Portland Oregon USA

3-6 July

Dear Travelers,

Deemed "America's Best Big City" by Money Magazine in 2007, the City of Roses offers residents and visitors an unpretentious ambiance with just the right touch of sophistication. Snow-capped Mt. Hood stands majestically in the backround of the city at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. This time of year, the city's famed roses should be at their peak-drop by the Peninsula Park Rose Garden or the International Rose Test Garden for abundant proof.

The tranquil Japanese Garden is one of the finest in the country, a delight even on rainy days. Portland has in recent years become a bit of a Mecca for food lovers, with trendy restaurants in the Pearl District and elsewhere proffering the freshest Pacific Northwest produce prepared with innovative techniques.

Geneally regarded as the birthplace of microbrews, the city boasts more than 20 breweries, ranging from the more familiar Widmer Brothers, Roque Ales and Full Sail to the amusingly named Amnesia and Hair of the Dog. Wine lovers need not feel neglected either, for the nearby Willmette Valley produces some of the finest Pinot Noirs bottled anywhere.

See you there...

Rinell :-)

Eureka California USA

Click here to see Victorian Houses in Eureka

30 June - 1 July

Dear Travelers,

Lumber was king for well over a century here in Eureka, where as many as seven mills operated non-stop processing redwood to fill the demands of expanding cities to the south. Much of the forest which pushed up against the town is long gone, some of it turned into ornate Victorian Houses-including the famed Carson House-still standing in Old Town. Take a walk along the recently created waterfront boardwalk or head over to the historic lumber mill in Samoa for a look back at life in the 1800s.

See you there..

Rinell :-)

San Francisco California USA

Click here to see the Famous Golden Gate Bridge

26-29 June 2012

Dear Travelers,

The graceful span of the Golden Gate Bridge arches above as you sail into San Francisco Bay. Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County's "Sleeping Lady," is silhouetted off the port side. Off the starboard side, the wooded greenery of the Presidio, the dome of the Palace of Fine Arts and Ghirardelli Square's sturdy brick buildings. The distinctive TransAmerica Pyramid, the faceted Bank of America building and unmistakable Coit Tower are each part of a skyline known around the world.

Cable cars still clang their way up the city's steep hills, just as they have for over a century. The coffee shops and Italian trattorias of North Beach, the exotic aromas of China Town, the bawdiness of Broadway, are all integral parts of "The City by the Bay".

Serious foodies will find no less than 28 restaurants in the Bay Area and nearby Wine Country which have earned coveted one, two and three-star ratings by the notoriously finicky Michelin guide.

See you there..

Rinell :-)

http://www.yo/

Monterey California USA

22-25 June 2012

Dear Travelers,

A prosperous whaling station in the 1800s, Monterey opened its first cannery in 1900, eventually becoming the largest supplier of sardines in the hemisphere. Most of the fishing industry has long since moved elsewhere, but small boats still bob at anchor in the sheltered harbor near the old Presidio. Cannery Row, so vividly portrayed in Steinbeck's novel of the same name, now features seafood restaurants and souvenir shops. Visit the justly famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, with its three-story acrylic-walled tank filled with specimens swimming through the undulating kelp forest. The charming sea offers are among the other popular exhibits.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, with its mixture of art galleries and boutiques, is just a short drive away, the dramatic beauty of Big Sur a bit further south.

See you there... :-p


Rinell :-)

Santa Barbara California USA

20-21 June 2012

Dear Travelers,

Fortuitously located between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific, Santa Barbara enjoys a pleasant, Mediterranean climate most of the year. Fronted by a long stretch of palm-lined, sandy beach, Santa Barbara is the embodiment of life in the Golden State. Now a sprawling resort and college town, the city grew up around its eponymous mission and presidio, founded in 1786. First-timers may want to ride the electric, open-air shuttle that runs along State Street and out to the enclave of Montecito.

See you there..
Rinell :-)

Catalina Island California USA

18-19 June 2012

Dear Travelers,

A longtime favorite getaway for Southern Californians, Catalina island sits just 22 miles off shore from Los Angeles. With less than 4000 permanent residents (most of whom live in the port town of Avalon) and no traffic signals, it seems a world away from L.A. Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. purchased most of the island in 1919, eventually leaving his holdings to the Santa Catalina Island Conservance. The best options for exploring this "Island of Romance" are on foot, by bicycle or in a rented golf cart - private cars are very limited.

Rinell :-)

San Diego California USA

Let's travel to San Diego California USA

13-17 June 2012

Dear Travelers,

We are going to spread across roling hills, ocean front passages and inland valleys, San Diego received its name in 1602 when Spaniard Sebastian Vizcaino named the area for Spanish Catholic saint San Diego de Alcala.

Unrestricted views of San Diego Bay can be enjoyed from Cabrillo National Monument, a park replete with historical displays and a precious tide pool ecosystem. While Old Town San Diego is mostly comprised of small shops, the original town birthplace managed to retain its tranquil charm.

San Diego's sunny climate invites for walks through the historic Gaslamp Quarter or to Balboa Park's Casa del Prado Theater. Don't miss the luxurious Hotel Del Coronado, setting of the Marilyn Moroe classic "Some like it hot." With inviting beaches, about 90 golf courses, the San Diego Zoo and nearby Wild Animal Park, Sea World and Legoland, as well as the upscale seaside village of La Jolla, San Diego offers something for everyone's taste.

Rinell :-)

Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Dear Travelers,

From 11-12 June 2012 we are going to visit Ensenada located not far from the U.S. border along Highway 1, Ensenada co-mingles international tourism with day-to-day Mexican living. Host to over 75 sporting, culinary and cultural events annually, it is also the perfect site for gray whale watching between January and March.

The area's mild climate is ideal for wine-making and 90% of Mexico's wines are produced in and around Ensenada. If you prefer a tasty margarita, try Hussong's Cantina, which opened its doors in 1892 and continues in operation today.

Not too far shouth of Ensenada you find La Bufadora, one of the biggest blowholes in North America with saltwater streams up to 18m (60ft) high during high tide. Take a look at the magnificently restored Riviera del Pacifico Cultural and Civic Centre, boxer Jack Dempsey's former casino and a favorite Prohibition hang out of the rich and famous.

See you there.

Rinell :-)

Nawiliwili Kauai Hawaii USA

Hello Travellers,

June 3-4 we experience Nawiliwili Bay and its port town of Lihue serve as the gatewayto Kauai Hawaii's oldest major island. Long promoted as the Garden Isle, Kauai's celebrated landscape is indeed a prime example of nature's handwork.

Take in the crimson and rust shades of Walmea Canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"- don your slicker and explore Mount Waialeale, the rainiest spot on earth - gaze at dazzling Wailua Falls, often swathed in a brilliant rainbow - or explore the equally wondrous world beneath the waves.

Rinell :-)