Category: U. S. Travel
Monterey, CA – Wildlife, Great Food & More
Monterey is a mixed bag. At first glance, it’s not very exciting. The commercial district is chockablock with the predictable chain stores, and nearby lodging and dining options are also ho-hum. So why am I writing about this Central California city? Because the flip side is that Monterey is home to some of the best food, most authentic wildlife […]
Seattle – Have Fun Like a Local
Seattle. When you think of The Emerald City what pops into your mind? The Space Needle? Salmon? Bill Gates? Seattle is chockablock with iconic images – each suggesting something to do or something to eat or drink. I’ve lived in Seattle and visit frequently and know that – as in any big city – some […]
California Road Trips With Kids – LA to San Fran
California road trips are the best – especially ones along our long, beautiful coast. I’ve lived here most of my life, and I’m still amazed at the sights I see when I travel along Highway 101 and Highway 1. Because I love coastal California road trips, I was alarmed when I heard a mother of […]
Rancho La Puerta – Savor Mexico Near San Diego
Rancho La Puerta, the famous spa retreat in Tecate, Mexico, is a great option for visitors to San Diego who want a taste of Mexican culture. The resort is an hour east of San Diego and just 3.3 miles south of the border. Normally reservations are only accepted for one-week stays, but savvy San Diegans […]
Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play
Carmel Valley is a popular destination for luxury loving Californians. Resorts, lodges, and restaurants in this area two hours from San Francisco offer the food, wine, and activities that Golden State residents love. Want to connect with the local culture? You couldn’t make a better choice than to spend some time at Carmel Valley Ranch. When I […]
Best La Jolla Beach Boutique Hotel
La Jolla beach hotels tend to be busy places, but one boutique property offers a sweet retreat with an ocean view. Scripps Inn faces the Pacific a few blocks south of La Jolla Cove – just far enough from the Children’s Pool seal colony to avoid the masses of visitors that the marine cuties attract. I’ve lived […]
Santa Fe, NM – What’s Hot This Summer
Santa Fe, New Mexico is a popular summer destination because this “City Different” offers an abundance of cultural activities. In this guest post, local Santa Fe expert Judith Moir gives us a heads up on what’s on this season. Judith previously shared her thoughts about Christmas in Santa Fe. As a local, I’m always excited […]
Best Time to Visit La Jolla, California
The best time to visit La Jolla – my hometown – will depend on what you want to do when you get here. For classic car enthusiasts, that means early April, when the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance takes place. In fact, the 2016 La Jolla Concours will take place Sunday, April 10. Now in its 12th […]
June Magic in St Louis
I love the way the Internet brings people together. St Louis resident Ann Mandelstamm will be visiting my home town, La Jolla, California in a couple of weeks and pinged me a quick message with a few questions. I was happy to answer and, in the course of the exchange, she mentioned her city’s summer cultural festivals. She’s a […]
Alaska Travel – Plan Well, Have Fun
Alaska is huge. You already know that. It’s also chockablock with natural wonders, which of course is why you want to go there. So the challenge is to plan an Alaska trip that includes your must-have experiences and makes the best use of your time. To help you do this, I asked Anchorage-based photographer Victoria Lynn […]
Portland, Oregon – Go. Be Surprised.
Portland, Oregon musings from our contributor Larry Kessler – Can we still be surprised when we travel? Are we so “Google-savvy” that we’re no longer capable of experiencing something new in person? Is our Virtual World more real than reality? Can we look up from our iPhones long enough to be filled with awe-inspiring actual […]
New York City – An Insider’s Guide – Part 2
New York City is Larry Kessler’s old stomping grounds. In Part 1 of this article, he told us about one of his favorite places to eat and reflected on some of NYC’s iconic people and places. Here’s more of his homeboy insight… “For me, if I had to pick the one quintessential New York City food […]
New York City – An Insider’s Guide – Part 1
New York City – The borough of Queens, to be specific – is where Larry Kessler grew up…in “a modest house with yellow shutters on a busy street.” “On winter nights, I’d pull back the heavy, pleated, living room drapes to watch the developing storybook scene. I remember the amber street lights and the pure white […]
Love this Romantic Los Angeles Hotel
Most Romantic Los Angeles Hotel? How about one that’s secluded on 12 lush acres in Beverly Hills and is positively steeped in Hollywood love affair history? You just couldn’t ask for a better backstory. The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows The “pink” palace was built in 1912 and offers 185 rooms and suites – plus […]
