Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 120
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $118 ($38 camp, $30 gas, $50 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 1: drive to Gold Basin Campground located in Mt. Baker-Snoqalmie National Forest, Washington (60 mi); hike Lake 22 trail
  • Day 2: relax at the campground, drive back home

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Duration: 2 days
Mileage: ~300
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $202 ($62 camp, $50 gas, $90 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 1: drive to Ocean City State Park Campground, Washington (140 mi); settle and spend time on the beach
  • Day 2: explore Olympic National Park, hike, spend more time in camp and drive back home

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Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 220
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $174 ($64 camp, $40 gas, $70 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 0: drive to Silver Springs Campground, Mount Rainier NP, Washington (80 mi); settle in
  • Day 1: explore the park and hike Naches Peak Loop trail
  • Day 2: explore Sunrise area of the park, drive back home

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Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 280
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $142 ($32 camp, $40 gas, $70 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 0: drive to Newhalem Campground, North Cascades NP, Washington (115 mi); settle in
  • Day 1: explore the park and hike Blue Lake trail
  • Day 2: relax in the campground, drive back home

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Duration: 15 days
Mileage: ~240 (taxi rides in Mexico)
Starting point: San Jose, CA
Countries: Mexico
Budget for 2 people: $5170 ($2000 flight (last minute purchase for the holidays season), $1500 hotels, $270 taxi, $800 food, $600 equipment rental + lessons)

  • Day 1: flight from San Jose to Cabo San Lucas, drive to La Ventana
  • Days 2 - 14: enjoy the beach, kitesurfing, food and drinks!
  • Day 15: drive to Cabo San Lucas, flight to San Jose

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Duration: 6 days (2 for driving only)
Mileage: ~1700
Starting point: Mountain View, CA
States: Utah, Nevada
Budget for 2 people: $1410 ($550 hotels, $230 gas, ~$200 food, $80 National Parks annual pass, $350 Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas)

  • Day 0: Drive to Barstow, CA after work (400 mi)
  • Day 1: Drive to Airbnb location in Glendale, Utah (360 mi)
  • Day 2: Explore Zion National Park (~70 mi total)
  • Day 3: Snowed in in Glendale
  • Day 4: explore Bryce National Park (~110 mi total)
  • Day 5: Drive to Las Vegas and spend the day there (200 mi)
  • Day 6: Drive home (540 mi)

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Duration: 8 days
Mileage: 2000
Starting point: Mountain View, CA
Countries: USA
Budget for 2 people: $800 ($180* hotel, $360 food, $200 gas, $60 other)

  • Day 0: Drive from work to Red Bluff (220 mi)
  • Day 1: Explore Southern Oregon wine cities, drive to Crescent City (300 mi)
  • Day 2: Drive along Oregon coast to Tillamook (300 mi)
  • Day 3: Drive to Seattle (250 mi)
  • Days 4-6: Work from Seattle and explore the city, drive to Portland (180 mi)
  • Day 7: Visit Oregon's waterfalls, drive to Eugene (160 mi)
  • Day 8: Drive home (600 mi)

* We used points for our hotels on the way to Seattle, and hotel in Seattle was covered by the employer.

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Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 500
Starting point: Mountain View, CA
States: CA
Average budget for 2 people: $280 ($60 gas, $100 food, $120 hotel) *

  • Day 1: Early morning drive to the mountains (or Friday after work drive, then hotel price doubles), snowboarding
  • Day 2: Snowboarding and drive home

* Excluding ski lift tickets and gear/clothes rental

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Flight: Colombo, Sri Lanka -> Male, Maldives -> Budapest, Hungary
Duration: 10 days
Mileage: na
Starting point: Male, Maldives
Countries: Maldives
Budget for 2 people: $1250 ($880 hotel, $200 transportation, $50 food, 120 other)

  • Day 1: arrival to Male, staying the night in Male
  • Day 2: boat trip to Ukulhas, arrival to the hotel 
  • Days 3 - 9: relaxation in Ukulhas
  • Day 10: boat trip to Male, flight to Budapest

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Flight: Budapest, Hungary -> Colombo, Sri Lanka -> Budapest, Hungary
Duration: 3 weeks
Mileage: na
Starting point: Colombo
Countries: Sri Lanka
Budget for 2 people: $3500 ($2100 flights, $500 hotels, $300 transportation, $500 food, 100 other)

  • Weeks 1, 3: Kitesurfing in Kalpitiya
  • Day 1: commute to Kandy by local buses
  • Day 2: long drive to Ella 
  • Day 3: explore Ella
  • Day 4: morning at Ella, afternoon train to Kandy
  • Day 5: explore Kandy, get to Dambulla, explore the area
  • Day 5: get back to Kaplitiya by local buses

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Duration: 3 days
Mileage: na
Starting point: Irvine, CA
Countries: Hungary
Budget for 2 people: $650 ($0* flight, $200 hotel, $300 food, $50 transport, $100 other)

  • Day 0: Long flight from Los Angeles to Budapest via Vienna
  • Day 1: Explore Budapest, visit St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest Eye, Parliament, ruin pubs
  • Day 2: Explore the Castle Distict and Fisherman's Bastion
  • Day 3: Visit famous Széchenyi thermal bath, enjoy the city at night

* We used our Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to book this flight

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Duration: 3 days
Mileage: 1000
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: AZ
Budget for 2 people: $623 ($57 hotel, $36 camp, $80 annual pass, $30 firewood, $120 gas, $270 food, $30 other)

  • Day 0: Drive to Kingsman
  • Day 1: Drive to Grand Canyon, explore Western part (red line), hike Bright Angel trail, settle in the campground
  • Day 2: See sunrise at Yavapai point, explore Eastern part (orange line), hike to the Grandview Point, see sunset at Mohave point
  • Day 3: Drive home

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