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, …
Cruises Re-Open to the Channel Islands
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. …
Check off your “Bucket List”: Whale Watching
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 …
Discover Treasure in Santa Fe
When Forrest Fenn hid a treasure chest filled with a million dollars’ worth of gold nuggets and precious jewels, he knew exactly what he was doing. In the last several years since the chest was hidden and the first clues emerged, thousands of people have searched high and low amid the beauty of Santa Fe, …
Watch the Sun Rise on SoCal’s Serene Coast
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 …
Hop on Mesa’s Foodie Trail
Long before there was a Food Network, there was a “food network” in almost any area of the country you can imagine—even in largely urban areas that aren’t lined with lush groves and farmer’s fields. South Carolina has a “Sweet Tea Trail,” Oregon has its “Cheese Trail” and New Mexico has its “Green Chile Cheeseburger …
Find More than Poppies in Lancaster
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 …
Eco Pleasures of Espiritu Santa Island
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 …
3 ‘New’ Reasons to Visit the Mojave Now
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 …