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 …
We have full moons, harvest moons, blood moons and blue moons, however, your favorite moon might best be found—not in the sky–but in a tropical, ocean-front destination. For this kind of moon-seeker, Marriott’s prestigious Hawaii Resort Collection has rolled out a half dozen “moon” packages sure to elate any moonchild. Hawaii-goers can choose their ultimate …
Glamping might be a step up from traditional camping, but a new hotel that just opened in Stockholm is my idea of ultra-glamorous “camping.” The multi-storied Downtown Camper could be the ultimate “basecamp” for urban explorers. After all, it’s not every city hotel that hosts complimentary kayaks in the lobby, a resident “Mr. Know-It-All” or a …
Roasted peanuts washed down with ice cold beers and the sounds of cracking bats means just one thing in Arizona: Spring Training. Nearly 2 million baseball fans headed to the greater Phoenix area last year to get an advance peek at their favorite teams. This year is a real home run with some delicious new …
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, …
Cycling tour company Ride & Seek is now offering adventurers a chance to follow in the footsteps of the Carthaginian general, Hannibal Barca, on a 1,787-mile cycling tour through Spain, France and Italy. The 28-day journey takes riders over the Pyrenees, Alps and Apennines on roads featured regularly in the Vuelta a España, Tour de France …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …