Culinary delights and Santa Barbara—the sparkling gem on California’s Riviera—are nearly synonymous. The home of late, famed chef Julia Child, the city celebrates Julia Child Day each August, and this March 13-15 it will host the inaugural Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, featuring local farms, chefs, restaurants and more, all co-presented by the Santa Barbara-based Julia …
Soul-warming Wines, Cozy Tasting Rooms and Seasonal Events Lead to California Wine Country When temperatures plummet in other parts of the country, it’s time to warm up to a winter getaway in California wine country. Not only does the Golden State enjoy sunny skies and comparatively mild temperatures year ‘round, California’s distinctive wine regions offer …
No need to dream about a White Christmas. Big Bear Lake is Southern California’s top destination for a Christmas setting with snow-covered pine trees, the scent of fresh oven-baked gingerbread cookies, caroling sidewalk musicians and a kaleidoscope of Christmas lights that adorn the Big Bear Village. Maybe this year, a mountain holiday should be added …
Charming towns steeped in old-fashioned holiday traditions pair perfectly with historic bed and breakfast inns decked in festive holiday finery. To help you find your ideal holiday getaway, the California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns has compiled a handful of destinations and inns in the northern part of state that promise nostalgic magic for …
Story & Photos by Barbara Beckley Simply the best city hotel I have ever experienced! Playful and different in so many ways. You check in at the bar – and the super friendly staff hands you a cocktail. My kinda hotel! Just being there was so much fun. Going up to my room, when …
Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Ernie have lots to celebrate—a new home on the West Coast! As Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary arrives, so does a new theme park in Southern California that pays homage to the beloved brand. SeaWorld Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street®, just revealed the plans for …
Serenely tucked above Santa Barbara and a few miles inland is lush, the secreted Santa Ynez Valley, settled by the Spaniards in 1804 with a garden-set mission and in 1911 by Danish Americans who pushed out from the boundaries of Mission Santa Inez to establish the “Little Denmark” community of Solvang. A perfect trip to …
California’s 15th official “Wine Month” is happening all September. It is that enticing time of the year when juicy ripe grapes hang heavy on the vines, and the air is filled with fruity aromas that signal harvest time. This month, those of us who delight in the harvest’s newest creations may choose from more than …
Among the many miracles of nature, it’s difficult to match the marvelous and mystifying migration of the monarch butterfly. Recognized by their vivid, orange-and-black wings, these slight insects (weighing less than a dime) are better known for an instinctive internal compass that guides them on an ancestral migration from the shores of Pacific Grove, CA …
Formed by the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, stretching to the far northern part of the state, California’s Inland region is home to dozens of distinct wine regions, including some of the world’s most famous destinations. Hidden among even the high-profile appellations are the wine roads less traveled featuring stunning rural scenery, delicious wines and, …
Visit the destinations behind your favorite movies, novels and music You can hardly watch a television show or movie or read a book or listen to the radio without a reminder of California. Home to innovation and creative minds, California has long been the inspiration behind our entertainment. Stroll through the sets of “Jurassic Park” …
Secret Southern California was written for all of the adventurers, those coming from both far and near, who seek truly unusual getaways. Secret Southern California is a totally updated guide that is a spin-off from the popular Off the Beaten Path Southern California, editions 1-8, by Kathy Strong. Still a guide to those hard-to-find spots, …