Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Yes, jalapeno makes a tasty, zingy, complex brittle. Chocolate candy, of course!  Photos by Bruce Keller  Story by Christene Meyers...

The Ashland Springs Hotel holds center stage on Main Street.     Writing by Christene Meyers    Photos by Bruce Keller        One of my favorite William Holden movies is "Shangri-la."  It's set in a Utopian village in the Himalayas and director Frank Capra captures beautiful mountains, soothing forests and low-hanging clouds that seem to say "touch me, come in, enjoy." It is a magical place.      Shangri-la lives! The hotel's gracious lobby is artfully decorated in the styl

Paradise Point on Mission Bay, and San Diego Bay offer treats galore, memorable sailing and a chance to learn the lingo Cap'n Keller...

One of our favorite sunset views is near the university above La Jolla shores. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER      I...

COOKIE RECALLS MISS AMERICA, PROTESTS, PLAYBOY AND HER FEMINIST GROUNDING STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS THE SUMMER of 1968 was a memorable...

Bruce Keller and Nick and Nora enjoy the view and fresh air in Hellhole Canyon Preserve. A hitching post welcomes riders.                ...

By CHRISTENE MEYERS          SOMEHOW , some day, somewhere.      The lyrics to that memorable “West Side Story” song always make me...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By VINTAGE and BRUCE KELLER The photo that inspired the sculpture that inspired this column. THIS...

The Interlude on a happy outing in Mission Bay in this Bruce Keller photo.     Hark, now hear the sailors cry           smell the sea and...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS      PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER    Winter in the northern Rockies can be magnificent and frightening. It can...

If music be the food of love, play on!      Luckily for fans of early classical music, it's not too late to enjoy the brilliant...

You’ve got to love a town where National Public Radio news includes the morning surf report.  Start your San Diego day with the weather...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER It’s  spring  in San Diego!  The dolphins  are racing, the whales are heading south...

Peny Jil Cosgriffe Hayes was a beautiful and talented sister who died 27 years ago this week.   REMEMBERING A LIFE WELL-LIVED:BLITHE,...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Carpe Diem Kids Today while perusing journals, I began a tally of cruises I’ve taken. The result surprised me! View from the promenade deck on our ship where art is part of the enticement. The grand total:  99!  So my next cruise will be my centenary.  I am excited.  What and where will it be?  Crystal, Oceania, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Cunard, Holland America, Carnival, Disney? Although born in land-locked Monta