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 […]
It’s Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 4-10, 2020)
These five organizations work for better mental health awareness and services for all Californians, every week of the year In 1990, Congress declared the first week of October to be Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), and in 1992 the World Federation for Mental Health made October 10th World Mental Health Day. It’s a time to […]
Stay at South Coast Winery for a Complete Wine Country Experience
South Coast Winery, Resort and Spa in Temecula, California offers luxury accommodations, farm-to-table cuisine, a full-service spa, and an award-winning winery all in one scenic spot By J.C. Thomas As the first and only full-service winery resort in the Temecula Valley, South Coast Winery, Resort and Spa checks all the boxes on any visitor’s must-do […]
Weekly News Roundup for Friday, October 2nd, 2020
A roundup of the biggest news stories in California this week, including a wildfire update, coronavirus news and the latest from Sacramento. Glass Fire Devastates Napa Valley and Sonoma County The Glass Fire, which started burning on September 27th, has burned over 60,000 acres in Napa and Sonoma counties. It is currently 6% contained, and the […]
Places to Play: OstrichLand USA in Buellton, California
On the side of Route 246, just minutes off Highway 101 near Buellton, is a curious sight indeed. Hundreds of ostriches and emus roam an enormous enclosure with a scenic mountain backdrop. Pull over at OstrichLand USA, and you can see these impressive birds up close as well as feed them. OstrichLand USA is one […]
News Roundup for Friday, September 25th, 2020
A roundup of the biggest news stories in California this week, including a wildfire update, coronavirus news and the latest from Sacramento. Governor Newsom Passes a Series of Significant Environmental Bills Governor Newsom this week signed several bills plus an Executive Order designed to help California meet future climate targets. The Executive Order signed by the Governor […]