La Jolla’s nickname, the Jeweled City, says it all. It sparkles like a multifaceted gem, from its seven miles of curving beachfront with glittering surf to its hillside estates and bistro- and boutique-filled Village. People come to explore nature at wondrous Torrey Pines State Reserve and play golf on fabled Torrey Pines Golf Course …
With sprawling grounds and so many venues to explore, some of the park’s most interesting features go largely unnoticed by visitors. Look a little harder and enjoy these 7 unique experiences on your next visit to Balboa Park. A Free Rembrandt: You can’t really take home an original Rembrandt for free, but it …
Scottsdale, founded as a farming town in the late 1800s, was coined the “The West’s Most Western Town” in the 1950s. Today, the city is a sprawling mecca of luxury with shopping, fine dining, resorts and myriad golf course communities which might make it seem fairly removed from its Old West moniker. However, if you …
A four-star luxury resort pampers guests with chef-created room service menus, plush 300-thread count sheets, soothing massages and—chew toys? A recent statistic reveals that more than 30 million Americans travel with their pets. Judging by the number of creative pet perks being offered by the luxury resort industry, a high number of these pet-toting travelers …
As Valentine’s Day approaches, romance takes center stage. For some people, romance comes in the form of candy and roses. But just ask any “princess” what really defines romance and her answer would be a hilltop castle to share with her Prince Charming. Even though we tend to associate fairytale castles with medieval Europe, California …
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, …
Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora…French Polynesia’s better-known destinations— famous for exotic beauty, sparkling sands and turquoise lagoons, shiny black pearls, and an envious bohemian lifestyle. But, just a three-hour commuter flight away, a string of islands known as the Marquesas lures those in search of more seclusion, rich archaeological remains, jungles filled with wild orchids and …
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. …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …