This unique beach located in Fort Bragg, California actually used to be a dump. Back in the 50s, people threw all kinds of trash here and it was a big mess. In 1967, the North Coast Water Quality Board outlawed the dumping and in the 90s, they removed all toxic and hazardous materials. What remains is a beach made of glass…sea glass, polished and smoothed after 30 years of being pounded by the surf. Today, it’s owned by the California parks department as part of Mackerricher State Park. Tourists are welcome to walk along the glittery beach and explore its tidepools but don’t even think of snagging a piece of glass as a souvenir because removing it is strictly prohibited.

MacKerricher State Park

Head over to My Adventures to read about our trip to Portland, Maine and see pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

Date of trip: May 2010

Although I had been to Maine as a kid, it was only for camping in the remote areas. Will and I really wanted to check out a city, so we were off to Portland for a couple of days.

Highlights:

-All the action in Portland happens in the Old Port. There are quaint shops, bars, restaurants and waterfront activities. Most of Portland’s big hotels are in walking distance so it’s the perfect place to stroll. Don’t miss Beals gourmet ice cream, a local favorite for the past 15 years.

-Whenever I picture Maine, I see lighthouses and there are more than 60 of them along the state’s coastline. The Portland Head Light is the most popular because you can actually go inside of it. There is a museum, gift shop and a lovely trail along the water with plenty of stops for great pictures of the lighthouse from different angles. The area is surrounded by a large park so it’s not unusual to see people enjoying picnics and kite flying on a nice day.

-I definitely have a sweet tooth, so I had to visit Len Libby Candies, a chocolate shop that’s been serving up hand made treats since 1926. It’s also home to Lenny, the world’s only life-sized chocolate moose!

-If you are want to get a closer look at animals native to the state, the Maine Wildlife Park is the perfect place. Just 30 minutes from Portland, the park is home to over 30 different species that can no longer survive in the wild including black bears, moose and bald eagles.

-For the best shopping, make sure you head over to Freeport which is 20 minutes outside of Portland. It has over 200 outlet stores including the gigantic L.L. Bean Flagship Store which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

Although Portland is the largest city in Maine, it still has a small town feel and all the New England charm you would expect to find in the state.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Portland Links:
Portland Official Site
Old Port
Portland Head Light
Len Libby Candies
Maine Wildlife Park
Freeport Official Site
L.L. Bean

As first glance, the Delsey Helium Fusion suitcase looks like any other, but what makes it special is its built in weight indicator to help you avoid airline charges for overweight luggage. Once you cross the 50lb penalty threshold, a red indicator light switches on so you can remove items or redistribute accordingly.

$240 Macys.com (but it’s currently on sale for $119.99 and you can always find good Macy’s coupons with a quick Google search!)