L.A. Times - Travel

Weekend Escape: Ventura, a breezy California jaunt

By Chris Erskine, Los Angeles Times — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Beach-front hotels, whale-watching excursions and fine seafood dining add up to a weekend well spent.

They say something in our salty blood draws us to the sea. As such, Ventura will always be one of our easiest, breeziest, saltiest options. You know you've left L.A. proper when the boot shops start popping up along the 101. You know you've arrived in Ventura when the wind begins to whip and the gulls begin to circle. The tab: $289 for two nights right on the beach, $120 for meals and $98 for three tickets to the whale-watching experience of a lifetime.

American Airlines allows fliers who pack lightly to board early

By Mary Forgione — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:45:00 PDT

American Airlines rolled out a new boarding policy Thursday that allows passengers with one carry-on item that fits under the seats to board planes earlier than others who require overhead bins.

Lego Queen Elizabeth dons diamond crown for 60th coronation year

By Mary Forgione — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:15:00 PDT

The roughly 4-inch Lego likeness of Queen Elizabeth II will wear a silver-and-diamond crown less than an inch big to mark the 60th anniversary of the British monarch's coronation.

Alison Wright, photographer, chases faces, grace

By Christopher Reynolds — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:00:00 PDT

Alison Wright got her first camera at age 10, a Kodak Instamatic. Then she learned there was such a thing as a photojournalist, a person who traveled the world taking pictures. So that was that.

Customers are happier with airline experiences, study shows

By Catharine M. Hamm, Los Angeles Times Travel editor — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Fliers are vastly more satisfied with their airline experience, and Alaska and JetBlue are tops at making customers happy, a new study released on Wednesday (today) shows.

Las Vegas: At Mandalay Bay, there be dragons

By Jay Jones — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:45:00 PDT

Two young Komodo dragons are the newest residents of Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas .

An inside-out adventure canyoneering in Utah

By Jeff Greenwald, Special to the Los Angeles Times — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

People from all walks of life are discovering the sport of canyoneering, which takes you down and out of the rocky cliffs that climbers are heading up.

SPRINGDALE, Utah — There comes a moment when you step backward off a cliff, clinging to a rope the width of your pinkie, and ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?"

Bolivia: Surreal beauty in the high desert of the Andean plateau

By Margo Pfeiff — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Lounging flamingos, gleaming salt flats, smoking mountain peaks. A wondrous if unforgiving landscape unfolds as an outfitter takes care of necessary details.

POTOSÍ, Bolivia — A gentle breeze swept across Laguna Colorada, momentarily turning the magenta mineral lake water neon-orange as it rippled around the knobby knees of several dozen flamingos. Suddenly, a pair of frisky vicuñas trotted through the shallows, sending the flamingos aloft like a flock of hot pink pterodactyls.

Go ahead, play with the goblins of Utah

By Dan Blackburn — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Sandstone formations in Goblin Valley State Park that are millions of years old create an eerie atmosphere in an area with great hiking and exploration potential.

GOBLIN VALLEY, Utah — "The goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!" wrote poet James Whitcomb Riley in 1885, probably just about the time that cowboys searching for cattle in southern Utah stumbled into this extraordinary collection of sandstone formations that eerily resemble goblins. The goblins may not have gotten the cowboys, but they have been drawing visitors ever since.

For Mother's Day, pamper, pamper, pamper

By Amanda Jones — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

From a five-star retreat in New Caledonia to a dog-loving Carmel inn to a romantic wine country getaway, there's something to suit every mom.

To some, a Mother's Day getaway means a don't-look-back, tires-screeching hall pass for an escape with girlfriends. To others, it means an amorous sojourn with a husband or partner. Then there are those who want to take along their kids or even the family pet. Herewith, places to suit all preferences. A tip: You can sometimes get fantastic last-minute deals on websites such as http://www.hotels.com .