I heard the word “Tecate.” My buddy wasn’t speaking of the next beer, but rather a border town located only 45 minutes away from downtown San Diego. Follow the 94-east freeway signs until it becomes …
August 15, 2010
North America
Mellow Tecate, Mexico
Going Outdoors in Whistler, British Columbia
The drive from Vancouver Airport up to Whistler Village is about two and a half hours of pure eye candy. Although I mention a drive, you really don’t need a car in Whistler at all. …
August 13, 2010
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
“We looked at properties in North County San Diego, but we just couldn’t find anything so we decided to move to San Miguel de Allende.” As the couple from California told me their story, my …
August 6, 2010
Smugglers scatter in San Diego, Texas
Woolly Weather. As Hurricane Alex approached the coast of Northern Mexico during the Independence Day weekend, nearly ten inches of rain flooded the streets of San Diego and other parts of Duval County. In Freer …
August 4, 2010
Tranquil Pacifica, California
Another quick jaunt north is the scenic town of Pacifica, California. As a student at San Francisco State University, I once lived here eons ago, but it is still as quaintly scenic and tranquil a …
July 29, 2010
Punk Rock Bowling, Henderson, Nevada
Henderson in Nevada, Sunset Station, Punk, Bowling, Pabst Blue Ribbon. What’s the connection? Three words. Punk Rock Bowling – a weekend of raucous and drunken activities having something to do with bowling and music. Normally, …
Louisiana’s Swamps and Wetlands
It is said that when Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he was mainly interested in New Orleans and its surrounding swamps. Two centuries later, it is now the section of the country …
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, San Antonio, Texas
With their unpredictable temperament, the ostriches took the meal event to another level. One approached our car, acting like a machine in War of The Worlds with its stilt-like legs, tank-like feathered body and garden-hose …
July 19, 2010
Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, California: A Gourmet Ghetto
A trip to the East Bay Area and Berkeley makes for a wonderful weekend getaway. Fly to Oakland and take the Richmond BART train from the airport into Berkeley. Seven easy blocks north of the …
July 10, 2010
Immigrant Song
On June 3, Chicano rock band Los Lobos announced that they would join the list of businesses boycotting Arizona in protest of the new immigration law there by canceling their June 10 concert in Scottsdale. …
July 7, 2010
Tranquility in Ensenada, Mexico
I’m dreaming of a place where I can get fish tacos with homemade corn tortillas and a refreshing margarita on the rocks for lunch, then dine on wood-fired pizza and a yummy glass of locally …
July 6, 2010
Twelve Hours in Miami
A 12-hour layover in Miami isn’t anybody’s idea of a bad time. I arrived from Chicago O’Hare so early, I couldn’t even check my bag. Transforming an inconvenience into an opportunity, I began to search …
July 2, 2010
Forks, Washington and Twilight
Not long ago, Forks, Washington, was among the dreariest and most unremarkable expired lumber towns in the country. Teenagers would kill time getting twisted on the “A” road, a desolate lumber route rumored to be …
June 30, 2010
Frenchmen Street: A Bourbon Street for Locals
Where would you go out at night in New Orleans? Bourbon Street, right? Me too. But after satiating the people-watching craving via the drunken crowds and after having enough of the flashing neon signs, I …
June 26, 2010
¡Futbol!
Lions and Tigers and Xolos In a dusty field behind a racetrack in Tijuana, the line of cars trying to park snakes into the distance. Once we park, we look around and see that we’re …
June 23, 2010