Virginia City, Nevada, is known for two things: mining history and quirky, off-the-wall events. In 2019, those two things come together with the announcement of the historic town’s annual special events lineup. The town’s major fan-favorite and long-running events return, including the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, Chili on the Comstock and Fourth of July, along …
Shutdown or Not, Explore Plenty of Beauty, History & Culture in the Four Corners
The Four Corners region of New Mexico is well known as the place where outdoor lovers thrive. The ideal base camp to many area National Parks, outdoor recreation areas and cultural attractions, Farmington offers a wealth of experiences to offer visitors, even during the current Government shutdown. Photos by Stan Ford New Mexico’s recreation-rich Farmington …
Clearwater Beach – Sand, Sea and Surprises!
Story and photos by Barbara Beckley Look! It’s Hulk Hogan! Well… almost. It was a life-like statue of Hogan outside his boutique, Hogan’s Beach Shop, on Mandalay Avenue in Clearwater Beach, Florida. But it could have been him. “Hogan frequents the Sandpearl Resort across the street,” the store manager told me, as I perused his …
More to Love in Laguna
You might not know that Laguna Beach has more beachfront lodging properties, from cozy inns to luxury resorts, than any other California coastal city. That means more breathtaking panoramic ocean views backed by waves to soothe the soul. And, you may not know that Laguna is constantly adding more hotels and restaurants to love. Check …
Explore Galapagos on a Luxury Yacht
Make 2019 the year you visit the wonders of the Galapagos Islands. Better yet, make this a dream trip on a luxury yacht outfitted for 16 lucky passengers! This 8-day/7-night Galapagos Islands cruise with Surtrek takes guests in style to Santa Cruz, Santiago, Isabela, Rabida and San Cristobal islands for closse-up views of the unique …
The West’s Best Polar Express Trips
It is already magical when you have the opportunity to travel aboard one of the West’s historic rails with steam locomotives tracing some of the nation’s most beautiful scenic valleys and mountain ridges. Combine such a journey with a holiday tradition that makes little ones wide-eyed and you have pure holiday magic. Just hop aboard …
Treat Yourself to a Uniquely Greater Palm Springs Tour
See Windmills (Really) Close Up Not long after the dinosaurs “welcome” you to the Coachella Valley along Interstate 10, another landmark signals your arrival in Greater Palm Springs. You are soon greeted by the more than 2,000 towering “ambassadors” that make up the wind-powered energy farms of the region. Even if you’ve never been to …
Soar (backwards) over Snowy Big Bear
Skiers and snowboarders at Big Bear Mountain Resorts, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, may or may not be in for the record snowfalls, but that’s not a problem. Although the most recent storm dropped a respectable amount of snow, the $12 million investment in snowmaking equipment a few years ago guarantees snow buffs non-stop powdery …
Lots to Love in Lompoc
For wine-lovers like me, Lompoc’s stellar location – at the base of the award-winning Santa Rita Hills wine region – makes it a perfect base of operations for wine tasting. It is also a great place to find a few secrets to discover! I arrived on a recent weekend, checked into the year-old Hilton Garden …
California Travel ‘Begins’ in Sacramento
The city that settled between the Sacramento and American rivers. was founded in 1849, and the historical reminders of Sacramento are everywhere, from Sutter’s Fort to Old Sacramento. The city is well known as California’s state capitol, but did you know that it is also the “Tree Capital of the World?” Fall in the Capitol …
Discover the Secrets of Death Valley
As the scorching heat of summer turns Death Valley nights to cool and starry and days to perfection, it’s a perfect time to uncover the Secrets of Death Valley, and, as winter turns to spring, the hope of wildflowers adds to the discoveries at every turn. Design your own fascinating nature exploration filled with history, …
Harvest the ‘Secret Season’ in Sonoma
It’s that time of the year in Sonoma when harvest season is about done and the number of visitors filling tasting rooms has become more intimate. Locals call this relaxing period the “secret season” because they know it is the perfect time to enjoy everything Sonoma Valley has to offer without the crowds—from idyllic weather …