Category

Things To Do

Must Do highlights day trips, fun activities, and entertainment and recreation options every tourist and local of Southern California should check out. SoCal’s hidden gems, local secrets, unique finds and off-the beaten path venues will also be uncovered and explored.

in Things To Do

The Best SoCal Strolls with a Stroller

March 6, 2019

By MacKenzie Miller   There is nothing like watching a child explore the natural world around them. Being able to teach a child about nature and bond with them while exercising their senses is one of the more amazing things to witness. Not to mention, getting out and moving with the little ones allows us to soak up the sun, get the blood flowing, and rejuvenate our muscles and minds. Luckily for us in Southern California, the California climate has provided us with ample places to do just that. Here are some favorite places to take the kiddos on a stroll and celebrate the moments we have with our toddlers before they grown up too fast.   Shoreline Park, Santa Barbara Shoreline Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 564-5418 Sweeping views of the Santa Barbara coastline, the city, and the Santa Ynez Mountains on 14.6 acres of green grass to play on is what entices families to visit Shoreline Park. It appeals to all ages and is very stroller friendly. There are individual picnic areas with BBQ’s, group picnic areas, sidewalks, parks and benches, beach access, and playgrounds. During whale watching season, you can typically see the grey whale yearly…

Continue reading
in Things To Do

Santa Barbara Car Free 2019

February 19, 2019

Santa Barbara Car Free Project invites visitors to show their train tickets in Santa Barbara County and enjoy savings on fun experiences now through December 31, 2019. The new 2019 “Take the Train” offer features specials on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train tickets, bicycling, sailing cruises, wine tasting, dining, shopping, museum and zoo visits, as well as hotel savings.  “Cars contribute significantly to air pollution, and visitors to our area can help improve air quality by taking the train into town instead of driving,” said Lyz Hoffman, of Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, which coordinates the award-winning Car Free program. “It’s easy and relaxing to explore our area without your car.” Complete details at https://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/2019-car-free-experience/   Santa Barbara Car Free travelers can save 20% on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner® for travel to or from the following Santa Barbara County train stations: Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta (UCSB), Lompoc-Surf and Guadalupe (plus associated Amtrak thruway buses to Solvang, Santa Maria and Buellton). Tickets must be purchased three days in advance (certain restrictions apply) at: https://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/train/   Through December 31, 2019, travelers to Santa Barbara can show their Amtrak tickets (paper, e-ticket, or mobile device) at the following attractions and activities for special savings and experiences: Ø  Adventure Company of Santa…

Continue reading
in Things To Do

SoCal’s Seductive Sunsets

February 15, 2019

By Lisa Kestenbaum When it comes to sunsets, Southern California boasts some of the best. From the peaks of the Palisades to the dunes of Dana Point, there are countless places to catch the last bits of light. But what’s better than gazing at the glow of the setting sun than doing it with your special someone? Here, we’ve curated a list of locations that we not only consider fantastic for sunset viewing, but some of the most romantic, too. Pick your destination and dash out with your darling to one of these top spots. One of Santa Barbara’s few west-facing strands, Butterfly Beach beckons locals and lovers to its shore. Nestled in front of the luxurious Four Seasons Biltmore hotel, this narrow strip of beach offers the perfect spot to wind down after a day in the waves or spent wandering through this sleepy Southern California town. Or better yet, make one of the many tasting rooms in Santa Barbara an afternoon stop before you settle in with your toes in the sand and hands intertwined. And don’t worry about it being too crowded – while most of the area’s beaches are full of families and tourists, Butterfly Beach…

Continue reading
Related posts
in Destinations & Landmarks
Top Ten Places to Visit in Southern California
August 31, 2018
in Things To Do

Book Review: National Geographic’s Almanac 2019

November 26, 2018

By Kimberly Schmidt   To all you weary-eyed holiday warriors—the National Geographic Almanac 2019 is hot off the press and it’s the first-ever edition for adults! That’s right, now we can stop pretending to know as much as the Nat Geo almanac-reading kids in our lives and respond to their trivia with some dignity.   National Geographic is doing what it does best—delivering cutting-edge information to help us rekindle a childlike wonder and, ultimately, try to make this world and our short lives on this magnificent mote of dust a little bit better.   This 400-page gem is jam-packed with innovative research in chapters like Exploration & Adventure, This Planet & Beyond, Life on Earth, The Science of Us, Yesterday to Tomorrow, and Our World. You’ll find section quizzes, infographics, timelines, and exquisite photography. And folks…these new discoveries are MIND-BLOWING.     Also included, travel guides for bucket-list destinations (including SoCal’s own Pacific Coast Highway), iconic must-visit National Parks, plus food recommendations, and tips on eco-friendly exploration.   In our busy adult lives, we don’t have time to dive too deep into the subjects that we love but National Geographic knows this. That’s why each topic is condensed to 1-2…

Continue reading
in People & Personalities, Things To Do

National Geographic’s MARS

November 26, 2018

National Geographic’s MARS Series and NASA’s Insight Probe Landing By Kimberly Schmidt   Just several hours ago, NASA InSight Spacecraft successfully landed on Mars to collect data to further assess the reality of life-sustaining properties. This makes National Geographic’s miniseries MARS not only entertaining but informative, relevant, and thoroughly exciting.   As MARS Season Two continues to unfold, this scripted and documentary footage hybrid, executive produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, bares the day-to-day lives of the first pioneers to settle on the red planet. During a panel discussion with the show’s Big Thinkers, Stephen Petranek, Antonia Juhasz, and Casey Dreier, we talked about the new season’s themes and the current social commentary regarding our future as an interplanetary species.   According to Stephen Petranek author of How We’ll Live On Mars for which the series is based, we must become an interplanetary species to avoid extinction. The misconception of pursuing life on Mars is that we ought to fix Earth instead of seeking life elsewhere but realistically both actions must occur. “By terraforming Mars and making it more like Earth we will actually learn how to control things on Earth that seem uncontrollable at this point as far…

Continue reading
in Pets & Wildlife, Things To Do

How To Help SoCal

November 12, 2018

Our beautiful area has been impacted by two horrific events this past week. We at SoCal Life Mag want to express our condolences to those who’ve lost loved ones at the Borderline shootings and the hundreds whose lives have been impacted by the Woolsey Fire. We are all so proud of our first responders, firefighters and law enforcement and grateful for their diligence and hard work. The kindness and generosity extended by our community to those who have been affected is admirable and inspiring. Many more want to help and don’t know where to begin, so we’re offering the following suggestion.   BORDERLINE RESOURCES https://www.facebook.com/donate/1443215382550759/2253563041597609/ https://www.gofundme.com/borderline-shooting-victim039s-fund https://vccf.org/donate/make-a-donation/ https://www.gofundme.com/support-for-sgt-ron-helus-family http://da.lacounty.gov/victims   FIRE RESOURCES https://www.vcemergency.com/ https://www.kqed.org/news/11628364/how-to-help-a-friend-who-lost-their-home-in-a-wildfire?fbclid=IwAR2SFKzXlJqPaunpzSYMlaW2ENDo9jJbZO5pQVQjPYkxzpN1H2yTshYhdeY https://www.unitedwayla.org/en/give/disaster-relief-fund/ https://westernusa.salvationarmy.org/usw_thq/news/california_wildfires/ https://secure.eifoundation.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app367a?df_id=4520&mfc_pref=T&4520.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=BD586CAC59FBAE663577626DA737EA87 http://www.cafirefoundation.org/programs/supplying-aid-to-victims-of-emergency/ https://www.calfund.org/wildfire-relief-fund/ https://www.redcross.org/donations/ways-to-donate.html https://www.readyventuracounty.org/   PET RESOURCES https://www.hsvc.org/donate http://www.shelterhopepetshop.org/donate.php   *No Particular Order*

Continue reading

  • Welcome

    Explore where to eat, stay and play in beautiful SoCal

  • Upcoming Events

    1. Harbor Breeze Cruises

      March 9 - December 31

    2. Live Events Return at The Welk Resort Theatre

      September 2 - December 29

    3. Haunted Hayride in Los Angeles

      September 24 - October 31

    4. Nights of the Jack Halloween Returns to Calabasas

      October 1 - October 31

    5. Boo at the L.A. Zoo

      October 1 - October 31

    View All Events

  • Recent Posts

  •
    April 2, 2021
    The Old Towns of SoCal
    Destinations & Landmarks
    March 23, 2021
    Discovering Channel Islands National Park
    Destinations & Landmarks, Featured
    May 18, 2020
    Capitol Studios: From Nat King Cole to the New Face of Soul
    Destinations & Landmarks
    March 31, 2020
    Six Secret Spots to Visit in Long Beach
    Things To Do

  • Categories

  • Sitewide Sale 4/11- 4/13

  • Products

  • © Southern California Life Magazine is Published by Elysian Media Group, LLC

Follow Us @socallifemag

Instagram

Close