Del Mar, which translates “by the sea,” lies just twenty minutes north of San Diego and is cradled by lagoons at both ends. Long a haven for celebrities with an affinity for horse racing, you can eye their upscale estates tucked within ocean-view canyons. A quaint village of shops, notable eateries and art galleries add …
Oceanside is Ready for Its ‘Animal Kingdom’ Close-Up for the new season!
The long-awaited Season 5 of TNT’s “Animal Kingdom” drama is back and so are the charms of SoCal’s Oceanside. Oceanside may be straddling more than three miles of northern San Diego’s summer-perfect coastline, but you have to admit that it is the less glitzy counterpart to nearby beach-going communities—a casual, grittier throwback to California’s authentic …
Find Hidden Treasures Along San Diego’s North Coast
I’m not sure if I have ever encountered a resort with its own signature scent, but the sweet-smelling kai jasmine aroma that permeates the common areas of the Park Hyatt Aviara is only one of the many sensory experiences awaiting its guests. Finding the hilltop resort is only part of the discovery that awaits. Winding …
Be Inspired by a Summer of Art ‘Magic’ in Laguna Beach
Eighty-five years ago, the United States was embroiled in the emotional turmoil of the Great Depression. Even so, artists arriving in Laguna Beach were so inspired by Laguna Beach’s seductively winding coastline, the rambling hills and the vibrant and ever-changing ocean that a group of those artists banded together to find a way to raise …
50 (Grape) Reasons to Visit Temecula’s Wine Country
.Conveniently located within an hour’s drive from San Diego, Orange County and Palm Springs, and within 90 minutes of Los Angeles, Temecula Valley is widely recognized as Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. Although you may not be as familiar with the wines of this region, the popular wine destination is Southern California’s largest wine …
7 Reasons to CHILL in Greater Palm Springs
By Jan Maguire Photos courtesy of Visit Greater Palm Springs 1. Surf’s Up! Family-friendly thrills abound at Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs, a 16-acre water park where you can surf the FlowRider, careen down waterslides, and cool off with a super soak in Kahuna’s Beach House. If you’re feeling flush, rent a private …
SHHH! It’s a Secret Escape to ‘Lake Life’
Although San Marcos’ history goes back to when the Spaniards settled in the fertile valley in 1797, the young city has only been incorporated for scarcely 50 years. Known more as a residential community, it is situated surprisingly close to all the action—just 35 miles from downtown San Diego in the northern part of the …
Indulge the Senses in Ojai with Pixies & Lavender
It is probably redundant to say the word “hidden” in describing the idyllic berg of Ojai. The town that is found on a winding road leading inland off the 101, on the outskirts of Ventura, CA is fairly well secreted in general. But, within the citrus-dripping artist community there are bountiful hidden finds awaiting the …
Top Ten Ways to Get Your ‘Rush’ in San Diego
1. Paragliding With nearly 100 years of flying history, Torrey Pines Gliderport , located north of the village of La Jolla, is America’s most popular coastal soaring site. Adventure seekers can take a tandem paragliding or hang gliding flight with professional, experienced instructors and enjoy a ride that is both thrilling and relaxing, as you …
Top 10 Ways to Find your ‘Malibu Mindset’
Dramatic change is not what Malibu is about. That is exactly why the stars dwell there, despite the fires and floods that go in tandem with the area’s abundance of wild natural beauty. Still, big changes or not, new things are happening and others just keep getting better with each visit. Here are ten ways …
Join Hopalong, Roy and Autry for ‘Concert in the Rocks.’ Live western history amid the Alabama Hills near Death Valley.
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 …
Did You Watch the Baby Eagles Hatching? That’s just a taste of SoCal’s Galapagos.
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 …