La Jolla is the definition of "enchanting seaside village." With great weather, swaying palm trees and spectacular ocean views, it's just like a trip to Hawaii. This was decades ago and we had just returned from our first real long-distance travel expe...

Those of us who choose our getaways carefully often pay nearly as much attention to the town as the beach - in other words, a scenic stretch of coastline is the main attraction, but it's nearly as important to spend our precious days off in a place with i...

Ever been captivated by those beautiful log homes you see in those glossy magazines? Well you don't have to build one -- just rent one for the weekend in one of the Northwest's most beautiful locations. On our most recent trip to Leavenworth, Washingto...

If there is one place where Southern California charm, history, style, beaches and sun all converge, it has to be on the 7.4 square miles of ground you'll find at the west end of the sweeping, skyscraper-high Coronado Bridge. The makers of the movie "Some...

It can be a little disconcerting sometimes to drive down the Central California interstate and come upon an ocean-going freighter in Stockton of all places. Yet ships do call on Stockton - and have for decades - as they make their way to the state's in...

If you want to soak up Bay area charm but avoid being in the middle of San Francisco traffic, there's a place just across the bay that is ideal. Look up the term "bedroom community" in the dictionary and it must have a picture of Sausalito, the tiny ba...

We wanted to find a cozy, romantic beach bungalow with its own beach on an island with thick forests and a lush natural landscape, so we headed for the San Juan Islands, right? Well not exactly. If you live in the Seattle area think a little closer - thin...

Hop on board the Napa Valley Wine Train, and you're immediately enroute to wine-lover's heaven. The Napa experience is all about wine, of course, but it's also about enjoying the finer things in life. The typical Napa visitor will spend considerable ti...

Few travelers speeding along Interstate 5 near Coalinga realize that those cattle they see in feedlots next to the freeway are actually In-N-Out burgers waiting to be processed. Sure, everyone knows that burgers come from cattle, but did you know In-N-Out...

It's hard to give up your car -- especially in Southern California - but Santa Barbara will make it well worth your while to do so. In fact, just put aside the benefits to the environment and look at the benefits to our own family: We saved on gas, veh...

California is known for its pristine coastline, but the state also has plenty of great fresh-water lakes, including Clear Lake, just a couple hours drive north from San Francisco. A friend visited Clear Lake not too long ago and came back raving about ...

Attention all tourism promoters: If you want your destination put "on the map" for all future generations, just go out and hire an author with the talent, let's say, of John Steinbeck, and have that writer publish a piece of literary art that just happens...

One of California's new hot spots is Oceanside, a bedroom community for San Diego and Camp Pendleton that just happens to have one of the best beaches in the state. The city also is proud of nearby Camp Pendleton, the massive Marine Corps training cent...

Many movie-goers who enjoyed the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "The Birds" also fell in love with the pristine bay and seaside village visible early in the film. The movie then proceeds to allow thousands of birds to terrorize this idyllic little place and...

If you're planning a family vacation, California's vacation lakes and mountain retreats are even more impressive than its theme parks. One great example is Shaver Lake. One of our most recent discoveries is Shaver Lake, a little more than an hour's dri...