Backpacking in Southern California; Karin Esterhammer on living in Vietnam

By Anne HarnagelAssistant Travel Editor

July 9, 2017 6 AM PT

BACKPACKING

Workshop

REI experts will take the mystery out of backpacking in Southern California with an overview of planning, preparation and gear.

When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the REI store in Tustin, 2962 El Camino Real, and 7 p.m. Wednesday at REI stores in Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., and Woodland Hills, 6220 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Admission, info: Free. (714) 505-0205 for Tustin; (714) 379-1938 for Huntington Beach; (818) 703-5300 for Woodland Hills.

VIETNAM

Presentation

Former L.A. Times staffer Karin Esterhammer shares her experiences of living among the poor in Vietnam for 2½ years, with slides and a reading from her new memoir, “So Happiness to Meet You.”

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena.

Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220.

Please email announcements at least three weeks before the event to travel@latimes.com.

Travel

Anne Harnagel

Anne Harnagel has been an editor in the Travel section since 2009. She has worked at the Los Angeles Times since 1996, with stints in Business and Calendar sections as well as the Los Angeles Times Magazine. Previously, she was managing editor of Home magazine, managing editor/features for the New York Times Syndicate and managing editor for the American Lawyer magazine. She is a native of Los Angeles.