International

Both the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco stand in the middle of the historic center of Quito

An Insider’s Guide to Quito, Ecuador

Travel Editor Elizabeth Hansen taps a local expert to explore the Ecuadorian capital

The magnificent Santiago de Compostela Cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage since the Early Middle Ages

Walking Spain’s Camino de Santiago

Elizabeth Hansen makes the most of this extended time at home to plan a bucket list trip — walking Spain’s Camino de Santiago. Here's what she found ...

Locked down and lending a hand in Liberia

Local La Jolla couple shares their experiences volunteering in Liberia before and during the country's lockdown amidst the COVID-19 breakout.

Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo

Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo seamlessly blends nature and nurture

The popularity of Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo has swelled in recent years — a place that seamlessly blends nature and nurture

Palau: R&C Travel Editor Elizabeth Hansen finally visits her dream destination

A visit to this Western Pacific archipelago, a snorkeler’s paradise, is every bit worth the (long) trip ...

Best of Travel from Around the World

All hotels are not created equal. Most of them are at least ok and lots of them are way more than that. The same goes for attractions, restaurants, museums, and the other sites we travelers visit as we make our way around the world. For this issue of Ranch & Coast, I wanted to share my own “Best Of” — my personal favorite worldwide travel experiences. That sounded like fun until I started making lists of candidates. Then lists of lists, broken down by category, continent, and country, until I gave up. Decades of roaming defied organization. In the end, I closed my eyes and let my mind wander over Europe, then Africa, the U.S, South America, Asia, and the South Pacific. Every time I felt myself smile, I opened my eyes just long enough to make a quick note on a nearby pad. Here’s the result.

Oh My! Namale!

Namale, Fiji Fiji’s fantasy island awaits Posted on June 1, 2019 Still trying to decide on a gift for a special June bride and groom? If their honeymoon plans are undecided, suggest Namale in Fiji and offer to contribute to their expenses. Alternatively, you might opt to book your own retreat to the luxurious, all-inclusive, adults-only…

Great Spring Gardens

Great Spring Gardens Add these patches of paradise to your travel plans Posted on May 1, 2019 Remember the interminable rain that spoiled our plans and dampened our moods this past winter? Well, it’s payback time. San Diegans are being rewarded with spring gardens that are more beautiful than I can ever remember. All around me,…

In Search of Classic Car Paradise

In Search of Classic Car Paradise Events that celebrate the automobile at home and away Posted on March 2019 Spring is in the air, and the car guys I know are revving up their engines in anticipation of the new season of events. “Car guys,” by the way, can be male or female and share…

Australia’s Underwater Wonders

Getting to know the Great Barrier Reef Posted on February 1, 2019 The world’s greatest living structure runs for more than 1,200 miles along the northeast coast of Australia. It’s a spectacular coral reef that’s home to great schools of colorful fish, mollusks weighing up to 400 pounds, six species of marine turtles, and myriad…

Sweet Dreams in the Land of the Incas

Exploring Luxury Peru Posted on October 1, 2018 I’ve seen lots of beautiful hotels in my years as a travel journalist, but the Palacio Nazarenas in Cusco is the only one that took my breath away and also made it easier to breathe. Thin air in this super high city commonly causes altitude sickness, so…

The Best of Sydney

The Best of Sydney Australia’s gem sparkles on a deep blue harbor Posted on August 1, 2018 When I first met her, she was a sweet young thing, all gleaming white and nearly brand new. The year was 1975 and she — the Sydney Opera House — was an architectural wonder on her way to becoming…

Shopping Around the World

Shopping Around the World Fill your home with travel memories Posted on July 1, 2018 “Your home should tell the story of who you are, and reflect where you’ve been and who you’ve loved along the way,” says interior design pro Nate Berkus. “Everywhere your eye travels in your home, it should land on something…

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