Pugaloo_Adventures

Sometimes a lake feels like a secret gift from nature—and Juniper Lake  is one of those places. My family and I try to visit every year, but life (and wildfires) has made that a little harder recently. If you follow my blog, you know I often talk about the devastation caused by the Dixie Fire in 2021 . Sadly, Juniper Lake wasn’t spared. Located within Lassen Volcanic National Park , Juniper Lake is not accessible from the park’s two main entrances. Instead, you’ll have to do

Lake Almanor is one of the most popular lakes in Lassen and Plumas counties—beloved by locals and a must-visit spot for travelers. With its sheer size, there’s no way to see it all in one trip! My family’s favorite hangout is near Rocky Point  and the Plumas Pines  area. Sony 6700 with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens, ISO 100, focal length 50mm, aperture f/5.6, shutter speed 1/400 sec. 📍 How to Get There: 🚗 From Reno, NV : About 170 miles (3 hours) 🚗 From Chico, CA : About

OH. MY. GOODNESS. The time has finally come, and I am beyond excited! Honestly, I don’t even care how long tonight’s drive is—I’m running on pure adrenaline (and probably caffeine). Let’s rewind to January when I casually asked my husband if he’d be willing to: Run a half marathon (when neither of us was in shape), and Run one at Walt Disney World in the same year… so we could earn that shiny Coast-to-Coast medal. His face? Priceless. Like, “WTF are you talking about?!” H

Silver Lake in 2025 four years after the Dixie Fire Have you ever been to a lake that feels small, cozy, and surrounded by the cutest little cabins? That’s Silver Lake  in Lassen National Forest. A few years ago, these cabins were nearly lost in the Dixie Fire , so seeing them still standing today feels like a miracle. That said, the scars of the fire are still visible around the lake, and you’ll often spot locals working hard on brush cleanup. These two photos are taken from

Review of Walker Lake, Lassen County Sometimes one lake just isn’t enough. That was the case for us the other day—we started at Crater Lake  (aka my “Baby Crater”), but quickly found ourselves lake-hopping to Walker Lake  when my son got the fishing bug. 🎣 Crater Lake – Where Are the Fish? My son had his fishing pole ready, but rumor had it Crater Lake might not actually have fish. Later, some locals told me that fish do exist there—but they’re way down deep. Either way, my

Lassen Volcanic National Park: Snow, Sulfur & a Whole Lotta Burnt Trees Because nothing says “spring hike” like... surprise snowbanks and the lingering scent of egg salad left out too long. Have you ever stood somewhere so jaw-droppingly beautiful it made you gasp — and then you looked around and went, “Oh wow… this place has been through it ”? Welcome to Lassen Volcanic National Park , where Mother Nature’s beauty and fury go on awkward double dates and still somehow make it

Yeah, same. You think maybe  a cruise could be fun, then picture 24/7 princess parades and Mickey ears in your cereal. But let me tell...

Some days, travel just doesn’t go according to plan.Take March 9, 2025 —a prime example of “Mother Nature said nope.” My husband and I...

If you're the kind of person who hears the words “zip line”  and immediately thinks “Yes, please!”—or even if you’re more of a “well,...

Let’s talk about Northern California —the state's best-kept secret (and no, I’m not just saying that because the SoCal folks forget it...

Let’s be honest— if Yellowstone isn’t on your bucket list, it’s probably because you forgot where you put your bucket.  But seriously,...

Northern California is basically a jackpot for hot springs—Mother Nature’s personal spa service. Think natural Jacuzzis without the...

Ever wonder where the best spots in Grand Teton National Park are for jaw-dropping views and frame-worthy photos? Whether you're chasing...

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may earn a small...

PSA: California Is Basically Paying You to Touch Grass So I was doing some very responsible adulting —aka Googling how much it costs to...

After spending a solid year working off decades  of “fun” (read: snacks, celebrations, and zero regrets), I decided it was time to make my grand return to the RunDisney universe. So naturally, I went all in—signed myself, my husband, and our daughter up for a half marathon at Disneyland and  the entire weekend of running events at Disney World’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon. Because why sign up for one punishing-yet-magical experience when you can double the blisters and medal

I’ve been wanting to start a blog for years . Like, actual  years. But I kept dragging my feet—mostly because I have too many passions and the internet kept shouting at me that I needed  a niche. Spoiler alert: I still don’t have one. So instead of overthinking it any longer, I’ve decided to just share what I love: Disney, fur babies, and our new “passion”—running. And I say “running” in the loosest sense possible. Let’s be real: I’m in it for the bling. If there’s a shiny me