A Spanish Getaway to the Hidden Treasures of Ojai
I’m surprised at how many people I talk to that have yet to discover the magic of Ojai. The tiny idyllic town, hidden in a bowl of hills behind Ventura, has to be one of the best kept secrets in Southern California. In fact, I’m almost afraid of telling people about my last visit for [...]
Take Me Out to a Los Angeles Dodgers Game
When I was little, my friends and I loved taking the bus to see the Los Angeles Dodgers. And even though we weren’t big baseball fans, we were enchanted by the experience of sitting in a giant stadium, surrounded by huge lights, perfectly cut grass and thousands of fans. We also loved eating Dodger dogs [...]
Summer is Coming and Alaska is Calling
Summer is coming and the great white north is calling. In fact, if you listen closely you can almost hear roaring grizzly bears, splashing killer whales, rustling moose, and squawking bald eagles – all doing their best to attract tourists to share in the splendor of Alaska. I answered the call of the wild last [...]
KOOZA Comes to Irvine
Cirque du Solei is a cornucopia of sights and sounds, where gymnastics, contemporary dance, drama theater, circus performers and live music all meet beneath a giant traveling Grand Chapiteau (big top). It is a place where a sports fan and a ballet aficionado can take granny and the kids, and all can a have a [...]
Exploring a Rugged Interior with Gray Lines of Alaska: Part 1
I’ve taken a few cruises along the coast of Alaska and all were amazing. The endless, rugged beauty that passes by the windows and decks of the cruise ship is unforgettable. And the shore excursions into port cities are exciting. But on my last journey to Alaska I wanted to see things from a different [...]
Big Bear Lake is Fabulous in Fall
Everybody knows that Big Bear Lake is a wonderland in winter, perfect for skiing, snowboarding, memorable Alpine vistas and more. But as I recently learned, the mountain resort is equally fantastic in fall, when leaves change colors, fish are biting, mountains trails beckon, and beer flows from large Oktoberfest mugs. I began a recent fall [...]
Shopping the Fair for Food and Much More
I heard a strange growling sound as I left the shopping district at the Los Angeles County Fair. At first I thought it was my stomach calling for a smoked rib sandwich or a mountain of onion rings. But when the roar erupted again, I knew it was something much bigger than me; something from [...]
A Summer Night at a Los Angeles Dodger Game
There is something special about sharing a summer night with 50,000 enthusiastic people at a Los Angeles Dodger game. Not only is the experience exciting and fun, but it also bubbles with a sense of community that can only be found in a national pastime such as baseball. And if you can share the game [...]
Summer Getaway to Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort in Oxnard
Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort is a tropical paradise on the sand in Oxnard. Sprawling over eight acres, the resort is a mixture of ocean-front buildings, pools, ponds, waterfalls and lush gardens. Because of its proximity to the San Gabriel Valley, the resort can make a great week or weekend getaway. It may [...]
Cruising the Columbia River aboard an American Safari Yacht, Part 1
There are many great memories that come to mind as I recount my nine-day yacht cruise down the Columbia River. There are colossal dams with massive steel locks, giant gorges cut through mountains, behemoth barges and ships drifting past cabin windows, spectacular unspoiled landscapes teeming with wildlife, tiny deserted islands, roaring rapids, historic images of [...]
