CONTRACOSTATIMES.COM: January 30, 2014
With two weeks until Valentines Day, it’s time to scout out some sea salt and chocolate. The sea salt is the fun part.
Twenty minutes south of San Francisco is the fishing village of Princeton by the Sea. You may know it as the home of the Mavericks Invitational — one of the most extreme big wave surf contests in the world. Continue reading
Fortune Cookie Factory
MERCURYNEWS.COM: November 22, 2013
It’s Saturday afternoon and I’ve got a bird’s-eye view of one of the largest Chinatowns outside of Asia. Laundry flutters on the roof near a jade-colored pagoda. Four iron crosses stretch toward the heavens from Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral, built by Chinese laborers in 1854. In the distance, a smattering of sailboats punctuates the Bay. Continue reading
CONTRACOSTATIMES:COM: November 15, 2013
When it comes to tourism, Oakland is in good hands. Just look at the buzz we’ve been getting — including nods for top destination, most exciting city and coolest city. These honors don’t come by accident. The nine marketing and PR pros at Visit Oakland work hard to get on the radar at media outlets around the world. Continue reading
View of the capitol from Graze – one of Madison’s popular farm to fork restaurants.
OAKLANDTRIBUNE.COM: November 7, 2013
The quintessential college town — it’s not just for kids anymore. Mature adults are looking for good food and culture, not to mention the tax base a college brings in.
Madison and Berkeley are two towns that top the list. Both are progressive, with politics that often make the news. But I’ve been to Madison, and it’s not Berkeley. Continue reading
MERCURYNEWS.COM: October 25, 2013
After a pleasant day of wine tasting, I like to kill a few zombies. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t? Still, pairing these odd but enjoyable outings seems strange — until you’re struck with the fever. The Delta fever, that is. Continue reading
MERCURYNEWS.COM: October 9, 2013
The Grand Canyon. Bora Bora. Ipanema and Greece. On the list of the world’s top sunsets, Ojai rarely makes the cut. Yet, when I saw the sky on my birthday, it was a Monet masterpiece.
Locals call it the “pink moment” — this phenomenon where the sky takes on a soft, amaranthine glow at dusk. Unlike most sunsets, this one comes from the east, where the Topatopa Mountains act like a mirror to reflect and diffuse the orb’s light over Ojai Valley in Ventura County. As if touched by the brush of God, the colors combine to stir the soul. Continue reading
Mercurynews.com: September 13, 2013
Buffalo, eagles and wolves. You expect to see these in our national parks. Garibaldis — not so much. Yet, the waters were teaming with the curious creatures my son likened to clown fish in “Finding Nemo.” Like a giant aquarium, fish were darting through the kelp as we bobbed on the surface above. Continue reading
INSIDEBAYAREA.COM: August 30, 2013
For 1.3 million tourists a year, Alcatraz is an adventure. For Bob Luke, it’s hell. “There’s no good memories,” says the man who spent five years (1954-59) incarcerated on “the Rock.” “The only good memory was the day I left.” Continue reading
MERCURYNEWS.COM: August 16, 2013
It’s harvest time in the Napa Valley, one of the most romantic seasons for visiting this world-class wine region. So what’s the downside? The traffic that comes from too many people sharing the love of some 450 wineries. Yet, there are ways to avoid the parade of cars along this 30-mile corridor — with a popular option being the Napa Valley Wine Train. Continue reading
CONTRACOSTATIMES.COM: August 2, 2013
Some people dream of a Caribbean cruise. In our family, we prefer rivers. There’s no sea sickness, and the shoreline is always in sight — which is huge when you factor in swim time from a disabled ocean liner. Paranoia aside, a river cruise is also more intimate and affordable than ocean travel, without giving up meals or comfort. Continue reading
Ginny Prior 