Throughout this trip, we have tried to achieve a good balance of urban experiences and rural adventures — after all, we love both! It’s been interesting (and in some cases heartbreaking) to see what’s happening in some of the larger cities we’ve visited. San Francisco, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle — these are just a few of the cities we see struggling with serious systemic issues. We are sure you’ve experienced it as well—individuals and companies have abandoned downtown areas, affordable housing continues to be out of reach for many, and the impact of the opioid crisis continues to grow. 

It’s challenging for businesses of all sizes to operate under such circumstances. We’ve read about a 40-year-old sandwich shop in Phoenix struggling to stay afloat in the center of one of the largest homeless encampments in the country, and an REI store in Portland closing after spending $800,000 on additional security in 2022. Over 20 years ago, Michele helped open an ad agency office in the then-hot San Francisco neighborhood of SOMA — now the streets around that area are marked by empty storefronts. 

There are bright spots (we can always find bright spots). For instance, we actually found a lot of fun, funky stores in Portland’s Pearl District; neighborhoods like San Francisco’s North Beach have a thriving arts and food scene; and San Diego’s Little Italy is home to a fabulous farmer’s market, terrific restaurants, fun apartment buildings, and more. 

We will be visiting some smaller cities this fall, and will be interested to see how they are faring. Apparently, many of them are finding opportunity in the current situation, with people choosing to move to places like Ashville and Austin, and businesses opening up to take advantage of the migration. Stay tuned!