By Greg Aragon While recently charting my course to California’s Eastern Sierra, I spotted a tiny town on the map called Independence. It was located off Highway 395, right along my path. And with a name like Independence, it screamed history and small town California. I had to investigate. My getaway began at the historic…
By Greg Aragon I experienced a lot of fascinating sights and sounds on my trip to Ireland last fall. I drove passed rolling green hills, speckled with thousands of fluffy white sheep and herds of slow-moving cattle. I stopped by the mysterious Johnstown Castle that was built between the 15th and 18th centuries in beautiful…
By Greg Aragon The Belmond El Encanto hotel has welcomed discerning guests since 1918. Perched in the hills above Santa Barbara, this iconic hideaway offers serene seclusion in a relaxed, yet luxurious setting of lush gardens, winding paths and private bungalows. It is has been described as Hollywood glamour in a modern classic and after my recent visit I…
By Greg Aragon The 1930s was a great time for Hollywood westerns and for the city of Lone Pine, Calif. Film crews came looking for adventure in the nearby Alabama Hills, where giant granite boulders provided the perfect backdrop for hideouts, ambushes, stage coach rides, and gunfights. These movies brought big names like John Wayne,…
By Greg Aragon Mammoth may be a more popular destination in California’s Eastern Sierra, but neighboring June Lake is just as beautiful and also offers unlimited outdoor fun and adventure, such as great fishing, hiking, skiing, sightseeing and more. Tucked at the base of 10,909-foot Carson Peak, the scenic little town and the 14-mile-long June…
By Greg Aragon Even though my recent road trip to California’s Eastern Sierra was carefully planned out, I still couldn’t resist stopping along the way to investigate other places of interest that caught my eye. Such was the case with Red Rock Canyon State Park and the Mojave Air and Space Port, both located off…
By Greg Aragon California has a myriad of small, old towns and I am always looking to explore them. Such was the case this past weekend when I and the family headed down historic Highway 126 and through Heritage Valley. Located between the I-5 Freeway in Santa Clarita and the city of Ventura, Heritage Valley…
By Greg Aragon If ancient dinosaur bones and bubbling tar pits aren’t scary enough, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) now has a new exhibit that will bring guests up close to some of the creepiest characters of all time. Entitled “Natural History of Horror,” the new exhibition links science, history, and…
By Greg Aragon The lobster ravioli was delicious, the bloody mary was spicy and potent, and the view of colorful boats bobbing in the water behind my table was incredible. Dinner at Café del Rey was a great way to end a wonderful day in Marina del Rey. My getaway to the waterfront city began when…
By Greg Aragon The stars twinkled through the treetops like a million Christmas lights. A crackling fire provided warmth. And a harmonious concert of croaking bullfrogs, chirping crickets and a trickling stream served as background music. It was a great first night at El Capitan Canyon campground. Our getaway to El Capitan began when we…
‘Every Christmas Story’ Told at Sierra Madre ...December 13, 2019
Mountains, Movie Stars and Small Town History...December 13, 2019
A Day on Sherkin Island, IrelandDecember 12, 2019
Winter Play Date for Tots at Arcadia LibraryDecember 12, 2019
Dec. 13 – Dec. 19December 12, 2019