One of the true perks of spending time in Los Angeles is the weather. While the intense car culture of this megalopolis might deter the average visitor from dining alfresco, don’t be fooled. There’s some glorious outdoor dining waiting to be discovered by the adventurous. Here are a few of … Read more
Nestled high on a rugged perch along California’s Central coast and just a short, scenic ride from the Santa Ynez Valley,’ (the region’s ‘other wine country’), the Bacara Resort & Spa is a romantic enclave with the refined attributes of a full-service, luxury resort. Situated on a vast 78-acre plot … Read more
The Oscars are around the corner, and maybe Leonardo DiCaprio will finally win his Academy Award. To celebrate the awards season Booking.com has compiled a list of nominees for “Best Hotel Properties for Global Travelers” so that you’ll be assured to have an Oscar-worthy experience when you arrive. Here are … Read more
What is it about getting in a car and driving, driving, driving? It’s therapy for today’s intrepid travelers who would rather line up at the gas pump than at the TSA checkpoint. And for all our autumnal dreamers there’s a foliage filled land out there just waiting for you now. … Read more
If Sunset Boulevard’s Norma Desmond stepped out of the classic 1942 film and into the lobby of the Kensington Park Hotel in downtown San Francisco, she’d be right at home. The intricately detailed space makes quite a statement starting with the architectural details … soaring hand painted beamed ceilings and … Read more
Sitting squat on a forlorn block in the Union Square vicinity, San Francisco’s Hotel Nikko will not surprise you as a striking architectural gem, but no matter. As you step inside the towering concrete mass an instant feeling of Zen alters the senses, the sound of water gurgling, a perfect … Read more
If you can find the front door of the Hotel Union Square amid the motley storefronts on the lively block of Powell Street, you’re in for a surprise. Two stunning 10 foot mosaics grace either side of the entrance, a clear indication of the building’s 1913 landmark pedigree. Mind you, … Read more
Who knew that camping could be comfortable? The people behind the Glen Oaks in Big Sur, California, naturally. An enclave of eco-friendly cabins planted among towering Redwood trees and outfitted with all the modern amenities, prepare to partake of this heavenly wilderness. Hikes in the woods, white-tailed deer, mountain fresh air … Read more
Sometimes looks can be deceiving. Despite its 25 floors and 532 rooms, San Francisco’s Hotel Nikko is of imposing proportions but elects to behave like a graceful boutique property. Its location is prime, with proximity to Union Square, high-end shopping and the performing arts while reliable public transportation in the … Read more
There’s a dramatic coastline to the west and rolling hills to the east, but it’s the scent of pines that announces your arrival in Cambria. Ensconced in a forest of evergreens, this California village—deemed “one of America’s prettiest towns”—sneaks up on motorists traversing Highway One, the state’s scenic roadway. Situated … Read more
Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is an oasis nestled near the Topatopa Bluffs, over 6,000 feet above sea level, at the eastern end of the stunning Ojai Valley. Considered to be a sacred place by the Chumash Indians who ascribed healing powers to the mystical valley, it was referred to as … Read more
San Diego is known for its thriving craft beer scene, with a plethora of breweries, tasting rooms, beer bars and even events like the San Diego International Beer Festival. That said, anyone traveling to San Diego should be aware that this influence has spilled over into the nearby (and lesser-known) … Read more
I’M IN SAN FRANCISCO! Beautiful views, unique neighborhoods, amazing people, and great spirit; every nook and cranny of this city has its own personality. After all it is San Francisco’s eccentric and downright strange diversity that defines its culture; mixing together trendy urban professionals, hippy chic fashionistas, hipster grit mixologists, … Read more
Hailed as a tourists’ mecca and damned for those killer hills, San Francisco’s reputation definitively precedes it. Famed for its glory days as a beat generation outpost then later the epicenter of flower power and acid rock, today the glorious city by the bay has lost none of its “alternative” … Read more
All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day I’d be safe and warm if I was in L.A. California dreamin’, on such a winter’s day The year was 1965 and The Mamas and the Papas were on to something. … Read more