People often conjure up images of the 1965 riots when thinking of the Los Angeles neighborhood Watts. Hopefully, after visiting Watts Towers (or “Nuestro Pueblo,” as its creator Simon Rodia originally referred to it), people …
October 26, 2009
Travel on the Cheap
Watts Towers and Art Center
Puerto Nuevo, Mexico: Lobster Camp
“Hay langosta aqui! Tres por quince dolares!” Ten legs jut out from a slender form. It’s dark red in parts and golden in other sections. Your salivary glands are jolted. Yes, Puerto Nuevo lobster times …
October 7, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand: The Land of Smiles
I moved to Thailand straight after college graduation with my philosopher boyfriend and our $100,000 degrees to do something different. We knew nothing about the country except what our Lonely Planet guidebooks told us on …
September 29, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Do's and Don'ts
Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, is full of traveler do’s (and a few don’ts). For instance, DO know that Ho Chi Minh City was called Saigon until it was renamed in 1975. DON’T …
September 24, 2009
Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno
If I’d been living in Fresno in the early 1900s, I’d have visited Baldasare Forestiere often, especially in August. To beat the scorching heat, this Sicilan immigrant spent nearly forty years creating an underground dwelling. …
September 22, 2009
The Garden Song in Elkhorn, California
Visiting the Garden Song in Elkhorn, California, halfway between Monterey and Santa Cruz, is like meandering through a five-acre hidden treasure. Dahlias in every imaginable color burst forth like the grand finale of a Fourth …
September 3, 2009
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
Even if you can’t surf, you can catch a wave at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, 701 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 467 miles north of San Diego. The museum overlooks famed surfing hotspot Steamer …
August 22, 2009
17-Mile Drive: Carmel–Pacific Grove
This stretch of coastal highway – the 17-Mile Drive, as it’s called – is a beautiful, winding scenic route that traverses Pacific Grove and Carmel. Driving non-stop will take at least 25 minutes, but if …
August 22, 2009
Get off the Grid in Jalama Beach
Welcome to the feeling of camping in the 1970s: Advance registration for single sites is not available at Jalama Beach Park, located west of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. From Highway 1, the 14-mile Jalama …
August 19, 2009
Wool Growers Restaurant, Los Banos, CA
When planning dinner at Wool Growers Restaurant, 609 H Street in Los Banos, it’s a good idea to skip lunch. Bring a hearty appetite and pace yourself – they serve a lot of food. Being …
August 10, 2009
OstrichLand USA
The next time you want to invite two dozen friends over for breakfast, you can feed them all with one scrambled egg – if you’re cooking an ostrich egg, that is. Weighing 3-4 pounds, an …
August 10, 2009