Sitting at the end of a neighborhood strip mall, Himalaya is an unassuming little spot boasting traditional Indian, Tibetan, and Nepalese cuisine.

Behind this humble storefront, you will find incredibly friendly service and a world of flavor that will have you coming back for more.

Entrees are served sort of family-style, without sides included and designed to share, which is perfect because you get to choose every detail of your meal. I highly recommend the Paneer Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, and Vegetable Korma.

There is always the dilemma of whether to order an appetizer - particularly these Aloo Tikka that don’t look like much but are packed with flavor, or the spicy crispy Kathmandu Chili Chicken - knowing that it will mean too much food in the end. But they are hard to resist, and who doesn’t love flavorful leftovers?!

I have always loved TandoorI Chicken (when it’s done right and not dry, of course) and Himalaya does not disappoint. However, this dish with a weird name (the restaurant’s words, not mine) has one-upped Tandoori for me. Newari Choila is tender, moist pieces of char-grilled chicken that has been marinated in fresh ginger, garlic, and Himalayan spices. So good!

I always order the crispy-soft, aromatic Garlic Naan - it is the perfect complement to any dish and the best thing to dip in curries and sauces!

I guarantee that you will be full, but please save just a teeny bit of room if you can for the unique homemade ice cream. You have a choice between Coconut, Mango, and my personal favorite, Pistachio.

When the weather is nice, it is lovely to sit out on the cozy patio with friends and enjoy a meal or a cup of Masala tea.

The very epitome of a hole-in-the-wall, Oxnard Donuts is a simple neighborhood shop in an unassuming strip mall and it is home to my absolute favorite donuts.

If you get here first thing in the morning, you will find yourself staring down a very full case of fresh, sugary, carb-filled delights. You can tell which are the most popular donuts because they are stacked up extra high.

This little shop does its best to keep up with demand, making scores of donuts and pastries fresh every day.

Oxnard Donuts has it all - something swoon-worthy for literally everyone, from the donut purist looking for perfectly raised and glazed to the super sweet tooth in the mood for something extra special… and everything in between.

If you ask me, this maple-covered stunner is the star of the show. Sure, it looks like any other *old fashioned* buttermilk donut, but that is where the similarity stops. Every donut shop makes these, but I have found that not everyone does it right and they are often a bit hard or dry. But here, they are dense, moist, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.

If you want just a little taste, you could go with a donut hole or two - they are perfectly lovely - but I recommend the mini jelly-filled. They are sweet, fluffy, moist, and glazed with just a spoon full of sweet berry jelly - and just about three bites.

If you prefer something a little less sweet, try a freshly-baked croissant, danish, or breakfast sandwich.

This good old-fashioned donut shop has been a local staple for over 30 years. Like many shops, they have expanded their offerings to include a variety of hot and cold drinks including boba, smoothies, and more.

Located just outside of Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains, Heaps Peak Arboretum is a botanical garden with several species of indigenous trees, native plants, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife.

This family-friendly botanical garden features open spaces, densely wooded areas, benches, and overlooks, as well as restrooms, drinking fountains, a creek and bridge, and some level paved paths that are wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Informational kiosks and posted signs are located throughout the Arboretum, helping visitors to identify and learn about the gardens, flowers, trees, and wildlife that call it home.

An entire garden is dedicated to butterflies. Milkweed is used by Monarch butterflies to lay their eggs and is eaten by Monarch caterpillars. Other flowers are planted that are used as food by adult butterflies. The garden’s flowers also attract other pollinators, ensuring even more wildflowers in the future.

Visitors enjoy encountering a variety of birds, squirrels, and other woodland critters.

The sheer variety of flora found in the Arboretum is part of what makes it special. For example, inside the Arboretum is a one-mile Sequoia Trail, a loop characterized by tall, famous California beauties.

The Arboretum is a wonderful place to immerse yourself and stroll through fall foliage. With such a wide variety of plants, shrubs, and trees in the area, combined with the altitude, you will see a full range of fall colors - pinks, reds, golds, yellows, and greens.

Winter brings a completely different experience to visitors when a blanket of snow turns it into a white wonderland.

In identifying and designating blue zones, Buettner and his team studied pockets of the world’s population who not only live longer but enjoy a high quality of life even in their old age.

At the core of America’s blue zone is a community of approximately 9,000 members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loma Linda, California. Their lifestyle results in extraordinary longevity, with individuals living up to 10 years longer than everyone else in North America. What are they doing right that the average American isn’t?

They don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, eat in moderation, and drink plenty of water. They try to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), resulting in lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and fewer heart disease factors.

A healthy, plant-centered diet may be a reason for their longevity. Many residents follow a mainly vegetarian diet, with a heavy focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, all of which seem to protect against various cancers.

In addition to healthy eating patterns, a routine of consistent, low-intensity exercise – as simple as walking every day – helps reduce the risk of things like cancer and heart disease.

A weekly day of rest provides a break from the stresses of everyday life. Taking regular time to focus on family, time with friends, and nature relieves stress and strengthens social bonds, as well as providing opportunities to exercise.

Residents also find that spending time with others who share and support their values and habits contributes to their well-being.

Volunteering is also common in Loma Linda, California. Residents of all ages are able to enjoy a sense of purpose, and focusing on others may help ward off depression.

We can learn a lot from Loma Linda, in terms of longevity, but how does it compare to other Blue Zones?

The French-style, 23,000-square-foot mansion known as Bellosguardo, meaning “beautiful lookout,” was built in 1936 and sits on a sprawling 24-acre estate perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the coast of Santa Barbara.

Bellosguardo was just one of the mansions belonging to the copper heiress, Huguette Clark, who lived a reclusive lifestyle with her mother, Anna Clark for many years. It was a vacation home, with their primary residence being in New York City, but was rarely used.

The grand mansion is full of ornate details, gorgeous chandeliers, six suites, a music room, an art studio, and a library. The grounds were as intricately designed as the house itself, from the floral design of the stone courtyard out front to the rose garden.

After 1951 or so, Huguette and her mother stopped coming to Bellosguardo, leaving it completely furnished and virtually frozen in time.

In 2011, Huguette died at the age of 104. She had spent some 20 years in a Manhattan hospital and had not set foot on the grounds of Bellosguardo for over 50 years. In her will, she directed that the property be given to a newly formed Bellosguardo Foundation with the purpose of promoting the arts.

Today, the mansion - unseen for nearly 70 years - sits exactly as it was left decades ago - silent, isolated, and perfectly preserved. Residents of Santa Barbara have long been fascinated by the protected property, wondering what it was like on the inside.

Finally, after much preparation, Bellosguardo will open its doors and allow the public to step into its historic grandeur, beginning with small docent-led tours offered to financial supporters and eventually opening for daily tours.

Paris en Rose Bakery and Cafe opened its doors in the San Diego town of Del Mar in March 2023 to great acclaim.

Stepping into this darling space, it is not difficult to imagine yourself across the pond in a fancy little Paris shop.

Bringing a touch of Paris to the Golden State, the desserts and pastries here - both sweet and savory - are made by hand, not in a factory, using the finest butter and organic flour imported from France.

The croissants - with flavors like Pistachio, Raspberry Rose, Chocolate Almond, and more - are extremely popular, but they are just the beginning.

How can anyone resist these incredibly fresh fruit tarts using seasonal fruits like figs, berries, peaches, plums, and pears?

Not everything at Paris en Rose is sweet or fruity. A variety of fresh savory Danishes are made using local and seasonal flavors. You can also buy traditional baguettes, olive bread, and other fresh loaves.

If you can bear to turn your back on the pastry case (most likely after you have placed your order), you will find a little French épicerie (market) with imported products like cookies, candies, jams, and juices. Are we sure we are still in SoCal?

The sweet coastal town of Del Mar is just perfect for this bakery. Even the view from inside sweeps you away a bit. This cute little plaza in Del Mar makes it easy to imagine you are in a little European town.

Priedite BBQ is a perfect example of “if you know, you know.” With no brick-and-mortar building, but a permanent location, Priedite BBQ is a pop-up restaurant, operating out of plain sight on weekends only.

You will find Predate Barbecue on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., hiding in the back outdoor area of this little restaurant, Bell’s.

Out of sight, out of mind? Nope, not for those in the know. Locals wait all week for this and the lines form out front well before the pop-up opens in the morning.

Priedite is all about the grill and smoker, “cooking old-school barbecue with modern techniques,” with brisket, ribs, homemade sausage, and chopped pork smoked over local oak wood. The menu is inspired by California ranchero culture and uses local, seasonal ingredients.

Saturdays are BBQ Round Ups, featuring smoked meats by the pound (including the coveted burnt ends), tasty sides, and unconventional (and mouthwatering) tacos on hand-made flour tortillas. Sides include red rice, beans, potato salad, fennel jalapeño slaw, and picante pickles. For dessert, customers rave over the Buttermilk Pudding.

Sundays are for Bandito Burgerz. These are not your typical burgers, with ground brisket, grilled onions, picante pickles, burger sauce and cheese. Pair your sandwich with potato salad, slaw, or tortilla chips with guacamole and roasted salsa. End on a sweet note with a one-of-a-kind chocolate ancho-almond cookie.

Like any popular restaurant, the pop-up has some cool merchandise, including hats, hoodies, t-shirts, and more for sale. You can also purchase give cards for your favorite BBQ lovers.

Priedite is owned and operated by Pitmaster Nicholas Priedite and his business partner, Brendan Dwan. Nicholas’ passion for food and barbecue perfection, together with Brendan’s knowledge and experience in the restaurant industry, have resulted in a crave-worthy local institution.

Rancho Los Alamitos, literally meaning “Ranch of the Little Cottonwoods,” is a historical home dating back over 1,500 years and is a living piece of history that perfectly parallels the expansion through and settlement of Southern California.

The property includes a ranch house that dates from 1790, a restored barnyard, and four acres of historic gardens. The original adobe ranch house now houses a museum where visitors can learn the history of the area.

The 7.5-acre Rancho Los Alamitos is a portion of a much larger Spanish land grant that was made up of five ranch partitions and takes its name from the native Cottonwood trees growing there.

In 1968, the Bixby family donated the ranch to the City of Long Beach, after which it was opened to the public. The Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation has worked to carefully restore and preserve the ranch and its history.

The 1920s and 1930s were a significant period in Southern California, during which grand gardens often suggested social prominence and innovative landscape artists were hired to design beautiful gardens. It was during this decade that the last private owners of the ranch, the Bixby’s, developed the gardens here.

Guests can wander through the various gardens and learn from docents and volunteers who are happy to share the property’s rich history and fascinating stories of California’s past.

When you visit the restored barn, you can meet the resident livestock in the barnyard, including sheep, horses, rabbits, goats, ducks, and chickens.

No trip to Rancho Los Alamitos would be complete without a stop inside the Museum Gift Shop where you can purchase books, locally-made products, unique jewelry, and fun gifts.

Whenever I take a road trip back to Ocean Beach, my heart soars when I see this view. Seeing the ocean as I crest that final hill brings my memories flooding back, and I can’t help but smile.

The first thing I do is go to the place with the best burgers in the country. Hodad’s has been around since 1969, serving massive, mouthwatering burgers with a laid-back surfer vibe, and it’s filled with decades worth of stickers and license plates.

After scarfing down that juicy burger, I walk a short distance to Ocean Beach itself to watch the waves and get my ocean fix.

There’s a concrete wall where people sit and take it all in, and I let my mind drift upon the waves and love watching the seagulls frolicking about.

When I see this, whatever stress I may have carried with me ebbs away.

Right next to Ocean Beach is Dog Beach, which is the first leash-free dog beach in the nation and was preserved as a community asset in 1972. It’s where people and dogs of all kinds gather, and mingle, and many friendships and romances have blossomed from meeting here.

Once I’ve got my beach time in, I like to walk up Newport Avenue, which is the heart of OB, and see what’s changed since I was last here. There are a few mainstays which thankfully always remain, but so many of the shops, bars, and restaurants last a few years and then are replaced. Locals tend to avoid the newer places that don’t quite fit into the culture here.

One of the more popular beach shops is Wings which is in the building that was once the historic theater The Strand. It was the local one-screen movie house beginning in the 1920s.

Now that I’ve walked off that burger, it’s time to go get a special treat at Point Loma Seafoods. It’s right on the marina, and while Point Loma isn’t technically Ocean Beach, it’s generally considered part of it as it and Ocean Beach bleed into each other, and there is a lot of overlap.

There is a wide variety of fresh and smoked seafood – and all of it is scrumptious. Many stop in for the amazing chowder, which is bits and pieces of all kinds of things, but my favorite is a chunk of smoked yellowtail. It’s like seafood candy.

As it gets closer to sunset, it’s time for dinner at South Beach Bar & Grille. It has some delicious and filling fish tacos that pair perfectly with a nice wheat beer.

It’s a two-story restaurant with a wide outside balcony, and I always try to get a seat up there because the view of the beach and the pier is so lovely; why sit inside when there’s all this beauty?

If I’m in the mood for dessert, Lighthouse Ice Cream has a vast selection of flavors – the Hot Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich is to die for, as you can have any flavor you like in it.

Now, it’s nearing sunset, and I’ll walk off dinner with a stroll along the Ocean Beach Pier and watch the surfers catching little waves. They’re not often huge waves, but surfers here make do, and it’s a favorite spot for them.

It’s a longtime tradition for locals to gather and watch the sunset together near the pier and at Sunset Cliffs just a few blocks north. People mingle, get a little mellow, and take in the utterly beautiful scene. It’s fostered a sense of community since I can remember, and when you come here, you must do this to get the essence of Ocean Beach culture.

In the morning, I get breakfast at the Old Townhouse Restaurant. Since 1973 it’s been the local favorite breakfast spot and serves simple, authentic coffee shop fare that’s tasty and cheap, and the service is always friendly.

Before I get into the car to head home, I stop once more at the beach, take in the sight of the pier, and smile, anticipating my next trip back to a place that resides in my very cells.

The historic Crest Theater (also known as the Crest Westwood, Loew’s Crest, Metro Theatre, Pacific’s Crest, and Majestic Crest Theatre) has long been an architectural icon in Westwood.

The Crest first opened in 1940 as the UCLAN Theater. This Art Deco and Moderne style theater, with 500 seats and a stage, was designed for both live performances and film screenings.

By 1987, the already iconic building was owned by Pacific Theaters and Disney, and the theatre underwent significant renovations to both the Art Deco facade, the interior, and the sound technology.

More changes of ownership followed - one of which had planned to turn the building into a nightclub - and in 2008, the theatre was designated as a historic-cultural monument by the City of Los Angeles. Sometime after 2013, the venue was closed and listed for sale, remaining vacant for years.

UCLA was able to purchase the theatre with the help of a huge financial gift from Susan Nimoy, the widow of Leonard Nimoy (best known for his role as Captain Spock in the Star Trek series), and has been renamed once again, this time in honor of the famous artist, actor, director, and philanthropist.

This stunning, long-dormant building is now being given a new life as the home of UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA).

The restored theatre has been transformed into a versatile performing arts space and officially celebrated its reopening on Sunday, September 17, 2023 with a Community Open House Celebration.

In deference to the Nimoys’ philanthropic endeavors and long history with the theater (Leonard directed the movie, “Three Men and a Baby,” the first film to be screened after the Disney renovations) Spock’s famous line, “Live Long and Prosper” is being proudly inscribed above the theatre’s entrance - a fitting description of the hopes for this legendary venue and the Los Angeles arts scene.