On the edge of the San Francisco Bay in Richmond, California, is Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. The park preserves and explores the history of the “Rosies,” some 6 million women who entered the nation’s industrial…
An exhibit inside Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park visitor center
(Photo by California News Press)
By J.C. Thomas San Diego County is known all around the world for its major tourist attractions, near-perfect weather and natural beauty. It’s hard to believe that any hidden gems remain among the region’s immensely inviting cities, beaches and mountains.…
Drink glasses set on a balcony with a lake backdrop at Lakehouse Resort in San Marcos near San Diego
(Photo by California News Press)
Santa Monica is the No. 1 place to go for anyone with a rosy, rom-com-like vision of a Los Angeles vacation. It’s a sunny, lively, visitor-friendly beach city that feels familiar even if it’s your first visit. Santa Monica is…
Santa Monica Pier with a Ferris wheel and backdrop of the beach and city
Exposition Park, a 152-acre urban park in a South Los Angeles neighborhood also named Exposition Park, is one of the top visitor destinations in all of Southern California. The park’s most famous landmark is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a…
Fireworks over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with the playing field covered in an American flag and stands full for a Los Angeles Rams game
Celebrations at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during an LA Rams game in 2019 (Photo by California News Press)
New year celebrations have settled and it’s time to look forward to four seasons of California travel experiences. Planning ahead is not only sensible, allowing you to get the best deals and top choices for lodging across California, it also…
A patch of California poppies and grasses with the ocean in the background
The Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles scores a spot on many visitors’ itineraries thanks to its biggest draw – Museum Row. The strip of top-notch museums along Wilshire Boulevard includes the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, the Petersen…
A view down the Miracle Mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles with the Petersen and Academy museums under a rainbow
Griffith Park is one of the greatest assets of Los Angeles – for locals and visitors alike. Massive and rugged, the municipal park’s 4,310 acres cover the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. Major attractions in Griffith Park, which…
An aerial view over Griffith Observatory at sunset with the mountains of Griffith Park and Los Angeles as a backdrop
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
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