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 …
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 …
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 …
As one of the most popular programs of the 1980s, “Dallas” became one of the era’s signature shows and a global phenomenon that gained fans in more than 130 countries. With a twisted tale of the Ewing family and its wealth, power, intrigue and feuds, “Dallas” aired for 13 full seasons. If you remember “who shot JR,” …
You won’t have all of this beauty to yourself in spring with Yosemite attracting millions of visitors between April and August. This year, may even break some attendance records with the long-awaited re-opening of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, which officially opens on June 15. The Grove has been closed since July 2015 for …
Art, Fashion and Yappy Hour Just how often do annual celebrations, shopping and happy hours converge with your favorite four-footed friend? Hardly ever, so it’s time to celebrate in style in Costa Mesa—the home of shopping Mecca South Coast Plaza and one of the most dog-friendly hotels in the west, The Westin South Coast Plaza, …
Death Valley ‘alive’ Last spring did not produce another “super bloom” of wildflowers in Death Valley National Park, but even so, the hottest and driest place in North America had its share of wildflower brilliance to be discovered. That once in a decade occurrence brought visitors from all over the globe to witness the brilliant …
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 …
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 …