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 …
With sprawling grounds and so many venues to explore, some of the park’s most interesting features go largely unnoticed by visitors. Look a little harder and enjoy these 7 unique experiences on your next visit to Balboa Park. A Free Rembrandt: You can’t really take home an original Rembrandt for free, but it …
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 …
There are many reasons why we visit different destinations—from scenic beauty to music and architecture. But did you know that among the top vacation choices is food. Actually, it is the third reason we go, according to a recent U.N. World Tourism Organization report on gastronomy and visitation. Since food helps define a destination’s culture, …
Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora…French Polynesia’s better-known destinations— famous for exotic beauty, sparkling sands and turquoise lagoons, shiny black pearls, and an envious bohemian lifestyle. But, just a three-hour commuter flight away, a string of islands known as the Marquesas lures those in search of more seclusion, rich archaeological remains, jungles filled with wild orchids and …
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 …
Within the warm, aqua waters of the Sea of Cortez are treasures to discover and adventures to take—an eco-retreat experience that guarantees an unforgettable vacation memory. Cousteau called these waters surrounding La Paz “the world’s aquarium”—a most fitting description of the area’s rich and diverse ecosystems found in bay after aqua-blue bay with white- sand …
Some secrets are just worth spilling—especially when they are tied up in adventure, fun and anything but the expected. If you think you know everything about San Diego and area, consider this an opportunity to add a few more favorites to your favorite region. For those who seek intrigue, pleasant surprises, let’s-not-tell finds and off-the-beaten-path …
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 …