San Diego Restaurant Week: January 20 -27, 2019

The holidays are over. Is your New Year’s resolution to try something new?  This month provides an opportunity to dine at your choice of almost 200 restaurants throughout San Diego County.  They will be serving two-course lunches for $10, $15 or $20 per person and three-course, prix-fixe dinners ranging from $20 – $50.  Need help[…]

When Reno Was King

Although the Gold Rush first brought prospectors to California looking to make their fortunes, the Reno area exploded with the discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode.  Then came the entrepreneurs (think Levi’s blue jeans), prostitutes, and shady characters.  Illegal gambling parlors sprung up; it was truly the wild west.  By the 1920s, Reno was[…]

San Diego Restaurant Week: September 23 – 30, 2018

The beginning of fall kicks off with the 14th annual San Diego Restaurant Week. The event features almost 200 of the county’s best kitchens offering unique dining experiences.  The eight days are designed to allow you to try new places at bargain prices. Two-course lunches offer an entree and choice of an appetizer or dessert. […]

The Historic Harris Ranch

A Surprising Discovery  Located in California’s sparsely populated San Joaquin Valley is “an unexpected oasis,” the Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant.  It’s much more than a way-stop along a stretch of Highway 5 between San Francisco and Los Angeles.   History: The Harris family has been farming in California for over 100 years. They established[…]

Food, Travel & Adventure – San Diego Style

What an excellent way to start the new year; great values and unique dining experiences. The 14th annual San Diego Restaurant Week features almost 200 of the county’s best dining establishments. It’s designed to allow you to try new places at different price points. Prix-fixe three-course dinners range from $20 – $50 per person. Two-course[…]

Travel Gifts for the Holidays

This is one of my favorite columns to write. Over the past year, I’ve been able to sample travel products and come up with a list that is gift-worthy. Here are my suggestions. Can’t Travel Without Eagle Creek – My Eagle Creek inventory includes everything from rolling luggage to handy Pak-It Cubes. My latest find[…]

California Roundup – November 2017

San Diego There are two notable events this month. On November 3 & 4, the Del Mar Racetrack hosts the Breeder’s Cup, the Super Bowl of horse racing. This two-day event features 13 races with over $28 million in purses and awards. Launched in 1984, it marks the unofficial end of the thoroughbred racing season[…]

Chico, California – Small Town Gem

My favorite small town is a gem located 90 miles north of Sacramento. Its economic drivers are Chico State University, agribusiness, healthcare, local government, and craft beer pioneer, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Chico’s 90,000+ residents enjoy an abundance of diversions in California’s Central Valley. On the Go: Chico is a cycling enthusiast’s paradise. Bidwell Park,[…]

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:[…]