If you're a fan of Westerns, at one time or another you've seen one filmed in Randsburg, where the spirit of the old West is alive and thriving just three hours' drive from San Diego. …
December 27, 2013
Southern California
Randsburg, CA: a living ghost town
From cactus to clouds in SoCal
“You in town?” Little did I know my text would lead to hiking 22 miles within the next 24 hours. Seriously. A marathon minus four miles – but with 10,500 feet of climbing, hurting, bonding, …
December 16, 2013
California's castle in the sand
When castles and California are mentioned in conversation, Hearst Castle, which dominates a stretch of Central Coast skyline, usually comes to mind. You might be surprised to learn that a less opulent but even more …
December 7, 2013
Afton Canyon: Grand Canyon of the Mojave
Often called the Grand Canyon of The Mojave, Afton Canyon is a little-known gem along the road to Vegas, excellent for a pit stop or a quiet camping trip (never mind the trains; they're part …
November 4, 2013
Coachella Valley by jeep
Who would think that parts of the desert are full of water? Especially since the Coachella Valley gets only six to eight inches of rain every year. But when I took the Desert Adventures Red …
October 18, 2013
East County trekking (and sliding)
I love hiking, but I forget to do it again for months at a time. It usually plays out like this: 1) I trek along a path (or non-path) getting lost in the moment… sometimes …
August 17, 2013
Cheap art in L.A.
An old friend and his fiancee were flying into Los Angeles from Texas in July, on their way up to Santa Barbara. They were staying one night in L.A., and asked me to join them …
August 2, 2013
Why Big Bear?
I've got a few days off and not a lot of cash... what can I do? I know – I'll go to Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. I've taken my family there …
June 30, 2013
The Mad Greek
What am I doing out here in the middle of the desert? The lights of Las Vegas are a distant memory, faded away into the early morning, and now about a hundred miles into the …
Unexpected L.A.
It’s amazing how one person on a business trip in Los Angeles can have a really cool adventure for three bucks. I wish my husband and kids could have been here – it would've been …
May 21, 2013
I survived Carlsbad Village Faire
Today I was a very brave person. Despite my inner voice telling me to stay home, give my busy self a relaxing day for a change, I put the leash on my dog and we …
May 12, 2013
Queen Califia's Magical Circle
Thirty miles up I-15 from San Diego, in Escondido, you’ll find Queen Califia’s Magical Circle. This is the unnatural habitat of wild animals that escaped from the imagination of Niki de Saint Phalle. She’s the …
April 25, 2013
Borrego Springs's Mud Caves
In the geographical wonders of the Anza-Borrego desert, you will find a unique Southern California feature: mud caves, deep caves created by flowing silt from an ancient lake bed, eroded by wind and rain. They're …
March 29, 2013
Desert Inspiration in Palm Springs
Dreams. Patterns in the clouds. Drug-fueled hallucinations. A life thoroughly well-lived. There are many answers to the question: where does a writer find their inspiration? But for some, it's all about the location. Some places …
March 22, 2013
Surviving the Swarm in Anza-Borrego
As a young woman on a budget, I've found many ways to travel on the cheap, and one of my favorite destinations is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in east county San Diego. It's close, it's …
February 28, 2013