Museum Monday: The Getty Villa Museum, Pacific Palisades

The long pool and statue in front of the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades

Contemporary Southern California couldn’t be much further in time and space from the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome and Etruria. However, at the Getty Villa Museum in Pacific Palisades, a stone’s throw from Malibu, these distinct cultures come together in a splendid showcase of classical art and architecture.  The lavish Getty Villa, a precise recreation […]

Places to Play: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Collage of photos from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California

The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s 200-plus exhibits of living ocean animals inspire awe among its 2 million annual visitors. Offering incomparable views into the rich marine habitats of Monterey Bay, the nonprofit public institution fulfills its mission to inspire ocean conservation in parallel with being one of California’s top tourist attractions. Entertainment – by playful sea […]

A Comprehensive Guide to California’s 20 Remarkable National Forests

collage of four images of California national forest scenery

The National Forest Foundation has declared July 8 to 14, 2024, as National Forest Week. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the 20 national forests in California, which protect a whopping 20.8 million acres of federal land. The Golden State comes second only to Alaska in national forest acreage.  California’s national forests cover […]

The Ultimate Summer-in-California Bucket List 

Summertime in California bingo card with graphic icons
(Illustration by California News Press)

(+ a free printable “Summertime in California” bingo card!) School’s out and summer is officially here, so it’s time to get outdoors and enjoy all that the sunniest season has to offer. In California, we’re spoiled with incredible opportunities for outdoor fun, from beach days to mountain hikes, and sometimes just a nice neighborhood stroll. […]

Reasons to Visit (or Skip) LA’s Venice Beach

Horizontal collage of varied scenes from Venice Beach, California

Venice is a weird beachfront neighborhood of Los Angeles. Whether it’s good-weird or bad-weird, and whether or not Venice Beach is worth visiting, is entirely subjective. For some visitors, the beachfront neighborhood with its famous boardwalk is an absolute must-see highlight of Southern California. For others, there are probably quite a few more appealing destinations […]

Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach Embraces the Beauty and Bounty of the Oxnard Coast 

A view of the beach and ocean framed by an architectural arch at Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach resort in Oxnard, California
Ocean views from Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach (Photo by California News Press)

By J.C. Thomas California’s celebrated coastline is 1,264 miles long, yet there are only a handful of true oceanfront resorts in the entire state. Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach stands out even among such rare offerings – it’s the only all-suite beachfront resort in California. Located on the edge of Oxnard in Ventura County, the […]