Testimonials
Travel Stories
Musings of a Fudgeler
Sitting on my balcony at the RIU Palace in Cabo San Lucas, I’m overlooking the Sea of Cortez, watching a parade of one (sometimes two) cruise ships glide past El Arches into port. This is Baja’s version of a traffic jam. My junior suite is strategically situated for straight-line views of the pool and restaurant[…]
A River, A Dream…A Destination
Laughlin, Nevada evolved from a dream. In the early 1960s, Don Laughlin believed that an alternative destination to its neighbor 90 miles north, Las Vegas, was overdue. Perched on the banks of the Colorado River, Laughlin has grown into a full-fledged resort town in terms of outdoor activities, water sports, resorts and gaming. Keeping Active:[…]
An Explosion of Colors
Planning: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest, is putting on a dazzling display of wildly colorful plants and flowers in various stages of bloom. It’s all due to seven plus inches of rain this winter. The last show like this was in 1999, so it’s time for a visit. If you go on a weekend,[…]
Cambria and the California Highway 1 Discovery Route
Settling In: California Highway 1 is your “discovery route” to adventure. This historic road features scenic beaches, state parks, wildlife habitats, wine regions and quaint towns throughout San Luis Obispo County. Our destination was the hamlet of Cambria and the Cambria Pines Lodge. The full-service 152 room resort was built in 1927 and features 25[…]
Surprising Mesquite
Background: The Virgin River Valley is 80 miles north of Las Vegas. Nestled there, in the Mojave Desert, is the small city of Mesquite, NV (population 17,000+). First named Mesquite Flats by Mormon pioneers in 1880, its settlers farmed cash crops; cotton and grapes. Today, it is a fast-growing destination for tourists, retirees and those[…]
San Diego Restaurant Week – January, 2017
Beginning January 15 and running through January 22, over 180 restaurants throughout the county will be serving three-course, prix-fixe dinners ranging from $20 – $50 and two-course lunches for $10, $15 or $20 per person. Here are my lunch recommendations. In the $10 category, a personal long time favorite is Spice and Rice in La[…]
Sailing With Hal
There is nothing easier than cruising roundtrip from your hometown; no TSA lines or airline delays and, once onboard, you immediately begin your vacation. That’s what it was like sailing from San Diego on Holland America Line (HAL for short). The Mexican Riviera was our destination for a seven day cruise on the MS Westerdam.[…]
Annual Travel Gift Guide – December 2016
It’s that time of year to pick my favorite travel items. After assembling the list, I realized that travel clothes seem to have common threads: they look good, are comfortable and functional. But, what to pack them in and how about gadgets and discounts? They are all here! Chico Bag – My “must have” item[…]
Sorensen’s Resort: 1000 Ounces of Gold
The Sierra Nevada range runs 400 miles north-to-south and 70 miles east-to-west in California and Nevada. The history of the area leaps out at you when you see signs signaling the Donner and Carson Passes and Emigrant Gap, along with vista stops and markers that tell the story of the early explorers and settlers. Wonderful[…]
Revenue Management: A Brief History of Why You Pay What You Do
Before I became a full-time travel writer, I was in the hotel business. At that time, in the early 1970s in San Diego, revenue management wasn’t even a phrase, much less a concept or coveted position in an organizational chart. In its primitive state, it was a loose practice. In summer how we loved the[…]