Photo by Casey Rodgers Ojai is the epitome of what Californians wish their state was like. Nestled just east of Santa Barbara and northwest of Los Angeles, Ojai is a hippie-friendly paradise. The city is known for its focus on ecological stability, organic food production, and resistance against big business. All of this has contributed to making Ojai a resilient little city in California that
Overshadowed by its geological neighbors, Horseshoe Bend does not receive the attention it deserves as a nature lover’s dream. Less than two hours away is the magnificent Grand Canyon while just 15 minutes away is the world’s most famous slot canyon, Antelope Canyon. If you are in the area, don’t stop your visit to Arizona at these locations. Take a trip to Horseshoe Bend, the
I have come to discover that hiking and ebiking are both great ways to get in a workout and decrease the many risks of heart disease that many Americans are prone to with our diet. Plus, these type of activities can get you outside and into the great outdoors. Sometimes I don’t spend enough time outside! Also, I don’t know about you, but getting outside
Are you ready to escape? As many of you know, I just completed a breathtaking ebiking ride through Utah, visiting St. George, Snow Canyon, Dixie National Forest, Bryce Canyon, and ultimately Zion National Park. It was exhilarating and honestly, when I heard about this trip, I wasn’t even sure I could do it physically. I mean, who can ride 25-45 miles a day on a bicycle and
Antelope Canyon should be named the best canyon to visit in Arizona (OK, maybe second best)! You certainly know of the Grand Canyon in Arizona because of its grandeur. But don’t stop your visit in Arizona at the Grand Canyon. Take a trip to Antelope Canyon, the most popular slot canyon in the world! It is merely a few hours drive from the Grand Canyon’s
By Diego Maloney In what has become a worldwide phenomenon, Havasu Falls is the place to be if you love hiking, camping, and nature. The birth of the internet has also helped to boost its popularity (almost too much but we will discuss that later) making it one of the most famous hiking destinations in the United States. Located in northwestern Arizona, Havasu Falls is
By Diego Maloney There is a lot to see this summer in the American West. You can take a trip to some amazing American attractions in and around the West Coast with ease. The places I visited that I will highlight here have a lot of history to offer, some as many as 40 million years! The rocky landscapes that stretch for thousands of miles
I wake before dawn with anticipation of the day that is to follow. After all, it’s not every day you get to visit a remote tropical island with a moat-encircled abandoned fort: Fort Jefferson! My eyelids are matted and stuck to each other as I roll over again and push the alarm. This was after a night out with some crazy restaurateurs from Key West
Just as I have written about the best Dallas Fort Worth Airport options, I have now found the best LAX hotel with shuttle airport option: The Hyatt Regency LAX. As one of the 777 properties of the Hyatt Hotel Corporation, it is an interesting fact that the first Hyatt House branded motel was a small LAX motel located near the airport. Decades after the first
Ruidoso New Mexico is a great escape for an outdoor adventure-filled vacation that not that many people know about outside of the state of New Mexico (I call this “unique and off-the-beaten-path”). This makes it more pristine and less crowded, so for me, that makes it an even more desirable place to visit! Discovering it tucked away in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico will
Dude Ranch Colorado: As a little kid, did you ever dream of growing up to be a cowboy or cowgirl in Colorado? For most, this dream gets put on the back burner and other dreams get pursued. But now you can actually fulfill this dream and see what it feels to be a real cowboy or cowgirl for a week! How will you do that?
Have you ever thought about taking an outdoor adventures trip to Colorado Springs to unplug? Sometimes I think as a society we are so plugged in (24/7) that we often forget that we need to recharge our lives. With everything from nonstop social media and cell phone texts to 24-hour news, video games, and a constant stream of information coming our way, I think people
The Northern California peninsula known as the Monterey Peninsula is nothing short of spectacular and is home to the beautiful Monterey beach. With its stunning natural beauty, charming, tourist atmosphere and coastline, I am sure you can easily spend 3-4 days enjoying the outdoor activities and exploring the area. Trying to whittle my list down to 10 of the BEST things to do in Monterey CA
Get yourself into that Southern mood, the sweet sickness that is Savannah's lure. I call it le mal doux, which is French for "the sweet sickness". How? You ask? Try reading (or see the movie) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil before you take on the task of visiting Savannah GA attractions and finding things to do in Savannah, GA. This surely will put you
Sedona Jeep Tours ✦ Sedona Jeep Tours What better way to see Cathedral Rock and explore the red rocks of Sedona than to take a ride in the famous Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona? Sedona Jeep Tours is a tour operator in the American Southwest that offers off-road excursions in the red rocks and beyond in their famous pink jeeps. They have been around
Located about an hours drive away from Albuquerque, Santa Fe is a truly striking city. Perched beautifully on top of the blue mountains of New Mexico, there's no denying that Santa Fe is one of those cities that has a magical and timeless appeal. This high desert town with its combination of mountains, rock formations, and canyon roads make this a unique place to visit due
By Donnie Sexton Chico Hot Springs, a quintessential Montana resort sits in Paradise Valley, midway between the historic railroad town of Livingston, Montana and Yellowstone National Park. Chico is flanked by the Absaroka Mountains to the south and the almighty Yellowstone River to the north which is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. Not too far from Pray, Montana, the ambiance of
Louisiana is known for many things: music, culture, but most importantly, cuisine! The foods of Louisiana are often on the spicier side and known all around the world as "Cajun Cuisine". The history of recipes and foods of Louisiana is an interesting one. There are influences from France, Spain, Africa, and India. However, there are parts of Louisiana that offer a more soul food-like experience. Where
February on Travelocity! Every month I use my 25 years of travel experience on the Travelocity website about my latest travel experiences. I am a travel ambassador for Travelocity, and they like to call me one of their “Gnational Gnomads”, which I think is super cute. This is an excerpt from those stories. I was so excited to be visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico last month for my husband's
Ahhh! Key West and the Florida Keys!! Where else can you go on a "Classic American Road Trip" that has miles and miles of sunny beaches, acres of mangroves, amazing bridges with state parks scattered along the route, as well as sunsets that people stand around for and the best key lime pie in the world? The Florida Keys are some of the most beautiful
It is no surprise that the Inn of The Five Graces lies squarely in New Mexico, known as the "Land of Enchantment." With a clearly magical touch, internationally acclaimed importers, Ira and Sylvia Seret of Seret & Sons have created a living masterpiece for all to enjoy. Each of the 24 unique suites in this small luxury hotel embraces the beauty and bold color of richly exotic
Located in the northwest corner of Big Sky country, Whitefish sits along the Amtrak Empire Builder route, as well as being just 11 miles from Glacier International Airport. Whitefish is a “come as you are” town, where a pair of Carhartts with muck boots work just as well as designer label jeans and Gucci boots. The locals are a mix of cowboys, die-hard outdoor enthusiasts,
Visiting St Simons Island Georgia is well known for its southern-style seen in Savannah, GA’s stately squares, with their distinct southern twang sound. And most people know about its peach pies, pecans, and one famous peanut farmer (who happens to be my cousin). But did you know that the Barrier Islands located right off the coast are full of unspoiled beaches, live oak trees dripping
Jim Thorpe PA is a beautiful small town in Eastern Pennsylvania in the USA. It's a quaint town with museums, shopping, resorts and views of the Poconos mountain range. It's the perfect destination for a Poconos getaway at any time of year and is a great option for weekend getaways in PA. I was lucky enough to visit during fall when the town of Jim
New Orleans: Jazz While in the French Quarter, I often heard this apocalyptic song being played by trumpeters in the streets. Since New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and blues, it might not be all that uncommon. Even a walk down Frenchmen Street will present you with swing, jazz, and blues music that is flowing from open-doored music saloons and bars. This is
Sure, Missoula, Montana is one of those liberal college towns you hear about, but in a way, this town is different. Located along the Fork River in Western Montana, it is known as the "hub of five valleys" since it is near the convergence of five mountain ranges. But more than that, this town is about that land beyond the town - all those protected
Coming around the backside and corner of the Hotel Fauchere, I entered going down the stairs and thru the back door. Unbeknownst to me, I came at it all wrong and should have entered thru its glorious navy-blue double French front doors with red and white striped awnings out in front and even a black rocking chair on the sidewalk to get the real flavor
As a travel writer/blogger, I was dreading my next trip to Las Vegas. This shouldn't be the case since I am in love with travel, but I now realize Vegas is like an acquired tasted. One that is unlikely to be enjoyed by a person who has not had substantial exposure to it, usually because of some unfamiliar aspect of the city. It is like being in
She flies over long distances in a precise migratory pattern and is known as ‘the wanderer’ in Australia. But here in the United States, we call her the Monarch butterfly. Flying overhead in search of nectar plants and basking in the sun, this week I felt like a butterfly as I explored the City of Scottsdale, AZ calling it the Scottsdale Invasion! Invasion of the
How many times in your life have you been WOW’ed? WOW! That is what they call it here at the W Scottsdale. When I say that word, sometimes I say it with almost a silent whisper. WOW! (this is me whispering!). My brain gets overwhelmed by my enthusiasm for what my visual senses can’t quite get wrapped around and my words, even as a storyteller, are
Ready for a spa getaway and luxury cooking school? It was love at first sight, the minute I stepped out of the black BMW luxury transport and took a look at the Japanese lanterns and those "golden doors". I knew my lavish love affair had begun. I was greeted quickly by an attendant and my luggage was whisked away into my Asian-inspired upstairs suite overlooking
There are many reasons to pay a visit to Big Sky Resort in southwest Montana, but if you’re a champion of great food and wine, their Vine & Dine weekender is a must. This annual 4-day extravaganza takes place mid-August, bringing together sommeliers, winemakers, regional and celebrity chefs, live music by local bands and local producers of Montana grown products all under the shadow of
Exhausted from 2 hours of being the “Captain” of a two-man orange kayak in the Pacific Ocean, I grabbed my pre-made lunch in the hot burning sun and plucked up my backpack to find a spot in the shade. I still had my black ROXY rash guard on but had managed to wrangle out of my water shoes in exchange for some comfy flip flops.
I was recently asked by the kind folks over at KIA to come for one of their “Rocking Kia” events called “Discover the NEW KIA” to check out the new KIA car models. They even called me a “rock star” as related to social media and travel road trips! So how could I say no? When I say “rocking”, I literally mean the Hard Rock
Quinta Mazatlan I am a diehard about Spanish/Mexican architecture, interior design, music, language, and dance, so when I took one peek inside the Ann Maddox Moore room at Quinta Mazatlán, I was immediately enamored with her collection. This assortment, which is only a part of her personal collection, was of cultural Mexican craftsmanship that she had collected on her many trips to Mexico. This is
