I’m not sure if I have ever encountered a resort with its own signature scent, but the sweet-smelling kai jasmine aroma that permeates the common areas of the Park Hyatt Aviara is only one of the many sensory experiences awaiting its guests. Finding the hilltop resort is only part of the discovery that awaits. Winding …
By Alanna Smith, Editor at TravelPirates Allerton Garden, Kauai Part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Allerton Garden is home to massive Moreton Bay fig trees. They were featured in the franchise’s first film, when Dr. Alan Grant and his young companions find a very important dinosaur nest. The garden is open for guided tours, …
Eighty-five years ago, the United States was embroiled in the emotional turmoil of the Great Depression. Even so, artists arriving in Laguna Beach were so inspired by Laguna Beach’s seductively winding coastline, the rambling hills and the vibrant and ever-changing ocean that a group of those artists banded together to find a way to raise …
BE PART OF MOVIE MAGIC Universal Studios Florida will put visitors right in the middle of the action with the new Fast & Furious- Supercharged ride, based on the popular film franchise, where an after-race party turns into a high-speed race to escape a criminal cartel. Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens Toy Story Land on June 30, featuring two new attractions, along …
There are so many ways to explore Sonoma County. Embark on an iconic California road trip along dramatic Highway 1 for spontaneous explorations along more than 50 miles of sparkling Pacific coastline that forms Sonoma County’s western border. While farm-to-fork is considered a new trend, in Sonoma County it’s just called eating. Discover the destination’s …
SwimTrek, known for open water swimming trips all over the world, returns to America’s southwest with a tour set in the stunning Salt River Lakes of Arizona. The unique week-long tour package offers lake swims alongside the iconic cliffs and canyons of Arizona’s Tonto National Forrest that offers a different perspective of the beauty–from the …
Visit abandoned mines in Superior Superior Tour Company, now operating out of Superior Arizona, provides guided off-road Jeep tours (under permit of the Tonto National Forest) to various locations in and around Superior. Tours include scenic, abandoned and historical mine sites, graveyards, night tours and custom packages starting at $45/per person. Superior Tour Company also offers a guided …
By Jan Maguire Photos courtesy of Visit Greater Palm Springs 1. Surf’s Up! Family-friendly thrills abound at Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs, a 16-acre water park where you can surf the FlowRider, careen down waterslides, and cool off with a super soak in Kahuna’s Beach House. If you’re feeling flush, rent a private …
Although San Marcos’ history goes back to when the Spaniards settled in the fertile valley in 1797, the young city has only been incorporated for scarcely 50 years. Known more as a residential community, it is situated surprisingly close to all the action—just 35 miles from downtown San Diego in the northern part of the …
It is probably redundant to say the word “hidden” in describing the idyllic berg of Ojai. The town that is found on a winding road leading inland off the 101, on the outskirts of Ventura, CA is fairly well secreted in general. But, within the citrus-dripping artist community there are bountiful hidden finds awaiting the …
1. Paragliding With nearly 100 years of flying history, Torrey Pines Gliderport , located north of the village of La Jolla, is America’s most popular coastal soaring site. Adventure seekers can take a tandem paragliding or hang gliding flight with professional, experienced instructors and enjoy a ride that is both thrilling and relaxing, as you …
Dramatic change is not what Malibu is about. That is exactly why the stars dwell there, despite the fires and floods that go in tandem with the area’s abundance of wild natural beauty. Still, big changes or not, new things are happening and others just keep getting better with each visit. Here are ten ways …