Category: Travel
By J.C. Thomas With vibrant and artsy Oakland as its urban hub, the East Bay is a fantastic destination for a family getaway. Adding to its appeal are dozens of other charming cities set against substantial stretches of wilderness. Whether…
A resident lion at Oakland Zoo
By J.C. Thomas If you have never considered Oakland as a travel destination, may I suggest you think again? National Geographic Traveler recently named Oakland one of the “28 Best Places to Visit in the World for 2019.” The world.…
The view from the Waterfront Hotel on Jack London Square, Oakland.
By Roger Allnutt It has been 10 years since I visited Cambodia, the “Kingdom’ of Wonder” and although there have been improvements since that time the majority of inhabitants of the country are still desperately poor. In the capital Phnom…
The Silver Pagoda at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. By Roger Allnutt
By J.C. Thomas A first-time family visit to St. George, Utah feels like you’ve been let in on a not-so-well-kept secret. Entertaining kids away from home without sacrificing enjoyment for yourself tends to be a challenge – but not in…
A dilophosaurus greets visitors to the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm in southwest Utah (Photo by California News Press)
The perfect gift for dear old Dad on his birthday just might be a morning visit to the BMW Performance Center in Thermal, California By George Christopher Thomas COACHELLA VALLEY, CA – If you are looking for the ideal gift…
By Ariel Johns Since opening its doors on May 25, 1964, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square has welcomed convention goers, families, professionals, tourists and such celebrities as Lucille Ball, John Wayne and the king himself, Elvis Presley. Located in…
By Roger Allnutt For many people their only knowledge of Arkansas is that Bill Clinton was Governor of the state before he became the President of the United States in 1992. Sandwiched between more “trendy” states of Tennessee and Texas,…
The Old Mill, just outside Little Rock, Arkansas By Roger Allnutt
By Roger Allnutt The large Mediterranean island of Corsica has had a turbulent history over the centuries, even up to the 1970s with its fiercely patriotic inhabitants calling for independence from France. Corsica has a strong connection with Napoleon Bonaparte…
The clifftop town of Bonifacio, on the southern tip of Corsica. By Roger Allnutt
By Roger Allnutt In the past decade or so Macau, the former Portuguese enclave on the south coast of China near Hong Kong, has undergone a dramatic transformation. On the one hand the slower paced and historic elements of the…
The ruins of St. Paul's Church in Macau. with a wedding party on the right. By Roger Allnutt
By Joanne Thomas In a town like Santa Cruz, where tourism revolves around the beach, the surf and the Boardwalk, it’s remarkable that there’s only a single hotel – the Dream Inn – claiming a beachfront setting. Since it first…
The beachfront pool hot tub and bar at the Dream Inn, Santa Cruz, California (Photo by California News Press)
By Roger Allnutt Most tourists heading to the Philippines fly into the capital Manila and after a couple of days fly out to one of the popular island destinations such as Cebu, Boracay or Palawan. However, the region north of…
St Augustin Church and Belltower in , Paoay, The Philippines By Roger Allnutt
By Roger Allnutt The elephants are in mourning and very agitated. Amongst the stark foliage of the trees lining the Chobe River in northern Botswana a small family of elephants fret and stamp, emitting mournful noises. A few days earlier…
Elephants in Chobe National Park, Botswana