Discover the Gorgeous Landscapes of Guilin
Unusual karst formations bestow great natural beauty upon the Southern Chinese city of Guilin By Roger Allnutt For many visitors to China it is the bustling cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou together with man-made treasures like the Great Wall and the famous Terracotta Warriors at Xi’an that are the
A Trio of Treasures at Torrey Pines
In one prized pocket of La Jolla are three glorious landmarks: Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Torrey Pines Golf Course, and the Lodge at Torrey Pines. By J.C. Thomas The Torrey pine tree (pinus torreyana), the rarest pine species in North America, is an intriguing natural treasure. It’s very finnicky
See a Gutenberg Bible – the Printed Book that Changed the World – at The Huntington Library
Gutenberg Bible No. 36 was printed in Mainz, Germany, circa 1455 on Europe’s first moveable metal type printing press. Today it’s on public display at The Huntington in San Marino, California. By J.C. Thomas Historians estimate that on this day in 1455, Johannes Gutenberg printed his first Bible – the
Discover the Delights of Cochin, India’s “Queen of the Arabian Sea”
Explore the exotic sights, sounds and scents of Cochin (a.k.a. Kochi), an ancient spice trading port and major modern city on India’s southwest coast By Roger Allnutt A group of nuns flutter around the famous Chinese fishing nets at the mouth of Cochin harbor and the fishermen joke with them.
Island Packers Seasonal Whale Watching & Excursions to the Channel Islands Now Open
Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, with daily departures to the Channel Islands from Ventura Harbor Village, has now re-opened! The family-owned company founded in 1968 is once again offering daily trips to the Channel Islands National Park as well as winter whale watching excursions. Winter Whale
Make Yourself at Home at the Beach House Inn, Santa Barbara
It’s always fun to imagine living full-time in a destination you’re only visiting, no matter how realistic or far-fetched the idea might be. The fantasy feels especially real when you find a place to stay that evokes the feeling of a home – somewhere like the Beach House Inn in
Desti{nation} Discovery: Albania
There are close to 200 nations on Earth, plus dozens more territories. Let’s discover… Albania. It’s almost unfathomable that Albania remains off the tourist radar. Like many of its Mediterranean neighbors, the nation features stunning beaches, a mountainous interior dotted with charming towns and villages, and the pleasantest of climates.
Discover New Zealand’s Magical Northland and Bay of Islands
By Roger Allnutt New Zealand is a small country with an amazing variety of scenery and attractions. Top among them are majestic mountains and fjords in the South Island, hot springs and volcanoes in the North Island, and fine cities such as the capital Wellington and Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Places to Play: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Since its founding in 1926, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has been one of the city’s top attractions. It feels safe to say that locals and visitors have never been so appreciative of such a safe, scenic and peaceful outdoor space. At this time, the garden is open to the public
A First Timer’s Guide to Melbourne, Australia
By Roger Allnutt Although Sydney is undoubtedly the most recognizable city in Australia, no visit down under would be complete without including the nation’s second city, Melbourne. Compared with brash Sydney with its great location on Sydney Harbour, Melbourne is a more refined treasure. The city offers delights ranging from
Places to Play: Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness Area
California’s Stay at Home Order is still in place. Please enjoy our travel content but remember to recreate responsibly and only in your local area. At the time of publication, outdoor areas of Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness Area are open to the public for day use, however
Places to Play: The Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco, CA
The first thing to know about the Walt Disney Family Museum, which occupies a prime spot in the Presidio of San Francisco, is that it’s not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. The museum was founded by Diane Disney Miller, the late daughter of Walt Disney, with the mission to
A First-Timer’s Guide to Vancouver, BC
By Roger Allnutt There is a distinctly English feel about Vancouver. The mild climate produces a lush greenness, which combined with a love of flowers transforms the city into a floral showpiece. Vancouver is surrounded by water, yet Grouse Mountain which forms a backdrop to the city is great for skiing
Places to Play: Santa Barbara Zoo
As a destination blessed by an abundance of loveliness, it’s no surprise that Santa Barbara has a superb zoo. The AZA-accredited Santa Barbara Zoo covers 30 acres and is home to more than 500 animals. Among them are giraffes, western lowland gorillas, a flock of flamingos, and this year’s new
Places to Play: Calistoga, California
By J.C. Thomas It’s easy to fit all of California’s wine country into a single vision, certainly a charming one. Picture miles of gentle rolling hills covered with neat rows of grape vines, interrupted only by chic cities offering tasting rooms, luxury resorts, spas, and some of the finest dining
Yosemite National Park Ends Reservation Requirement
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 Park is no longer in effect. From November 1, no
Places to Play: Copperopolis, California
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 courses and a burgeoning wine scene. Local attractions include Calaveras
Places to Play: Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, England
At the mouth of the River Mersey in Liverpool is one of England’s top tourist attractions – the Royal Albert Dock. The historic complex of red-brick warehouse buildings is bustling with visitors who come for its restaurants, shops and excellent museums. Among those are The Beatles Story, dedicated to Liverpool’s