(SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif.) — The Santa Ynez Valley has never been an ordinary wine country destination, and its abundance of outdoor recreation and amenities is a key reason why. Set along California's Central Coast, with the San Rafael Mountains to the north and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south, rests a natural playground for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, outdoor adventurists, and more. Entering the valley and catching the first … [Read more...]
7 Best California Road Trip Routes and How to Get There Safely
You could just book a plane or a train ticket to your final destination and skip the road trip across California. However, California’s vast landscape is a true thing of beauty and deserves to be mindfully savored. But before you embark on this incredible journey, make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. After all, California is a sizable state with roadways that extend for hundreds of miles. You might even want to consider mechanical … [Read more...]
Believe it or Not, Lake Havasu City has Some Cool & Unusual Attractions
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Arizona (June 2020) - Lake Havasu City has been in the news recently as throngs of quarantine-frustrated boaters flocked to its shores and Arizona starts opening up for business. Beyond the crowded launch ramps, visitors can discover a fascinating mix of cool, unusual and practically unknown attractions where social distancing is never a problem. "In the first half of the 20th Century, one of the most famous … [Read more...]
The Trip to the Desert
After visiting the original Ballarat in Australia about 90 minutes outside of Melbourne earlier this year, I got the urge to visit it's tiny relative in the Mojave Desert, California. I drove across what looked like a salt plane - some rare recent rain had muddied the road and left my windshield covered in white droplets. I pulled into the old town, originally founded in 1897, it's boom was a few short years before the nearby mine shut down in … [Read more...]
The Dream Walker by Larry Prosor
Peter Martinez is the Wave Dancer, a surfer in modern day California. He is also a Native American (Noqoto tribe) whose job is to dress up as an "Indian Chief" for his tribe's casino. Not able to conform to the rules of the casino he soon finds himself without a job - fired by his mother. At the core of the story is a battle between environmental protection and an oil company, (appropriately named ENRG) who want to develop part of their … [Read more...]
Ballarat, California – May 2020
Not to be mistaken for the original Ballarat in Australia (which is still a thriving city and a popular tourist destination), this Ballarat was named after the Australian town by an Australian miner. Originally founded in 1897, it provided services and accommodation for miners working several mines in the nearby vicinity. Its peak population was around 500 - like other remote gold mining towns, once the gold began to play out, the population … [Read more...]
Emotion and Historical Insight at Ronald Reagan Museum
On a recent trip to southern California, with some time on my hands on a Monday afternoon, I decided to point my wheels toward a place that had always intrigued me: the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. One of 13 presidential libraries in the United States, it sits atop a hill in the suburban enclave of Simi Valley, about forty-five minutes from downtown Los Angeles. I had never been to a presidential museum before and to be … [Read more...]
Top Water Sports to Enjoy While on the Road
Some of my favorite activities while traveling are participating in a variety of water sports. Over the years I've often traveled to islands (especially in the Caribbean) where water sports are a part of the culture and often a part of people's daily lives. I've participated in the following water sports ... and you can to :) Stand up Paddle Board - my first introduction to stand up paddle boarding was a few years ago in Bermuda. During my … [Read more...]
Pursuing Ski Resorts for both Winter and Summer Sports Activities
My first introduction to ski resorts was with my father at a very young age - we would pack into the car and drive several hours to the ski slopes and spend our afternoons combing up and down the slopes for coins and jewelry. Initially it was just walking while carefully studying the ground beneath our feet. You would be surprised what people lost during the ski season - we found beer cans still cold sitting in the snow, capri sun drinks - and … [Read more...]
Following a Prominent Boxer, Sports Travel
I had never followed any boxers or the sport before until many years ago when a friend told me about an up an coming young boxer named Andre Ward - who had taken a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. My friend had already been following his fledgling career for several years and casually mentioned to me one day if I would like to attend a fight. We drove up to San Jose for one of Andre's early professional bouts - the crowd was small but … [Read more...]
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