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Remarkable SoCal Destinations Worth Exploring

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Whether a local or tourist, almost everyone knows Southern California's most popular destinations. But what about the lesser-known sites and wonders that capture the region's rich history and culture? Here are some remarkable spots across Southern California that are worth exploring.

Five Places in Southern California Where You Can Still Explore the Victorian Era

Five Places in Southern California Where You Can Still Explore the Victorian Era

For the right price, you can actually buy, restore and live in your own Victorian home in areas like Boyle Heights, West Adams and Angelino Heights! But if you’re not inclined to make such a huge commitment to living the Victorian lifestyle, here are five great Victorian house museums where you can, for a time, surround yourself with the customs and décor of the era ruled as much by Charles Dickens, Jane Eyre, corsets, and hoop skirts as by the Queen herself.

Where to Find the Mojave's Greatest Ghost Towns

Where to Find the Mojave's Greatest Ghost Towns

Some of our Southern California ghost towns are buried so deeply in our national parks that you can only hike to them. Others are just a mere blip on the GPS, noted with a historical marker and maybe a shoetree or some other folk monument of its former life. But here are six ghost towns in the Mojave Desert that you can easily visit by car, really see something and maybe even meet some people (though not many).

The Fascinating History of the Massive Pyramid and Granite Monuments in the California Desert

The Fascinating History of the Massive Pyramid and Granite Monuments in the California Desert

The drive from California to the Arizona border on Interstate 8 can be an uneventful one until you reach a 21-foot, pink-marble pyramid curiously erected in the Sonoran Desert. If you pay a few bucks to enter the striking structure, you get to stand on a dot on a bronze plaque and make a wish. You are at the “Official Center of the World.” This whimsical experience is embedded into the fabric of Felicity, California, a 31-year-old unincorporated community in Imperial County.

A Guide to Art Deco Los Angeles

A Guide to Art Deco Los Angeles

If you imagine yourself walking in the footsteps of Zelda Fitzgerald … and if you’d like nothing more than to kick up your heels to the Charleston or the Foxtrot in some “Roaring Twenties” garb, celebrating the magic of the Jazz Age … then it’s time to immerse yourself in all the Art Deco that this great metropolis has to offer.

Where to Find SoCal's Historical Decorative Tiles

Where to Find SoCal's Historical Decorative Tiles

There are too many tile-tastic places in Southern California to list them all here, but you can narrow down your choices by following the paths of these five great tile makers. Using this as your guide, you can explore the legacy of the California tile industry that was hewn from the very geology hiding underfoot to the craftsmen who are carrying on the tradition in more modern ways.

Where to Find the Lost Cities of L.A.

Where to Find the Lost Cities of L.A.

California may be famous for its ghost towns, but you don’t have to travel as far north as Gold Country, Death Valley, or even the Mojave to see one. Here are five great lost cities within arm’s reach (or an hour-long drive) from L.A., and what to look for when you visit.

Five Geological Wonders to See in SoCal

Five Geological Wonders to See in SoCal

Whether you’re a rock hound, a gem enthusiast, or just a lover of geology, here are five of the best places to explore the ancient geologic record of southern California.

Where to Experience Island Life in Southern California

Where to Experience Island Life in Southern California

Here are five of the best southern California islands to channel your inner Gilligan and live as a castaway for a few hours or even a day or two — from backcountry camping to Hollywood resort town glamour. 

Backbone Trail: Day 1

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Backbone Trail: Day 1

Musician and outdoorsman Butchy Fuego prepares for his first day on the Backbone Trail at his home in Echo Park before heading to the trailhead at Will Rogers State Historic Park. Along the way, Butchy learns about beekeeping from Eli Lichter-Marck, founder of Eli's Bees along the banks of Rustic Canyon Creek.

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In “Obet and Del’s: The Coffee Shop Changing the Game in Hollywood” host Rosey Alvero sits down to talk with coffee shop owner Heather Knox.

Sip, Snack and Stroll Your Way Through Thai Town and East Hollywood (But First, Coffee)

Explore Thai Town and East Hollywood with all of its delicious, boozy and vintage offerings. But before you start wandering, charge up with a coffee from Obet & Del's, a neighborhood coffee haven serving up café drinks inspired by Southeast Asian culture.
In "The Tree Yoga Cooperative: Find Wellness in South LA" host Rosey Alvero takes a yoga class.

Find Flow, Practice Mindfulness and Engage in Self-Care at These South L.A. Hidden Gems

The Tree Yoga Collective is providing a self-care resource to its South Los Angeles community with a focus on equitable access to mindfulness, meditation, and flow. Here are some other South L.A. hidden gems for fostering inner peace, too — including a healthy dose of nature, plant-based cuisine and caffeine.
In "Babes of Wellness: Working Out for Health and Community in Compton" host Rosey Alvero lifts weights in the gym's "Swole Babes" class.

Get 'Swole' at Babes of Wellness, Plus Other Ways to Nourish Your Mind and Body in Compton

SoCal Wanderer host Rosey Alvero takes you to Babes of Wellness, an inclusive gym for women in Compton — where you can discover other ways of finding strength and power by feeding your body and mind.