Getaways

It may be just around the corner or maybe a quick hop down Colorado or Lake, but your new staycation could be right over there in Old Pasadena. The recent renovation of what’s now called the Courtyard Los Angeles Pasadena Old Town–completed at the beginning of 2024–involved a comprehensive top-to-bottom overhaul, resulting in a multimillion-dollar transformation, including  a versatile pool area just perfect for cocktail receptions and social gatherings. The design theme is inspired by Old  Pasadena itself, according to Finance Manager Natalie Miller, who led us on  a Monday afternoon tour.  “This design is basically blending Tudor and craftsman styles with mid-century elements,” she offered.  True that.  What was once a corporate everyplace business-traveler-oriented hotel has more of a...

I'm nestled comfortably into a window seat and watching the waves hurtle by, on an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner headed south to Oceanside, where I’ll catch a Coaster train to Carlsbad.  That was the original plan.  But too impatient to wait...

You may live in one of the coolest cities in the world with scores of restaurants, museums, a world-famous stadium, mountains, a river with waterfalls,  and renowned campuses, but that doesn’t mean you have a beach.  Sometimes you actually have...

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Even though summer officially ends a few weeks after Labor Day, a new school year begins for most students by Labor Day, and the lazy, hazy days spent on the beach give way to a new school year. It's no wonder that so many people want to capture the last of the summer magic before it's gone for another year; Labor Day getaways help people hold on to summer just a little longer. Explore these tips to make Labor Day trips a bit more safe and convenient. Leave extra time Roadways are bound to be busy with other Labor Day weekend travelers, particularly for those headed to seaside locales or campgrounds. One...

You may live in one of the coolest cities in the world with scores of restaurants, museums, a world-famous stadium, mountains, a river with waterfalls,  and renowned campuses, but that doesn’t mean you have a beach.  Sometimes you actually have to go to the beach.  That’s why a mid-July Sunday afternoon found me tooling down the 5 South on my way to Huntington Beach. (Here’s Huntington Beach’s dark little secret: there’s no easy way to get there. You don’t just hop off the 5 and you’re there. It’s not Mission Viejo. But I digress.) I was on my way to the Paséa Hotel and Spa on Pacific Coast Highway, an impressive hotel in a beach town full of impressive hotels....

The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival is set to return on September 28-29, 2024, marking its 16th year as a premier cultural event in San Diego. The free, open-air celebration will take place on Girard Avenue in the heart...