The stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway between the California towns of Carmel and Big Sur is one of the most stunning parts of our beautiful America. The coast here is what we all think of when we picture Monterey, when in fact this area is south of that city….
Monterey Having visited Monterey, California quite a few times beginning 30 years ago, I have always thought of it as an elevated tourist town, its major claims to fame, in my mind, being its costal location, its famous aquarium and the legend that was created in the pages of a…
During our trip to California my husband and I decided to spend a night in Pacific Grove. Googling for lodging I found that the charming Lighthouse Lodge & Cottages had availability. Painted blue with a large lighthouse outside the office, it seemed to be waiting just for us. When you…
I first visited Pacific Grove, California 30 years ago, passing through the town after leaving Monterey on my way to the 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach. At the time, when there was no GPS, I assumed that I was still in Monterey. Driving along the coast, the Pacific Ocean on…
Capitola, California is a small seaside town located 40 miles north of Monterey. In the 2024 census its population was 9,456. Capitola’s Venetian Court consists of two rows of 24 multicolored pastel townhouses sitting beachside. Built in 1924 the complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in…
Arriving in Santa Cruz, California in the early evening we found a hotel for he night, asking the gentleman at the front desk for a dinner recommendation. On the way to the restaurant we drove around a little, passing the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with its roller coaster and ferris…
As my husband and I reconnected with the Pacific Coast Highway in California after landing in San Francisco and going to Yosemite where we spent a few days, we began our long, exciting journey south. One of the first sights on the itinerary I had created was Shark Fin Cove,…
Despite having been on the great Mississippi via a cruise ship as well as having viewed the mighty Colorado River from a helicopter high above the Grand Canyon, I have come to realize that I have been a snob when it comes to rivers. Give me an ocean or lake…
One of the best things about travel is experiencing elements of everyday life that are completely foreign to you. As we drove from San Francisco to Yosemite, my husband kept me posted on what he was seeing. There were long stretches of enormous hills and resting atop them were what…
Swanton Berry Farm, located off the Pacific Caost Highway in Davenport, California is said to have out-of-this-world-good pies. Stopping there, I was a little disappointed to find that the pies they had that day all required refrigeration and I would not be near a refrigerator for quite a few hours….
