travel beyond the obvious
Time is a shapeshifter at Mission San Juan Bautista. This is a place where the past slips into the present, where both the church building and the religious life conducted within it have continued largely Read More …
Among the first California missions to capture the public imagination, Mission San Juan Capistrano (and its swallows) have been immortalized in song and film.
Spain authorized the establishment of Roman Catholic missions in Alta California with the intent that these missions would become the nucleus for new cities inhabited by loyal Spanish citizens. In many cases cities did grow Read More …
Mission San Louis Obispo de Tolosa has undergone many physical changes over time, leading to a church where past and present merge in interesting ways today. Past and present merge at Mission San Luis Obispo Read More …
The days leading up to Christmas aren’t exactly prime beach time in California. However, since we were in the area and had never been to any of the coastal communities south of Los Angeles, we Read More …
The lovely church of Mission Santa Clara de Asis is the mission’s sixth church and the second at this, the mission’s fifth location.
Morro Bay, California, is a wonderful place to watch the sunrise. First the sky turns rich shades of purple and pink. Then, as the sun peaks above the opposite horizon, it begins to illuminate the Read More …
Mission Santa Clara de Asis is one of only a small number of California missions to remain active throughout its history. Today it is also the heart of Santa Clara University.
It’s that time again, when it seems reasonable to take a look back at the past year before leaping into the next. In that spirit, here is a recap of my 2015 travels. International travel Read More …
A Christmas tree at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.
Spring finally seems to be arriving here in Minnesota, but I’m glad I went to the California desert last month in search of a preview – there were enough flowers in Palm Spring’s Indian Canyons Read More …
I love the desert in bloom and have long wanted to visit Death Valley when it was awash in blossoms. You can never predict exactly when it will be a good year or when the Read More …
So our first mistake yesterday was NOT deciding to visit the mining towns instead of eating breakfast in California City. No, it was the earlier decision to go to the Desert Tortoise Reserve and Red Read More …
Cactus blossoms are probably my favorite type of flowers, but they always seem rather elusive.Visiting the wonderful international cactus collection at the Moorten Botanical Garden may be cheating, but it does satisfy some of my Read More …
Lane’s choice for hiking this morning is the Coachella Valley Preserve.We leave our favorite coffee shop knowing that the visitor’s center at Coachella will not be open when we arrive. (Have I mentioned that nothing Read More …
We’ve been talking about taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up San Jacinto Mountain, but I keep waffling – it will be cold up there and I came to California specifically to be warm! Still, Read More …
We’ve gotten into a lazy pattern – a morning hike and followed by an afternoon spent lazing around. Today we have decided to be more ambitious and to do two hikes. I find a list Read More …
Palm Springs is surrounded by mountains, thus there are stunning canyons all around the city. On this beautiful morning we are visiting the Tahquitz Canyon, where the two-mile trail that begins behind the visitor’s center Read More …