Take a day trip to Los Angeles to eat your way through Persian Square. As a Persian-American, I loved walking through Persian Square, also called Little Persia, and having multiple Persian food options in one …

I recently visited Scottsdale, Arizona, and fell in love with the city’s relaxed vibe and natural connection to the Sonoran Desert. With the variety of things to do, sights to see and places to eat, …

Under three hours' travel from San Diego, Catalina Island is truly a world of its own. Avalon, the island’s main (and only incorporated) town, offers equal parts relaxation and adventure. Here’s how to enjoy a …

Like Gloria Swanson at the end of 1950’s Sunset Blvd., L.A.’s newest visitor attraction, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, is finally ready for its close-up. Years in the making, the Academy Museum premiered on …

This is not another getaway to Palm Springs article. The Coachella Valley actually consists of nine cities, and Palm Springs is the best-known one. Indian Wells is where the very rich have second homes, including …

Oakland, California, is the ultimate destination for those who love urban adventure. As San Francisco’s sister city, it’s known for its amity, vibrancy, and spunk. Whenever I visit, I always learn something new about what …

San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast epitomize California’s laid-back lifestyle. However, many San Diegans don’t consider these destinations due to the lack of direct travel options. Thankfully, Alaska Airlines offers nonstop flights from San …

Before washing up in San Diego, I lived as an expatriate “gweilo” (foreign devil) in Hong Kong for 20 years. In Hong Kong, I had cultivated a taste for exotic South China cuisine like blood …

Solitude (n): the quality or state of being alone or remote from society. The word “solitude” has a negative connotation, as if being alone equates to loneliness. Today’s society encourages overstimulation and overcommitment, even in …

Like most people hailing from Los Angeles, I have a healthy love-hate relationship with the city. I grew up a "valley kid" in the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley. Downtown, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, …

We set off one recent morning on a trip to forget suburbia: to immerse ourselves in the high desert enclaves of the Mojave and Colorado, where San Bernardino’s sprawl can no longer reach through the …

Confession time: as a San Diego resident, it took me almost a decade to go wine tasting in Temecula. I broke the spell when my best friend celebrated her birthday at Pechanga Resort and Casino. …

A few Saturdays ago, I spent some quality time in Los Angeles for a Dodgers game in Echo Park. I’d hadn’t been to one of their games in quite some time, but with my friend …

When I think of Cambria, I often think of my Grandpa Bristol – outfitted in a pair of brown waders – prying large red abalones from tidepool rocks. The Bristol home was close to the …

As someone who has primarily lived in suburbia, I find myself escaping to small-town USA when I am in need of a change in scenery. Most San Diegans head to Julian, Palomar, or Cleveland National …