It was 42 steps across the grass from my suite at San Diego Mission Bay Resort to the sandy beach where ducks were playing in the water. I know because I took this memorable stroll dozens of times during my two nights at the luxurious, waterfront hotel.

When the couple, there for their 20th visit, commented that it was the first time they had taken the house tour – one of the staples of the Mohonk Mountain House experience – I asked what they had been doing all those years. Liz and Dan Gleason from Haddon Heights, NJ replied:  “There’s just so much to do all the time, you just can’t fit it all in."

I’ve stayed in lots of luxurious and unique hotel rooms around Southern California, but I’ve never stayed in one that sits amongst lush vineyards. That is until this past weekend when I experienced South Coast Winery Resort & Spa.

Ka'anapali is a diverse vacation destination that can appeal to any kind of traveler when it comes to activities. Not only have we been rated as a top beach in the world, which lends itself to multiple water activities, but the mountains behind us are also rich with things to do.

Who says you have to go to the beach and fight traffic and hordes of people to escape the heat? Why not head about 90 miles east of Los Angeles and cool down at a luxurious, air conditioned resort with a giant pool and lazy river, gourmet restaurants, a 4-Diamond hotel, a full-service spa and lots of great slots and gaming.

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 …

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 …