This is not Utah, nor Arizona. This is Annie’s Canyon Trail, a 1.6-mile hidden gem just minutes from the heart of Solana Beach and can be completed under an hour. The first half of the trail is flat and offers peaceful views of the San Elijo Lagoon, but the final stretch is where the adventure…
If you drive along Highway 88 towards the east or Highway 89 towards the south in early October, you will start noticing some yellow hues sparkling in between the green pine trees. Soon, these shades will morph from distinct patches into a dazzling display of gold and orange. You know this is when you have…
For the Golden State, it all began here in 1769. Old Town San Diego, a community situated around 3.5 miles northwest of downtown San Diego, was the site of the first Spanish settlement in California. This neighborhood was the center of the city until the 1860s, when development and businesses started to shift to the…
Palm-trees-lined streets under the azure sky, with wide open white sandy beaches in the backdrop—as soon as you step foot in N. Pacific St in Oceanside, you know that you have reached that quintessential beach town in Southern California. Here, you can catch waves, people-watch, or even just daydream, and there is something for everyone…
The Pacific Ocean glistens as the sun moves further towards the horizon during the golden hour, signaling the end of yet another day. The image is so poetic yet powerful—no wonder the French people call the sunset “le coucher du soleil”, literally “the sun is going to bed”. Come experience the sunset at Torrey Pines…
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Such wisdom imparted by Shakespeare immediately resonates as you step into the Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose, California. With over 4,000 shrubs on display, you will find yourself greeted by rose varieties with the most lovely names—Sugar Moon, Summer Dream, and Rainbow Sorbet, just…
This is not your typical ranch. As soon as you step into The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, you will quickly realize that “in bloom” is quite an understatement. Featuring 55 acres of giant tecolote ranunculus flowers, the ranch boasts more than 200,000 plants per acre with each plant yielding an average of 10 blooms,…
Here comes March. The days have started getting longer, yet it is still a tad breezy and rainy. You wonder if it is even spring, as season changes are typically not obvious in most parts of California. At least not until you see the hills—no longer a drab of yellow, but a carpet of lush…