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 [...]

Searching for Gray Whales in Oxnard

It’s that time of the year again; time to gather the pod and head south from the cold waters of Alaska to the warm lagoons of Mexico for better food and spawning. This is of course, if you are a California Gray Whale. But since I’m not, I’ll just stick to watching the migration from [...]

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 [...]

Pumpkins, Trains and Ghostly Getaways

October is here and that means it’s time for pumpkins and Halloween and the Pumpkinliner train in Fillmore and a host of scary transformations at local theme parks. Located in Fillmore, about 60 miles northwest or Pasadena, the Pumpkinliner takes visitors to a private pumpkin patch called Ichabog in Santa Paula. The exciting getaway begins [...]

Apples, Festivals, Hayrides and More in Oak Glen

Located in the San Bernardino Mountains, next to Yucaipa, Oak Glen is the apple capital of Southern California. The area has been growing the fruit and other crops for more than 150 years.
And not only is the place great for fresh fruit and family fun, but it also makes a great escape from the valley heat. Because it sits 5,400-ft above sea level, the town is usually about 15 degrees cooler than the cities below.