Air Force One is a lot cozier than I imagined. The comfortable leather chairs, soft blue carpeting and large jars of jelly beans remind me of my aunt’s living room. From the inside it’s almost …
November 28, 2014
Southern California
A day with the Gipper: Reagan Presidential Library
Day trip to Santa Ysabel
It’s the time of year when fellow motorcyclists back east and up north are storing their bikes for the winter. The fall rains and coming winter snows, accompanied by frigid temperatures, will leave them reading …
November 13, 2014
How to see L.A. – or even Pluto
A couple hours north of San Diego is the Griffith Observatory, a must-see on a weekend getaway in La-la Land. You might remember the landmark from the film Rebel Without a Cause. That was James …
October 30, 2014
De-stress in Borrego Springs
Stressed? “Take a big long deep breath in, and then slowly exhale out,” according to my yoga teacher. But for those of us who rush through life in a hyper-busy routine, there’s no time to …
October 14, 2014
Head for the hot springs: Corona's Glen Ivy
Lacking the time or energy for a road trip, but in need of a quick getaway? We found ours last Thursday, getting on the road at 8 a.m. and heading north on I-15 for 70 …
September 11, 2014
Venice has grit
A shirtless hippie with long, flowing hair and an orange tan gives me a wink as he floats by on his bicycle. After a few minutes, a large man carrying a CD player and headphones …
August 3, 2014
Sixty miles to El Capitan Reservoir and back
I recently had a nice, cool day off for a leisurely and minimally hilly bike ride that doesn't involve the super-flat Mission Bay or San Diego Bay. Where else to go but to follow the …
June 19, 2014
Digital detox in Julian
A digital detox vacation is one where you can’t get cellphone, satellite or internet service of any kind. Ok, I might've just sent you into a panic attack with this thought – so take a …
April 18, 2014
Camping at Doheny State Beach, CA
Our growing family of four is always up for an adventure, and recently we began mulling over this idea of a bicycle-train-camping expedition. Unsure if we'd be getting in over our heads, we decided to …
April 10, 2014
Biking the Great Western Loop
A few friends and I went riding East County's Great Western Loop on a clear November morning. The GWL is a popular rural cycling route along Willow Glen, Dehesa, Japatul, Lyons Valley Roads and Jamul …
April 3, 2014
Urban hiking in Maple Canyon
Like much of California’s coast, San Diego’s topography is unique. Mountains in the east give way to plateaus, which in turn give way to labyrinths of canyons that eventually find their way into the ocean. …
March 9, 2014
Go green in Encinitas
When most people think of Encinitas, the beach is probably the first thing to come to mind. Moonlight and Swami’s are two of the best in the county. But the seaside community is also home …
February 27, 2014
Local travel: the Bayshore Bikeway
As a family of four with two preadolescent children, we’re often looking for fun, active ways to explore our own beautiful city without spending too much money. San Diego’s sunny, laid-back disposition creates an ideal …
February 3, 2014
Flying like a bird in the Mojave
The Air Force prayer has a line that goes, "I slipped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God." That’s pretty heady stuff – but the next time you're feeling trapped by …
January 24, 2014
Anza-Borrego camping: a review
Being a little nontraditional when it comes to Thanksgiving (I hate turkey and brown food, and avoid it like the plague), we were thrilled when our friends, who feel the same about Thanksgiving, invited us …
January 9, 2014