As our final trip of 2017, JD and I met up in Palm Springs...

Take an LA day trip to Solvang If you are looking to really feel like you are escaping Los Angeles. The picturesque Danish village is right of out a fairy tale storybook and the beautiful scenic drive through mountains will transport you into another land.

Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, California is a perfect stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. It's a perfect mix of tropical and wild beach. If you want to truly appreciate how beautiful a beach can be, visit it early in the spring, after a rare Southern California dark and cloudy sky. Any beach can look appealing in bright sunshine and blue skies. For the wanderer that seeks raw and wild beauty where ocean touches the land, this is where you go.

Celebrating Christmas in Los Angeles, WhereGalsWander.com. Travel guide to the best holiday places, light and events.

Mentryville Park is a tiny oil ghost town rich in history tucked away in a tiny corner of Pico Canyon.  It's an important piece of US History for its role in the Oil Boon, but still draws people today for its beautiful hiking trails set in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's recognizable from several tv and movie productions but also draws a crowd for its reputation for being haunted.