December 17, 2025 The Hotel Napa Valley, an Old World Inn, was built in 1874, initially as the Ladies Hall of the Napa Collegiate Institute. The building retains much of its original Italianate style even after alterations in early years. The result is a charming Victorian structure that was a delight to view as I […]
October 31, 2025 Heading east on Hwy 58 out of Bakersfield, I stopped briefly to check out the Tehachapi Loop, an engineering marvel dating back to 1876. The spiral track allows trains to climb in elevation while maintaining a 2% grade. It was well worth the stop, and I owe thanks to the volunteers at
May 3, 2025 I made it to Upper Lake the first day of this trip. I’d tried to get to the Tallman Hotel for years and had finally made it. Too early to check in, I took a seat on the porch of the Blue Wing Saloon and ordered a salad. I needed lunch anyway,
April 28, 2024 Traveling southbound along California’s Marin County coast from Point Reyes Station, I soon found myself questioning my intended route. My map had indicated that Bolinas was just fourteen miles down the road, but I felt like I’d been driving forever without seeing a single sign. Even at a fork in the road,
Oct. 1, 2009 I almost missed old town Truckee altogether. I hadn’t been there for decades and took a turn off the freeway that sent me past condominiums, luxury cabins, spiffy new office buildings and a few upscale shops and businesses. I had remembered a mountain community with historic structures and was baffled by the
April 20, 2009 I took a seat in the breakfast area at Stanford Inn by the Sea, relaxing back into my chair as I looked out over lush, green gardens to the blue of the ocean beyond. Soft music flowed through the air and, hands wrapped around a mug of fresh brewed coffee, I said
Nov. 13, 2008 Unfortunately, there will always be a few inns and hotels across the country that have, shall we say, gone to the dogs. But, on the other hand—or perhaps I should say paw—there is one lodging establishment where the opposite has occurred and fortunate dogs have gone: the Cypress Inn in Carmel, California.
Oct. 14, 2008 The Mediterranean style scenery of Santa Barbara, CA, is hardly a hidden travel secret. Fresh air, clean beaches, lush gardens, and ocean vistas are all part of the draw to the area often referred to as the American Riviera. I’ve been a longtime fan. Northbound on Hwy 101, I dropped onto the
April 18, 2008 I sat in the Surprise Café and Java Bar, consuming a veggie burrito and using the café’s wireless Internet access. An extensive collection of coffee pots stretched along high shelves, a product of 40 years of collecting by the Rotary Club. Locals stopped in and greeted each other, exchanging tidbits of gossip
May 8, 2007 Traveling along historic Hwy 49 in California’s Gold Country, my father as a travel companion, I pulled into the town of Columbia, just a few miles north of Sonora. We had a reservation at City Hotel, an historic inn that sits inside Columbia State Park. The history of the hotel takes on