If you paused long enough to read the trailhead signs in Ohio’s Hocking Hills State Park, you’d find that the Black Hand sandstone underfoot was laid down 350,000 years ago, on an ancient seabed. Or you could blow off the science lesson – like I did – and push ahead to the Old Man’s Cave, past a meandering creek and down a level path.
The Belmond El Encanto hotel has welcomed discerning guests since 1918. Perched in the hills above Santa Barbara, this iconic hideaway offers serene seclusion in a relaxed, yet luxurious setting of lush gardens, winding paths and private bungalows. It is has been described as Hollywood glamour in a modern classic and after my recent visit I can see why the likes of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were regulars to the resort.
Each summer the Terry & Jackie Nishimoto family of Sherman Oaks, CA, load up their Volvo station wagon for a week-long vacation to one of California’s most spectacular destinations. Yosemite? The Redwoods or Joshua Tree? Wrong. The Nishimoto’s destination of choice is nestled along the Pacific Ocean, less than a two hour drive south of Los Angeles.
I have to eat more bacon? Really? Who wouldn’t want that? Okay, maybe vegetarians not so much. But I have it on good authority – my one vegan friend – that that bovine delicacy is the verboten food most missed. And here I am, immersed in it. Engulfed by ten different, tantalizing bacon dishes which I’m supposed to judge as part of the 2018 International World Food Championships in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Farm History. Family History. Artistry. Bursts of color. Tradition. Community. Creativity. So many different celebrations of life represented by the bountiful wooden quilts that majestically drape almost five dozen barn doors illuminating the landscape of Tualatin Valley (Twal’ i-tin), Oregon (Oar’-i-gun) – yes, the semantics DO make a difference (at least locally…). The combination of personal history and rural tradition that find voice in these quilt blocks brings to life customs, folklore and artistic expression reminiscent of the whole Valley.
As I stood in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma I was amazed by the lushness of its greenery and sense of cosmopolitism. This was my first trip to Oklahoma, and in my naiveté, I had thought the whole state was one big Dust Bowl. Perhaps I had seen John Ford’s film adaption of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath too many times, but that image had been branded in my mind.
If you want to turn your kids into travel detectives, there are tools to the trade. Travelers must be flexible, curious, observant and have a sense of adventure. They must understand transportation, be open-minded to learning about new places, cultures, people and foods. If you want to open the world and open your eyes to the beauty that surrounds us, the sky is the limit. Here are a few fun fabulous gifts that can inspire kids and even adults
The Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village is not only a luxurious resort; it is a world-renowned sanctuary and wellness retreat. It is also less than an hour drive from Downtown LA. Located in the city of Westlake Village, in the Santa Monica Mountains between Malibu and Santa Barbara, the 270-room, five-diamond resort is a secluded paradise, surrounded by gardens and lawns, ponds and footbridges, a …
If you are looking to surprise that person in your life who has seen it all, traveled the globe and is hard to please. Sit down, relax, we’ve done the research for you. Here is a gift guide that has something special for all those spectacular people in your world!
Dedicated Loudoun County winemakers, working with the rhythms of time and the vagaries of Mother Nature, have created an overwhelming revelation for visitors to Washington D.C. For those in the pursuit of pleasure, Loudoun County, a short 25-miles to the east of D. C. is a leisurely laid-back alternative from the chaotic rush and jumble of the big city where vineyards and horses combine to create a lifestyle to envy.
