Jessica Koslow

LA’s Westside is akin to a playground for kids of all ages (including adults and seniors). Think Disneyland by the sea. It is home to beaches, hiking trails, bike paths, piers and one of the biggest tourist destinations in California: the Venice Boardwalk, which hosts about 30,000 visitors daily. As summer approaches, tourists and locals will flock to the Westside all season in search of breezy temps and cooler hangouts. Below is a list of food to eat, things to do, and places to see, from Venice and Santa Monica to Mar Vista and Culver City, which are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring all the treasures that are sprinkled throughout LA’s westside. . . .

Read the full article at The Argonaut.

Venice Design Series is presenting a guided tour of the restored Gabrielino-Tongva Sacred Springs. The event kicks off Saturday, April 27, on the campus of University High School. It’s the second of a three-part benefit to raise money for Venice Community Housing, an affordable housing developer and supportive services provider across LA’s Westside. The third event is a Rustic Canyon Dinner Party happening on May 4. 

This is the 10th year that Linda Lucks and Jay Griffith, the duo responsible for the Venice Garden and Home Tour, have curated Venice Design Series. Bob Ramirez, president of the Gabrielino-Tongva Springs Foundation, will guide the four-hour tour, which includes lunch, entertainment and activities. Tickets are $500, and children are free. 

In 1954, Gabrielino-Tongva Sacred Springs was registered as a state historical landmark. The three clearwater springs exist on the campus of University High School, which rests on the site of an ancient Native American settlement, Kuruvungna Village. According to Ramirez, Spaniards gave the native inhabitants of the land the name “Gabrielinos” because of their association with the San Gabriel Mission. However, the people chose the name “Tongva” to distance themselves from the colonial oppressor.  . . .

Read the full article at The Argonaut.

In the past few months, I have written “Best Of” features for San Clemente Times, The Capistrano Dispatch, Dana Point Times, and Explorer News.

Charlie Chapman, John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart were regular visitors to Catalina Island, and Marilyn Monroe lived on here, albeit, before she was famous.

Lolo Saldana, the 90-year-old barber who owns Lolo’s Barber Shop on Sumner Avenue, knew Monroe personally. He and his 10 siblings grew up on the island, and locals refer to his shop as “the center of the Catalina universe.”

Only 22 miles and 70 minutes via Catalina Express from the Southern California coast, Catalina is an island vacation or day trip that is accessible, affordable and really fun. After only a few minutes off the ferry, as the beach breeze blows and seabirds circle overhead, travelers feel the stress slip away. . . .

Read full article at Tucson Lovin’ Life.

Dillon Hansen and his now-business partner Jon Moran took off in a camper van for a few weeks in 2013 to travel around the South Island of New Zealand.

It was a life-changing trip that caused a domino effect: Hansen quit his job in tech sales in 2014, Moran left his job in health care administration in 2015, and the two launched Native Campervans, which opened a Phoenix office in October.

“When we started, van life was not yet a social media phenomenon,” Hansen says.

According to The Dyrt, more than 35 million Americans camped in an RV in 2022 and an estimated 80-plus million campers were expected to camp in the Unite States in 2023, and more than 50% of them are 55 and older.

“Van travel is my favorite thing in the world,” Hansen says. “It means freedom and simplicity. The van is 18 feet in length, which is comparable to an SUV.”

The camper van comes with a kitchen, refrigerator, and 24-hour roadside assistance, and the only restrictions are traveling to Mexico and Burning Man.

In 2015, Kristine and Brandon Stevens started their RV adventures with a Class A diesel motorhome. A couple of years ago, they switched to a Jayco North Point fifth wheel pulled by a Dodge Ram 2500. . . .

Read the full article at Lovin’ Life.