Something you may not know about me? I love to drive.

I almost forgot about that since at home I drive an old crusty car, so it was a real pleasure cruising around Northern California last week in this flawless CX-9. Mazda lent the car to me for a week of road-tripping, and I made the most of it! I finally got to be that cool person driving a red car, and I definitely fell in love with Mazda’s famous ‘Soul Crystal Red’ color. Double plus good? - It perfectly fits this emoji 🚘(so satisfying).

While I was on the road, I posted clips of our travels each day in my Instagram stories which you can watch in my California story highlight here, and I just finished off posting three themed carousel galleries on my Instagram page: Atop Mt. Tam, Coastal Cruising, and Redwood Rambling.

Atop Mt. Tam

I’ve been wanting to check out Mt. Tam for years, having seen many images of its rolling hills and golden folds online. Finally I had my chance! Driving up the tight winding roads through redwood groves lined with jurassic ferns, the Mazda CX-9 handled each curve like a dream. It felt like driving a race car while still spacious for all our luggage, camera gear, dog, and luxuriously comfy. Perfect family adventure-mobile.

Once we made it to the top, we enjoyed views of the Pacific, went on a little dog-friendly hike (not many in that area!), and waited for the sun to drop. When golden hour hit, I snapped a few photos of the car around various bends in the road, before we drove back down to enjoy a killer sunset near Stinson Beach.

Coastal Cruising

Watching the ocean makes me belly laugh in mirth. I love seeing the sheer power of the waves sweep towards the rocky shore, digging my toes into the sand, letting the cold water shock my system. It’s when I feel most alive.

Time spent along the coast is as invigorating as it is calming for my soul, but sometimes long road trips can be challenging. I’m so grateful to have had the chance to drive the CX-9 along Highway 1. Every time I hopped back in the car it was like entering a quiet comfy retreat after time spent at the beach being wind-blown + sun-drenched. Its super smooth handling, powerful turbo engine, and luxurious interior made long days of driving along the California coastline a real joy.

Redwood Rambling

The redwoods groves of Northern California are dripping with wonder and magic. It can be a perfectly sunny day but when you enter the forest you’re in another world. It’s dark and humid, and the towering trees ooze wisdom. It’s instantly humbling and a little eerie. The only sounds are the echo of birdsong and your own heartbeat. Makes you want to whisper.

While we were in California I couldn’t get enough of the redwoods (it was an every day kind of thing), and shooting the red CX-9 under a canopy of dark green was a dream come true. Color play makes me heart happy! 🌲🚗