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…
View over Los Angeles from behind the Hollywood Sign at sunset
As easy as it is to be boastful about California’s natural beauty, we have to hand it to the eastern United States – your fall foliage is truly incredible. With forests dominated by evergreens, the Golden State simply can’t compete…
Conway Summit, a snow covered peak, seen from the empty road flanked by yellow fall foliage in the Eastern Sierra of California
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…
Downtown Los Angeles in the evening with cars in the foreground and the Walt Disney Concert Hall and skyscrapers in the background
OPINION By Rachel Melikian Remembering the Past Why should we remember the past, the Armenian Genocide, April 24, 1915? Several elected officials, lawyers, and hostesses raised the question this year and delivered a trite response, although good, during a remembrance…
1922 black and white photograph of Mount Ararat in Armenia, with a river and two tall trees in the foreground
Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 14th this year, so it’s time to start brainstorming gift ideas for your mom, your kids’ mom and any other important mother figures in your life. Flowers and a card are always nice, as…
pink and turquoise graphic with flowers reading 2023 Mother's Day Gift Guide from California News Press
The Exploratorium, an award-winning, science-meets-art museum in San Francisco, checks off a lot of boxes on visitors’ wish lists. It’s one of the best places to go with kids in San Francisco, yet the museum is equally fun and engaging…
closeup view of the Rolling Through the Bay kinetic art sculpture at the Exploratorium, one of the top museums in San Francisco
Check out the Central Valley city of Modesto for the almond blossom cruise, cool downtown murals and more By J.C. Thomas [Note: This post was originally published in March, 2021 and was updated in March, 2023. Due to this year’s…
A mural covered wall in downtown Modesto, California
Here’s an easy way to feel like you’ve cleansed your soul, just a little bit – take a stroll around your local botanical gardens.  There are around 100 botanical gardens in California that are open to the public, according to…
A clearing and dry creek bed under a shady oak tree at Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens in California
Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens
In late 2024, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is set to complete construction of its brand-new David Geffen Galleries. The building will house the museum’s permanent collection of 150,000 objects and reestablish its status as the largest…
A closeup view of Chris Burden's Urban Light art installation outside LACMA
OPINION by Rachel Melikian President Calvin Coolidge and the World’s Biggest Hand-Woven Carpet We leave history behind as time passes. Motion pictures move us while books educate us and documentaries inform us, and a picture is worth a thousand words,…
The Armenian Orphan Rug, a woven crimson and gold traditional rug presented to President Calvin Coolidge
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has a mission to preserve and celebrate over 13,000 years of human interaction with the ocean. It’s quite the scope, narrowed by a focus on the local coastal region, the Santa Barbara Channel and the…
Dwight Brooks ship models and more displays inside the main exhibit hall of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
The most popular activities around Lake Tahoe depend greatly on the season: snow sports in winter, hiking and mountain biking in summer, and scenic driving tours when the weather’s clear. One top attraction in South Lake Tahoe that’s available all…
The red and white paddlewheel of the MS Dixie II churns the waters of Lake Tahoe with a mountain backdrop