ca Travel Guide

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Why an LA Comedian Turned $4,000 into a Joke Written in the Sky

May 16, 2013 at 2:54 PM | by | Comments (0)

Thank to the crowd-funding website Kickstarter, the world is richer with many realized travel ideas. For example, there was the Capture Clip, aka the travel photographer's best friend, and the Ice Cream Travel Guide, but occasionally Kickstarters aim to have a little fun.

Case in point: LA comedian Kurt Braunohler raised nearly two times what he asked (he needed $4,000 and got $6,820 from 257 backers) in order to hire a skywriting airplane to print the phrase "HOW DO I LAND" in the sky over downtown.

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Virgin Galactic Zooms through 'Cold Flow' Test to Inch Closer to Space

April 23, 2013 at 9:51 AM | by | Comments (0)

We haven’t heard that much from Virgin Galactic recently, but that doesn’t mean the space ship team hasn’t been hard at work behind the scenes. They’re still doing their very best to ensure that space tourism becomes a reality sooner than later. That’s definitely good, since from what it sounds like, the space flight carrier already has more than a few customers on the books and ready to go.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShip Two just finished its latest round of testing, and thankfully things all went according to plan. The latest aerial endeavor was known as a "cold flow” test. They haven't lit the rocket engines on this sucker just yet, but it means they've completed pretty much everything else—so that means they’re ready for the next step. The ship’s contrail was even visible for the first time, so now we know how awesome the thing will look like when it blasts away from earth.

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Why (Former) Gang Members May Be Cooking Your Food at LAX

April 19, 2013 at 1:09 PM | by | Comments (0)

We’re always quick to point out a solid option for airport eats, but more times than not we’re focused on the food. This time we’re looking at more of the story behind the restaurant, but don’t worry, they’ve still got some good grub to grab on the go.

Homeboy Industries is a non-profit organization looking to help those down on their luck work their way back into the community. The place does its best to help keep former gang member out of jail and on the straight and narrow. They do all kinds of good as well as plenty of warm and fuzzy, but what we’re most interested in is their latest venture over at the airport.

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Here's the Best Place to Watch the Sun Rise over Hollywood

April 19, 2013 at 10:37 AM | by | Comments (0)

Yesterday, while the rest of Hollywood slept, we were up at the crack of dawn, lacing our Merrell hiking shoes, filling up a bottle of water, and setting off along Los Feliz Boulevard towards Griffith Park, aka the Central Park of Los Angeles.

Griffith Park ranks as the second-largest city park in all of California (though that doesn't include much larger state parks like Yosemite and Joshua Tree), and it is incredibly easy to access from multiple LA neighborhoods, such as Los Feliz, Franklin Village, Atwater Village, Glendale, and, of course, Hollywood. Its attractions include the Greek Theatre, Griffith Observatory (which is best visited at night, for obvious reasons), and the LA Zoo.

Oh, and off to the south, on Mount Lee, there's a little thing called the Hollywood sign. Ever hear of it?

We set off at 6:15am from our friend's apartment, and in fifteen minutes, we had arrived at the park's western entrance, Ferndell Nature Center. Here, a woodsy hiking trail winds along a small babbling brook (complete with the little footbridges), under a canopy of California sycamores and over 50 different species of fern.

What struck us most was the tranquility of the place: though we had just come off a busy main road populated by impatient commuters trying to beat the morning traffic, we suddenly found ourselves in the midst of pure, noiseless nature.

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Is This the Most Popular Ride at Legoland California?

April 18, 2013 at 5:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

The other week we hit up Legoland California, namely to check out the just-opened Legoland Hotel, the first Legoland Hotel in the U.S. But with the hotel being adjacent to the theme park, we of course had to roam around for a few hours, marveling at all things Lego.

We'll have one of our handy theme park survival guides for you next week but we just thought we'd share this observation: Out of all the attractions, rides and displays at Legoland, the busiest one we encountered was The Big Shop.

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Why LAX Airport is Building a Team of Therapy Dogs

April 17, 2013 at 11:02 AM | by | Comments (2)

No matter how many times you’ve made your way through the airport security shuffle, the whole travel experience Is still a little bit stressful. That’s why we’re pretty excited to hear about Los Angeles International Airport’s plan to bring a little more relaxation to the airport. They’re not doing yoga within the terminal—at least not yet—but they are bringing some furry friends right into the airport.

Therapy dogs are now doing their thing in the boarding areas, near the baggage claim carrousels, and everywhere in between over at LAX. It’s part of a new program aimed to help people relax prior to takeoff or just after landing, and they’re calling it PUPs—Pets Unstressing Passengers.

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LAX Feels the Delta Love with $229 Million in Upgrades

April 8, 2013 at 9:22 AM | by | Comments (0)

Over the last few months we’ve seen several sneak peeks and first looks at what’s going on over at JFK Airport and Delta’s plan for the renovation at Terminal 4. From the SkyDeck to the SkyClub and everything in between the place looks like it’s going to be a hit when it debuts later this year, and that’s especially the case since what it’s replacing was so terrible—to put things lightly.

Anyway now that the bulldozers and construction crews are getting ready to pack up over in New York, it looks like they’re already getting their next assignment. Apparently Delta now has its eyes on mixing things up over at LAX, as they’re about to start spiffing things up as part of a $229 million upgrade and improvement.

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San Francisco's Ritz-Carlton Will Haul You Off to Alcatraz for Free

April 1, 2013 at 1:27 PM | by | Comments (0)

The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco is teaming up with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy this spring for a new Give Back Getaways program that includes voluntourism excursions to Alcatraz Island and the Presidio Nursery.

The program will give hotel guests the chance to help preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, which stretch 70 miles north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge, by spending a half-day volunteering, cleaning, pruning, weeding, and planting in the parklands.

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Orange County, California

March 28, 2013 at 2:01 PM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

We’re back in California this week, as when it comes to domestic getaways we just can’t get enough of The Golden State. Sure Napa is fine and dandy, but sometimes we need more beach to go with our vacation. That’s why we say to cash that refund check as soon as possible—or confirm your direct deposit—and head off to Orange County.

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Qantas to Take Five Lucky Aussie Instagrammers to See Ellen in Los Angeles

March 25, 2013 at 1:48 PM | by | Comments (0)

Last week Ellen DeGeneres brought one very lucky American audience to Australia and now she's giving Aussies a chance to catch her show in America.

Qantas Airways, which just named a plane after the talk show queen, is giving five people the chance to take a friend on a trip to Los Angeles and be a part of The Ellen DeGeneres Show audience.

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All Aboard 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show Express' Qantas A380 at LAX

March 21, 2013 at 2:23 PM | by | Comment (1)

Yesterday, Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia De Rossi were spotted arriving at LAX to catch a Qantas flight to Sydney, Australia for their Oprah-esque Trip with one very lucky studio audience.

As Ellen boarded her flight she was given more than just first class treatment#&151;they actually named the plane after her.

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Napa Valley, California

March 19, 2013 at 10:55 AM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

So you scored a decent tax refund this year, so congratulations from us to you on that accomplishment. Let’s celebrate with a drink—or a whole bottle—and we suggest doing so in Napa Valley. It sounds like an expensive proposition, but heading off to California’s wine country can be decently affordable if you’re looking to stretch that return cash from Uncle Sam. On the other side of things there’s plenty of places where you can blow it all on one meal.

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