California theme parks

Every year, Southern California theme parks go all out for Halloween. These parks have something for everyone, from ghouls, ghosts, and gore at events geared toward adults to spooky (but not scary) character encounters and plenty of candy at events designed for the whole family. It’s worth mentioning that you should always consult a Halloween guide to your favorite theme parks before bringing kids to after-hours events. Many theme parks go above and beyond when it comes to scaring visitors, and some Halloween theme park events can be too intense even for tweens and young teens.  In this Halloween theme park guide, I discuss how the theme parks of Southern California celebrate Halloween, the Halloween events at each theme park, and tips for making the most of your fall visit.  Table of Contents Disneyland® Halloween TimeUniversal Studios® Hollywood’s Halloween Horror NightsKnott’s Berry Farm®: Knott’s Scary Farm and Knott’s … [Read more...] about A Halloween Guide to Southern California Theme Parks

A gorgeous gem of a place located on the Californian coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which makes an idyllic stop for lovers of natural beauty. It’s a wealthy community with a slightly bohemian air, nestled near the famous attraction of Hearst Castle and has a proud nickname of ‘Pines by the Sea.’ Here you can expect boutiques, art galleries, fine dining, and spectacular coastal scenery. It makes a fantastic destination to visit if you don’t want to leave your furry friend behind on your vacation. Although dogs aren’t allowed oh the main Moonstone Beach, they’re allowed on the boardwalk that follows this ruggedly beautiful coastline. You can, of course, go hiking along many of the wonderful nearby hiking trails, visit one of the numerous dog parks and nearby Cayucos beach allows pooches. There are also no less than 17 pooch welcoming restaurants including Cambria Pine’s lodge restaurant and Las Cambritas. Looking for a … [Read more...] about Top 15 dog-friendly hotels in Cambria, California

Eric Brent recently went on a cruise to the Baltics with more than 800 people, and there was a twist that he couldn’t have imagined a few decades ago: It was a “fully vegan” cruise ship. “There’s all different companies doing this now,” said Brent, founder of HappyCow, an app and website that lists vegan dining options in 180 countries. “It is becoming more popular.” Last year, tour company Intrepid Travel introduced “vegan food adventures” to India, Italy and Thailand. This year, cruise lines including Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced new plant-based menus with more than 200 options to choose from. Royal Caribbean International added a vegan menu in the summer. Providence, R.I., opened a new vegan food hall called Plant City in June that has become a tourist destination. And, of course, Burger King took the plant-based patty to the masses when it said it would roll out the Impossible Whopper across the … [Read more...] about Vegan travelers have more options than ever – even Disney

Alpine has captivated author Carlette Anderson so much that the author has penned two books about the mountain town off Interstate 8.Of course, it doesn’t come as that much of a surprise as Anderson has been happily living in the cozy community, population 15,000, since 1993.“I love Alpine, the weather, the people, being above the fog line,” said Anderson, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., who first moved to San Diego in 1980 with her first husband, raising their children in the Fletcher Hills area of El Cajon.“I like people to find out that Alpine is more than just a little town in California,” she said. “I would like to see people learn more about this historic town we live in. It’s got a lot of stuff going for it. I think there are so many cool things to do.” In 2009, Anderson wrote “My Alpine,” a required read for third-graders in the Alpine Union School District since it was published. This year, she came out with an updated … [Read more...] about Alpine author Carlette Anderson to speak at the Alpine Library

Six Flags Magic Mountain is expected to add a terrain-hugging launched roller coaster in 2013 featuring the world’s tallest loop, according to an employee who wasn’t authorized to speak on behalf of the amusement park.A Magic Mountain mechanic inadvertently revealed closely guarded facts about the record-setting  attraction while casually talking with a group of coaster enthusiasts during the recent West Coast Bash event at the Valencia amusement park. Details of the conversation quickly appeared on the Theme Park Review website and rapidly spread through the online coaster community.The new multi-launch coaster will be called Full Throttle, according to the official Six Flags Facebook page.Full Throttle’s record-setting vertical loop is expected to top the Superman: Krypton coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, which holds the current title of world’s tallest loop at 145 feet. Magic Mountain’s own Viper, with a 144-foot-tall loop, is a close … [Read more...] about Six Flags Magic Mountain spills plans for record-setting coaster