Mention to anyone in Los Angeles that you’re heading over to Catalina Island, and invariably you’ll get this response: “Ooh, I love Catalina! Haven’t been there in, like, 10 years, but I love Catalina!” Well, if you haven’t visited in the last decade or so, it’s definitely time for you to go back. There’s so much to see and do, in such a beautiful, idyllic setting, that you’ll find yourself wondering what kept you away so long.
So you don’t ski or snowboard—big deal. There are plenty of other exhilarating winter activities in the Tahoe region that don’t require you to buy absurdly expensive lift tickets and humiliate yourself on the bunny slopes. I’ve been heading up to Tahoe every winter since I was a toddler and I know all the best places to play in the snow, whether it’s bombing down the hill on a saucer at Granlibakken or dog sledding through a snowy alpine meadow. No previous experience is required for any of these activities, so start planning your Tahoe getaway today.
I remember as a kid driving north through Ventura County with my parents and seeing nothing but fields and farmland. Coming from L.A., I might as well have been on another planet. But times they are a changin’ and now the county’s three cities—Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura, otherwise known as Ventura County West—have become popular destinations for a California vacation. And with so much of land devoted to farming, Ventura County is home to a wide range of up-and-coming wineries and restaurants. Here’s what I recommend for first-timers wanting to get a flavor of the region.
If you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle, and you want to be even more of rock star to your kid, grandkid, niece, or nephew, keep reading. Every late September one of the best carnivals in Northern California takes place in a sprawling, sunny park in Walnut Creek. It’s called the Walnut Festival, but if you’re a kid it might as well be called the Willy Wonknut Festival, and a golden ticket to four days of fun isn’t hard to find.
Tis’ the year to procrastinate, eh? It’s December and you still haven’t decided what you’re going to do for New Years Eve. Heck, you barely started your Christmas shopping. Well it’s not too late to plan a relaxing winter getaway that will help release the tensions from all this holiday hubbub. At LocalGetaways we put together some special holiday hotel deals and combined them with our top picks for fun end-of-the-year events for friends, couples, and families. Think of it as a present to yourself for being such a wonderful person all year.
As if making plans for a romantic Valentine’s Day isn’t hard enough, it always seems to fall on a weekday. And if you haven’t noticed already, this Valentine’s Day is on a Thursday (How rude!). So for most of us working stiffs who have to go to work on Friday, a trip to the coast is out of the question. The easy answer: A Stay-n-Play Valentine’s Getaway (patent pending) to a hotel that’s an easy drive from home and work. Here’s a great example….
When I was a kid my mom would retain her sanity each summer by sending me off on a 10-day YMCA backpacking trip with a bunch of strangers (which, by the way, I highly recommend for all you over-protective parents out there). Not only did these hiking trips get me out of the house and into the mountains, they also taught me life-long lessons about ecology, weather, navigation, and self-reliance. So do your kids a confidence-building favor and take them hiking this summer—they’ll forgive you in the end. Read full article »
It always amazes me to meet people who’ve lived in California for years and have never been to Yosemite National Park. This national treasure is a wonderland of record-setting statistics: three of the world’s tallest waterfalls (Upper Yosemite Fall, Ribbon Fall, and Sentinel Fall); the tallest granite monolith in the world (El Capitan); and the world’s most recognizable mountain (Half Dome). But trying to explain the majesty of Yosemite Valley in words is impossible; you simply must experience it firsthand, and early spring—when the wildflowers are going nuts—is the best time to visit. Here’s what you need to know…
So you’re going to take your lover to a fancy restaurant on Valentine’s Day, eh? How original. C’mon people, let’s spice it up a bit. Let’s plan the kind of romantic getaway that will make you look like the most thoughtful person on the planet. This year Valentine’s Day falls on Thursday, so that gives you both a weekday and weekend opportunity to woo and wow your better half with one of our special Valentine’s Day getaways that will keep you out of the doghouse for months (well, for weeks at least).
You know it’s there, and you know you’ve been wanting to go, yet when’s the last time you’ve taken a weekend getaway to Big Sur? That’s what I thought. So to help entice you to do the right thing for your body and soul, I’ve put together an insider’s list of my favorite things to see and do in Big Sur. As a Californian you have the rare opportunity to be within driving distance of one of the prettiest places on the planet, so grab the opportunity, regardless of your busy schedule. So find a free weekend in your day-planner, book one of our hotel deals near Big Sur, and make this happen.
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