It is no secret that New Zealand is famous for its outstanding and pristine natural landscape. From lush forests and tumbling waterfalls to sprawling mountain ranges and never-ending coastlines, there are endless opportunities to get outside and enjoy the country’s best running trails. Whether you are searching for a family-friendly activity to get the kids out of the house for the day or a challenging but manageable opprtunity to break in your new men’s running shoes, the picturesque New Zealand landscape offers numerous running trails to enjoy all year long. […]

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Introduce yourself; what is your background? My background is in the luxury car rental and concierge business. It was from that business that I pivoted by listening to our customers and creating a concept that specializes in what they were asking for, automotive entertainment experiences. I realized early on that that’s what most people desire. Have a great time, but don’t worry about the headaches and cost of ownership. Q. When did you first become interested in cars? When did we all first become interested in cars? As kids! For […]

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Enticing Packages and Offerings Allow Guests to Revel in the Season’s Delights, Get Back on the Wellness Train or Get Away for Five Whole Days, Enjoy a Redwoods Railbike Adventure, or Cozy Up in Front of a Fire MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA – Mendocino in the winter offers the best of both worlds. Atmospheric storms and misty mornings are balanced by the relatively mild temperatures that make this part of the world so magically lush. Plentiful mushrooms spring up at the bases of ancient trees and sweet Dungeness crab is pulled […]

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June 2021 – Eureka, California – To celebrate Northern California’s new forest canopy trail, which features some of the world’s tallest trees, Eureka hotels are offering free redwood seedlings to guests who go on the attraction. The Redwood Sky Walk, which officially opens June 4th, 2021, in Eureka’s community park and zoo, is the longest arboreal trail in the Western United States. The $4 million canopy walk, reaching 100 feet above the forest floor, showcases old growth trees rivaling those of nearby Redwood National Park and the Avenue of the […]

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Moving from Los Angeles to the tiny town of Mendocino (population 855) turned out to be one of the most unusual decisions I have ever made. The natural beauty and tranquility act like a balm to the world’s troubles (politics! fires!), but, it should come as little surprise, meeting people while masked up and social distancing has proven difficult. On the other hand, as the world opens up a bit, traveling in both Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, two astonishingly stunning landscapes, could not be more convenient. Taking a couple of […]

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Where to Stay Lodging in San Francisco varies depending on the location and season you choose to visit. It’s however no secret that San Francisco is one of America’s most expensive cities and it often leaves visitors wondering how to choose a hotel that fits into their budget. SF Neighborhoods San Francisco has many different neighborhoods to choose from such as: Financial District (downtown), Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Mission District, Union Square, Tenderloin, Castro, Presidio of San Francisco, Haight Ashbury, Japantown, NorthBeach, Sunset District, Noe Valley, Marina, Russian Hill etc. If […]

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The Inn at Newport Ranch, located on the craggy Pacific coastline near Fort Bragg, CA in Mendocino County is perhaps the ideal location to explore California’s wild northern coast. Simultaneously remote and accessible, this unique boutique adventure lodge boasts miles of uninterrupted oceanfront vistas, upscale dining, as well as an abundance of nature and adventure tours. The Inn was recognized on the 2018 Andrew Harper Grand Award Winner list, a distinction given each year to only a few lodges in the entire world. Guests come from far and near to escape […]

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Nestled among groves of pines and redwoods along the rugged northern California coast, one finds the Brewery Gulch Inn, a remarkable hotel with an equally remarkable story. On multiple occasions, it has been voted one of the top hotels in both the US and in the world by Travel & Leisure Magazine as well as by Conde Naste. It is situated off California’s Highway 1, just south of the town of Mendocino, where the clear waters of the Pacific Ocean lap rhythmically onto the rugged beach at Smuggler’s Cove. The […]

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Few trees are as magnificent as the California coast redwoods – living behemoths whose size and height seem to make a mockery of other trees nearby. And while there are a handful of scattered locations around the state to see them, my absolute favorite place is the “Avenue of the Giants,” an incredible 27 km (17 mile) drive through northern California’s ancient redwood forest. The road is lined by some of the largest trees in the world. It closely parallels US Highway 101 and is part of the Humboldt Redwoods […]

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It’s easy to argue that California is the land freeways and automobiles. And with its massive scale and incredible geographic diversity, there are plenty of scenic routes to explore. We’ve all heard of the world-famous drives, like the section of the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur or Mulholland Drive through the Hollywood Hills. While I have plenty of favorites, I’d like to share three lesser-known routes. There are, of course, many more that I don’t have room to list or, more likely, don’t even know about yet. So with […]

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MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIF. – As the flavors of fall arrive in Northern California’s Mendocino County so does the annual crop of coveted candy cap, chanterelle, porcini and hedgehog mushrooms. Straddling historic Highways 1 and 101 with nearly 2,500 sq. miles of live oak and stately redwood groves, the region is a natural hotspot for some 3,000 mushroom varieties, 500 of which are edible. The annual haul is nothing short of historic, nurturing nirvana for local chefs, winemakers and fungi foragers. Add to the mix regional mushroom-laced menus, 20 winemaker and […]

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As I pulled out of the airport I saw steam in the distance – making a mental note to come back here I later realized this must be the “sign” of the infamous Blue Lagoon. I returned in the afternoon driving through what at a quick glance looks like a barren wasteland with volcanic rock strewn all about. As you glance across this stark landscape you see no trees – but if you look closer in certain sheltered rock plateaus, there are in fact small trees growing. And this “stark […]

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Introduction For many years the city of Napa was just a place you passed as you entered the Napa Valley – the city center is not on the main highway (Highway 29) and it was lacking in restaurants, hotels and tasting rooms. When you told people you were visiting the Napa Valley, the city of Napa was not mentioned as your final destination, rather you would have been referring to the wineries up valley; it was those wineries that long attracted the majority of the visitors to the valley. They […]

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Living in San Francisco, there’s no dearth of restaurants to choose from on a Saturday evening. A few weekends ago, I was given the opportunity to dine in Oakland and wondered what on earth the food scene would be like – was there even a food scene?! The answer is a resounding yes!! From the Temescal area to the streets around Broadway and Telegraph, Oakland surprises with top notch chefs, hipster bars and a thriving food scene! Then there’s old Oakland. I ventured out onto Broadway and 9th and was […]

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Of all the past travel writing contests, this was the most difficult year to narrow down the entries to the top three winners. We initially selected 11 from over 100 entries. One entry stood out from the others and was the unanimous choice for our top spot. After discussion among the three judges – the three top entries are: Bring Adventure Back to Europe, by Richard Bangs       Without An Address, You Can’t Go Home, by Tom Bentley       Pie-eyed for Pizza A Love Story, by […]

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