Author Archives: Krista Simmons

These Are the New Year’s Travel Resolutions You Need to Make, According to Your Zodiac Sign

If you feel like it’s near-impossible to keep your New Year’s resolutions, you’re not alone. Only about 10% of people successfully meet their goals by… Read More

These Are the Travel Trends That Will Define 2026

The coming year is shaping up to be an exciting and unique one when it comes to travel. Between The Points Guy’s… Read More

Holiday Travel Can Stress out Your Skin. Here’s How to Keep It Glowing and Healthy.

As a lifelong traveler, I can attest that there’s nothing worse than the combo of air travel and a derailed wellness routine when it… Read More

The Bay Area’s Most Beloved Boat Shack Finally Reopens After Devastating Fire

Nearly two years after a fire destroyed the historic Boat Shack at Nick’s Cove, one of Tomales Bay’s most nostalgic waterfront destinations has officially… Read More

Live Your Own Version of ‘The Holiday’ by House Swapping with a Stranger—Here’s How

If you’ve ever watched The Holiday and fantasized about swapping homes for a cozy English cottage or a glamorous L.A. Read More

This Coastal Town in California Is Pure Magic—Here’s What to Do When You’re There

Mendocino is a one-of-a-kind coastal enclave where fog-soaked headlands, Victorian storefronts, and a quietly luxurious creative scene all overlap. And what that feels like… Read More

Turns out the Best Holiday Pies Actually Come from a Hardware Store

On my morning walk to the Clement Street Farmers Market, I passed a local ACE Hardware and noticed a neon sign in the window that… Read More

These Are the Best Places to See a UFO in the West

Extraterrestrial life has long been a fascination for us Earthlings, and now with the release of the wildly successful documentary The… Read More

25 Black Friday Hotel Deals You Actually Want to Book

It’s hard to not get wrapped up in the idea of buying more stuff during the holiday season. And while Black Friday can indeed… Read More

This New Book Explores the Most Iconic Vintage Hotels in the West

There’s something undeniably romantic about a neon-lit motor court. Call it nostalgia, but these old timey motels drum up the feeling of freedom only… Read More

Here’s How to ‘Set-Jet’ in L.A. While Skipping Hollywood Tourist Traps, According to a Local

As a born and raised Angeleno, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is an area I avoid at all costs. It’s wonderful that the entertainment… Read More

From Ghost Airports to Shipping Luggage, These Travel Hacks Will Get You Through the Holiday Season

Though the recent warm weather here in California may have you thinking otherwise, the holidays are rapidly approaching. And if you want a smooth, drama-free… Read More

Nautical Design Seems to Be Everywhere Right Now—Here’s How to Get the Look at Home

From Sausalito’s salt-sprayed saunas at Fjord to San Diego’s wildly popular Boatyard Steakhouse, maritime design is majorly in vogue. Perhaps… Read More

Historic Hot Springs, Bangin’ BBQ, and Crystal-Charged Wine—This California Town Has it All

Tucked at the northernmost end of Napa Valley, Calistoga feels like the last honest outpost in a region that’s otherwise gone full Disneyland. This… Read More

Air Travel Could Be a Nightmare in the Coming Weeks—Here’s What You Need to Know

It seems like it’s been ages since we’ve had a functional federal government, and now the ripple effects are starting to reach travelers on the… Read More

The Best New Place to Camp Is… a Farm? These Are the Most Scenic Spots in California

If you hadn’t heard, it’s now a whole lot easier to pitch your tent (or park your Westie) on California farmland than it ever… Read More

I’m a Travel Editor and These Are Officially the Best Pants for Traveling, Period.

Finding pants that look chic and feel like pajamas is the travel holy grail. After years of testing every so-called “perfect travel pant,” I’ve officially… Read More

Haunted Hotels, Apple Picking, and Baking Bootcamps—This Is the Ultimate Fall Travel Checklist

When the days grow shorter and the leaves start to shift, the West transforms into a playground of autumnal delights. From haunted seaside hotels… Read More

These Are Hands Down the Best Girls’ Trips to Take—No Bachelorette Required

There’s something almost sacred about a proper girls’ trip, when you can truly let your hair down, belly laugh until your abs are sore, and… Read More

Sure, You Can Still Go to National Parks During the Shutdown—But You Still Need to Follow the Rules

Since the government shut down on October 1, several national parks have closed. And while some remain open, they’re wildly understaffed. Over the past… Read More

These Charming Inns Are the Epitome of California Cottagecore, and Are the Perfect Cozy Fall Retreat

The cottagecore aesthetic—which celebrates simple living, vintage style, and an idealized return to rural life—has taken off on social media as of late, and… Read More

Your Guide to Oceanside, Southern California’s Sleeper Hit of a Surf Town

For many years, the town of Oceanside in San Diego’s North County was looked at as a rough-around-the-edges area that was certainly worth stopping… Read More

These Secret, Under-the-Radar Leaf-Peeping Spots Will Fulfill All Your Fall Fantasies

When most people think of fall foliage in the American West, they picture Colorado’s famous golden aspens or the undulating variated hills of… Read More

These New Floral Retreats Are the Bloom-Based Vacations of Your Dreams

Certainly we’re no stranger to making a visit to botanical gardens like Lotusland and San Francisco Botanical Gardens a highlight of our travel… Read More