Taking a much-needed break from my grandfather's funeral, I drove to Hilton Head for some sightseeing. I didn't know much about the island – only its reputation for golf courses and wealthy tourists. When I …
March 24, 2010
United States
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Upper Hot Spring Canyon
Silent, except for the gentle gurgle of water over stone, upper Hot Spring Canyon is an easy-to-reach hideaway in the Santa Ana Mountains, not very far from a pair of Cleveland National Forest campgrounds. Those …
March 17, 2010
Hip Palm Springs, CA
In a corner of the vast Southern California desert, nestled against scraggly snow-topped peaks with sagebrush trailing in every direction, sits the idyllic enclave of Palm Springs. Nice for Sunday brunch with Grandma, sure, but …
March 16, 2010
The Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles
Having lived in Los Angeles during the Rodney King riots of 1992, I’ve always viewed the Museum of Tolerance as a beacon of hope. Located at the corner of Pico and Roxbury Drive in West …
March 11, 2010
Hsi Lai Temple, Hacienda Heights, California
Visiting the Hsi Lai Temple, nestled in the hills of Hacienda Heights, I felt as though I was transported back in time and to another world. Spread out over 15 acres, the temple grounds are …
March 3, 2010
Unclaimed cattle in San Diego, Texas
Unclaimed Cattle. The Duval County sheriff’s office received a complaint from a rancher about cattle tearing up his fields. Deputies located the five cows on Duval County Road 104 (approximately five miles north of San …
March 3, 2010
Springtime in the Desert: Borrego Springs
I think of Borrego Springs as Baja Palm Springs – all the heat without the glitz – and it’s more fun getting to. I love a Sunday drive down County Road S22 into the valley …
February 26, 2010
East Canyon Loop
Verdant East Canyon tucks into steep, north-facing slopes just below the crest of the Santa Susana Mountains. The canyon receives an average of about 20 inches of rainfall annually — just enough, in an environment …
February 24, 2010
Morro Bay, California
“The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might... ‘O, Oysters, come and walk with us!’ The Walrus did beseech. ‘A Pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach...’” – from …
February 23, 2010
International New York: Ellis Island and the United Nations
Is New York City the center of the universe? Perhaps at least the multicultural capital of the world? There’s no lack of people who believe this, and you may be one of them after visiting …
El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico
To see the sights of the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, start by driving on a winding, mountainous road through the lush greenery known as El Yunque in Puerto Rico. If …
February 22, 2010
Gems of Pala, California
Walking up the dirt-and-gravel path from the parking area, you’re greeted by a Buddha and two rusted truck corpses. Wooden bins of large rocks stand next to the stairs leading up to the store’s entrance. …
February 17, 2010
Walden Pond, Concord, Massachusetts
“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” This thought was expressed by Henry David Thoreau over 160 years ago while living in the one-room cabin he built overlooking Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau conducted …
February 16, 2010
Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
The Huddle House diner is inviting and cozy on an early November morning. While it isn't that far off from the Waffle House visited the previous morning (the signs are practically identical), it’s a far …
February 15, 2010
O'Melveny Park
O’Melveny Park spreads over 672 acres, second on the list of largest parks within the City of Los Angeles, right after the much-more-spacious Griffith Park. Noted for its picture-perfect picnic grounds with white fences and …
February 10, 2010