Just fourteen miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park is more to explore. Bass Lake, known for sparkling warm water, boating, fishing, hiking and majestic Bald Eagles, a favorite of families. This hidden gem of the Sierra Nevada is officially open for outdoor fun and the historical Sugar Pine Railroad is readying to …
Although tourism in California has a tough road ahead to regain its pre-pandemic glory, some areas that boast an abundant share of nature’s beauty are ready to shine later this year. Make some of your first travel adventures a visit Santa Cruz County, where surfers rule, Redwoods captivate and even the world’s smallest bowling museum …
In a year when we need it most, Visit Oxnard is spreading holiday cheer with its annual “12 Days of Giveaways” contest, happening now through December 22. Each day, Visit Oxnard will feature the giveaway items on Facebook and Instagram. The prizes include an overnight stay at Residence Inn River Ridge; Island Packers excursions; a …
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 …