You may not know the Alabama Hills by name, but when you see the distinctive rock formations of the heavily mined hills, you may very well recognize them from hundreds of movies, television shows and commercials—old west and more contemporary. Not far from Death Valley on Highway 395 is small town of Lone Pine, tempting …
A dozen miles off Southern California’s Pacific coastline near Ventura is a sparkling ribbon of rocks that seem to float on the horizon. The Channel Islands, named for the deep troughs that have isolated them from the mainland for thousands of years, are home to more than 2,000 species of animals and plants, 145 found …
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, “Coachella,” and its country western counterpart, Stagecoach Country Music Festival, have come to dominate the music scene locally, nationally and internationally since Coachella’s inception nearly 20 years ago. Recently named Billboard’s Top Festival of the Year, with box office revenue exceeding the $100 million mark, Coachella has earned …
You won’t have all of this beauty to yourself in spring with Yosemite attracting millions of visitors between April and August. This year, may even break some attendance records with the long-awaited re-opening of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, which officially opens on June 15. The Grove has been closed since July 2015 for …
Art, Fashion and Yappy Hour Just how often do annual celebrations, shopping and happy hours converge with your favorite four-footed friend? Hardly ever, so it’s time to celebrate in style in Costa Mesa—the home of shopping Mecca South Coast Plaza and one of the most dog-friendly hotels in the west, The Westin South Coast Plaza, …
1. Cabrillo National Monument Perched high on the tip of Point Loma peninsula, Cabrillo National Monument provides Instagrammers spectacular images of the downtown skyline, Coronado, San Diego Bay and its many scenic marinas. You can even spy Tijuana on a clear day! (Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona, sandiego.org) 2. Chicano Park San Diego’s rich Hispanic …
FOR BEST ACTRESS, THE WINNER IS CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA & CARMEL VALLEY Joan Fontaine won the Best Actress Award for her role in Suspicion in 1941. Scenes for the movie were shot along the dramatic coastline between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur, standing in for the English coast. Carmel’s quaint architecture and shop-lined Ocean Avenue have also appeared …
Death Valley ‘alive’ Last spring did not produce another “super bloom” of wildflowers in Death Valley National Park, but even so, the hottest and driest place in North America had its share of wildflower brilliance to be discovered. That once in a decade occurrence brought visitors from all over the globe to witness the brilliant …
Barrio Logan Located south of downtown San Diego, Barrio Logan is a Mexican-American neighborhood established by refugees back in the early 20th century during the Mexican Revolution and stands rooted in civic movement. Throughout time, numerous rezoning projects slowly transformed this bayfront community into an industrial zone. However, in the 1970s when the construction of …
The Coastal Sand Dunes Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes These dunes on California’s scenic central coast are the second largest in the state, spreading from Santa Barbara County to Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County. At Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park in the hidden town of Guadalupe near Santa Maria, a paved road leads to the Rancho …
While camping has been considered one of the more economical ways to travel, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) recently asked campers why they camp, and, surprisingly, the top answers weren’t about money at all. The top responses were reconnecting with nature, getting away from the stress of our lives and spending more time with loved …
Borrego Springs after Dark The small community of Borrego Springs is aptly designated one of only two International Dark Sky Communities in the world. “USA Today” rated Borrego as one of the top ten stargazing locations in the nation. The quiet of the area combined with the dark, star-filled sky make Borrego Springs a …