2020 has been a year for the books. We started this blog during a global pandemic to give not only ourselves a positive outlet, but also our readers. We hope that B!tches be Tripping has helped you hold on to your wanderlust during this uncertain year.
While we normally highlight our best travel memories and the must-dos when you visit a new city, we also realize the world is not a perfect place right now.
One of my favorite places in the world is California’s wine country, and we’ve talked about some of our California favorites several times on the blog already. Katie has shared her must-dos and must-eats for San Francisco, while I have highlighted why Sonoma should be your go-to in California’s wine country, even letting you in on a little hidden gem called Petaluma. Unfortunately, as you know, California has been devastated by wildfires in recent months. Over four million acres have been damaged and about 30 wineries in Northern California have been burnt to the ground.
Wine is not the only thing that continues to attract me to Northern California. The community, the food, and most importantly, the people are what truly make this place special. My very first trip to wine country was in 2018. There had recently been fires that left people homeless and wineries devastated. I saw firsthand the ash of what was left behind. Not only are families trying to pick up the pieces of their homes; they are trying to keep their family’s legacy of wine making alive. The wildfires have not only destroyed homes and wineries, but have also left a huge hole in their tourism industry – not counting on top of that the coronavirus pandemic and the general lack of traveling this year.
I know this has been a hard year for us all, but if you have the means, please think about donating to the wildfire relief effort by using one of the below links. And when the world starts looking a little brighter, think about booking your own trip to wine country. Anything helps to support California!