Last summer, I got lucky. By chance or fate or skill, during my Northern California driving trip, I connected with Julie Benbow, Executive Director of Visit Redwoods, the Humboldt County visitors bureau. During my time staying in Eureka, she introduced me to some fabulous sights, and even arranged for entrance to the world-famous Carson Mansion.…
One town was abandoned while one lives on. Both Calico and Daggett were founded in the early 1880s, part of a silver boom in this part of California’s Mojave Desert. And yet, only a few decades later, one - Calico - had been abandoned, while Daggett lives on to this day. Why? What can we…
It is, perhaps, the most famous road in existence. Once a mighty highway taking people on the journey from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 today lies somewhat forgotten. Here in California’s Mojave Desert, it is a small, two lane highway running parallel to the mighty Interstate 40. Today’s travelers zip down I-40 heading to…
Walking on the streets, little would indicate that I’m in one of the central areas of Portuguese culture on the west coast. Today, in 2021, this is a mainly Hispanic neighborhood, with most of the shops and sounds reflecting that. However, in the twentieth century, what is now called Little Portugal was home to one…
Where is the dividing line? Where is the dark, thick line that we can use to decide whether a person is/was good or bad? The question fills my head as I wander through the stunning Strentzel-Muir House, the highlight of John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California. Here, the famed naturalist and “Father of…
When the swallows come back to Capistrano,That’s the day I pray that you’ll come back to meLeon Rene, 1940 Made famous by the Ink Spots, the beautiful song written by Leon Rene in 1940 reverberates through the arches and passageways of Mission San Juan Capistrano on a beautiful Saturday morning. Sung today by Renee Bondi…
Shockingly, the line at Saffron and Rose, the award-winning Persian ice cream shop, is short. While service is fast, the selection is vast, with flavors ranging from their signature orange blossom to white or pink rose to saffron and pistachio, and it can take a while to decide, even though a small cup gets two…
“Open sesame.” The phrase, spoken to a stone owl on a bookshelf, opens a secret door from the foyer to the interior of Los Angeles’ most magical, most exclusive, venue. From here, a venerable maze of rooms, halls, bars, and theatres offers those lucky enough to gain admission an evening of joy unlike anything else…
Editor’s note: places like this, Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park, are what makes the national parks system so special. Here we celebrate the role women played in the war efforts of World War Two, a story I am so glad Christian is sharing with us today. For more of his writing, click here to…
Japanese Village Plaza is crowded on a Sunday morning. Most restaurants open around 11 or 11:30am, and lines begin to form at some of the more popular places ahead of that. The tea shops and bakeries are already open, as are the specialty stores selling things ranging from action figures from Japanese cartoons to Hello…