By Barbara Beckley I recently attended the 2024 Pasadena Showcase House of Design “Empty House Party” – and wow! This year’s manor do-over is going to be a must. As arguably SoCal’s oldest (founded in 1965) and easily, most interesting fundraiser, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design always delights with stylish re-dos of elegant mansions …
By Kathy Strong California’s equivalent to the Carlsbad Caverns was closed to the public for several years. The Mitchell Caverns have re-opened for public tours in certain months. As the only limestone caves in the California State Park system (and only one of two you can enter), the natural attraction offers fascinating stalactite and stalagmite …
Monterey County on California’s Central Coast beckons visitors to find their own paths to adventure. With a breadth of different adventures and escapes, no matter the path – wellness, family, outdoor and epicurean – it all leads to the same place—an inspirational and memorable experience. The Wellness Path: Connect Within and Find Your Center Combining …
There’s no place like SoCal’s San Diego for the winter holidays, where guests can warm up to sunshiny days, uncrowded beaches, and inviting laid-back vibes. Evan Hotels’ Bahia Resort Hotel and Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa on Mission Bay and The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla are the perfect coastal retreats to soak …
The “Lost City Celebration” is scheduled for October 6 – 8 on California’s Central Coast where the 1923 historic feature was partially filmed. Before the term ‘Blockbuster’ was invented, Cecil B. DeMille was arguably the first filmmaker to create large scale film productions with The Ten Commandments (1923). Filmed on the dunes outside Guadalupe, California, …
By Kathy Strong There may be hundreds of hotels and resorts in America that claim haunted histories, but only a handful actually offer guided tours filled with spine-chilling tales of its past and legendary ghost sightings. Too spooked to check in? No problem. Most of these tours are also open to non-guests. The Stanley Hotel, …
Story and photos by Barbara Beckley Ahh…relaxing under a palapa, cerveza in hand, watching the surf wash onto the golden beach. Paradise? I think so. I was in Sayulita, a fishing village-turned bohemian art colony and world recognized surf break – on a jungle-clad bay along the Riviera Nayarit on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, an …
To the delight of the rail-fan world and kids of all ages, Grand Canyon Railway just announced that No. 4960 will celebrate its 100th birthday by pulling the regular scheduled passenger train from Williams to South Rim, Grand Canyon on Saturday, August 5, 12 and 19. The steam engine will also run on select days …
Photos and story by Barbara Kerr Throughout history, people have made pilgrimages to burial sites: to honor and to remember. In today’s celebrity culture, many people are drawn to four Los Angeles area cemeteries which are the final resting places of stars of yesterday and today: Forest Lawn Glendale, Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills, …
By Kathy Strong Laguna Beach has been an exclusive haven for the arts for nearly a century, as well as the sparkling jewel of Southern California’s own scenic Riviera coastline. A year-round destination, Laguna shines brightest in the summer months. Gentle ocean breezes combine with some of the cleanest beaches, water and air on the …
By Barbara Beckley Wine tasting. Hot air ballooning. Tasty cuisine. Stylish accommodations. Now you can add “Wine-Bottle Art” and “blend-your-own-wine” to the list of reasons to visit Southern California’s award-winning wine region, Temecula. Sitting under a grape vine-covered arbor, I thought “outside the lines;” wielding my paintbrush with care to create wisteria blossoms circling …
California’s vast desert region is a land of hidden oases and canyons, towering snow-capped mountains, and sweeping panoramas that conjure visions of early California and the Old West. Unlike anywhere else in the world, the California Deserts feel like one giant natural theme park—connected by scenic open roads and a network of character-rich lodging properties. …