Walking on the streets of Chicago is like visiting an open-air museum. Each building has its own tale to tell, and a simple turn around the corner awaits yet another history to unfold. This is also one of those places where the landscape mode alone does not do it justice. You have to up your … Continue reading Chicago: In active portrait mode
It is hard to keep your eyes on the road when surrounded by the towering skyscrapers. In Chicago, the temptation is always looking upwards. Here, you will find yourself immersed in one of the most diverse collections of architecture styles—Art Deco, Spanish Colonial Revival, Mid-Century Modernism, just to name a few. There is no lack … Continue reading Chicago: The sky is the limit
Whoo-whoo! Slowly and steadily, the train starts moving further away from the depot as the locomotive whistles on. In a minute’s time, the sun has faded into the background and the track is now canopied by towering redwood groves. There is no more unique way to explore these giant trees than aboard the steam train … Continue reading Roaring Camp Railroad: Traversing through the woods
Sandstone cliffs by the ocean, with the coastal fog relentlessly rolling in. You see beachgoers strolling or sunbathing, and even some surfers catching waves. From the distance, this seems like a typical California coastline. Not until you walk further. Your attention is now drawn to something different: a stretch of purple and white flowers! At … Continue reading Montara State Beach: An exotic presence
With the sun setting further behind the hills and the blue hour gradually taking hold, the field started to glow brighter and morph into a carpet of rainbow. Under the darkened sky, one can’t help but wonder–is it a dream, or reality? Photos taken at Sensorio Paso Robles, an art installation created by British artist … Continue reading Sensorio: Luminescent hills
It’s almost 4pm in the afternoon. You feel like stepping outside for some fresh air. The question is, where though? If you live in the Bay Area, look no further than Mori Point. This coastal gem boasts not only scenic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Pacifica Pier, but also gorgeous sunsets during the … Continue reading Mori Point: A golden hour coastal getaway
You are not mistaken. That is indeed an elk, and in fact, it’s a party! Meet Tomales Point, a 10-mile out-and-back trail at Point Reyes National Seashore. Stunning coastal views are guaranteed by default as you hike along the Pacific Ocean, but what makes this trail unique is the occasional elk sighting at the Tule … Continue reading Tomales Point: Foragers by the ocean
With the summer heat raging on inland, what better way to spend the day than at the coast? Meet Montaña de Oro, or “Mountain of Gold” in Spanish, a little-known state park that is only 16 miles west of San Luis Obispo. Hike the Bluff Trail, a flat 4-mile loop with spectacular views of the … Continue reading Montaña de Oro: Seeking refuge in the ocean breeze
Located approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles, Riverside prides itself in being home to the first navel orange trees in California, as well as its critical role in the region’s citrus boom. The city is also host to the Mission Inn, generally considered to be the largest Mission Revival style building in the US. … Continue reading Riverside: A zesty taste of California
The road undulates and winds on. Every turn around the cliffs leads to another stunning view of the coastline, where the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean converge. Here, the color blue gives way to more nuanced definitions–be it cobalt, azure, or another shade in-between or beyond. This is Big Sur, a 90-mile stretch … Continue reading Big Sur: Route to the pristine beauty
