Every city has centers of activity. The action serves as a magnet that attracts even more people to them. In San Francisco, Union Square is one of those hubs.

Tourists come to board the trolley that takes them to Fisherman’s Wharf. Shoppers are in heaven, with hundreds of name brand stores jammed together within a few square blocks. Locals come for the open space that swings between lively and peaceful, depending upon the time of day, eating lunch, meeting friends and enjoying the free entertainment taking place on the stage. Great restaurants are everywhere, including some that are hidden away down narrow alleys.

Union Square is just a few blocks from San Francisco’s famous Chinatown. A 20-30 minute walk through Chinatown will take you to the North Beach neighborhood for an authentic Italian meal in a lively sidewalk café. Another 20-30 minutes and you’ll be at Fisherman’s Wharf. Take a cab or stroll back through North Beach, stopping wherever suits you on the way for a drink or snack or shopping.

There are several historic boutique hotels, notably The Handley and the Sir Francis Drake, to choose from with a block or two of the Square, as well as a few upscale chains like Marriot and Westin. Shop around-you can usually find a good deal at one of them. If you want to be near the center of the action in San Francisco, then book a room near Union Square, put on your walking shoes and start enjoying the City by the Bay.

Hey, Thanks for stopping by! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Even though the Rocky Mountain winters give us a pristine playland of snow, by the time Spring arrives cabin fever strikes hard and I’m ready for a dose of warmth and sunshine. That’s when I head to the desert.

For a few weeks after the Spring rains, when the nights are still cool and the days are welcomingly warm, but not yet hot, you can see the high desert come alive with color. Although my timing isn’t always right, when it is, the display is spectacular. Not in the enormous fields of sunflowers way you see in the midwest, but in a cactus blooming out of a rock or bright blooms growing on what looks like sticks in the sand way.

If you’re a nature lover, but have never been to the desert in the Spring, start planning a trip now. You’ll be amazed at what is hidden there.

Located just about 7 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport is Redondo Beach, California.  Redondo Beach is a family-oriented beach town that offers the California lifestyle at its’ best.  Being so close yet just far enough away to LA has its’ priviledges for visiting guests of Redondo Beach.

Since LA is so close one can enjoy the entertainment value of Hollywood’s Universal Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame and Mann’s Chinese Theatre.  Of the 18 boutique Mann Theatres located in the greater LA area, the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is the most famous opening its’ doors in 1927 to show movies on the big screen for the people.  The opening of Grauman’s Theatre sparked the beginning of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame where famous movie stars are denoted as to have “made it” in show biz.

Dining options in Redondo Beach are varied and very good!  One must check out the Redondo Beach Pier and Fisherman’s Wharf when visiting this beach town.  Old Tony’s is a must when dining on the pier.  Ranging from shrimp, oysters and calamari for appetizers and sea bass, scallops, halibut, lobster, mahi mahi and shark for dinner, one can get their fill of fresh seafood from Old Tony’s.  Another landmark for the pier is Polly’s on the Pier which serves a hearty breakfast and lunch and with seating outside one can see the fresh catch coming into harbor.  Bluewater Grill is just another great example of California seafood dining.  Located right on the water, Bluewater Grill serves up charbroiled seafood, chowders and pastas and has an oyster bar.  In operation for over 7 years now, they have an impressive 100 + item menu of which they print out twice a day to reflect new and fresh seafood coming that day.

Hangin’ on the beach is probably the most favorite activity in Redondo Beach.  When visitors come to Redondo Beach they can stay in lodging very close to the beach.  Other beaches close to Redondo are Hermosa, Manhattan, and Venice Beach.  Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches are only 10 to 15 minutes away while Venice Beach is more like a 30 minute drive.  From surfing and boogie boarding to biking on the paved trails and fishing, the beach is alive and well with the people that call Southern California home.  

Redondo Beach & Pier by Kevin

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre by bfurlong

Redondo Beach - Tony’s Fish Market by Madrigal Photography

One of the most popular short day hikes for Aspen area locals is a trip to the Grottos. Head up Independence town east of town on Highway 82 and look for a Forest Service sign on the right side of the road. Leave your car or bike in the small parking area and start exploring.

I’m not going to give away any of our secrets about this place, but if you spend a little time there, you’ll easily discover for yourself the quiet rocks to sun yourself on, the ice caves deep in the crevices and the shallow parts of the Roaring Fork River where you can cool off from the summer heat.

The one thing no one misses are the cascading falls of the river, which invite you to scramble around on the rounded rocks. Be careful, though. The rocks are definitely slippery when wet, the ice cold pools have treacherous currents and it seems like some unsuspecting person dies here every year or so.

Recognize the mountains in this photo? They may look familiar even if you’ve never been anywhere near Aspen, Colorado. You’ve likely seen them on a calendar or two, in a coffee table picture book or on a poster somewhere. These are the Maroon Bells, one of the most photographed scenes in the Rocky Mountains.

The Bells, as the locals call them, of course, are most spectacular in autumn when the aspens turn gold and a skiff of snow highlights their cliffs and ridges. During the Fall color weekend in Colorado, photographers come from all across the globe to get THE definitive picture. Lucky for the rest of us that nearly any photo we take of these famous mountains is spectacular.

Take a short drive from town to Aspen Highlands on Maroon Creek Road. Then, catch a public bus for $10 which will take you up to Maroon Lake, where you can hike, fish, take pictures or simply stand in awe of the natural elements that surround you. Even the most out of shape city people can enjoy this jaunt, so put this one on your bucket list!