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…
Half Dome and scenery at Yosemite National Park
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…
Sunrise over a pond at Copper Valley Golf Course in Copperopolis, Calaveras County, California
The Golf Club at Copper Valley in Copperopolis, 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.…
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad vintage steam train ride through the forest
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…
Griffith Observatory on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California
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…
South Coast Winery, Resort and Spa in Temecula, main building housing the restaurant, tasting room and wine shop
Courtesy of South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
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…
OstrichLand USA Buelton California ostrich feeding attraction
Fantastic wine, food and outdoor fun await in Temecula, Southern California’s wine country  Temecula, known as Southern California’s wine country, occupies a scenic, sun-drenched valley amid rolling hills in Riverside County. The historic city and its rustic surrounds are approximately…
South Coast Winery Resort and Spa vineyards and scenery, visit Temecula Valley, Southern California's wine country
By J.C. Thomas Much like San Diego itself, every element of the Fairmont Grand Del Mar golf resort and spa is eminently appealing. In any season, for every kind of vacation – family fun, a romantic weekend or getaway with…
Fairmont Grand Del Mar exterior entrance fountain San Diego resort
Eat, stay and play at San Luis Obispo’s kitschiest icon The Madonna Inn, a famous hotel, restaurant and bakery just off Highway 101, is a whimsical icon of California’s Central Coast. Dating to 1965, the delightfully wackadoodle property holds a…
Madonna Inn Steakhouse San Luis Obispo Gold Rush Steakhouse
A Review of Yosemite Dreams: Rustic and Refined Lodging Near Oakhurst By J.C. Thomas In 2020, visiting Yosemite National Park in the peak of summer feels like a dream. Weird and lovely, almost eerily serene in the absence of big…
By J.C. Thomas San Luis Obispo is well established as a fantastic destination for foodies. Its Central Coast setting means the city is surrounded by agricultural riches including local wines and a world of fresh, seasonal produce, along with the…
Rotisserie porchetta, roasted vegetables and romesco at SLO Provisions
A review of the beautiful, brand-new Hotel Cerro in SLO upon its mid-June reopening By J. C. Thomas In January 2020 – a lifetime ago – Hotel Cerro celebrated its much-anticipated grand opening in downtown San Luis Obispo. It is…
The Mission Fig Patio at Hotel Cerro, San Luis Obispo