California's majestic Central Coast is speckled with hidden gems lining the Pacific Ocean and none shine brighter than the tiny town of Cayucos by-the-Sea. This is especially true in Spring, when the temperature rises, flowers blossom along the hillsides and the city hosts its annual Sea Glass Festival.
Hemingway slept above me. No, not in the same room, of course. In fact, not even in the same century. But room #206 – The Ernest Hemingway Suite – was the room directly above my own at the Sun Valley Lodge. It was a big deal for me. I had always admired him, and now here I was staying at …
“Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold!” headlined the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on July of 1897. “Sixty Eight Rich Men on Steamer Portland arrived in Seattle with ‘Stacks of Yellow Metal.”‘ The news spread like California wildfire, and the Klondike Gold Rush began. In the first ten days over 1,500 people left for the Klondike. Within the next six months, approximately 100,000 gold-seekers steamed …
In November 1975, I was Manager of Publicity for Continental Airlines, in our corporate HQ at LAX. As a lifelong aviation aficionado, and an even more proud American citizen (I was born in London!) I’ve always been intensely interested in American politics, and so knew that our president (whoever it is) today always flies aboard an impressive, specially equipped B-747. …
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a postcard village of shady, tree-lined streets, charming hotels and inns, unique shops, gourmet restaurants, and a big, beautiful beach at the end of town. It is slow-moving, Northern California paradise. A friend and I recently snuck away to Carmel for a couple nights and the memories are still swaying in my head like leafs on the town’s …
Admittedly, I’ve never heard of Lo-Wei, a unique exercise class that combines yoga, strength training and flexibility that stretched my body in ways my mind never thought possible. But it is only one of almost three dozen fitness classes, all part of the dawn-to-dusk workout, weight loss and education focus of the one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive Deerfield Health Retreat and Spa in …
In late autumn the rolling hills of the Palouse in Eastern Washington and North Idaho turn to gold as wheat ripens over thousands of acres and giant green combines crawl over the fields like giant locusts harvesting grain. Rain is scarce in this region and wheat, barley, legumes, especially chickpeas and lentils, respond well to the dry farming. When irrigated …
Paradise comes in many ways. Recently it came in the form of a charming suite overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a secluded beach, and a delicious, 40-day aged cut of prime steak. In other words, I spent a night at the historic Grande Colonial in La Jolla and dined at the property’s renowned NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar. A friend and I recently …
Why don’t we all know Spanish? Nationwide, efforts are underway to make education more practical — to teach the skills best suited for economic viability. Much of this is regional; for example, a company requiring specific capabilities partnering with local colleges to equip students with those skills. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has proposed a litmus test for new immigrants that …
If you’re no fan of crowds, traveling after Labor Day makes a lot of sense. Kids are back in school and the noisy throngs that queued up for popular restaurants and attractions have thinned. No wonder some herald it as the start of “couples season,” that all-too-brief vacation period between the start of the school year and Thanksgiving. Consider Kennebunkport, …
