By Greg Aragon Summer is upon us and for me that means it’s time to plan a getaway to Big Bear Lake. The place is a summer paradise. From hiking, mountain biking and rope climbing in the forest, to relaxing on the lake or in a charming, rustic cabin, the alpine area has got it…
Welcome to Holland America Line, the cruise line dedicated to explorers, foodies and music lovers who want to pursue these passions on all seven seas and continents, on perfectly sized, refreshingly uncrowded ships filled with one-of-a-kind experiences. We have nearly 150 years of experience sailing the world’s oceans with more than 500 itineraries visiting over…
By Greg Aragon Sometimes I like to throw a proverbial dart at the map to find new places to discover. And when it’s an unexpectedly hot day, I usually aim for the beach. Such was the case last weekend, when a couple friends and I drove to the neighboring cities of Camarillo and Port Hueneme,…
By Greg Aragon I hit the jackpot recently at Pala Casino Spa & Resort in San Diego County. I didn’t win any money, but I did stay in an awesome hotel room, dine at a couple great restaurants, and experience the resort’s stunning, new pool area. The getaway began when a friend and I checked…
By Greg Aragon I never met a kid who didn’t love Legos. They are simple, durable and inspire creativity and imagination. So when Legoland California opened in 1999 as an entire theme park dedicated to the little, plastic building blocks it was exciting news. And now today, as the destination celebrates its 20th birthday, it is…
By Greg Aragon Each year thousands of swallows fly 6,000 miles from Goya, Argentina to San Juan Capistrano, Calif. in large groups. The chestnut and orange-colored birds return to reclaim their old mud nests in the ancient arches and walls of the city’s historic Mission, and to raise their young in the warm coastal climate. I…
By Greg Aragon After three nights in Madrid, Spain, my friend and I continued our impromptu tour of Southern Europe with a last minute trip to the beautiful waterfront city of Porto, Portugal. Neither one of us had been to Portugal before, so we figured that since we were only about 350 miles away, we…
By Greg Aragon As Spain’s largest and most populous city, Madrid might sound too big and touristy to have an authentic Spanish experience. But as I learned on a recent trip to the ancient, European capitol, if you just take your time and explore, you can encounter a great amount of the history, culture and…
By Greg Aragon There is some big news going on at the Los Angeles Zoo. Last month, a rare baby zebra was born and later this month the zoo will host its annual “Beastly Ball” fundraiser party, which raises money and awareness for animal conservation and habitat preservation for some of the world’s most rare…
By Greg Aragon One of my favorite spots to getaway on the California Central Coast is Morro Bay, where a surprisingly small beach town hides beside an iconic, 576 foot-tall dome-shaped rock jetting from the harbor. Located halfway between LA and San Francisco, the village has tons of laid back charm and beautiful scenery. I recently escaped…