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 …
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 …
By Alanna Smith, Editor at TravelPirates Allerton Garden, Kauai Part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Allerton Garden is home to massive Moreton Bay fig trees. They were featured in the franchise’s first film, when Dr. Alan Grant and his young companions find a very important dinosaur nest. The garden is open for guided tours, …
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 …
BE PART OF MOVIE MAGIC Universal Studios Florida will put visitors right in the middle of the action with the new Fast & Furious- Supercharged ride, based on the popular film franchise, where an after-race party turns into a high-speed race to escape a criminal cartel. Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens Toy Story Land on June 30, featuring two new attractions, along …
There are so many ways to explore Sonoma County. Embark on an iconic California road trip along dramatic Highway 1 for spontaneous explorations along more than 50 miles of sparkling Pacific coastline that forms Sonoma County’s western border. While farm-to-fork is considered a new trend, in Sonoma County it’s just called eating. Discover the destination’s …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …