Kathy Chin Leong 
James Dean, the bad boy heartthrob of the 1950s, stayed at Mendocino’s Little River Inn while filming East of Eden. He must have been mesmerized by the Pacific Ocean views while relaxing in the comfort of Room 102. The fellow must have felt too much at home, for he got … Read more
I think the secret may finally be out. The little town of Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast is shining big in the foodie landscape, and it seems it’s having a moment. “Paso”, as it’s nicknamed, has long been lauded for its top wines, with over 400+ wineries that have … Read more
When Dave decided to surprise his wife Robin with a trip to Hawaii, he had her friends strut into the lunchroom wearing leis. The third-grade teacher did not know what was going on until he arrived to make the announcement himself. He chose Maui for their first trip to the … Read more
Any day now, Cindy Kapjian will sneak out in the early morning to hide tiny glass hearts. The mystery woman will be cloaked in a black raincoat, black beret, and black gloves. Topping off her disguise will be a black plastic mustache. If all goes as planned, no one will … Read more
Monterey, California is renowned for its aquamarine coastline, ocean-to-fork cuisine, and 18th-century adobe architecture. Once a hub for working canneries, Monterey served as the capital of Alta California under Spanish rule. It has long attracted artists for its scenic wonders. Today, the region’s historical and culinary roots remain. To anchor … Read more
You’re headed on a tech-themed vacation to Silicon Valley? Where should you stay? The new Tetra Hotel, a sophisticated, eight-story concrete and steel ode to modern architecture with big style, bigger art, and insanely fast Internet gets my vote. Situated at the center of the epic Google campus, Tetra just … Read more
If you’ve ever been to the Far East, you know Asia’s high-end restaurants are visual cornucopias. Similarly, at iChina, you may find it hard to believe that you’re in a suburban mall. At Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, CA., you leave the confines of the cotton candy-scented shopping center, … Read more
Certainly one of the coolest innovations happening today in the hospitality industry is transforming vintage motels from yesteryear into swanky digs. In the 21st century, repurposed motels have become destinations in themselves rather than a one night’s stay off the highway. The Carmel Mission Inn definitely fits the bill. Saved … Read more
Brewery Gulch Inn A pirates’ hideaway? A scalawag’s den? A speak-easy from Prohibition days? You would never guess by its rough-and-ready moniker that this romantic escape overlooking turquoise seas is a four-star luxury lodge, with not a scalawag in sight. Sequestered off Highway One on the Mendocino coastline, this 10-room … Read more
Upon entering our one-bedroom suite at the Hotel Citrine, my notorious travel partner-in-crime, Janet W., is awestruck by its spaciousness. The Fellows-brand, blush pink electric tea kettle with a curvaceous spout and the bone china teacups on the sideboard caught my eye. Touches like these draw design mavens like bees … Read more
With the ability to travel again, the priority for many is to flee to a bucolic destination that’s nothing like home. We want to be swept off to a magical place with gurgling fountains and manicured lawns that look as though they’ve leapt out of a fine painting. At the … Read more
Eight acres of planted vineyards, two bell towers and a stained-glass chapel: Franciscan monks chanting through the property’s stone tunnel would not be surprising. We’re here in Paso Robles, California, at the Allegretto Vineyard Resort, a luxury Tuscan-style hotel with an old-world aesthetic, but just five years young. The project … Read more
From intimate B&B’s to mega hotels, Hawaii Island, the largest in the state chain, is home to an abundance of accommodations. The lodging possibilities on this lava-rich island are just as exotic as its evening manta ray tours and trips to the active Kilauea Volcano. Here, we present the Hilton … Read more
From intimate B & B’s to mega hotels, Hawaii Island, the largest in the state chain, is home to an abundance of accommodations. The lodging possibilities on this lava-rich island are just as exotic as its evening manta ray tours and trips to the active Kilauea Volcano. Here, we present … Read more
From intimate B & B’s to mega hotels, Hawaii Island, the largest in the state chain, is home to an abundance of accommodations. The lodging possibilities on this lava-rich island are just as exotic as its evening manta ray tours and trips to the active Kilauea Volcano. Here, we present … Read more