Book a night in a restful room just a stone’s throw from Pacifica’s Rockaway Beach We’re always eager to sing the praises of Pacifica, a delightful little beach town just a few miles south-west of San Francisco. With its sleepy small-town vibe, rugged natural landscapes, hiking trails and beaches galore, Pacifica is an ideal spot for […]
A review of the beautiful, brand-new Hotel Cerro in SLO upon its mid-June reopening By J. C. Thomas In January 2020 – a lifetime ago – Hotel Cerro celebrated its much-anticipated grand opening in downtown San Luis Obispo. It is no exaggeration to say the world was different then, before covid-19 and social distancing requirements […]
By J.C. Thomas Irvine is commonly characterized by the hundreds of corporate headquarters whose high-rise office buildings tower over the city’s neat and sunshiny master-planned landscape. This makes it easy to overlook Irvine as a vacation destination, but look beyond its businesslike veneer and you’ll uncover the vibrant urban epicenter of Orange County. Unlike the […]
By J.C. Thomas If you have never considered Oakland as a travel destination, may I suggest you think again? National Geographic Traveler recently named Oakland one of the “28 Best Places to Visit in the World for 2019.” The world. It is only one of four locations in the United States and the only one […]
By Ariel Johns Since opening its doors on May 25, 1964, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square has welcomed convention goers, families, professionals, tourists and such celebrities as Lucille Ball, John Wayne and the king himself, Elvis Presley. Located in the center of three popular neighborhoods, Union Square, SOMA and the Tenderloin, this landmark hotel […]
HALF MOON BAY — Forbes Travel Guide has released its first annual Verified Lists, naming The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay as one of the World’s Most Luxurious Hotels. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay will be showcased with all of the other winners on ForbesTravelGuide.com. Set atop a rugged bluff overlooking 50 miles of pristine Northern California […]
By J.C. Thomas Upon its grand opening in 1926, the oceanfront La Valencia Hotel and Spa became an instant icon of La Jolla, the upscale neighborhood 12 miles north of downtown San Diego. With its rosy-hued, Mediterranean-inspired architecture, the property known as “The Pink Lady of La Jolla” continues to exude a timeless elegance and […]
By J. C. Thomas When you’re spending a night in one of Europe’s grand old cities – and London is arguably the grandest of them all – select a hotel that matches the splendor of the whole experience. The Royal Lancaster London, a 411-room icon of midcentury architecture a stone’s throw from Hyde Park, is […]
Elvis Presley could have lived anywhere in the world, but even at the highest peak of his fame he devoted himself to Memphis. Elvis was born 100 miles away in Tupelo, Mississippi, moved to Memphis with his family at the age of 13, and rose to stardom in the city alongside rock ‘n’ roll itself. In […]
The city of Memphis, Tennessee, has adopted the tourist-drawing tagline “Home of the Blues,” with “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” as a close runner-up. Memphis Tourism opts for an all-encompassing “Home of Blues, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll.” With a heritage that includes the very genesis of multiple genres, Memphis is fueled by the magic […]
An ultimate guide to all the best things to see and do in Hollywood, California Hollywood is the most famous neighborhood in Los Angeles and one of the top tourist destinations in the world. The name alone evokes visions of movie-making magic, Golden Age glamor, and stars. Stars everywhere. Stars in everyone’s eyes! Stars on […]
A first-timer’s ultimate guide to all the best things to see and do in downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) Downtown Los Angeles, or DTLA, is not like other downtowns. This isn’t a judgment call on its appeal – there is a lot to love about downtown – but rather a useful thing to know before making […]
