Places to Stay: Hotel St. Pierre, New Orleans, Louisiana
By J.C. Thomas There are some vacation destinations for which any decent hotel will do. You just need a clean, comfortable room in a convenient location. New Orleans, especially the French Quarter, is not one of those destinations. This is a singular place of magic and idiosyncrasy, where anything bland
Museum Monday: Moab Giants, Moab, Utah
As a popular southwest tourist destination, Moab, Utah, is best known for its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Its red-rock desert landscape, cut through by the Colorado River, is also a spectacular playground for all kinds of outdoor adventures such as mountain biking, off-roading and thrilling jet boat
A versatile weekend itinerary for art, food & fun in San Francisco
By J.C. Thomas San Francisco is such an exceptional destination that crafting a weekend itinerary can pose a real challenge. There are so many iconic things to see, do and eat in the city, and a one-night stay can only be stretched so far. Embrace the challenge, though, and the
Stay with Sojourn and live like a local during your Washington, D.C. trip
By J.C. Thomas Anyone planning a trip to Washington, D.C. for any reason—work, an internship, weekend getaway, or family vacation—will find no shortage of accommodation options. Hotels in the nation’s capital span from budget-friendly chains to the most luxurious of global brands. But, give some serious consideration to the benefits
Dining, dancing, sightseeing and memory-making on a Philadelphia Signature Dinner Cruise
By J.C. Thomas Making the most of a family trip to Philadelphia means lots of walking, a full immersion into American history, and the excitement of exploring such a busy, vibrant and all-around awesome city. By the evening, you want to keep exploring. You want to eat some good food
Stay at The Plaza Hotel for an Immersive Downtown Las Vegas Experience
By J.C. Thomas An intriguing characteristic of Las Vegas is its compulsion for constant reinvention while always keeping a tight grip on nostalgia. The city will blithely demolish its oldest icons (RIP Tropicana, Stardust et. al.) while enticing tens of millions of annual visitors with the promise of vintage glamor.
A First Timer’s Guide to Atlanta, Georgia
Of all the awesome American cities worth flying to from California, Atlanta, Georgia, is surely among the most enticing. One of the most visited cities in the United States, it is packed with diverse tourist attractions that appeal to all ages and vacation styles. Atlanta’s communities are diverse and creative,
Stay at the Cliffs Hotel and Spa for Pismo Beach Perfection
By J.C. Thomas Pismo Beach is the quintessential Central Coast beach town. Getaway perfection is found in Pismo’s setting, just off Highway 101, midway between LA and the Bay Area, with stunning oceanfront scenery and a relaxed, visitor-friendly vibe. These enticing attributes are all amplified when you stay at the
At Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a Captivating Culinary Adventure Awaits
By George Christopher Thomas Las Vegas has a legendary plethora of choices for entertainment and activities. One of the most universally appealing of them is going out to eat and embracing options for the finest of fine dining. Getting dressed up, feeling a little formal and dedicating an evening to
My Legacy Experience on the Napa Valley Wine Train
By Cristina Bolis Napa Valley has always held a special allure for me, a land where rolling vineyards meet sun-soaked hills, and every sip of wine tells a story. Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Legacy Experience, a journey that not only delighted my
Museum Monday: The Getty Villa Museum, 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
Top Destinations for Family Fun in the East Bay
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 it’s part of an epic exploration of Northern California or an impromptu outing
Places to Play: Monterey Bay Aquarium
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.
A Comprehensive Guide to California’s 20 Remarkable National Forests
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
The Ultimate Summer-in-California Bucket List
(+ 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
Reasons to Visit (or Skip) LA’s Venice Beach
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
Places to Play: Olompali State Historic Park
Before it was one of the Bay Area’s prettiest state parks, the oak-strewn mountainside of Olompali saw thousands of years of Coast Miwok culture, the indulgences of a wealthy ranching family, and the highs and lows of a counterculture commune. Olompali State Historic Park is in Marin County, just off
A First Timer’s Guide to Malibu, California
Malibu, a city hugging 21 miles of coastline in Los Angeles County, has a magical appeal that’s far greater than that of its most famous attributes. The millionaires’ homes, legendary surf scene, oceanfront restaurants and the Pacific Coast Highway – these are not the sources of Malibu’s magic. Rather, they