One of our favorite spots in the world is the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel on the Pacific Coastline, high on a bluff overlooking the beach and the waves breaking below. The hotel enjoyed a multi-million dollar renovation two years ago as it went from a very traditional feel to a happier, cosmopolitan look and feel. The hotel is gorgeous and has the best service in the industry. (more…)

The renowned Napa/Sonoma wine region in California evokes Tuscany: hills of lush vineyards and award-winning wines, tiled rooftops, culinary flair, luxurious resorts and villas in which to relax and savor the unique ambience of the landscape and its people. Sonoma is the quieter, less touristy half of the Napa/Sonoma duo, still in the midst of wine country and still proximate to anything you might want to explore in this region. And for those visiting the San Francisco area, the Napa/Sonoma area is a scant one-and-a-half hour car ride away. (more…)

The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa is probably the only resort I would recommend for an authentic Surf City, USA experience. This oceanfront resort gives you miles of sandy beach whether surfing, sunning, or swimming is your pleasure. Breezy, casually elegant, and quirkily fun (I love the vibrant colors of Pete’s Grill), this resort exemplifies the famous California lifestyle of dreams and songs. (more…)

I cannot imagine going to Disneyland or Disneyworld and staying off-property. I’ve done it and it is something I’ll never do again. (more…)