Local Expert
Marael Johnson
Award-winning travel writer Marael Johnson has written for many prominent print and online publishers on areas as diverse as Outback Australia, Europe's Basque region, Louisiana's Cajun country, and…
Award-winning travel writer Marael Johnson has written for many prominent print and online publishers on areas as diverse as Outback Australia, Europe's Basque region, Louisiana's Cajun country, and remote South Pacific islands. She grew up in Los Angeles and resides in Southern California.
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Cool News You Can Use
The Golden State is popping with make-life-a-little-easier services. It's now a breeze to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties from Los Angeles International Airport and the cruise terminals at Long Beach and San Pedro via Silverado Stages (www.silveradotours.com). Daily service is provided on big luxury buses that have restroom facilities, plush seats with foot rests, window shades, and satellite TV and radio stations with individual audio controls. For fuel-conscious visitors (and, who isn't these days!), you can calculate the approximate fuel costs for local trips or weekend getaways by using Gateway Media Corp's FuelTool (www.californiaweekend.com). Also provided are distance and travel time to your destination. And if you're stuck for trip ideas (haven't I given you enough?), you can now download a selection of detailed maps to wineries, lakes, historical sites, and other places courtesy of the California Travel and Tourism Commission (www.VisitCalfornia.com/roadtrips). Meanwhile, the next few months promise to bring even more excitement and entertainment to L.A.: the world premiere of the comedy-turned musical "9 to 5" at the Ahmanson Theatre; the completion of the Mark Taper Forum renovation; the grand opening of The GRAMMY Museum; the debut of striking new hotels and the transformations of other accommodations; and more, and more, and more. Stay tuned!