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, …
8 Great Tiki Bars in San Francisco
Wouldn’t a Polynesian escape be great about now? Visualize yourself sipping exotic rum drinks while sarong-clad dancers sway to the beat of drums. Flower leis, Tiki torches and white- sand beaches are all part of a “South Pacific state of mind.” If time and budget make a trip to the islands impossible, don’t worry—plan a …
Win a Yosemite Adventure!
Make this the year to enjoy all Yosemite has to offer. The contest begins now through December 20, with drawings July 1, September 30 and December 30. Read the details here and then enter: https://www.yosemitethisyear.com/welcoming-committee
Ready to Pop the Question? Top 25 Hotels for a ‘Historic’ Proposal
Historic hotels are perfect places for creating lifelong memories, making a visit to one an ideal location for a romantic proposal. You could say that every day is Valentine’s Day at a historic hotel. In fact, many of these romantic destinations have a special spot or package especially designed for proposals. Here is a listing …
Orcas Island: A Foodie & Nature-Lover’s Retreat
It seems that tiny Orcas Island in Washington’s San Juans is gaining big-time notoriety. And, it’s well deserved. In fact, the island with a growing foodie reputation was recently included on the New York Times’ list of “52 Places to Go in 2019.” Make this the year you discover the delights of Orcas Island! The …
California Travel ‘Begins’ in Sacramento
The city that settled between the Sacramento and American rivers. was founded in 1849, and the historical reminders of Sacramento are everywhere, from Sutter’s Fort to Old Sacramento. The city is well known as California’s state capitol, but did you know that it is also the “Tree Capital of the World?” Fall in the Capitol …
Harvest the ‘Secret Season’ in Sonoma
It’s that time of the year in Sonoma when harvest season is about done and the number of visitors filling tasting rooms has become more intimate. Locals call this relaxing period the “secret season” because they know it is the perfect time to enjoy everything Sonoma Valley has to offer without the crowds—from idyllic weather …
Enjoy ‘Breakfast with a View’ at California Inns
Each of these 10 California B&Bs gifts guests with a spectacular “breakfast with a view”—whether its wave-crashing action, wildlife spotting or panoramic vistas of a city skyline. Seven Gables Inn, Pacific Grove Every room of the opulent Seven Gables Inn in Pacific Grove—including its oceanfront dining room—offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. The dining …
Yosemite’s Back & Fall Perfect
Tenaya Lodge, recent winner of Sunset Magazine’s 2018 Travel Awards for Best Park Classic hotel, has all the makings for an ideal fall getaway. Just minutes from the newly renovated Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Tenaya’s fall season includes everything from tours of Yosemite that make a stop at the giant trees to off-roading through …
Cheers to California’s Wine Month!
The state’s 14th official “Wine Month” happening right now is that time of the year when juicy ripe grapes hang heavy on the vines, basking in golden fall sunshine, and the air is filled with fruity aromas that signal harvest time. The crush that ensues is a dizzying process of picking and harvesting, selecting, pressing …
Enjoy Scenic California for Less!
One of the best ways to enjoy America’s stunning beauty is by train. And, Amtrak’s Coast Starlight that transports passengers from Los Angeles, winding up the West Coast to Washington with spectacular views of nature, is one of country’s most beautiful train rides. It’s also a very reasonable way of catching the beauty with rates …
Discover the Perfect End of Summer in Carson Valley
Snuggled between the grand rise of the Sierra and the treasured beauty of the Pine Nut Mountains, Carson Valley is considered by many to be Nevada’s most scenic valley. Made up of the towns of Gardnerville, Genoa, Minden and Topaz Lake, the destination just 12 miles east of South Lake Tahoe is reached by U.S. …