Weekend Escape: The small-town charms of Arroyo Grande

Weekend Escape: The small-town charms of Arroyo Grande

The sleepy Central Coast town of Arroyo Grande, population 17,000, is the ideal place to shut out the mayhem of city life for a few days. There's not much to do except relax, drink wine, read your book and take sunset strolls.

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The Times' Mark Boster spent a year photographing one of the nation's most visited and majestic national parks. Here are highlights from his journey. Share your photos of Yosemite
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ariz.
Devils Tower National Monument, Wyo.
Cabrillo National Monument, Calif.
Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah
Colorado National Monument, Colo.
Arches National Park in Utah
Black Rock Desert in Nevada
The Spiral Jetty, Utah
The Wave, Arizona
Paso Robles, California

More on the West

Seattle's secret is out: Lake Chelan, Washington

Seattle's secret is out: Lake Chelan, Washington

CHELAN, Wash. — Just say the words "summer at the lake" in certain company, and you'll get a wistful smile, possibly followed by...

75th birthday celebration for the Golden Gate Bridge

75th birthday celebration for the Golden Gate Bridge

As its 75th birthday fast approaches, the Golden Gate Bridge is getting a little birthday present. Even though about 40 million vehicles...

Wyoming: In Jackson, a beastly museum turns 25

Wyoming: In Jackson, a beastly museum turns 25

If you’re headed anywhere near Jackson, Wyo., this summer, leave open a few...

Portland, Ore., is a smaller, cleaner, wetter alternative to L.A.

Portland, Ore., is a smaller, cleaner, wetter alternative to L.A.

The Portland Hop. I know, it sounds like a dance craze in 1937. But really, it's what you do when Southern California gets you down and...

MachineGunsVegas, Guns & Ammo Garage: Pull the trigger on a trip

MachineGunsVegas, Guns & Ammo Garage: Pull the trigger on a trip

Two new Las Vegas venues invite guests to — quite literally — have a blast. Letting loose with high-powered firearms may not...

A dry season is expected for wildflowers in Southern California

A dry season is expected for wildflowers in Southern California

Right about now, tiny goldfields and purple mat should be erupting in carpets of color on the desert floor at Joshua Tree and Death Valley...

Arizona: At the Grand Canyon, 683 scary stories, all true

Arizona: At the Grand Canyon, 683 scary stories, all true

You don’t want Michael P. Ghiglieri writing about your next vacation.

A golden spirit stills shines in Randsburg, Calif.

A golden spirit stills shines in Randsburg, Calif.

I half-expected to hear someone shout, "There's gold in them thar hills," as I rolled into Randsburg, Calif., which sits just off Highway...

100 cool places in Arizona

100 cool places in Arizona

Western Arizona

Cooking up gourmet adventures across the West

Cooking up gourmet adventures across the West

Cooking classes are sprouting like shiitake mushrooms across the West, often in gorgeous locations. For travelers who want to plan their...

At this Fort Worth 'factory,' they're in the money

At this Fort Worth 'factory,' they're in the money

With the holiday shopping season behind us — and slim pickings in our wallets and checking accounts — most of us lament the...

Ski reports and forecasts for Southern California and the West

Ski reports and forecasts for Southern California and the West

First, a little question: Does anybody hedge their bets the way a weather forecaster does? Predictions for this winter call for another La...

San Francisco's over-the-top underground

San Francisco's over-the-top underground

San Francisco isn't really an underground kind of place. We don't go in for noir the way L.A. does. And unlike New York, we don't...

Southfork ranch house is still 'Dallas' fans' mecca

Southfork ranch house is still 'Dallas' fans' mecca

The skyline of downtown Dallas has changed dramatically since the 1980s, when J.R. Ewing rode roughshod over his family and his business...

El Paso: Bhutan's kingly style reflected in UTEP architecture

El Paso: Bhutan's kingly style reflected in UTEP architecture

If you want to travel to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, you will need two days, minimum, travel time on several planes and...

A Bhutanese influence at the University of Texas at El Paso

A Bhutanese influence at the University of Texas at El Paso

Bhutanese-style architecture finds a home on the University of Texas at El Paso campus.

Pikes Peak, Colorado: It's all about the journey and views

Pikes Peak, Colorado: It's all about the journey and views

Pikes Peak has a punctuation problem.

Grand Canyon, Ariz.: Ancient rock, eternal truths

Grand Canyon, Ariz.: Ancient rock, eternal truths

If I close my eyes, I can almost see Bright Angel Creek spilling into the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I've been here...

Puyallup Valley, Wash.: Hope blooms with daffodils

Puyallup Valley, Wash.: Hope blooms with daffodils

Spring had always seemed a reward for enduring winter, a solace for the survivor.

Soda and stories at the Dr Pepper Museum

Soda and stories at the Dr Pepper Museum

Mike Moss is one of the few soda jerks who knows what a customer means when he hollers, "Shoot me a Waco!" Sure, it's a small city along...

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Spotlights from the Los Angeles Times

See The Pierces live

See The Pierces live

Get tix to Rock/Style, Wed. June 6 at the Roosevelt Hotel.

Battle of the Burgers

Battle of the Burgers

Vote now to decide which readers' burgers are best.

Congratulate your grad

Congratulate your grad

Share your pride in our Graduation Announcement pages on 6/3.

L.A. Kings collectibles

L.A. Kings collectibles

Get official NHL Conference Champions gear from our Fan Shop.