Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Road trip wonders -- stopping to 'smell the roses' from Montana to California. We relish stopping to admire the landscape, perhaps exploring a bluff or bridge we haven't noticed before. We smell the roses, as Keller says, "as we stroll through the garden of life." Often we pull over to give ourselves and the dog a break. This leads to taking a few photos, studying a roadside plaque or grabbing a milkshake at a newly discovered diner.

Part of Legoland is open for business and family fun. The park's popular Sea Life Aquarium is reopened, and the rest of the park is planning to announce its reopening soon. Reservations are required, admissions are limited and masks are required. COVID CONSTRAINTS INCLUDE MASKS, DISTANCING, LIMITED NUMBERS, SANITIZING STATIONS AND MORE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The new cubs are a big hit at the reopening of San Diego's world renowned zoo, now once aga

Family operated Island Packers offers spectacular whale watching and many other options for enjoying nature's wonders.

The view from Channel Islands Hampton Inn is one of a lovely marina, offering spectacular sunsets. The hotel is open for business, minus...

Ocotillo, or "little torch" in Spanish, is usually a desert plant. This one, outside our home, brings forth bursts of bright red blooms...

Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers with their elderly Yorkshire terrier, Nick, ready for a spin on their bikes. Leaving Scripps...

Palm Springs Art Museum has two outdoor sculpture gardens and is home to paintings and sculpture by Alexander Calder, Claire Falkenstein,...

Lovely hotels are part of the allure of Palm Springs, here the pool area of the Hilton Palm Springs in the heart of downtown. MORE LAID...

Bohemian Bus Beautiful represents a delightful retro-inspired alternative to traditional hotels and hostelries. CONVERTED BUS PROVIDES...

Step aboard the historic Madaket and experience the charm of Eureka from the water. As the last surviving passenger ferry of Humboldt Bay, the Madaket offers a unique glimpse into the region’s maritime past. Cruise along Eureka’s bustling waterfront, where working docks, fishing boats, and coastal scenery create an unforgettable Northern California experience.

"Cambodian Rock Band" is like no other musical. The writers of this column saw it recently at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The fine...

Barry Manilow last week in Las Vegas, at 75, singing, playing, engaging with the audience. He returned to Broadway in 2019, to critical...

Sail into a memorable evening aboard a dinner cruise with City Cruises in scenic Newport Harbor. Enjoy chef-prepared cuisine, coastal views, and a relaxing ambiance as you glide past multimillion-dollar homes and яхts. Conveniently located near John Wayne Airport, this Newport Beach experience offers a perfect blend of elegance, comfort, and classic Southern California charm.

The Casa del Prado, also known as the Casa, and the adjacent Casa del Prado Theatre are historically accurate reconstructions of...

Take a fun family journey into the magic, mystery and joy of ice cream at a colorful Ice Cream Museum near you.

The Elvis Presley home in Palm Springs is a major attraction and a striking presence, with its unusual modern design. DESERT RATS: TAKE THE STARS TOUR, SEE WHERE THEY LIVED AND PLAYED IN PALM SPRINGS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS Palm Springs and its star-studded list of residents came about because the studios wanted to keep stars close to L.A. PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER THE STARS come out in Palm Springs. Or at least star-gazers do. Many of the greats who once luxuriated in t

San Diego in spring is a sight to behold -- with blue skies, feathery clouds and a dinner or lunch cruise aboard Hornblower. "To what...

Hershey Felder channels Beethoven via a father and son who knew him in Vienna in a glorious production at San Diego Repertory Theatre's...

A misty blast of water from the whale's blow hole helps us see him, as our Hornblower boat moves closer. For sailors worldwide, the San...

Each room of Filoli is artfully decorated for the holidays. This one showcases a painting of the flower-loving second owner. UNIQUE...