Vagabonding is the lifestyle I chose. I was tired of the daily grind, making money to accumulate goods and keep up with the neighbors. Living life without the stress of possessions is the basis of this lifestyle. Traveling is a style of living, not a goal for a vagabond. Vagabonds travel to see new things and meet new people. They make memories by doing and seeing.
Vagabonding is the lifestyle I choose. I was tired of the daily grind, making money to accumulate goods and keep up with the neighbors. Living life without the stress of possessions is the basis of this lifestyle. Traveling is a style of living, not a goal for a vagabond. Vagabonds travel to see new things and meet new people. They make memories by doing and seeing.

This lifestyle can be had anywhere in the world. I sold their home and possessions, closed out my retirement accounts and packed my bike to explore the world. I am not limited to a week or three for a hurried visit to vacation destinations. I live this lifestyle all year round. I work as necessary to for needs and money. When those are satisfied I explore and enjoy. I take the opportunity to explore and savor a stress free lifestyle with travel throughout the country.

Now that we are in winter I am making plans for the spring. Below are some of the place that I am considering as potentials for the next leg of my journey.

Experience The West Coast

America has many beautiful and interesting sights. The bounty of this country for sightseers is nearly endless. Just the West Coast alone offers thousands of experiences. There are various parks and natural wonders as well as cities. These sites do not need to be out of reach if one considers vagabonding as a great lifestyle and way to see the West Coast.

The Pacific Ocean is the western border of California, Oregon and Washington State. It provides an incredible scenic view all along the coast. Traveling the Pacific Coast Highway as a vagabond is an incredible experience for those who decide to chuck it all, pack up a few necessities in a backpack and hike the entire length of this historic highway.

A California Side Trip

There are inland sites featuring natural beauty. One such place is Sequoia National Park in Southern California. This park boasts giant sequoia trees towering over the landscape. There are hundreds of miles of trails within the park open to backpackers. Sights to see within the park include Mount Whitney which is the tallest peak in the Nevada Range. Crescent Meadow is the western end of the High Sierra Trail.

San Francisco

When visiting California no vagabond’s trip would be complete without experiencing the rich history of San Francisco. While there the Fisherman’s Wharf is free to enter. This area contains local entertainers who perform free of charge. It has a large collection of sea lions who visit the area daily. A perfect view of the city itself can be had by visiting Coit Tower. This tower sits high upon a hill and overlooks all of the city as well as the Bay. Closer to the Golden Gate Bridge is the beautiful Presidio area. It offers views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island.

The Mountains Of Oregon

Traveling north Oregon is home to the middle of the range of the Cascade Mountains. This range is an active volcanic range. These beautiful mountains provide many trails to hike if nature is an attraction for the vagabonding journey. One of the more notable places within the range is Crater Lake National Park. The crater itself has filled in with water. This deep lake offers a superb vista from the high cliffs of the volcano rim surrounding it. Located just east of Medford it is a sight worth a detour from any coast. It is several thousand feet in altitude and there is snow in the park, usually until the end of July.

The City Of Portland

Portland, Oregon has its share of attractions for the free spirited vagabond. Forest Park boasts fifty miles of trails within the city. There is the Saturday Market under the Burnside Bridge. It features entertainers all through the market and is free to attend. Pioneer Square is in the center of Portland. It offers events such as cultural fairs as well as concerts.

Washington’s Mount Rainier

Washington State has a very large presence on the West Coast. Mount Rainier sits less than seventy-five miles south of Seattle. It is taller than K2 and boasts two volcanic craters. It has thirty-six glaciers as well as a permanent snow cover. Hiking and mountain climbing are both features of this area as well as wilderness camping.

Seattle

No trip to the West Coast is complete without making time to see Seattle, Washington. The city of Seattle is a wonderland for a vagabond who wants to spend some time in civilization. There are three museums within the city which are currently free of charge. These are the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Frye Art Museum. There are lunchtime concerts held the first and third Thursday, weather permitting, at City Hall with everything from folk music to jazz. Pike Place Market has over one hundred years of history as the city’s fish market.

Vagabonding is a lifestyle. Seeing and experiencing as much as possible is the best way to meet new people as well as have new experiences for a lifetime of great memories. The West Coast has many natural attractions for those who enjoy the vagabond lifestyle. There are many places within the cities where attractions are low cost or free of charge. This is an area where the vagabond lifestyle will feel like a warm Pacific breeze in which to live.