This is Hearst Castle: opulent, obsessive, and almost obscene. It's a must-see stop in San Simeon along California's Pacific Coast Highway. I'd wanted to visit Hearst Castle for ages, having first heard about it because of my appreciation for Orson Welles' cinematic masterpiece Citizen Kane. For those in the dark, the film is based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, the … [Read more...] about Hearst Castle: Scenes from San Simeon’s Shangri-La
Coming to Terms with the Urge for Going
I threw my head back and laughed when we drove past a garden center and my mother almost gave herself a case of whiplash trying to see what they were selling. "You have a one track mind," I teased, ribbing her about her passion for gardening. "So do you," she shot back. "You're always thinking about travel." Her words gave me pause for a moment, but she was right. Was it that … [Read more...] about Coming to Terms with the Urge for Going
Hooked on Ricky’s Fish Tacos in Hollywood
I drove past it three times before I decided I must be in the right place. After all, when Yelp directs you to great Mexican food in Hollywood, there are a few things you expect, the least of which is that the establishment in question is housed in a building. But there I was, standing on the edges of what looked like a private backyard party under a white pop-up tent just off … [Read more...] about Hooked on Ricky’s Fish Tacos in Hollywood
You *Do* Actually Want to Travel, Don’t You?
I had a bit of an epiphany today when, in the wee hours of the morning--thanks to one more sporadic case of insomnia--I came across a comment in a recent article by Seth Kugel, the New York Times' Frugal Traveler columnist. In the piece, Kugel reviewed reader comments from the column over the past year for a bit of self-critique, using both praise and reproof as a barometer … [Read more...] about You *Do* Actually Want to Travel, Don’t You?
Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
Just a few miles north of Hearst Castle along the Pacific Coast Highway--if you're driving with the windows open--you may catch a bit of a strong, "organic" scent on the wind. I'm not talking about the salty, seaweed-y aroma of the ocean. The smell I'm describing is worse. Much worse. What you're probably experiencing is the awful stench of the elephant seal rookery at … [Read more...] about Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas