The blues that emanate from J.P. Soars are as diverse as the road he travels. Born out West in Anaheim, California, a very young J.P. and his family moved to Cedarville, Arkansas. Just to narrow that down, Soars tells me. “It’s in between Ft. Smith and Fayetteville.” In his teens, the family relocated again, this time even further east to …
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa has everything the family and I need for a memorable getaway. The place has a great lake-front location, a gourmet restaurant onsite, a game room for the kids, pool and jacuzzi, spa and fitness center, a bar and coffee house, its own private beach and much more. All we had to do on a recent visit to the resort was park the car, check into a comfortable room and let the fun begin.
As the road winded through rolling hills and a ranch full of playful ostriches, we knew something special was awaiting. And when we past a pasture of grazing horses and entered a tiny village of windmills and half-timbered buildings with gabled roofs, our suspicions were confirmed: we were going to have a memorable time in Solvang.
Port Hueneme is a hidden gem on the California coast. Tucked between a naval base and a large port, the oceanfront town in Ventura County is easy to pass on the freeway, but as I recently learned, it is well worth an overnight visit.
Desert Hot Springs has long been a destination for rest and rejuvenation. Situated 20 minutes from Palm Springs’ expansive golf courses, artistic rows of palm trees and desert estates, rustic Desert Hot Springs feels a world away. It is one of the few places on the globe with naturally occurring hot and cold mineral springs. The Mission Creek Branch of the San Andreas Fault bisects the wellness getaway where one side is a cold-water aquifer while the other a hot-water aquifer, naturally heated to temperatures as high as 180 degrees by geothermal forces thousands of feet below the earth’s surface.
I enjoyed just observing the California beach goers. You know the song --- “I wish they all could be California girls” --- oh behave! They came in all shapes and sizes --- chiseled vs. cellulite. From skins that were smooth and youthful to overcooked and leathery --- the vegans mixed with the fast food junkies. It's interesting how most sun bathers started out very demure --- unpeeling each layer of clothing but, as the day progressed, all inhibitions were thrown by the wayside. You know the old saying --- "When in Rome ..."
The Palm Springs Aerial Tram is often called the 8th “Wonder of the World'' because of the groundbreaking engineering behind its construction. This year, the modern marvel is celebrating its 60th anniversary, so I thought it would be a great time to visit, while also spending a couple days relaxing in the warm paradise of Palm Springs.
leaving the mountains covered with beautiful white powder. I recently visited Big Bear and discovered a cool hotel, a great sandwich shop, lots of fun snow sledding, and more.
The aroma of food and the line of people in front of food trucks was the first section I gravitated to. It was a Friday evening and proud parents corralled their children to mingle with other well-behaved kids. I imagine this was the big event of the week for these hard working families. Spanish chatter competed with the sound of blaring music from the musicians on stage. I helped a family take selfies as we lined up for delicious $8 hot dogs. “Are you sure you want the Azteca Hot Dogs?” warned the food truck cashier, “it’s really hot.” “Yes!” I proudly retorted. Of course, I was expecting all those spices. No Mexican is worth his salt if he can’t stand a little heat. Among the hungry crowd were sprinkles of teenage Mariachi performers filling their tummies before their big performance.
Near the stream are the park's teepees and covered wagons, which make for memorable family accommodations. The teepees are recreations of Sioux Indian dwellings. They are about 20 ft-tall and feature a queen and twin bed and a couple tables. They don't come with electricity, but offer lots of natural light.