Yosemite National Park Ends Reservation Requirement
Reservations are no longer needed to drive into Yosemite National Park Read on for an update on other National Park Service properties in California The reservation system put in place from June 11, 2020 to limit entrance to Yosemite National Park is no longer in effect. From November 1, no reservations are required to drive […]
Weekly News Roundup for Friday, October 30th, 2020
A roundup of the biggest news stories in California this week, including coronavirus news, a wildfire update and the latest from Sacramento.  Wildfire Update Earlier this week, around 345,000 PG&E customers in Northern California had their power shut off amid safety concerns over extremely high winds. Approximately 38,000 Southern California Edison customers lost power due […]
2020 Holiday Gift Guide, Part I: Museum Gift Stores
Museum stores are the best! They tend to feature interesting, original collections of beautiful, quirky, and cool items that make fantastic gifts. This year, most museums are closed to the public or are open only in limited capacities, but their gift stores are available for online shopping. With the holidays quickly approaching, we suggest you […]
Places to Play: Copperopolis, California
In the serene Sierra foothills of Calaveras County is Copperopolis, a small town with a lot of stories to tell. Visitors come for the beautiful scenery, the lakes and rivers prime for fishing, hiking trails across rolling hills, top-notch golf courses and a burgeoning wine scene. Local attractions include Calaveras Big Trees State Park with […]
Weekly News Roundup for Friday, October 23rd, 2020
A roundup of the biggest news stories in California this week, including a coronavirus update and the latest from Sacramento.  Scientific Safety Experts to Review Covid-19 Vaccines Before Distribution in California Governor Gavin Newsom has named a group of nationally acclaimed California physician scientists with expertise in immunization and public health to the state’s Covid-19 Scientific […]
Places to Play: Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, England
At the mouth of the River Mersey in Liverpool is one of England’s top tourist attractions – the Royal Albert Dock. The historic complex of red-brick warehouse buildings is bustling with visitors who come for its restaurants, shops and excellent museums. Among those are The Beatles Story, dedicated to Liverpool’s most famous sons, and Tate […]
Weekly News Roundup for Friday, October 16th, 2020
A roundup of the biggest news stories in California this week, including a coronavirus update, election news and the latest from Sacramento. White House Rejects, then Approves, Emergency Aid to California Earlier this week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected a Major Disaster Declaration request from the State of California for funds to help with […]
Places to Play: Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, Fish Camp, California
The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a delightful family-friendly attraction just outside Yosemite National Park. Every day from April through to the end of October, passengers of all ages ride in open-air cars pulled by genuine vintage steam trains. The trains chug along 4 miles of narrow-gauge tracks through the scenic Sierra National Forest, […]
Memories of the Major Cities of Texas
Travel writer Roger Allnutt remembers exploring the (pre-pandemic) highlights of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth By Roger Allnutt               It is hard to imagine that six of the 20 largest cities by population in the United States are all in one state – Texas. In order these are Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, […]
Weekly News Roundup for Friday, October 9th, 2020
A roundup of the biggest news stories in California this week, including a wildfire update, coronavirus news and the latest from Sacramento. Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics Awarded to UC Berkeley Faculty Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry this week. The biochemist shares the prize with her colleague […]
The Story of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
How an Italian chocolatier created the sweetest San Francisco icon By J.C. Thomas Ghirardelli, the third-oldest chocolatier in the United States, is today a beloved international brand. Contemporary consumers can’t get enough of the company’s filled chocolate squares, brownie mix and many other chocolate products. In San Francisco, Ghirardelli holds iconic status as a company, […]
Places to Play: Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California
A historic landmark, architectural masterpiece and cultural institution with the mission to bring astronomy to the people, Griffith Observatory means a lot to the people of Los Angeles. It’s a top tourist attraction too, with visitors from all over the world ascending the south slope of Mount Hollywood to take in unmatched views of the […]