Destinations & Landmarks

Southern California’s unique topographic contours have allowed for not only several “secret” outdoor stairways, but ones that wrap around, descend along hike paths, and surprise in sinuous fashion. Up until now, there have been eight stairwells in particular that were usually encountered by only land explorers, though are now revealed for all to revel in.   * La Mesa Public Stairs Located in La Mesa, CA on Windsor Drive (between Canterbury Dr. and Normal Ave.), this stairwell will test your endurance and leg/calf strength. It provides such a lower-body workout that personal trainers are known to bring their clients here. If you feel up to the challenge, not only will you shed a multitude of calories, but you’ll also appreciate the exclusive ambiance of the neighborhood that contains the steps.   * Hollywood Bowl/Broadview Terrace Stairs Comprised of around 420 steps and a distance of 2.5 miles, this staircase can be found on High Tower Drive (off Camrose Drive). It is very much in harmony with much of the cacti and fences of homes that embroider the path. For the sake of viewing Hollywood and the bright lights in the vicinity, these steps may offer the best views. If nothing…

Whether your first glimpse is by hot air balloon, bike, walking shoes or automobile, you sense there is something special about the Temecula Valley.  Its rolling vineyards, historic town, majestic parklands, and activities blend past and present into a laid-back SoCal inland lifestyle that thrives on nature’s riches and man’s creativity. An hour north of San Diego in southwestern Riverside County, the valley’s mild, year-round climate makes it ideal for week-end or week-long escapes any time of year.  Here you’ll find something for everyone starting with Old Town, which preserves its Old West heritage, miles of undulating hills and vineyards, and Pechanga Resort & Casino, the largest, most expansive resort-casino in California and one of the largest in the United States.   The Back Story   Temecula was home to the Luiseño Indians for at least 10,000 years before becoming a mission outpost, then a Mexican rancho, crossroads settlement, railroad town, and valley of vineyards to shape the Temecula Valley we know today.  Its name comes from the Luiseño Indian word “Temecunga” which the Spaniards interpreted as “Temecula.” Today, Temecula is the only city in California that still carries its Indian name.   The first known non-Indian to discover the…

Cheerful greetings of “Hi” and “Good to see you” in a sunny Irish dialect can be heard on any given afternoon from behind the counter at Magee’s House of Nuts at LA’s Original Farmers Market. The infectious salutations come from Doris Perez, who has been serving customers there for over 50 years. “I came here from Ireland in 1959 with the plan to stay for one year.” Perez (formerly Leach), who briefly worked as a nanny for an Encino family, says, “I liked it so much that I just never left.” Working first at the Market’s Desert Date Shop in 1963, she moved to Du-Pars shortly thereafter in 1968, where she would stay for 38 years. When they closed for remodeling, she moved over to Magee’s where she’s been ever since. “If people like to buy a particular thing, I write it down, along with their name, so I can always remember what they want when they come here.” Ever-ingrained in the history of this famous place, Perez, who has waited on everyone from heads of state like Eisenhower and Bush, to music mega-stars the Beatles, seems to have been there forever. But the story of this colorful, local market…

With 70 miles of sparkling coastline, a pleasantly warm climate year-round and stunning natural wonders, San Diego’s beauty entices and enthralls travelers from around the world — yet many don’t know that San Diego is one of the most biodiverse regions in the U.S.  Home to a variety of habitats ranging from intertidal wetlands and chaparral-covered canyons to alpine mountains and pristine desert wilderness, San Diego teems with Instagram-worthy sites. The following are seven of San Diego’s top natural wonders—a bucket list of sensational sights sure to impress visitors of all ages. Nestled atop the scenic seaside cliffs of La Jolla, the 1,750-acre Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of only two places on earth where nature lovers can find the ancient Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana), the nation’s rarest pine tree. Visitors can enjoy wind-swept sandstone formations, six hiking trails ranging from easy, family-friendly paths to more advanced trails, and striking sunsets over the Pacific. The reserve offers free guided walks on weekends and holidays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., departing from the historic lodge-turned-Visitor Center. La Jolla is also home to postcard-perfect La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Underwater Park, the West Coast’s first underwater preserve, spanning…

Over the years, San Diego theater has produced and sent more shows to Broadway than any other city in the nation. Yet, when most audiences think of top theater cities in the U.S., San Diego rarely makes the list.  Home of two Tony Award®-winning theaters, The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse, and diverse theater companies around the region, San Diego is ready to step out from behind the theater curtain and receive its well-deserved recognition and applause. From major Broadway players to avant-garde indie playhouses, here are five San Diego theaters that are certain to bring audiences to their feet for outstanding performances. La Jolla Playhouse Set on the campus of the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla, La Jolla Playhouse has created 26 productions that have transferred to Broadway, earning 35 Tony Awards® in total.  Since its first Broadway hit musical Big River in 1985, nationally recognizable productions include The Who’s Tommy, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jersey Boys, Memphis, Peter and the Starcatchers and Hands on a Hardbody, just to name a few.  The original, rock-inspired new musical, Come From Away, which received its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse during its 2015-2016 Season, is slated for…

  Situated on the Cahuenga Peak Trail in Griffith Park, the “Wisdom Tree”—which resembles a bashful sprout of broccoli—should have been one of Mother Nature’s tragedies, but it has turned out to be a rousing success story.   For all intents and purposes, the tree should have succumbed to not only an unmerciful fire in 2007, but a land sale in 2010 that would have seen it felled without forethought. However, the inferno, though unrelenting as it was in destroying most of the vegetation around it, spared the limbs of the tree. And the potentially disastrous real-estate transaction was countervailed by The Trust for Public Land, which won out when a miraculous $900,000 check by Hugh Hefner sealed the deal and salvaged the tree’s fate.   After winning the “Save the Peak” sweepstakes, the tree has been since meditating on an additional 138 acres of public property, accessible to all visitors, who often hike by to bask in its sage vibe. The really inspired ones will pick up one of the many journals and pens placed at the feet of its bark (provided by advocate Mark Rowlands) and write a meaningful message for posterity.   Among all the Wisdom Tree…