Every Columbus Day weekend Lone Pine, in the towering shadow of nearby Mt. Whitney, hosts one of the world’s most unique film festivals—the Lone Pine Film Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. The 30th annual celebration of western screenings, stars and memorabilia will be held this October 10-13. The otherwise …
Evan Evans’ two new “The Crown”-inspired itineraries offer the perfect day out for followers of the multi-award-winning series. Fans can fill the void of watching a new season of “The Crown” by taking one (or both) of the two new private chauffeur tours from Evan Evans during their next visit to the UK. These tours bring together the …
Just a short jaunt from San Francisco, Silicon Valley is blessed with thirty miles of San Francisco bay-fronting bliss, as well as twice that amount of Pacific Ocean frontage along iconic Highway One. No wonder many CEO’s have opted to locate their headquarters in the valley with incredible scenic beauty. In addition to dazzling water …
The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park recently reopened following three years of restoration to save the lives of the trees. Along with the unveiling comes a new hassle-free option for traveling to the grove that’s filled with some of the largest trees on earth if you are headed from various Southern …
Day 1 Sleep in (you’ll need the rest), then start your first day by having lunch at one of these popular brew pubs. Consider the Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. for a little live music, along with crave-worthy pizza and craft beers. From dunkels to double IPAs, it’s hard to go wrong at ABGB. Relax on the …
The Pechanga Resort and Casino, which has been a staple of the Inland Empire region of SoCal in Temecula since it was built in 2002 – and added the acclaimed Journey at Pechanga Golf Course in 2008 – has now doubled in size with a recently-completed $300 million expansion to 1,090 rooms and suites, added …
Extraterrestrials, welcome to Nevada. Or should we say, welcome back? Since your last visit to Area 51, the state has missed you! In fact, you could say the entire country has missed you, which is why the Defense Department spent $22 million on a program to find out if aliens do exist. To help curious …
Those in search of wineries tucked away down winding country roads and over the rolling hills of Paso Robles, not far from San Luis Obispo, are likely to stumble upon a new form of tasting and touring—the Distillery Trail. And to visitors’ delight, many of these distilleries operate out of existing wineries, so you get …
The long-awaited Season 5 of TNT’s “Animal Kingdom” drama is back and so are the charms of SoCal’s Oceanside. Oceanside may be straddling more than three miles of northern San Diego’s summer-perfect coastline, but you have to admit that it is the less glitzy counterpart to nearby beach-going communities—a casual, grittier throwback to California’s authentic …
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, …
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 …