Sharing the best of California travel from a native Californian
Located about 20 minutes from Santa Cruz, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is one of the Northern Coasts most beautiful getaways. Established in 1902, it’s California’s oldest state park — home to towering redwoods, 80 miles of trails, and several beautiful waterfalls. Here you can take your pick of tent cabins or campsites along Blooms …
One of my favorite places in California is McArthur Burney Falls State Park. This beautiful evergreen forest area, located just north of Redding, is famous for its 129-foot waterfall, which cascades from Burney Creek down into Lake Britton. While you’re here, you can explore the nearby hiking trails (including the Pacific Crest Trail), go swimming …
Robert Mondavi may be the ambassador of Napa Valley, but it was George C. Yount who first put Yountville on the map when he planted the first vineyards here in 1838. One of the most charming cities in wine country, Yountville is a 1-square mile walking town that just happens to be one of the most …
Cambria, a charming seaside hamlet located just a few miles from Hearst Castle, dates back to 1866. Today, this picturesque artist’s village, which is flanked by coastal pines and crashing surf, makes an idyllic weekend getaway. You can shop at high-end boutiques along East and West Village; picnic at Moonstone Beach or Leffingwell’s Landing; or …
Between late February through April each year, the desert landscape at Anza Borrego Desert State Park is awash in a blanket of wildflowers, ranging from delicate desert lilies to bright red cactus blooms. Plan to stay the weekend, as there’s more than wildflowers to see. Anza Borrego sits near the Salton Sea on more than …
One of the most iconic stops along the Mojave’s Route 66, Roy’s Cafe, Gas and Motel was built in 1938 by Amboy mayor Buster Burris. He dubbed it “the crustiest, dustiest gas stop on all of Route 66.” Originally a successful auto parts house, the building was turned into a cafe in 1945, serving up …
Perched on a hilltop 1,600 feet above the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, the magnificent Hearst Castle estate was built by William Randoph Hearst in 1919. During its heyday, the castle played host to Hollywood’s hottest stars, from Howard Hughes to Marion Davies (Hearst’s mistress). The castle is located halfway between LA and San …
The Victorian-era Gaslamp Quarter, set in the heart of downtown San Diego, was once home to the area’s criminals, prostitutes and charlatans. Today, it’s a hip dining, lodging and shopping area. Be sure to take a stroll at night, when the gaslamps that line the street are aglow. This is when the city’s hot young thangs …
Cal-Earth, a sustainable cluster of SuperAdobe buildings in the Mojave Desert, is revered around the globe for its Earth-friendly materials and methods. It was the brainchild of the late architect Nader Khalili (1936-2008), who developed his revolutionary designs for possible lunar use by NASA, and as a freely available housing option for the world’s homeless. …
Built in 1857, San Diego’s Whaley House is considered to be “America’s most haunted house.” Not surprisingly, this is a hot destination during the Halloween season, when crowds line up for a glimpse of its famous ghosts. Owner Thomas Whaley is believed to haunt the upper landing, and Yankee Jim, who was hung in the gallows …