Stepping into the voluminous resort lobby brimming over in Hawaiian legend and art is all it takes to realize that Aulani is unlike any other Disney property you have visited. The resort, a perfect marriage of Disney pixie dust and Hawaiian lore, is a haven of beauty and magic for families and couples alike. And, …
Your SoCal ‘Tiki’ Getaway Just a Hula Away
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 makes a trip to the islands impossible, don’t worry. It …
Bucket List ‘Must’: Mitchell Caverns off Route 66
The Providence Mountains nestled within the state-run recreation area, in a region otherwise surrounded by National Preserve land, is its own unique desert destination, distinguished by a range of mountains that bring cooler air and a botanic garden of cacti and pinyon. The bright red rhyolite in the higher elevations is home to Bighorn sheep …
Board your ‘Fantasy Flight’ on the Pan Am Experience
If you long for the nostalgic days of flying when passengers dressed up, wined and dined and enjoyed plenty of personal service, then now you can take a “fantasy flight” to relive a romantic era when flying was one of the best parts of your vacation. Before the long security lines, cramped seats and packaged …
Hooray for Hollywood!
In the golden days of glitz and movie-dom glamour, hopeful starlets arrived by the busload to find fame in Hollywood where red-carpet excitement filled the nights, and dreams of stardom could come true while sipping a soda at the corner drugstore. Today, when people refer to Hollywood as the heart of movie-making and celebrity sightings, …
Explore ‘Hidden’ La Jolla
La Jolla’s nickname, the Jeweled City, says it all. It sparkles like a multifaceted gem, from its seven miles of curving beachfront with glittering surf to its hillside estates and bistro- and boutique-filled Village. People come to explore nature at wondrous Torrey Pines State Reserve and play golf on fabled Torrey Pines Golf Course …
7 Hidden Gems in the Nation’s Largest Urban Cultural Park
With sprawling grounds and so many venues to explore, some of the park’s most interesting features go largely unnoticed by visitors. Look a little harder and enjoy these 7 unique experiences on your next visit to Balboa Park. A Free Rembrandt: You can’t really take home an original Rembrandt for free, but it …
Time for a SoCal ‘Dogcation’
A four-star luxury resort pampers guests with chef-created room service menus, plush 300-thread count sheets, soothing massages and—chew toys? A recent statistic reveals that more than 30 million Americans travel with their pets. Judging by the number of creative pet perks being offered by the luxury resort industry, a high number of these pet-toting travelers …
California’s Top Fairytale Castles
As Valentine’s Day approaches, romance takes center stage. For some people, romance comes in the form of candy and roses. But just ask any “princess” what really defines romance and her answer would be a hilltop castle to share with her Prince Charming. Even though we tend to associate fairytale castles with medieval Europe, California …
Cruises Re-Open to the Channel Islands
Island Packers, the authorized boat transportation to the Channel Islands, is back in business to take you on your own “Galapagos”-style adventure just a few hours from Los Angeles, following the 101. A dozen miles off Southern California’s Pacific coastline near Ventura is a sparkling ribbon of rocks that seem to float on the horizon. …
Check off your “Bucket List”: Whale Watching
Travel surveys reveal that Whale Watching is consistently listed in the Top Ten Travel Bucket List. People arrive from all over the world for this uniquely West Coast phenomenon that can only be experienced a few months of the year—late winter through spring. Choose from a long list of whale watching experiences—from guaranteed whale sightings …
Watch the Sun Rise on SoCal’s Serene Coast
Steep, rocky cliffs that rise then fall to meet with the foamy surf give the 26-square-mile Palos Verdes Peninsula a wild NorCal coastal vibe. This unique enclave, once home to what many consider Southern California’s first theme park, is nestled on a secluded and exclusive part of the state’s enviable coastline. The fact that it …