Sharing Travel Tales from Around the World

By: Eric Alexander Hamilton
It is one of America’s best-kept secrets: few travel books mention it, yet it has some of the United States’ most incredible scenery. Imagine a jagged coastline formed by the violent meeting of land and sea; an area where mountains have suddenly erupted from the ocean, creating miles of secluded beaches, caves, towering cliffs, and deep canyons. That area is Big Sur, California, set in the midst of one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines.

By: Eric Alexander Hamilton
Drive north of San Francisco for about an hour and you’ll be in the town of Sonoma, in the midst of the Sonoma Valley, an area so beautiful that the famous writer, Jack London (author of “Call of the Wild”), nicknamed it “The Valley of the Moon”. The entire Sonoma Valley is part of California’s Wine Country. Unlike the Napa Valley, its more famous, expensive, and trendy “neighbor”, the Sonoma Valley is a peaceful, romantic place with vineyards, wineries, parks, hiking and cycling trails, restaurants, and beautiful scenery. Far less publicized than the Napa Valley, the Sonoma Valley has much to offer. If you like historic monuments and sites, fine wine, and good food, especially superb cheese, then you’ll enjoy …