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 …
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, …
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 …
Scottsdale, founded as a farming town in the late 1800s, was coined the “The West’s Most Western Town” in the 1950s. Today, the city is a sprawling mecca of luxury with shopping, fine dining, resorts and myriad golf course communities which might make it seem fairly removed from its Old West moniker. However, if you …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
It seems there’s lots more sprouting in the high-desert city of Lancaster than its signature orange poppies. Nestled in the Antelope Valley known for its aviation history, Lancaster is making its own history these days as a progressive California city that also offers a weekend getaway full of surprises. Poised on the edge of the …
1. Tour Mitchell Caverns California’s equivalent to the Carlsbad Caverns has been closed to the public for nearly seven years. In November, the Mitchell Caverns re-opened for public tours. As the only limestone caves in the California State Park system (and only one of two you can enter), the natural attraction offers fascinating stalactite and …