Articles by Cary Ordway on ArticleSnatch.com

Napa Valley offers unforgettable getaway

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

A visit to Napa Valley is a feast for the senses. A visit to Napa is not just a chance to see where wine is made, or to explore the upscale shops and stores that now have found their way into the tiniest of Napa Valley communities. Rather, a trip to the valley is an almost spiritual journey that presents you at once with the beauty of 63,000 acres of vineyards and the industry that has brought a European elegance to the Valley lifestyle. The town of Napa itself is no longer the sleepy berg it was before its name became synonymous with world-class wine. With 75,000 residents, Napa has become a city in its own right ' albeit with the feel of a small town. There are several major new shopping complexes and you'll also see that Napa Valley is keeping up with one of the latest trends: downtown wine bars that enable you to do your tastings without even venturing into the countryside. Up the 30-mile-long valley are much smaller towns such as Yountville, St. **End Summary** Topics: Napa Valley]]> California wine]]> California wineries]]> Meadowood Resort]]> Napa Valley wineries]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer specializing in California and the Pacific Northwest. He is president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites on California travel and Northwest travel .

March AFB Museum is fascinating look at history of aviation

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

There's no doubt that travelers along Interstate 215 just south of Riverside have noticed the collection of military and vintage aircraft a short distance from the freeway, but those who have not bothered to stop are truly missing something. The March Field Air Museum is a remarkably detailed look at the history of aviation and, in particular, the use of aviation in modern warfare. Sprawling alongside the runway at March Air Force Base are more than 60 aircraft of all sizes and shapes, from little single-engine prop planes to the mammoth B-52 bomber. And then, just a few steps away is the indoor museum that tells the story of how aircraft were first used in warfare and how they have become a vital part of our nation's military power. Thousands of artifacts are on display to bring it all to life. Our afternoon at the museum turned out to be one of the most entertaining and informative museum visits we can remember. We hadn't really heard much about the museum, even where we live in the San Diego area. But we had noticed those airplanes on various drives northward, and this time we decided to stop. **End Summary** Topics: March Air Force Museum]]> military aviation]]> World War II aircraft]]> military fighters]]> aircraft museum]]> vintage aircraft]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites published by GMC are sites on California travel and Northwest travel .

Balboa Bay Club ideal for weekend in luxury

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

If you want to see how the other half lives, spend a weekend in Newport Beach. Actually, it's more like the other 10 percent -- the opulence will amaze you. You'll get a front-row view of the good life at the Balboa Bay Club, which now has opened half of its units to the general public. Before 2003, the resort's prime Newport Beach real estate was only available to members of the club. Now there are 150 rooms and 10 suites available to anyone yearning for some weekend affluence. Staying at the club a night or two would be a sure-fire way to impress the significant other, or to completely escape from job stress, but still keep costs within reason. We consider resorts like the Balboa Bay Club "special-occasion" getaways ' places we go to celebrate, not just to get away. With small houses on nearby Balboa Island going for $4 million and 100-foot mega-yachts parked in slips right out in front of your bay-view suite, the Balboa Bay Club takes you many steps beyond the average getaway. The first clue you're not in Kansas anymore is when you cruise the circular driveway to the lobby area. **End Summary** Topics: Balboa Bay Club]]> Newport Beach]]> Balboa Island]]> Orange County]]> Newport Coast]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. The sites specialize in California getaway travel as well as Oregon travel and vacations in other Northwest states and provinces.

Redwoods lodging literally offers home on the range

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400

John Russavage is a former stock broker who left the hot desert temperatures of Palm Springs for a life in the cooler California Redwoods and a venture that is heating up the local tourism market. Next time you go to Redwood National and State Parks you’ll no doubt hear about John and his enterprises if you watch local TV, read the local papers or just look for a place to stay overnight in the park. His company, Redwood Park Lodge Company, has begun offering park lodging and tours and a special event center, and now has plans for a new 80-room hotel on the beach along with an RV park, botanical garden and a new Redwood Adventures store. Oh – did we mention the television show that John has put together starring none other than himself as Johnny Redwood? Actually, Russavage is more Grizzly Adams than Gordon Gekko, the ruthless stock broker in "Wall Street.” The affable, bearded Russavage seems to be in his true element as he runs errands in the park wearing blue jeans and pulling off an Eddie Bauer look that seems perfect for a place like the California Redwoods. **End Summary** Topics: Redwood National Park]]> Redwood National and State Parks]]> Redwood Adventures]]> Eureka]]> California redwoods]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the company's offerings are websites featuring California getaways and specializing in Oregon travel as well as travel throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Drive north from Bodega offers great California scenery

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Drive just a couple of hours north of San Francisco and you'll be treated to one of the state's most scenic coastal drives. Breathtaking scenery, historical attractions -- you name it, this drive has it all. The drive starts in Bodega Bay, just 22 miles through rolling hills from Petaluma and Highway 101. For us, Bodega always reminds us of the famous Alfred Hitchcock movie, “The Birds,” which was, of course, was filmed at Bodega Bay. While it’s been more than 50 years since Cary Grant was in town filming that movie, there is no question that Bodega still finds birds are big business. You can’t cross the street without some reminder that the movie was filmed there. The Tides Restaurant – featured prominently in the movie – now has an unusual gift shop that seems almost like a museum with its many Birds-related clothing, posters, photos and toys." Of course, no matter that the "real" restaurant burned down long ago and the replacement buildings bear no resemblance to those used in the movie. What does remain is the same sleepy seaside village that appeared in the movie. **End Summary** Topics: Bodega]]> Point Arena]]> California coast]]> Fort Ross]]> Coast Guard House Historic Inn]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of http://www.californiaweekend.com, which features California vacation ideas, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, which focuses on Northwest travel .

Historic lodgings offer plenty of California charm

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Anyone who plunks down good money for a California getaway wants to be sure the experience will be extra-special. With today’s lodging prices, it’s only natural that visitors expect something memorable and out of the ordinary. One way to add that extra touch is to choose a historic lodging – a destination that conjures up another era and takes you to another place and time. We’ve discovered several such accommodations on our travels throughout the Golden State, and here are some of our favorites: Queen Mary With all the advertising you see nowadays for cruises to Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska and you-name-it, it’s pretty easy to get the urge to get on a big ship and just go. But if you’re strapped for time – or cash – there is an alternative where you can get on a big ship and just stay. The Queen Mary has been docked in Long Beach Harbor for many years and will not be taking you to exotic lands. But it really doesn’t need to – there is plenty to see and do right in Long Beach. **End Summary** Topics: Queen Mary]]> Coronado]]> Glorietta Bay Inn]]> Carlton Inn]]> Mission Inn]]> Paso Robles]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com, which focuses on California getaways , and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, which features Washington travel , as well as travel in Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.

Getty Museum dazzles with collection of fine art

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

When the Getty Museum first opened in 1997, the museum’s parking and transportation system were quickly overwhelmed to the point that anyone thinking about visiting the museum had to make parking reservations months in advance. Those unwilling to wait hoofed it for miles and then waited up to four hours just to take a tram ride to the museum’s spectacular hillside setting west of downtown Los Angeles. What a difference a decade makes. Today no reservations are required and it’s possible to drive right to your parking spot, grab a tram and be on top of the mountain just a few minutes after your arrival. Not that the Getty Museum is any less popular. On our recent visit we noted a steady stream of visitors of all colors and stripes running the Disneyland-style gamut that takes you several revolutions down into the 2,000-car garage and then through a fast-moving line to board your tram. Most of the parking spots were taken by mid-day, and probably would for the remainder of the day. **End Summary** Topics: Getty Museum]]> Los Angeles]]> paintings]]> sculptures]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of http://www.californiaweekend.com, which focuses on California travel , and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, which highlights Oregon travel as well as articles on Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.

Westlake Village Inn an oasis near bigtime L.A. attractions

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

If you're anxious to visit L.A. attractions but not wild about the city's freeways, try basing your next trip just a little ways out of the city where the attractions are still close by. If such popular destinations as Malibu, Santa Monica and the Reagan Library are on your must-see agenda, then we've discovered a hidden gem that you can use as your weekend headquarters. The Westlake Village Inn, located about 12 miles north of Malibu, near Highway 101, is a surprising oasis of class and style that is situated right in the middle of a group of suburban communities little more than a half hour's drive northwest of Los Angeles. The surprising part is not that it's upscale – the cities along this stretch of the 101 are among the area's wealthiest – but that the inn really is a destination unto itself. Wedding planners long ago discovered the lush, thickly vegetated, well-manicured grounds that are perfect for wedding pictures that seem almost like they were taken at a tropical plantation on some South Seas island. The hotel is betting more tourists will make the same discovery and it has invested in a major renovation. **End Summary** Topics: Westlake Village Inn]]> Santa Monica]]> Malibu]]> Reagan Library]]> Los Angeles lodging]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer specializing in California and the Pacific Northwest. His company, Getaway Media Corp, publishes websites focused on getaway travel including www.californiaweekend.com, highlighting California getaways , and www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, featuring Oregon travel , as well as travel in Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.

Paso Robles wineries offer taste of Tuscany

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

If you're a wine lover, you no doubt have imagined visiting Tuscany where you'll spend days soaking up sun-drenched scenery and nights enjoying your charming villa. Now take that one step further and imagine finding the same experience just a few hours' drive from L.A. or the Bay area. The Paso Robles Wine Country is fast becoming just such an alternative for sophisticated travelers who are often surprised to find such an exquisite getaway so close to home. To be sure, Paso Robles is not going to become a world-class destination like Tuscany anytime soon – instead of well over a thousand wineries in Tuscany, you'll find just about 80 in the Paso Robles area. And the overnight accommodations in the immediate area are limited compared with, say, the Napa Valley. Still, there are many inns and lodges within an hour's drive in places like Cambria, Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo and, of course, the nearby Pacific coastline is an attraction all of its own. Happily we discovered the perfect complement to touring the local wineries – an extraordinary hotel called the Carlton that has just been completely refurbished and re-opened for business in March 2005. **End Summary** Topics: California wine country]]> Paso Robles]]> Atascadero]]> Tuscany]]> Carlton Hotel]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites offered by GMC are CaliforniaWeekend.com, focusing on California travel , and NorthwestTravelAdvisor, featuring Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

Scenic, historic towns attract Bay area visitors

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Visitors to San Francisco will find a different world just a few miles north of the Golden Gate bridge where charming communities boast recreation opportunities you might find in a state or national park. Of course that's why people live in Marin County, where as much as half the land is open space and there are so many trails and vistas you might think you were in a national park. It's expensive to live here, all right, but then how many places offer you a multi-cultural city of sophistication on one side of the bridge, and quiet trails and solitude on the other? If you crave recreation in the Great Outdoors but drive a Mercedes, you just might be a Marin County resident. The good news for the rest of us is that we can drop in and sample this lifestyle for ourselves. We took a little time to visit the southern part of the county, setting up our base of operations at the San Anselmo Inn, a charming European-style lodging in Northern California's antiquing capital, San Anselmo. From there, it was easy to explore a few of the Marin County communities and their visitor attractions; **End Summary** Topics: Marin County]]> San Anselmo]]> Tiburon]]> San Rafael]]> Larkspur]]> San Francisco Bay]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites offered by GMC are CaliforniaWeekend.com highlightine California travel and NorthwestTravelAdvisor.com, featuring Pacific Northwest travel .

Balboa Island: charming on foot or by boat

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Real estate may have appreciated over the past several years, but probably nowhere did it increase in value more than Southern California's Balboa Island. A bay front lot here sold for $25 just after the turn of the century -- now it will bring as much as $3 million. And that's just the lot, mind you. Constructing that dream home on Balboa Island will cost extra. Fortunately, one doesn't have to actually live on Balboa Island to enjoy its unique atmosphere. Today the island is a fascinating day trip for those who are living or vacationing in and around Los Angeles. The island is located in Newport Beach where accommodations, restaurants and shopping are all top-drawer. The island itself has a tiny, but busy Main Street actually it's called Marine Avenue which is just a few short blocks with about 70 shops and restaurants to explore. This little example of Small Town Americana offers a wide selection of shops in all price ranges as well as several boutiques and galleries. **End Summary** Topics: Balboa Island]]> Newport Beach]]> Duffy boats]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com whichj focuses on California vacation travel, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, featuring Washington travel , as well as getaways in Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.

San Diego's Mission Bay offers sun, fun and palms

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

If you're finding that you can't quite afford that Hawaiian vacation this year, take heart: there's another destination that will be easier and less expensive.. And if you're already in Southern California, it's just a few hours' drive. San Diego's Mission Bay, along with Pacific Beach, may not have the 80-degree water, or the hula girls, but there is plenty of water, swaying palm trees and consistent weather that practically guarantees you'll get all the time you need to bake in the sun. It's easy to leave the everyday grind of work behind and settle into a vacation frame of mind. The comparison with Hawaii is particularly apt at a hotel like the Hilton San Diego Resort, a sprawling campus of both high and low-rise accommodations, many with views of Mission Bay. Location and landscaping are what make this resort special. With its own docks on Mission Bay and a fleet of various water craft available for rent, water activities are never far away. And with the lush gardens, ubiquitous palm trees, mega swimming pool and island music, the resort takes on the feel of a true Hawaiian resort. **End Summary** Topics: Mission Bay]]> San Diego]]> Hilton San Diego]]> beach resort]]> beachfront hotel]]> Hawaii]]> Pacific Beach]]> Mission Beach]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com, which focuses on California travel , and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, featuring Washington travel as well as destinations in Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.

Big Sur offers best of California scenery

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Pacific coastline and old-growth forests are two of California's biggest scenic highlights and these two natural wonders converge nicely at one of the state's most famous tourist attractions: Big Sur. Located about 150 miles south of San Francisco, this part of the California coast offers non-stop amazement for travelers willing to drive the curvy Scenic Highway 1 the 90 miles of coastline that today encompass the Big Sur scenic recreation area. Visitors see new panoramas around every curve pristine beaches, craggy mountain ledges, fascinating rock formations amid swirling, sometimes angry coastal waters and, of course, the giant redwood trees that swallow up tiny vacationers posing for their vacation photographs. Keep in mind, this road was not easy to build. Your scenic experience today comes at the expense of convict labor that was brought in over the 18 years prior to the completion of the road in 1937. Until Highway 1 was completed, most of this highway probably wasn't much wider than a harrowing goat path along the side of the steep coastal mountains. **End Summary** Topics: Big Sur]]> California coast]]> Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park]]> Big Sur Lodge]]> Molera State Park]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites offered by GMC are www.californiaweekend.com, featuring California vacation ideas, and www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, focusing on Pacific Northwest travel .

Sonoma Valley offers smalltown charm, bigtime wine

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The rolling hills and vineyards of the Sonoma Valley are just part of a natural tapestry that has beckoned art-lovers and wine connoisseurs to this region for decades. Indeed, the fathers who founded missions here were growing grapes hundreds of years ago. Then, in the late 1850's, a fellow named Col. Agoston Haraszthy figured it all out. Haraszthy was a Hungarian immigrant who convinced the state of California to send him to Europe on a fact-finding mission to see just how European growers created what were acknowledged to be the best wines of the time. He came back convinced that the soil in the Sonoma Valley was ideal for growing grapes, and that locally produced wines could rival those in Europe. He founded the Buena Vista winery and, by 1876, the Sonoma Valley was producing more than 2.3 million gallons of wine per year. Today, the Sonoma Valley and the nearby Napa Valley are the cornerstones in a winery industry that continues to grow well beyond Northern California. Whichever wine-going region you choose in California, you'll be experiencing some of the best wines anywhere. **End Summary** Topics: Sonoma]]> California wine regions]]> California wineries]]> Fairmont Sonoma]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes www.californiaweekend.com, focusing on California travel , and www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, featuring information on Washington travel , Oregon travel, Idaho travel, Montana travel and British Columbia travel.

Sideways movie put spotlight on Santa Barbara wineries

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The big movie hit "Sideways" put the spotlight on California's Santa Ynez Valley, an excellent choice for travelers wanting great scenery, world-class wines and, now, movie locations that you'll remember from the film. Dubbed Santa Barbara Wine Country by local tourism promoters, this is an idyllic and pastoral region of small towns, ranches and, of course, a few dozen wineries that are scattered over an incredibly picturesque countryside. The movie Sideways, which follows a couple of middle-aged men as they discover the charms of this region and the truths of their existence, won great accolades as a comedy/drama but, interestingly, it also turned out to be an effective travelogue. That's not been lost on the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau, which rushed to print with a detailed color brochure offering visitors a map of filming locations for the movie a handy guide for the movie-goers smitten with the ambience so skillfully revealed in the movie's cinematography. **End Summary** Topics: Sideways]]> Santa Barbara wineries]]> California wineries]]> Santa Barbara]]> Santa Ynez]]> Solvang]]> Fess Parker]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of websites that focus on Washington travel, Oregon travel, California travel , Idaho travel, Montana travel and British Columbia travel.

Movie studios offer a close-up look at movie magic

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Vist Los Angeles and you're sure to come across movies being made -- whether out in the street by your hotel or in one of several studios that are open for studio tours. Today most of the studios are closed to the public except when audiences are needed for live shows or when the call goes out for extras to populate various movie scenes. But not to worry -- several do allow tours and you might even get to see a real movie star in the process. The granddaddy of movie studio tours has to be Universal Studios Hollywood, which now includes its movie studio tour as just one small part of a Disneyland-like theme park with elaborate rides and attractions all having something to do with the movies. Built along a hillside in Universal City, the theme park has grown over the years incorporating new attractions that match up with some of the hottest movies produced at Universal. **End Summary** Topics: Hollywood]]> movie studios]]> studio tours]]> location filming]]> movie stars]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among GMC's sites are Among GMC's sites are www.californiaweekend.com, a California vacation guide, and www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, featuring information on Washington travel, Oregon travel , Idaho travel, Montana travel and vacations in British Columbia.

Five-star resort wants to teach you more about life

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa might as well be called Getaway University with all of its classes and activities designed to show you how to get the most out of life. The Ojai Valley Inn is a little off the beaten path, 13 miles off Highway 101 with the exit just north of Ventura. This detour takes you to the Ojai Valley, a serene setting amongst a picturesque range of modest mountains. About 10 miles long and three miles wide, the valley has just enough room for a small town a kind of artists' enclave and the sprawling 800 acres occupied by the Ojai Valley Inn, its village and its golf course. The inn dates back to 1922 when a wealthy Ohio glass manufacturer and philanthropist commissioned famed architect Wallace Neff to build a country club in a Spanish Colonial style. The 18-hole golf course was designed by George C. Thomas, also a famous designer. Even those who don't golf can still appreciate today the broad fairways and scenic vistas that are visible from almost every part of the property. **End Summary** Topics: Ojai Valley Resort]]> California spa]]> California golf]]> California beaches]]> Santa Barbara lodgings]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among his websites are CaliforniaWeekend.com, which features California vacations , and NorthwestTravelAdvisor.com, a site that covers Washington travel , as well as getaways in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta.

Gorgeous Lake Arrowhead attracts movie stars

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Lake Arrowhead may be close to Hollywood, but it's light years away in its approach to family values. The stars come up here to enjoy the great natural scenery - and so do everyday small-town American families. Both groups feel right at home. We were walking the waterfront trail in front of the Lake Arrowhead Resort and ran into one of the town fathers a guy whose job it was to walk some 20 miles around the lake, checking to make sure the trails were not only passable, but pristine as any semi-exclusive enclave ought to be. He talked about the movie stars who live in Arrowhead as everyday, good people. He talked about his daughter winning the national water-ski championship, and how water-skiing was followed just as closely here as football or basketball might be followed in the Heartland. Well, okay, Lake Arrowhead is not exactly Des Moines, Iowa. But it does have a small-town feel in a Southern California kind of way. **End Summary** Topics: Lake Arrowhead]]> movie stars]]> Lake Arrowhead Resort]]> Wildhaven]]> Lake Arrowhead Village]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. CaliforniaWeekend.com offers California family vacation information and bargains; NorthwestTravelAdvisor.com focuses on Northwestern U.S. and British Columbia travel.

Re-living history at California's ghost towns

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

There may be no better way to get a sense of California history than to visit one of the Golden State's ghost towns. Here are a couple of examples to get you started. Calico Just about the time the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas gets a little tedious, up comes the Interstate 15 exit to Calico Ghost Town a stop worth making that will give you a chance to stretch your legs and learn a little California history at the same time. This really is a ghost town, but it's not really scary and it's as much an amusement park as an example of California history. Some of the original town has been refurbished, some re-constructed, and some buildings created just for tourists. The town was carved out of the colorful hills of the Mojave Desert back in 1881 and today offers a fascinating glimpse of what life might have been like for the borax and silver miners of the 19th Century. If Calico looks in some places a little like parts of Knott's Berry Farm, it's because Calico was once owned by Walter Knott, the popular amusement park's founder. **End Summary** Topics: ghost towns]]> Calico Ghost Town]]> Bodie]]> Wild West]]> Old West]]> Knotts Berry Farm]]> California history]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focusing on getaway travel in the Western U.S. Visit these sites if you are planning a weekend getaway in California or need a Pacific Northwest vacation guide.

Methow Valley: Washington's hidden gem

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It doesn't get the attention that Seattle does, or Mount St. Helens or the San Juan Islands, but Washington's Methow Valley is a traveler's gem tucked away in the North Cascades about as far away from "civilization" as you can get in the Evergreen State. For many decades, the town of Winthrop was content to be the modern equivalent of a 19th Century mining town, albeit without the mining. Horse farms and agriculture had replaced the gold mining of the 1890's. The town still looked the same with its aging buildings reminiscent of the frontier outpost Winthrop had once been. But then tourism happened to the Methow (pronounced MET-how) Valley. The North Cascades Highway was completed in the late 1960's, opening the flood gates to motorists who got wind of breathtaking scenery in the new North Cascades National Park. Prior to this, the Methow Valley had been a five-hour drive from the Seattle metropolitan area; with the new highway, the new route cut an hour off that and created a "loop" drive now called the Cascade Loop that over the years has become recognized as one of Washington's most scenic highways. **End Summary** Topics: Methow Valley]]> Winthrop]]> North Cascades National Park]]> Shafer Museum]]> Sun Mountain Lodge]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of websites focusing on Northwest travel and California travel .

California aquariums are fun family destinations

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

California vacations are all about doing things with the entire family, and one of the best things to do while in the Golden State is visit one of the state's top-notch aquariums. From San Francisco to La Jolla, there are several awaiting your discovery. If you have young kids, a trip to an aquarium can be richly rewarding experience as you watch the wonder in their eyes as they get an up-close look at the other-worldly creatures swimming in tanks designed to look like native habitats. With elaborate signing and fun hands-on exhibits, an aquarium seems almost like a theme park to most children. They'll discover sealife and various creatures that will offer hours of stimulation. Here is where you can find some great aquariums in the state of California: Monterey Bay Aquarium With its colorful history and Cannery Row sightseeing, Monterey is a popular destination for many California travelers. And Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the biggest reasons people travel to Monterey. You can easily spend many hours in this first-class facility housing more than 6,500 fascinating sea creatures. **End Summary** Topics: California aquariums]]> Monterey Bay Aquarium]]> Aquarium of the Pacific]]> Birch Aquarium]]> Aquarium of the Bay]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> CaliforniaWeekend.com is the web's leading source on California getaways. For information on Pacific Northwest getaways , please visit NorthwestTravelAdvisor.com

Sonoma County scenery adds to winery tour

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The California wine country in and near Sonoma County is known for its world-class wines, but you don't have to be a wine aficionado to marvel at this area's scenic backroads and the abundance of historical attractions all within a short drive. Case in point: a drive up the central part of the county that begins in the historic city of Petaluma. We had spent an enjoyable weekend on a previous trip in the town of Sonoma the best-known visitor destination in the county and a less corporate, less developed version of nearby Napa but this time we wanted to get off the beaten path a bit and experience the Sonoma County countryside. Because we had heard about the historic downtown buildings there, we decided our first stop would be Petaluma, a city of about 60,000 people that is about 32 miles north of San Francisco. Driving up from Southern California, we went straight to the Sheraton Petaluma to rest up and begin a day of exploration the following day. This particular hotel is located on the Petaluma River with its full-fledged marina providing both moorage for local boaters and ambiance for the hotel. **End Summary** Topics: Sonoma County]]> California wine country]]> Petaluma]]> Healdsburg]]> Calistoga]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com .

Danish village offers family-oriented California getaway

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Bakeries and beer gardens are always high on our list of travel amenities, so we were overjoyed to discover Solvang, a Danish-inspired village near Santa Barbara, California, that is a perfect getaway for the entire family. But food and drink are only the beginning. It also doesn't hurt that Solvang is located in one of California's most scenic areas wine country that was shown off spectacularly in the widely acclaimed movie Sideways. Several picturesque wineries are sprinkled throughout these rolling hills offering wine lovers the alluring prospect of scenery that becomes even more spectacular with every taste of these locally produced world-class wines. Refreshingly, the Solvang area still registers quite low on the snootiness scale, with visitors of all types finding much to see and enjoy in the area. In the village we noticed mostly families on the sunny weekend we visited, while the wine-touring crowd was divided more into couples and small groups. There's the Solvang that has families renting pedi-cars, laughing their way through the one square mile of downtown stores and shops. **End Summary** Topics: Solvang]]> Danish village]]> Santa Barbara]]> California wine country]]> Sideways]]> Santa Ynez Valley]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California travel destinations, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

Greenhorn Ranch will give you a healthier heart

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Some of California's most beautiful and least developed countryside can be found in Plumas County, about an hour's drive west from Reno which just happens to be where we found a real-life version of the movie "City Slickers" at Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch. Sometimes you just know when you've come home. Within about 30 minutes of our arrival at Greenhorn, we were chowing down on their Friday night barbecue of scrumptious, fall-off-the-bone ribs with all the fixin's. The owners of the ranch, Trish and Ralph Wilburn, were strumming their guitars and singing western songs by the campfire. Soon, the kids in the group were scurrying to get their marshmallows and chocolate so they could get more s'mores than anyone else. Out there, the Big City might as well have been on the moon which, incidentally, was just starting to rise to take its place among the sparkling stars visible above the towering dark pine trees surrounding the ranch. Paris Hilton might as well have been a Martian. The nearest Nordstrom's was probably 200 light years away, but my wife didn't even seem to mind. **End Summary** Topics: guest ranch]]> dude ranch]]> Lake Tahoe]]> horseback riding]]> ranch barbecue]]> California travel]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California travel destinations, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Pacific Northwest travel destinations.