The Mission Inn first opened in downtown Riverside in 1876 as a humble 12-room adobe boarding house. By the 1890s Riverside had become one of the richest cities in the United States from a booming …
July 16, 2009
United States
The Mission Inn, Riverside
Palm Springs
Visiting Palm Springs is like getting two vacations in one weekend. Enjoy a cool dip in the pool at Caliente Tropics Resort, a hip, mid-century-era Hawaiian-style motel complete with poolside cabanas and tikis, for about …
July 15, 2009
Climb Mount Shasta
Hello hikers and backpackers! We just climbed to the top of Mount Shasta! It was an intense hike; the difficulty was matched only by the awesomeness of the event. We experienced freezing temperatures, dangerous predicaments …
July 13, 2009
Washington Waterworks
The whole crazy experience began one summer day in 2003 when my wife and I were returning to San Diego from Vancouver, British Columbia. We had driven all the way to Vancouver from San Diego, …
July 13, 2009
Grand Canyon Secret: North Rim
Show your kids the Grand Canyon without the traffic and crowds...in high summer season? Yes, it's possible! Travel to the less-visited North Rim of the Grand Canyon and enjoy views that will hush even the …
July 13, 2009
Red Rock Canyon: The Outdoors Near Vegas?
After you've exhausted all of your desires to gamble and eat at the buffet, it's a nice day trip out to Red Rock Canyon State Park (about 15 miles outside of Las Vegas, Nevada). Once …
July 10, 2009
Dream Senses, New York Minute
Hello, Matthew: What exactly is your brain doing when you use one of the five senses in a dream? I always figured it was just some outside influence that your brain incorporated into your dream, …
July 8, 2009
Spectacular Yosemite
I expected to spend a peaceful weekend wandering through natural wonders, and boy, were my expectations too low. I was blown away by the enormity, the splendor, the incredible beauty of Yosemite National Park. The …
July 7, 2009
Iao Valley, Maui, Hawaii
Iao Valley is a must-see when visiting Maui. Located in central Maui, it's only a 45-minute drive from Kaanapali. It was there that King Kamehameha I defeated the Maui Army in 1790 and united the …
Andersen's Split Pea Soup Restaurant, Santa Nella
Driving through the heart of the Central Valley from Sacramento to Bakersfield, one will notice an abundance of flat, green farmland. After all, the area has a reputation for being one of the world’s most …
July 7, 2009
Temecula: SoCal's Wine Country
Going to Temecula for a Saturday of wine tasting has to be one of my favorite things to do. We usually plan our trip with our wine club membership pick-ups in mind. I'm a little …
July 4, 2009
Ringing in the New Year at... Wat Thai Temple?
While most people look for a place to ring in the New Year in loud inebriated celebration, not many would consider doing something out of the ordinary: structured chanting and reflection. For those willing to …
July 2, 2009
Crystal Cove, Newport Beach
Ever longed to step back in time? The Crystal Cove State Park Historic District, originally a seaside colony in the 1930s, offers a vintage getaway located on the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway in …
June 30, 2009
Driving on Highway 395, near Mono Lake
A summer morning drive on Highway 395 offers a breathtaking view of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The endless array of mountains, trees, lakes and geological wonders on the way to Lake Tahoe is …
June 29, 2009
Pacific Coast Highway, California: An Undertaking
The Maserati convertible was not quite ready for the road, I felt, in spite of my best efforts (having taken the carburetor off – twice – to rebuild, etc.). With no other options, I caught …
June 29, 2009