Although tourism in California has a tough road ahead to regain its pre-pandemic glory, some areas that boast an abundant share of nature’s beauty are ready to shine later this year. Make some of your first travel adventures a visit Santa Cruz County, where surfers rule, Redwoods captivate and even the world’s smallest bowling museum …
Win a Trip to the Channel Islands and More
In a year when we need it most, Visit Oxnard is spreading holiday cheer with its annual “12 Days of Giveaways” contest, happening now through December 22. Each day, Visit Oxnard will feature the giveaway items on Facebook and Instagram. The prizes include an overnight stay at Residence Inn River Ridge; Island Packers excursions; a …
What Pandemic? Walk it Out in Laguna Beach
Courtesy TravMedia What started out as a New Year’s resolution ended up being the perfect activity to keep busy during the Coronavirus pandemic. Janelle Naess, founder of Laguna Beach Walks, challenged herself to walk all 419 streets in Laguna Beach in 2020, and she only has one street left. “For the past 20 plus years, …
10 New Reasons to Visit SoCal’s O’side
From “grain to glass” locally made spirits to new hotels and eco-forward restaurants, visitors will continue to find surprise and delight in this San Diego beach town this spring and summer. Perfectly situated between metropolitan San Diego and Los Angeles, Oceanside is a quintessential California coastal escape with wide sandy beaches, a quaint New England-style …
Head to the ‘Oasis’ for Death Valley Wildflowers
Visions of sand dunes, tumbleweeds and brown terrain may come to mind when you think of the desert, but springtime brings color and wonder to Death Valley when some of the most picturesque wildflowers in the U.S. bloom. While the density of wildflowers varies each year, the fact that wildflowers bloom in this environment defies …
Eat like a Local in Santa Barbara
Culinary delights and Santa Barbara—the sparkling gem on California’s Riviera—are nearly synonymous. The home of late, famed chef Julia Child, the city celebrates Julia Child Day each August, and this March 13-15 it will host the inaugural Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, featuring local farms, chefs, restaurants and more, all co-presented by the Santa Barbara-based Julia …
Plan a Cody Yellowstone Getaway like Kim and Kanye
Rapper Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian West just purchased a $14- million ranch in Cody, Wyoming. The 1,400-acre Monster Lake Ranch resort, renamed West Lake, is now a private summer getaway for the Kardashian West family. Situated about 75 miles from Yellowstone National Park, Cody was their top choice for a family retreat bathed …
Plan a Winter ‘Wine’ Getaway
Soul-warming Wines, Cozy Tasting Rooms and Seasonal Events Lead to California Wine Country When temperatures plummet in other parts of the country, it’s time to warm up to a winter getaway in California wine country. Not only does the Golden State enjoy sunny skies and comparatively mild temperatures year ‘round, California’s distinctive wine regions offer …
Swim with Manatees in the Wild
Every January, Crystal River in Florida celebrates manatee season and the area’s most beloved residents during the annual Florida Manatee Festival. The 33rd Annual Florida Manatee Festival returns Jan. 18-22, 2020, with tours, music, food and more. Widely known as the Manatee Capital of the World, Crystal River and Homosassa are among the only places …
Recover from Holiday Burnout in Nature
Somewhere among the frenzy of shopping, baking, parties and talking politics with relatives, the holidays have gone from the most wonderful time of the year to something we try to survive. For anyone who’s ever needed to recover from the hectic holiday season, Natural Habitat Adventures, a global leader in responsible ecotourism, offers five wild …
See the Movie, Visit the Mob Museum
The Mob Museum, named by National Geographic as one of the “Top Ten Things to do in Las Vegas,” has attracted a lot of attention since opening in 2012. the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, provides a world-class journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. Recently, the …
First-Ever (Driveable!) LEGO Bugatti Chiron
It may not be Santa’s sleigh, but it’s built with more than one million LEGO® Technic elements, features more than 2,000 LEGO electric motors and more than 4,000 LEGO Technic gears, and is a one-of-a-kind replica of the world’s fastest production car….the first- ever life-size and drivable LEGO® Bugatti Chiron is on display at LEGOLAND® …