Brad

If you go to Kaua’i, you absolutely must rent a car and drive up Waimea Canyon to the end of the road. The view at the top cannot be described with words or mimicked with pictures. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

I stayed in the condos just south of the Princeville Resort and had the pleasure of walking through the resort several times including use of their bars, pools, etc. It is a very nice hotel and the grounds around it are nothing short of fairytale-grade Hawaiian wonder.

When I went to this beach back in July of 1999, I was unimpressed. It was small (not much sand), rocky and filled with old nude men wandering about.

That said, if the right crowd were gathered at this beach and the authorities would stop worrying about people being nude, this would be a nice destination. Of course all of my information is over 7 years old and about.com says this is now the premiere nude beach of Kaua’i. I think I’ll have to go back and see for myself.

Black’s is one of the most beautiful beaches in San Diego, not to mention an extremely relaxing and friendly environment. We’ve been frequenting Black’s since the spring of 2006 and couldn’t be more enchanted.

Anyway, the tip is: if you come to Black’s to be nude and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine and water, walk north from the trail by the gliderport until you see a set of two flags flying high on poles stuck into the sand. The Black’s Beach Bares hang out between these flags and are some of the friendliest people you will meet, in addition to being protective of their cohabitants. This is an especially good environment for women who want to enjoy the beach without being bothered by rude gawkers.

If you like driving fast on windy mountain roads, this mountain is one of the best destinations in San Diego County.

Come toward the mountain from the east and proceed up East Grade Rd. until you reach the store at the top. Get some ice cream, then go down South Grade Rd. and back out to Escondido.

Stay on your side of the double yellow lines and watch for cops, motorcycles and bicycles. It’s a great run.

If you’re looking for new furniture or mattresses, the largest cluster of those stores can be found in Miramar, along Miramar Rd.

A great laid back city to visit in the summer. I recommend the AAA spiral guide on Amsterdam, as it has some good insights into tourist areas and good restaurants.

Don’t miss the coffeeshop culture—smoke a joint and wander the streets relaxed. Life is too short to miss out on great experiences like exploring a foreign city.

I also highly recommend the Zuiderkerk and its tour up the bell tower.

Austin is an amazing city, completely unique, and it acts as a sort of oasis in a sea of conservative flatness. It has charm, fun, music, Travis Lake, an awesome university, and plenty of things to do.

I highly recommend Austin to anyone who enjoys the eccentric parts of life.

It’s a nice mountainous place for hiking and sightseeing. It’s pretty ideal as a day trip from Seattle or Olympia.

Paradise is the place to visit and the High Skyline Trail has the best views when it isn’t cloudy or foggy.

Tofino is great if you like the outdoors and the beach. Some of the best seafood on the West Coast (e.g. Schooner Restaurant) for relatively low prices.

It’s ideal for a 2-night B&B trip and there are plenty of nice B&Bs in the area (e.g. Jensen’s Bay B&B).