Worth a Second Trip”

July 23, 2018July 29, 2023

Escaping the Heat

A 5.5-hour drive will take you from the blistering Phoenix summer to a beautiful day in San Diego.

When we made the trip the first week of July, I recorded parts of it (like I did en route to Pasadena a couple years ago).

This time, I used Instagram Stories to shoot video – capturing location and temperature info at the same time.

It was 104F (40C) when we left Phoenix and 73F (22 C), when we arrived in San Diego. Big difference!

You can watch a 1-minute version our journey from the desert to the ocean either below or on Travelcraft Journal’s YouTube.

Do you ever feel like escaping the summer heat?

March 18, 2017December 9, 2025

6 Airbnb Getaways in the Western US

There is something so restoring about getting into nature, whether you’re taking a hike or just taking in the view.

If you’re feeling like you need a weekend away, here are some peaceful spots we’ve booked through Airbnb that are perfectly positioned for enjoying the great outdoors in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Nevada. All of them are close to hiking and most have kitchenettes.

I’ve included drive time to nearby cities and towns for reference.

Airbnb 101

For those who have never used Airbnb, it’s a site that allows people to rent out spare rooms or guest apartments, so you end up with a really unique stay with a more personal touch. As you’ll see, we’ve used it to find and book places like a cottage in remote Southeastern Arizona, a trailer near Monterey, and a cabin room near the San Juan Mountains in Colorado.

You can get $40 off your first stay when you sign up at airbnb.com/c/sliebold2. (Full disclosure: using that link also sends some credit my way…so win-win!)

California

1. Pasadena Glen Separate Cottage

The Setting: Lush, quiet neighborhood at the foot of the San Gabriel mountains that’s maybe technically part of Pasadena but feels like its own world.

Old Town Pasadena (or The Huntington) – 15 minutes
Downtown L.A. – 45 minutes
Phoenix – 5.5 hours

The Room: The cottage is like a standalone studio apartment next to a larger house.

Very comfortable bed.
Included mini fridge, dishes, fruit, breakfast bars, electric kettle with Starbucks Via and a selection of teas.
Lovely garden/mini-yard area outside with a table.
Private 3/4 bathroom inside the apartment.
Separate entrance with keypad.

Continue reading “6 Airbnb Getaways in the Western US”