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Standing before the Lone Cypress

The famed, granite-set Monterey Cypress along 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach is oft-photographed. But is there still something to be seen in it?

Weekend Escape: Ventura, a breezy California jaunt

By Chris Erskine, Los Angeles Times

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...

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Travel tips: Why you should pack Drano, check ATMs and carry wipes

7:00 AM PDT, May 18, 2013

On surf trips to Baja take a roll of toilet paper in a zip lock plastic bag, a small bottle of Drano, and cheap rubber shower sandals. While unpacking your vehicle, pour a couple of ounces of Drano in the shower drain. Wait five minutes to turn on the hot water. Away goes trouble down the drain.

Allan Seymour

Capistrano Beach

Always check to see whether the ATM's instructions are in English, especially in a country with other letters. (If it's at a bank — and those tend to be safest — ask inside the bank.) I found this out the hard way. When I was in Greece, I put my card in an ATM and only Greek letters and arrows appeared on the screen. I couldn't even get may card back.

Andres G. Raab

Sylmar

For hotels that ask for passports, leave a copy of the photo and data page from that document in a clear plastic sleeve of the same size. If you leave it behind, no problem — as long as you have the original passport.

Shirley J. Lane

Santa Monica

I always carry a small digital kitchen timer — easy to set to the exact minute for waking in the morning, and does not require time-zone changes as clocks do. Also great for timing naps, etc., and for alerting when to leave for tours, meetings, whatever.

Patricia Gilmore

Los Angeles

When entering a hotel room, grab your antibacterial wipes and clean the telephone, the lamp switches, the toilet seat and its handle, and the TV remote. Also I never sit on the bedspread.

Janet S. King

Cypress

Use those wipes also on the airplane seat arms, seat belt, tray table, music-movie remote control and headrest.

Cathy Colt

Beaumont

How do you make travel less stressful? Send your tips to travel@latimes.com, including your full name and city of residence. To see previous reader tips, go to latimes.com/readertips.