Category / California

Family Fun at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa

Living in sunny Southern California, we love to take trips to our local mountains for a change of pace and a change in weather! One of our favorite destinations is Lake Arrowhead. Lake Arrowhead is a private lake and community nestled at 5200 ft. (1500 m) in the San Bernardino Mountains, just a short drive from southern California’s major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County. It gained fame in the early years of the movie industry as the scene of many old Hollywood productions, especially in the 1930s and 40s.

Lake Arrowhead, which has its high season in summer, is a lovely place for a family getaway or for cozying up during winter time. Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa is a year-round resort that caters to both locals and out of town visitors; the resort has a rustic elegance with a modern touch. The resort sits at waters’ edge and surrounded with majestic pines within walking distance to Lake Arrowhead village. Here in this blog I will share with you everything about our 2-day stay at this lovely resort.

September 5, 2019September 5, 2019 by inAra

My Top 10 Picks at Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival 2019

Showcasing Los Angeles as an amazing food destination, the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival is a spectacular event where guests enjoy delicious cuisine from over 100 celebrity and world-class chefs, and 75+ wines curated from prestigious wineries. It was such a great honor to be invited by the Wonderful Company to attend the LA’s Faves and Craves hosted by LA’s own Jet Tila. You can find the full schedule here, but to help you navigate through these events this year (or prepare for next year), I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite participating restaurants/wineries at this festival.

August 25, 2019August 25, 2019 by inAra

California Travel United States

Serenity Escape, Joshua Tree: My Weekend Getaway

Joshua Tree is a bohemian wilderness which has become the LA escape and is slowly changing to a hipster oasis welcoming those looking to escape the urban grind. Its spectacular landscape is filled with beautiful Joshua “trees,” which aren’t trees at all, but tree-like members of the yucca family. Barren landscape, magical starry sky, and spooky coyote howling all bring a sense of solitude and seclusion at the same time provide endless opportunities for adventures.

Artists, architects, and the design-enthusiasts are creating an array of stylish homes, many of which are available to rent on AirBnB. I bet that when you start looking into renting AirBnb in Joshua Tree, you will be completely overwhelmed by the many choices. So I’m here to help you narrow down the choices. About three years ago, while searching for the perfect desert oasis home we stumbled upon the Serenity Escape and we have been back to this lovely home every year ever since. There is something about the Serenity Escape that gave us an immediate home-away-from-home feel that we loved.

August 4, 2019August 4, 2019 by inAra

Featured

Road Tripping Along the Amalfi Coast

August 17, 2019August 17, 2019 by inAra

A Complete Travel Guide to Capri, Italy

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 by inAra

California Celebrate Food And Drinks Living

Visit Beautiful Landmark Vineyards in Sonoma Valley

***Thank you to Landmark Vineyards for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

Summer is here! It’s that magical time of year when being outside feels like a dream. What better way to enjoy a beautiful day outside than with a wine country picnic? A delicious picnic lunch and a glass of wine in a beautiful vineyard setting are one of life’s greatest pleasures. My husband and I celebrated the first week of summer in Sonoma Valley with Landmark Vineyards. You may remember that I featured their wine in some of my events last year (read my review of their wines here). So I was super excited when Landmark Vineyards invited us to visit their winery in Sonoma to taste test a range of their famous Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.

June 27, 2019July 1, 2019 by inAra

California Celebrate Food And Drinks

Carlsbad’s Petal-to-Plate Picnic in The Flowers Field

Our family visits the Flowers Fields at Carlsbad Ranch every year, and each visit I always make a mental affirmation to myself I will have a sunset picnic in the fields of flowers one day. And on March 28th, 2019 this dream became my reality when I attended the Carlsbad Flowers Fields’ Petal-to Plate media picnic. This is the experience of a lifetime! Imagine sitting in the middle of 50 acres of giant Ranunculus among new friends, delicious picnic food, floral cocktails and live acoustic. This is the highlight of all my media trips this year.

March 29, 2019March 30, 2019 by inAra

California Celebrate Photography Tips United States

Where to See Stunning Spring Bloom in LA

In case you haven’t noticed in your social media feeds, Spring has officially “sprung” in LA. There’s still a bit of chill in the air and a few lingering raindrops on the ground, but spring is starting to burst out all around us. All the rain we complained about in January and February has brought us the most amazing spring bloom. It’s time to bust out those sandals, those picnic spreads, and those floral dresses and get ready to smell the flowers.

My inbox has been flooded with questions since I posted on my Instagram pictures taken with wild flowers and almond blossom. So I decided to spill all of my “secret” spring bloom spots in and around LA. In this blog I’m sharing with you my top favorite spots to catch the first glimpse of spring blooms!

March 10, 2019March 21, 2019 by inAra

California

Review of the Jackrabbit Wash – Joshua Tree Airbnb

Just two and a half hours (140 miles) east of Los Angeles on the 10, Joshua Tree has become our favorite weekend getaway! This area is one of California’s most beautiful – and less-visited – natural treasures! Its spectacular landscape is filled with beautiful Joshua “trees,” which aren’t trees at all, but tree-like members of the yucca family. Barren landscape, magical starry sky, spooky coyote howling,…all bring a sense of solitude and seclusion at the same time provide endless opportunities for adventures.

Although the area lacks hotels, it has so many lovely options on Airbnb from rustic desert homesteads, mid-century tiki huts to teepees and airstreams. If you want to combine seclusion with luxury, then the Jackrabbit Wash is the ideal place for you!

February 25, 2019February 26, 2019 by inAra

California United States

Lunar New Year in Chinatown, Los Angeles

In Asian communities, Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the year. One of the most diverse cities in the world, Los Angeles celebrates the Lunar New Year with colorful parades and family friendly festivals. It is not only a time for family gatherings, but also a time for people to honor ancestors and give thanks. As the Lunar New Year approaches, a great way to experience the excitement of the holiday is visiting Chinatown and having a fun photoshoot with their beautiful lantern displays, neon lights, antique stores, and historic temples. In this blog I’m sharing with you some of my favorite places to take pictures in LA Chinatown!

January 22, 2019January 22, 2019 by inAra

California

DISCOVER INSTAGRAM-WORTHY SPOTS IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

It’s no secret that I am completely obsessed with Palm Springs. For years Palm Springs has been a California desert retreat, known for its modern and chic style. Palm Springs is one of the best places to visit all year long, whether you’re coming to party at Coachella or just want to relax by the pool in the sunshine. It’s a lifestyle photographer’s dream location with so many Insta-worthy photo spots, restaurants, and neighborhoods. My Palm Springs City Guide gives you everything you need to know to plan for your upcoming vacay, from things to do, where to stay, and all of my favorite Instagramable spots!

January 7, 2019January 11, 2019 by inAra

California Celebrate

Post-Rose Parade Float Viewing

It doesn’t seem to be New Year’s Day without having the Rose Parade playing on the TV. Founded in 1890, the Tournament of Roses, which features flower-covered floats, spirited marching bands and high-stepping equestrian units, is America’s New Year Celebration, a greeting to the world on the first day of the year and a salute to the community spirit. Thousands of families and football fans board flights every year to California to take part in what has become a time-honored tradition.

You’ve seen them on television, and now you’re dying to see all the details of those gorgeous Rose Parade floats up close. Here’s the first thing you need to know: Don’t go to the parade. That’s because there’s a much better way to get a good look at them and take their photos: Post Parade.

January 3, 2019January 3, 2019 by inAra

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