Exploring Catalina Island: A Journey to Avalon
“I found my love in Avalon, beside the bay; I left my love in Avalon and sailed away. I dream of her and Avalon from dusk ’til dawn – and so I think I’ll travel on to Avalon.” ~Al Jolson, Avalon The early morning sun was already casting an apricot glow over the horizon as […]
San Diego’s Balboa Park: Soaking Up Spanish Architecture & Climbing California Tower
It was a tale of dueling expos: Two California cities – San Diego and San Francisco – vying to host a world’s fair, the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. San Francisco won the rights to host the event, but San Diego refused to give up the idea and created an exposition of its own called the […]
Notes from Home: Life at the Edge of the Pacific
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” ~Jacques Cousteau “It will be like we’re on vacation!” my husband proclaims as we scroll through photos at the kitchen table, our dinner plates pushed aside, laptop front and center. An upcoming home remodeling project was forcing us to find […]
Cabrillo National Monument: On A Clear Day You Can (Almost) See Forever
The two-lane road to Cabrillo National Monument winds its way to the tip of Point Loma, leaving behind busy commercial intersections and residential neighborhoods as it leads to the park entrance. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, a California Historical Landmark that dates to 1882, stretches along both sides of the road. Glimpses of San Diego Bay […]
Hiking Torrey Pines Reserve: Tranquil Trails, Pacific Panoramas & That Rare Namesake Tree
“A fragile wilderness island in an urban sea.” ~Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Trail Guide The trails of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve can be a bit of a tease. One moment the landscape is dotted with lush green pines and forest-like ferns. The next it appears to be a desert, filled with chaparral, sage […]
The Hollywood Bowl: Good Times Never Seemed So Good!
Two years ago in late May, I finally made it to the Hollywood Bowl. I had wanted to see a concert there for as long as I’ve lived in Southern California, but as with so many places close to home, it never quite found its way into the plans. Nearby experiences don’t seem to carry […]
The Magic Castle: An Enchanting Evening in the Heart of Hollywood
From the moment I walked into the library-themed lobby of The Magic Castle, I was captivated, transported to another world that felt like time-traveling back to Old Hollywood. Red-and-pink Victorian-looking wallpaper, rich-toned wood moldings and old-fashioned floral carpets set a mood of quiet elegance in the dimly lit space. But it was the secret doorway […]
LA’s Stahl House: Mid-century Modern Masterpiece in the Hollywood Hills
At first glance, the Stahl House appears to be a place that doesn’t draw attention to itself. Perched near the top of a winding street in the Hollywood Hills, it sits quietly among its neighbors, off the beaten path of typical Los Angeles tourist attractions. But just beyond the home’s carport is a clue on the front […]
San Diego: Five Favorite Excursions from the Port
When I first visited San Diego in the early 1990s, it struck me as a big small town. And now after calling America’s Finest City home for thirteen years, it still feels that way. San Diego is a city, to be sure, but it’s an easy place to get around, even with the phenomenal growth […]
San Francisco: Getting Around With Uber
“How long have you been driving for Uber?” My husband’s question echoed from the back seat as we rode through the hills of San Francisco. We recently spent three days using Uber to get around the city, where our daughter Emily was moving to start a new job. We were there to help with the move, […]
