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EDITOR’S NOTE
ventana
PHOTO BY CHUCK GRAHAM
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GOLDEN STATE
xperts predict a significant uptick in travel this summer. No surprise: After months of isolation and enforced stillness, with restrictions lifting and more people getting vaccinated, wanderlust will be rampant and many will be eager to see beyond their immediate environment. Some will, indeed, hop on a plane bound for faraway places. But recent articles in Forbes and the Washington Post both point to domestic travel as the major trend. While that will undoubtedly change as time goes by, vacationing within the state and journeying by car to closer destinations continues to be the preferred way to banish pandemic blues. I’ve waxed poetic on the many charms of Ventura Couny. I can easily do the same for the state. More than 800 miles of coastline, numerous mountain ranges and forests, unspoiled deserts, unique cities and both the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley) points in the 48 contiguous states...If you’re going to be “confined” to the state where you live, California has plenty to keep you occupied!
Which is why, with safe travels in mind (and a year-plus of no one really going anywhere, which does tend to put a damper on travel article options), we’ve contented ourselves with local adventures for this month’s issue. Less romantic, perhaps, than tropical escapes, wildlife safaris, quaint villages and modern metropolises . . . but exciting and inspiring in their own rights.
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ventana
| MAY 2021
EDITOR IN CHIEF Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer
Camping has always been one of the best ways to get away from it all, and Chuck Graham is a master of the art. He writes about some of his favorite spots to pitch a tent in our Cover Story. Mike Nelson’s trip through San Luis Obispo County (Travel) will have you longing for the wineries, farms, beaches and one-of-a-kind delights (like the large-scale light installation, Sensorio) just a few hours up the 101. Close enough to go for the day, there are some lovely inns that will tempt with their special accommodations — why not make a holiday of it? Travel writer Leslie Westbrook decided to stick close to home for her post-vaccine sojourn. The longtime resident of Santa Barbara County discovered that this beautiful city on the Central Coast holds plenty of pleasures and surprises even for those well acquainted with the “American Riviera.” Our About Town feature just may help you see Santa Barbara in a new light . . . and invite you to discover it afresh.
Hawaii and the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, New York City and New Orleans will all still be there when we’re ready to find ourselves on distant shores once again. In the meantime, there are plenty of ways to (safely) trip the light fantastic without crossing state lines. California is a rich source for beauty, adventure and discovery, and there are plenty of wonderful experiences to be mined right here in the Golden State. – Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer nancy@ventanamonthly.com
CONTRIBUTORS Charles Graham Mike Nelson Leslie Westbrook GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Bret Hooper Nathalie Proulx ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Warren Barrett ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Barbara Kroon
C O N TA C T U S
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