Somewhere More Local

Great walking and surfing beach

The Santa Barbara Mission is by far my favorite mission in California. It's not hard to understand why the original missionaries choose this spot with its close proximity to the ocean, mountains, and canyons. Pack a picnic and hang out near the...

This is an amazing library, that not only has an amazing coffee stand outside, but also an incredible view...

Nature provides the ultimate canvas and expression. And sometimes you just have to be aware close to home, not just when traveling afar. This was taken at the end of my street as a rare southern Californian storm developed early one April morning....

As part of our two week trek across California, we stopped off at the Mission San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano just south of Los Angeles. We got there at around 4:30 which left us only 30 minutes to see everything. Although not a huge...

Their popular show closed abruptly with Roy’s injury in 2003, but the famous animal trainers and illusionists have established a research and education center. It teems with lions, tigers, leopards, black panthers, and bottlenose...

CATCH Week1: On a road trip from Texas to California, I stopped in Arizona for a sleep. While driving though the lonely and isolated desert roads, headed towards Nevada, I spotted these cactus that reminded me of the Caribbean coral species the...

If you find that the Vegas Strip isn't really your cup of tea, head to the 18b Arts District which boasts galleries, restaurants and coffee shops at affordable prices.

Reservations required—and no wonder. The tours at the Neon Museum sell out months in advance. A walk through the museum's famous "Boneyard" (where neon goes to die) is fascinating, from motel row to the first integrated casino (one that shut...

Joshua Tree park is one spectacular place. Bring gallons of water, a sturdy pair of shoes and a reliable camera. The sights are breathtaking! Once you enter the park, your pass is good for 7 full days. Which gives you more than enough time to see...

The tram ascends 5,000 feet in about 10 minutes. At the top, you get a glorious view of the Coachella Valley.

La Jolla, or "Jewel City," takes up about seven miles of coastline in San Diego. It is an affluent neighborhood with a lot to explore. The famous Children's Pool is where you can now find dozens of seals basking in the sun. The nation's largest...

Old Town in San Diego has a LOT going on, including many yearly festivals. You can find shops selling kitsch, pottery, beautiful items hammered from tin, Tibetan goods & clothing. At one end is a large square park surrounded by a few restaurants &...

Seaport Village is located right on the waterfront, and has more than 70 shops, restaurants, and attractions. Its location right next to the bay in downtown San Diego makes it an easy walk from most downtown hotels. My mom loves this place, and I...

Little Italy is a great neighborhood with restaurants, gourmet grocers and boutiques- well worth a check out on any day of the week. But if you're in San Diego on a Saturday morning from 8am to 2pm, you have to walk over to the Little Italy...

Balboa park is a landscape of arts and culture in San Diego, including museums, such as The Natural History Museum, and the Museum of Photographic Arts. The photo above is of the large koi pond outside the botanical garden house. It makes for a...

My favorite independent bookstore, located in Seaport Village, is Upstart Crow—a mix of eclectic nostalgia items amongst coffee drinks and stacks of books. Here is where you find peace amid the tourist busy bodies.

The San Diego trolley is a great way to get around to the good places in San Diego. You can go to the shopping malls in Mission Valley, Little Italy, Gaslamp, Seaport Village, Old Town, Convention Center, downtown, the Embarcadero, and the U.S....

To me, an oasis is anywhere or anything that allows you to process your thoughts, ignore your thoughts, or toss them to the wind. As a college student in San Diego, the place I would most often retreat was Sunset Cliffs. Sitting along the coast...

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is one of the most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. Here, ducks are seen swimming freely on the pond.

I had been studying for weeks and finally taken my board exam. Tired, nervous and out of sorts my friend and I decided to find shelter in the island of Catalina. Who knew that just off the coast of California one could find such a treasure....

Laguna Beach is a perfect juxtaposition of bustling commerce and laid back SoCal excellence.

on a stretch of coastline between malibu and oxnard, i encountered a rare find: crashing waves, tide pools and rock formations reminiscent of the pacific northwest. the small, easy to overlook access to el matador beach keeps it quiet.

The largest art museum in the western United States, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) offers permanent and rotating collections that span from ancient Egyptian objects to modern art like Claes Oldenburg's giant pool balls. It's...

I love the simplicity of this little piece of graffiti. Perfect way to start your day, out for a morning walk along the beach and come upon a nice piece of advice.

Wilshire and Ocean. Great spot for an afternoon walk.

Doheny Library has been serving as a symbol of learning for students at the University of Southern California since 1932. Take a moment to see the gorgeous architecture within, and maybe even get lost in the book stacks. If you go during the...

What a perfect LA excursion for the history and nature buffs alike. Take a drive part of the way up PcH and enjoy the sun, breeze, and exhibits.

In Los Angeles, the cliché is that people drive one block to get a soda. But there are lots of staircases hidden in the hills of L.A. In Silver Lake, I like a two-and-a-half mile loop of stairs known as the Music Box. Parts remind me of...

From fancy to funky to sometimes downright fugly, Melrose Ave. is a shopping mecca for all tastes and budgets. While tourists flock to this famous strip to browse the shops, locals know to show up on Sundays for the landmark Melrose Trading...