Food, Falls, Stalls, and Fun…A Short Visit to Portland
I only had to ponder the question to join my husband for a quick day and a half turnaround trip to Portland, Oregon for a moment; the answer was an easy yes! I have yet to visit this city, and my nagging wanderlust is itching to go! The nonstop flight from Southern California takes less than two hours into Portland International Airport. Portland is wired for tourists, providing access at the airport to its light rail, allowing for an [...]
Uno, Dos, Tres ~ 3 Reasons To Visit the Valle de Guadalupe Wine Region
Something has been missing the past five years from my local travel adventures…Baja. A recent visit to Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe wine region near Ensenada, cured the gap. What a sense of discovery! The Valle, as referred by locals, is truly maturing, from a tourism perspective, especially with 90+ wineries and 50+ restaurants in the region. It’s with good reason; according to the local tourism agency, Proturismo de Ensenada, over 600,000 people visited the wine region last year, and the [...]
Chocoholics Beware!
I often think the most fun discoveries are those that are unexpected! I happened to stumble upon a brand new fine chocolate boutique, Belgium’s Finest, which recently opened in the historic Old Town district of Temecula, California. A peer through the window, and a first glance at the display cases filled with beautifully designed chocolate offerings, had me reaching for the door. Chocolate connoisseurs beware, resisting this luxury brand of imported Belgian fine chocolates may prove difficult! Belgium’s Finest carries [...]
Who Needs a Pool…An Alternative to Sunbathing in Palm Springs
The immediate thought that comes to mind for a visit to Palm Springs is a beautiful resort with azure blue pools and perfectly tanned bodies laying on perfectly positioned chaise lounges, right? I agree, but there are so many other things to enjoy besides a day at the pool when visiting this desert oasis. An alternative to the pool scene are the Indian Canyon hiking trails, a quick 10 minute drive of the resorts lining Highway 111 in the downtown Palm [...]
5 Unique Things To Do In Catalina
My first step on the ferry to travel from Newport Beach to Catalina triggers a song to start playing in my head…Twenty six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me… The island remains a receptacle of memories from my childhood through adult years. It’s grown up in front of me, and I have grown to love its maturity each time I visit. Catalina's main city, Avalon, is more sophisticated than ever, with new luxury hotels and an [...]
A Stroll Down Memory Lane at The Original Los Angeles Farmers Market
There's nothing sweeter than crossing an item off your Bucket List. A recent visit to The Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles allowed me to shorten mine. The first time I visited was back in the mid 60's, and I remember the trip from the San Fernando Valley on the 101 freeway with my siblings all crammed into the back of a wood paneled station wagon. As young kids we were not exactly patient, but we knew if we could contain [...]