Discover YOUR Next Adventure
Hi! My name is Kevin. I’ve had a passion for documenting my travels and adventures with my camera for years. At first, I started taking photos to share them with my wife, so she could see what I was saw while I was out hiking.
Over time, the idea of starting my own travel blog began to brew. I remember being frustrated with other blogs and websites, as the information (or lack thereof) was usually vague, downright confusing, or flat out wrong.
I launched Inked with Wanderlust in 2020 with the mission to provide accurate, clear, and detailed information for my readers. From hiking trails to hotels and everything in between, if you like to know what to expect when planning a trip or an outing, this is the blog for you!
LATEST POSTS
Even if you’re not a fan of the group, chances are good that you’ve at least heard of the Beach Boys. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are…
Las Vegas is filled with quirky, one-of-a-kind attractions that promise something different, but few are as unexpected as Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart inside…
Opening its doors back in September 2020, Area 15 quickly garnered the attention of Las Vegas locals and visitors alike. What…
When searching for hotels near Disneyland, one will be presented a plethora of options. From budget-friendly to luxury level, there’s a…
When searching for hotels near Disneyland, one will be presented a plethora of options. From budget-friendly to luxury level, there’s a…
In a move that surprised no one on this crisp October morning, Disney released their usual across-the-board pricing increases for the Disneyland…
Sorry to begin this post with bad news but generally, October is a busy month at the Disneyland Resort. Driven largely by the park’s…
While the parade is included with your event ticket, as is securing your own spot along the parade route, there is a way to elevate your experience…
Planning a trip to Disneyland was never an easy task. How many days are we going? Which park are we going to visit on this day?
As of Wednesday, August 20, 2026 Disneyland Resort vacation package dates are available for booking. This includes all three on-site…
Disneyland park is one of the most visited theme parks in the world for good reason. It's Walt Disney's original park and is, in fact…
Palm Breeze Bar is a new(ish) open-air spot tucked underneath the Disneyland Hotel’s DVC Villas Tower, offering a relaxed…
Bengal Barbecue, a long-time staple at Disneyland Park since its opening on June 4, 1990, is a great option for those looking to…
One of the better culinary delights to come to the Disneyland Resort in recent years is birria. Traditionally, birria is a rich, flavorful…
If you're thinking of putting together a Disneyland vacation for your family, the first thing you've likely noticed is how expensive…
Initially announced at Disney’s D23 fan expo in 2022, the five-time winner of the coveted Michelin star (at their original location…
Serving approximately 32,000 passengers per day, the Santa Ana Airport (also known as, John Wayne Airport), is one of the many commercial…
Soon after the restaurant’s closure in April, it was then confirmed that a new steakhouse and adjacent BBQ restaurant would be taking its place. This announcement was…
Deciding on which hotel to stay at when planning a trip to Disneyland can be a daunting task. There are countless options within the vicinity of Disneyland alone, each offering their own varying…
What began back in 2006 as a small celebration with just two featured food booths has blossomed into perhaps the biggest festival held at the Disneyland Resort. These days, the California Food…
In 2024, the Halloween season at the Disneyland Resort began earlier than ever in August. Oogie Boogie Bash also followed suit, with a few…
While the service is fairly simple in application, figuring it out can be downright confusing to casual guests, who either haven’t been to the park…
Recently, Disney FINALLY dropped the highly anticipated, resort-wide 2024 holidays foodie guide. Starting November 15, the majority…
The Disneyland Resort is celebrating the holidays starting November 15 and through January 6, 2025 this year. While there are many offerings and traditions…
Recently, Disney updated the ‘After Dark’ page of their website and quietly confirmed the return of three after dark themes…
Originally launched in late 2021, just months after Disneyland reopened to guests from the 2020 covid-19 closure, Magic Keys are…
Recently, Disney confirmed that a long-rumored addition to the Lightning Lane line up of services, Lightning Lane Premiere Pass, would...
October is an immensely popular time of year to visit the Disneyland Resort. With the Halloween season and celebrations at their peak, October...
These tickets will go on sale beginning October 22, 2024, and will be valid from January 7 through March 20, 2025. While they’re not restricted...
When Disney released the 2025 Disneyland Halloween foodie guide, there were a number of items that immediately caught the attention of my wife and I. As avid Disneyland foodies, we...
I’ve stayed at many of the hotels surrounding Disneyland, including a couple of the Disney owned ones, and can say that Hotel Indigo was one of the better experiences I’ve had. The point of...
Oogie Boogie Bash is the premier Halloween event at the Disneyland resort. While many have fond memories of Mickey’s Not-so-Scary...
While on a Disneyland vacation, most guests tend to primarily focus on riding as many attractions as possible. No judgements here, as for a while, that’s the same goal my wife and...
I have to be honest, after the extreme disappointment D23 2022 was, I was fully prepared to be let down once again this year. However, with Universal Studios...
Disneyland Planning Resources
For some, Yosemite is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Often regarded as one of California’s crown jewels, Yosemite reigns…
If you’ve ever seen a photo of Half Dome online, there’s a good chance it was taken from the subject location of this post…
When visiting Yosemite Valley, you’ll immediately take notice of its collective grandeur. Everywhere you look, it’s one amazing sight after...
It still surprises me how many people are completely unaware that there’s much more to Yosemite beyond the valley. Yes, the valley is littered with amazing sights. Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and...
Olmsted Point is located on the park’s beautiful east side, just down the road from Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows. There’s no hiking…
Standing at a commanding 617 feet, Bridalveil Falls is often the first waterfall visitors see when driving into Yosemite…
When driving Glacier Road, most people have Glacier Point as their ultimate destination in mind, and for good reason. Glacier Point is one of…
In Yosemite, we are blessed with dozens of these. Iconic, easily recognizable landmarks such as Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows…
Of all the many sections of Yosemite National Park, the valley is what gets the bulk of the attention of most visitors and for…
I won’t sugar coat it, no one likes having to get a permit to go hiking. However, due to the increasing popularity of…
Towering nearly 5,000 feet above the valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is considered one of the top day hikes…
Every year, thousands of hikers summit Half Dome, many of them for the first time. In 2017, I was one of those first timers…
Back in 2020 when I launched this website, the very first published post was, “Half Dome: The Complete Guide To Yosemite’s Epic Day Hike”, and it’s…
Yosemite National Park is filled to the brim with many popular and beautiful natural attractions and trails. However, there are a select handful that are…
While hiking Half Dome requires a permit and a great deal of planning, hiking neighboring North Dome requires nothing more than a drive up to the trailhead…
I’m often asked by Yosemite first timers (friends and friends of friends) about which hiking trails in Yosemite should they hike during their visit…
I hiked Half Dome with my brother back in 2017 and it was the most thrilling experience of my life at the time. Hiking 8 miles (mostly uphill), a 400-foot climb up the cables
Back in March of 2020 when the pandemic began to take hold in the United States, movie theatres, shops, theme parks, and the like…
Yosemite’s Top Sights
Explore The Pacific North West
Nestled just 30-minute or so drive from the hustle and bustle of downtown Seattle in the beautiful Snoqualmie…
At 611-feet (between the upper and lower portions), Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and the crown jewel…
Welcome to the historic splendor of Portland’s crown jewel - Pittock Mansion. Perched atop the West Hills, this elegant…
During our trip to Portland last year, my wife and I were looking for a nice Italian restaurant for our anniversary…
Of all the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, Latourall Falls, a 224-foot single-plunge fall, is the closest to Portland…
Ever wanted to check out a waterfall that feeds directly into the ocean? If you’re near the beautiful coastal town of Canon Beach…
Haystack Rock is one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks and has been featured in countless publications, TV shows, and…
Wahkeena Falls (Wa-Kee-Na) is a multi-tired waterfall along Oregon’s famed, ‘Waterfall Corridor’, in the awe-inspiring Columbia River…
If you’re planning to visit the many waterfalls, State Parks, and trails along Oregon’s famed, Waterfall Corridor, and you intend…
Located in the awe-inspiring Columbia River Gorge right off of the Historic Highway is the beautiful, easily accessed 120-foot waterfall…
When we were planning our trip to Portland, we found many attractions we wanted to check out. Witches Castle, however, was…
Portland, Oregon’s largest city, has long had a reputation for being, shall we say…weird. That’s no insult, either. Portlandiers wear…
Let’s face it, Seattle is not a cheap city to visit. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, and the like. While a lot of them are worth what they cost…
The Emerald City has so much to offer its visitors. So many parks, museums, coffee shops, and more to choose from, you’ll never be able to…
In this list, I’m going to cover 15 of the best things you can do in Seattle during your first (or returning) trip. I don’t expect you to get to all of them, but my goal is to provide…
Discover Nevada’s Historic Sites
Hidden Cave, located within Grimes Point Archaeological Area on the outskirts of Fallon, is a prehistoric archaeological site containing thousands…
One such hike is Petroglyph Canyon via Mouse’s Tank Trail. It’s less than a mile (0.7 mile, to be exact) roundtrip along relatively flat…
Located on the second level promenade of the Luxor Hotel, the Titanic museum features dozens of real artifacts recovered from the Titanic’s wreckage…
The small community of Genoa, Nevada, set in the beautiful Carson Valley, is one of, if not the, most historically significant sites in the state...
When searching for historic places in Nevada to visit, it doesn’t get much more historical than visiting the site of the first settlement in the state, Mormon Station Historic State...
Genoa Bar and Saloon opened back in 1853, a whopping eleven years before Nevada even became a state, in the charming town of Genoa, which two years prior in 1851 became the first settlement...
Located in the small, highly historic town of Genoa is the equally historic Genoa Courthouse Museum. This museum is packed with Genoa history, displaying the original courthouse...
All told, between 35-40 miners (and potentially more) lost their lives that day. To make matters worse, up to eleven of those perished miners’ remains are still entombed in the depths...
Located roughly two hours from downtown Reno along the infamous Burner Byway is one of the weirdest, but most fascinating places you…
Nevada is known for many things, but one of the most popular among them being ghost towns. With its rich…
Located within Red Rock Canyon Recreation Area, not too far from the Las Vegas strip, you can find an amazing…
Valley of Fire is one of the most popular parks in the entire Nevada state park system, and for good reason. This beautiful…
Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Yerington, Nevada, lies a hidden gem that takes visitors on a journey…
Nevada has no shortage of historic, abandoned sites to explore. Fort Churchill State Historic Park is one of many you need to add…
Imagine you’re on a road trip through the Northern Nevada desert along Interstate 80. You go miles seeing nothing but rolling…
This gorgeous stretch of the East Walker River is made up of four historic ranches; Pitchfork Ranch, Flying M Ranch, Rafter 7 Ranch, and…
Situated in Downtown Reno and just a stone’s throw from the river walk, the National Automobile Museum showcases a massive collection of over 200 classic…
If you’re into visiting historic places - specifically ones that supposedly still house the original occupants - look no further…
Established in 1859, Chollar Mine was one of Virginia City’s highest producing mines. Eventually producing 17 million in silver and gold ore over the course of its 80-year…
If you’re an avid reader on this site, you’d probably be familiar with our “7 Things” series, where we list seven of our favorite features of a particular town or area. The other two…
Nestled within the Humbolt Mountain range and located 20 miles outside the small Nevada town of Lovelock, the Lovelock Cave is a small, but significally historic landmark…
If you love ghost towns and dinosaurs then you need to head out to this little known town in Nevada’s expansive catalogue of State Parks. Berlin-Icthyosaur (say that 10 times fast) is located
Established in 1977 and originally used as a Paiute fishing camp, Dayton State Park is 160 acres in size and located in the highly historic Nevada town of the same name. It features hiking trails
Consistently ranked as the number one most popular attraction in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is an awe-inspiring symbol of human en…
What began in 1968 as Marine World, a small zoo in Redwood City, California, has transformed over the years to become perhaps the most unique theme park in the country…
Being born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was never more than an hour's drive away from San Francisco or how locals refer to it, "The City". It's been…
Welcome to the enchanting world of the Walt Disney Family Museum, nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Presidio…
Nestled at the entrance to Golden Gate Bay in San Francisco lies a hidden gem of American history - Fort Point National…
Located in the northwestern corner of the beautiful city of San Francisco, a coastal oasis awaits eager visitors and hikers alike; Lands End…
Muir Woods National Monument is one of the most popular attractions in the Bay Area, bringing in hundreds of thousands of visitors annually…
Welcoming more than 1.4-million people annually since opening its doors to tourists in 1973, Alcatraz is one of the undisputed top rated attractions…
In San Francisco, there’s an endless amount of things to do, sights to see, and food to eat. You would have to spend at least a week just to see…
In San Francisco, there’s no shortage of historic sites to visit. Fort Point, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge are just a few…
If you’re looking for an epic view of the Pacific Ocean, look no further than the Muir Beach overlook. If you’re coming from San Francisco…
There are countless ways vantage points could view the Golden Gate Bridge from. You could see it from the plazas on either…
San Francisco Bay Area Destinations
Mono County Highlights
Regarded as the “Disneyland” of California ghost towns, Bodie contains dozens of historical structures, including the town’s former…
Situated between Nevada and Yosemite National Park, Mono County is located in the east central part of California with the…
Found just off of Bridgeport’s Main Street, behind the historic courthouse, sits one of the oldest still-standing buildings in Mono…
If you’ve never been to Convict Lake before, you really should plan a visit. It’s one of the most beautiful, photogenic and easy-to-access…
Located right off of the famed highway 395 and a stone’s throw from Convict Lake, Hot Creek Geologic Site is a wonderful example…
Whenever we go to (or through) the tiny town of Bridgeport, it’s hard for us to NOT stop at Burger Barn. After a long day of hiking…
Hiking to Barney Lake via the Robinson Creek trail is one of the many premier hiking experiences in Mono County…
Prior to launching Inked with Wanderlust, one of the first articles I wrote as part of the “first batch” was, “7 Things You Will Love About Bridgeport”. At the time, everybody else was doing…
In the state of California, there’s a large number of scenic drives you could take. Some can be done in a day while others would…
There are a number of hikes in Mono County that, in my eyes, stand out from the crowd. Robinson Creek (Barney Lake), Lundy Canyon, Twenty Lakes Basin…
The small mountain town of Bridgeport in eastern California is one of my favorite places in the country. There’s not only plenty to do within…
Throughout the United States, there are literally thousands of locations that feature amazing Fall colors. California alone has some of the top spots in the country…
At first glance, Mono Lake doesn’t look like much. Driving past it and not knowing anything about it, you’d be forgiven for chalking it up to just another old, barren lake on its way…
Formed roughly 80,000 years ago, the up to 60 foot basalt columns of Devil’s Postpile National Monument are a sight to behold. The saying, “you won’t believe it until you see it”, holds
There’s nothing like taking a dip in a natural hot spring after a long, grueling day or two hiking in the wilderness. Luckily for us, there are many hot springs located within the Sierra Mountains but there’s one in particular we’re going to cover in this article; Travertine Hot Springs.
When the Donner family and their teamsters became stranded at Alder Creek due to Jacob Donner’s broken wagon axel and injury, the other members of…
On April 15, 1846, the Reed and Donner families departed Springfield, Illinois, with the goal of starting a new life in California. Later, in Independence…
Visiting Mossbrea Falls, located in the wonderful Northern California town of Dunsmuir, is like stepping straight into a fairytale novel. This unique waterfall is fed…
Before starting this hike, there are a few things you need to know. This trail has been involved in controversy over the years as…
Alabama Hills is located just outside of the small town of Lone Pine, along California’s highly scenic Highway 395. It’s known for its extensive history of being the filming locations...
When visiting Yosemite Valley, you’ll immediately take notice of its collective grandeur. Everywhere you look, it’s one amazing sight after...
It still surprises me how many people are completely unaware that there’s much more to Yosemite beyond the valley. Yes, the valley is littered with amazing sights. Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and...
When searching for the most unique and best hikes in Northern California, many will point to areas like South Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National...
Standing at a commanding 617 feet, Bridalveil Falls is often the first waterfall visitors see when driving into Yosemite…
Every year, thousands of hikers summit Half Dome, many of them for the first time. In 2017, I was one of those first timers…
Nestled within the captivating natural beauty of the iconic Emerald Bay State Park, the trail to Lower Eagle Falls offers…
Middle McCloud Fall is just one of three beautiful waterfalls, collectively known as McCloud Falls, along the McCloud…
If you’ve never been to Convict Lake before, you really should plan a visit. It’s one of the most beautiful, photogenic and easy-to-access…
Located along the beach and at the head of Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm Castle is a fine example of Scandinavian…
Cascade Falls is a beautiful series of waterfalls just outside of the boundaries of Emerald Bay State Park in Lake Tahoe…
Lake Tahoe is filled to the brim with hiking trails of varying lengths. Some can be done in a matter of hours while some will…
Burney Falls is one of the most visit state parks in all of California. Prior to covid, the park would see an average of 4,000…
While not a grand sight or a long hike deep into the wilderness, Hedge Creek Falls still packs a punch as a highly scenic…
Just a short distance between two popular Northern California towns; Burney and Dunsmuir, McCloud Falls is a series of three…
Hiking to Barney Lake via the Robinson Creek trail is one of the many premier hiking experiences in Mono County…
Yosemite National Park is filled to the brim with many popular and beautiful natural attractions and trails. However, there are a select handful that are…
Located in the northwestern corner of the beautiful city of San Francisco, a coastal oasis awaits eager visitors and hikers alike; Lands End…
There are countless ways vantage points could view the Golden Gate Bridge from. You could see it from the plazas on either…
There are a number of hikes in Mono County that, in my eyes, stand out from the crowd. Robinson Creek (Barney Lake), Lundy Canyon, Twenty Lakes Basin…
Formed roughly 80,000 years ago, the up to 60 foot basalt columns of Devil’s Postpile National Monument are a sight to behold. The saying, “you won’t believe it until you see it”, holds
While hiking Half Dome requires a permit and a great deal of planning, hiking neighboring North Dome requires nothing more than a drive up to the trailhead…
I’m often asked by Yosemite first timers (friends and friends of friends) about which hiking trails in Yosemite should they hike during their visit…
I hiked Half Dome with my brother back in 2017 and it was the most thrilling experience of my life at the time. Hiking 8 miles (mostly uphill), a 400-foot climb up the cables
Consistently ranked as the number one most popular attraction in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is an awe-inspiring symbol of human en…