Lately, I’ve been contemplating the future direction of my blog, Naomi’s Great Escape. Originally, it was a platform for sharing my travel experiences abroad. Now that I’m back in the States, searching for a job and settling down for a while, I’ve been thinking about how to adapt the blog to reflect my current lifestyle. I’m definitely keen on continuing to write and utilize this site because, honestly, it’s some kind of wonderful! I’ve decided to keep the theme of “Great Escapes,” but to broaden its meaning. Great Escapes will not only cover holiday trips but also include flights into my own thoughts and the fun activities I partake in locally—currently, that’s in the San Francisco Bay Area. I want to catch you up on some recent escapes I’ve enjoyed.

At the beginning of February, I spent five days in Las Vegas. I stayed with a good friend, Jesse, who I’ve known since boarding school. He works as a poker dealer at the Bellagio and has a pretty sweet life in Vegas. I rented a car, which gave me the freedom to explore, including a road trip to the Grand Canyon—a place that never fails to awe me with its vast and stunning beauty, reminding me of our humble place in this vast world. Besides enjoying the Grand Canyon, I spent time with Jesse away from the touristy strip and even did a photo shoot for my sister’s brother-in-law’s kids living in Vegas. It was a refreshing trip, fueling my ever-present wanderlust.

I celebrated my 33rd birthday on February 11th with an epic weekend that started on Thursday and lasted through Sunday. It was filled with parties, making new friends, and was probably the best birthday celebration I can remember. Since then, I’ve been quite social. One of my favorite local events is Ritual, a free weekly Dubstep party in San Francisco. It has quickly become the highlight of my week, offering a perfect blend of music, friendship, and dancing.

I’ve also shared this on my photography blog (Capture the Glow), but another daily escape of mine has been using the Instagram app. It’s like Twitter but for photos, allowing me to connect with others by sharing images. It’s rekindled my love for photography, helping me rediscover my passion that had waned over the years. (I was one of the first adopters of Instagram and would go on photo walks in San Francisco and even met the Instagram founders!)

Reading has been another profound escape. After years of immersing myself in fine literature (yes, I’m a bit of a book snob), I’ve returned to non-fiction. I’m currently enjoying a stack of books from the library, including works by Richard Dawkins, the 2010 Best American Science Writing, and Sex: A Natural History. These reads have been both enlightening and enjoyable.

Great Escapes truly can be found in everyday life, from profound journeys across continents to the simple joy of a good book or the rhythm of a favorite song. What Great Escapes have you made lately?