Museum Monday: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The exterior of the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum with banners

There are many popular museums in Los Angeles, but the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County stands out among them with its comprehensive and broadly appealing exhibits housed in a historic building in Exposition Park. The museum boasts almost 35 million items spanning billions of years of natural history in its vast collection, just […]

Museum Monday: Point Mugu Missile Park, Ventura County

An F-4 Phantom 2 jet mounted on display next to palm trees at Point Mugu Missile Park in Ventura County, an open air museum in Southern California

If you’ve ever driven along the stretch of PCH north of Point Mugu State Park and south of Oxnard, you might have noticed a curious display of grounded vintage fighter jets and missiles in the distant corner of an otherwise empty field. It’s clear that they have a military connection due to the location – […]

Want to Get Spooked this Halloween? These are the Stories of the Seven Scariest Spots in California!

Bodie Ghost Town at night

By J.C. Thomas It’s the spoooo-kiest season of all, the most weird and wonderful time of the year for visiting unnerving attractions across California. We’re not talking about your neighbor’s haunted house, however impressive it might be. No, these seven places are the real deal, shrouding sinister backstories, authentic true crime happenings and ghostly legends […]

A Daylong Adventure On Santa Cruz Island is Ideal For Families

Santa Cruz Island seen in the distance across the Pacific Ocean from the decks of an Island Packers boat going to Channel Islands National Park with pelicans overhead

By George Christopher Thomas My wife and I sometimes like to make our two kids do things together that do not encompass screens or video games. When this year’s summer vacation was about to end, we wanted to finish strong with a memorable day trip. So, I went on the internet, that handy dandy device […]

Museum Monday: MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, Santa Barbara

The white wall exterior of MOXI museum in Santa Barbara, California, with a giant color mixing machine visible in the entrance

If you’re exploring Santa Barbara with kids, a visit to MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation is a must. This interactive science museum is in a prime location on lower State Street, right next to the train station and minutes from beaches and the pier. You can’t miss the striking museum – a […]

End a Perfect Day in Sausalito with a Sunset Sail 

A views of the San Francisco Bay from the decks of the schooner Freda B on a sunset sail from Sausalito

The city of Sausalito, covering less than 2 square miles of land on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, should in theory be overshadowed by its bigger, showier neighbors. San Francisco, just 4 miles away, is packed with tourist attractions and coasts on its uniquely compelling vibe. Then there’s the Golden Gate National […]

Museum Monday: La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles

An up close view of the face, trunk and tusks of a replica mammoth at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles, California

“Visit the only Ice Age fossil site in the world that’s being actively excavated in the middle of a city!” This very niche, very cool claim to uniqueness could only be an invitation to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles.  Part of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, La […]

Seven Wonderful Reasons to Visit Flagstaff, Arizona

A mixed landscape of fan palms, juniper and pines at Walnut Canyon near Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff, Arizona, has long been known as the “City of Seven Wonders,” referencing its proximity to an enviable number of natural treasures. The small city in Northern Arizona sits at 7,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by aspen and pine forest at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. It represents a totally different version […]

Museum Monday: Real Bodies at Bally’s, Las Vegas

Close up view of the head and torso of a human body on display at Bodies at Bally's in Las Vegas

Outside of studying anatomy or working in the medical field, there are few opportunities to see the real inner workings of the human body. We can learn about the ways in which our bodies work, view diagrams and imagine what it all looks like inside. We might feel our muscles ache or our tummy rumble, […]

How to Be the Savviest Tourist in San Francisco

A busy street scene in San Francisco's Chinatown with red lanterns strung between brick buildings and storefronts

Combine tourist-friendly deals to get the most out of your San Francisco sightseeing experience By J.C. Thomas When you’re visiting an extremely popular tourist destination like San Francisco, it’s common to want to reject the title of “tourist.” This is especially true for Californians heading to San Francisco for the umpteenth time. You prefer to […]

Presidio Tunnel Tops is San Francisco’s Outstanding New Attraction

A view of the San Francisco Bay from the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park including the Outpost playground

Think you’ve seen all of San Francisco? Think again! The just-opened Presidio Tunnel Tops adds an amazing new asset to the city’s visitor- and local-friendly lineup. San Francisco’s newest park – the 14-acre Presidio Tunnel Tops – opened to the public on July 17, 2022. New national park land, built over the tops of the […]