SoCal’s Laguna Beach is renown as a beachside art haven, but it is getting a new reputation as a one-of-a-kind wellness trail for all adventurers seeking rejuvenation of the mind, body and soul. For the six million visitors traveling to Laguna Beach each year, the city’s new “Pathway to Zen” showcases 12 year-round stops to …
Story & photos by Barbara Beckley A cellist as bar entertainer. World-class marine sanctuaries. Million dollar waterfront homes and laid-back beach bars. The most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen. Am I in Hawaii? South Florida? No. I’m on South Padre Island in Texas! I didn’t know what to expect when I recently visited Texas’ largest …
California’s 15th official “Wine Month” is happening all September. It is that enticing time of the year when juicy ripe grapes hang heavy on the vines, and the air is filled with fruity aromas that signal harvest time. This month, those of us who delight in the harvest’s newest creations may choose from more than …
Fall is a great time to explore San Diego’s 70 miles of sparkling beaches. Less crowds, temperatures in the refreshing mid-70s and off-season affordable prices at your favorite resorts. What can make fall beach-going even better? Discovering San Diego’s lesser-known stretches of sand that offer serene basking and playing in the surf. It’s like owning …
Rubbing elbows with local residents can offer visitors a unique look at a destination, but knowing where to go can be tricky, especially when locals want to keep their favorite hangouts a secret. Amid San Diego’s vast and varied landscape – ranging from a bustling city center and colorful neighborhoods to 70 miles of sparkling …
Among the many miracles of nature, it’s difficult to match the marvelous and mystifying migration of the monarch butterfly. Recognized by their vivid, orange-and-black wings, these slight insects (weighing less than a dime) are better known for an instinctive internal compass that guides them on an ancestral migration from the shores of Pacific Grove, CA …
Formed by the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, stretching to the far northern part of the state, California’s Inland region is home to dozens of distinct wine regions, including some of the world’s most famous destinations. Hidden among even the high-profile appellations are the wine roads less traveled featuring stunning rural scenery, delicious wines and, …
Art, history and culture are the first things that come to mind when considering a vacation in San Miguel de Allende. Named two years in a row as the Best City in the World by Travel + Leisure. However, San Miguel de Allende is also one of the best kept secrets in Mexico for wellness …
Story & photos by Barbara Beckley Sipping a michelada, Mexico’s delicious beer, Clamato juice and lime concoction, under a beach palapa on one day. Admiring a 17th century church on the next. Watching artisans at work along a country road on another. Then zipping around town in a Pulmonia, and feasting on the world’s largest …
Secret Southern California was written for all of the adventurers, those coming from both far and near, who seek truly unusual getaways. Secret Southern California is a totally updated guide that is a spin-off from the popular Off the Beaten Path Southern California, editions 1-8, by Kathy Strong. Still a guide to those hard-to-find spots, …
We’ve all been “clinging” to one of Monterey County’s craggy cliffs over the Pacific since the first season of HBO’s Emmy Award-winning mini-series “Big Little Lies” ended. However, this June, we will be able to step back from the edge and watch Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and other celebs play out more drama around the …
Summer plans for Cabo? Consider instead an all-inclusive stay just over the San Diego border at Rancho La Puerta, a 3,000-acre healthy-living paradise with flowering meadows, landscaped gardens and breathtaking vistas all nestled at the foot of Mount Kuchumaa, also known as Sacred Mountain. All this beauty and healthy living at Tecate’s original destination spa …