Category: USA

Legend has it that there’s a saying among vintners; “it takes a lot of good beer to make great wine.”

That adage may just prove to be true in Sonoma County, which while known the world over for it’s award-winning wineries, is developing a reputation for its on-tap offerings.

Some of the pubs and breweries the city has to offer:

Russian River Brewing Co.

In 1997, Brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo joined Russian River Brewing Company (RRBC), which was founded by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, Calif. When Korbel decided to leave the beer business in 2002, they sold the brewery to Vinnie and his wife, Natalie.

Today, the Russian River Brewing Company focuses on traditional aggressively hopped California-style ales, Belgian-style ales, and barrel-aged beers. They brew a full line up of ales and lagers for the pub and for limited distribution.

Year-round beers include Pliny the Elder, Damnation and Blind Pig. But the brewery has a cult-like following for its Triple IPA Pliny the Younger, which results in lines of beer aficionados outside the Santa Rosa brewery each February who await its limited release.

In 2012 Pliny the Younger was noted as the “number one beer in the world” according to ratings on Beeradvocate.com.

www.russianriverbrewing.com

3rd Street Ale Works 

The Third Street AleWorks’ philosophy about beer is simple – use the best ingredients possible; never cut corners; and keep it fresh. The brewery features an ever-widening group of “standard” beers, but also introduces more exotic and experimental styles to the mix.

On any given day, there are between 10-13 beers on tap; including cask-conditioned ales and house-brewed root beer. The flagship ales are Annadel Pale Ale, Stonefly Oatmeal Stout and Bodega Head IPA, while the rest are brewed on a seasonal or occasional basis.
Lagunitas Brewing Company

Just as seasonal flavors change in the different foods enjoyed at certain times of the year, Lagunitas believes beer’s flavrs should also change. Fall and winter call for richness and warmth, while spring and summer call for crispness and refreshment.

Lagunita’s Beer Sanctuary and TapRoom in Petaluma features live music and beer, bringing in crowds of locals and visitors-in-the-know. Winter’s line up includes the Lagunator, Hairy Eyeball Ale, Brown Shugga, Lumpy Gravy and Cappuccino Stout, while summer highlights include the Golden Equinox Ale and Maximus. In late spring, pick up a case of “We’re Only in it for the Money,” named after Frank Zappa’s fourth album.

www.lagunitas.com
Dempsey’s Restaurant & Brewery

Dempsey’s award-winning brews have been carefully tailored to complement the food served at Dempsey’s Restaurant, but Dempsey’s is quick to point out, “they’re tasty on their own as well.”

Popular brews include Sonoma Mountain (summer), Sonoma Irish Ale,  Petaluma Strong Ale and Ugly Dog Stout (winter.) The signature brew is Red Rooster Ale, which stands up particularly well to full-flavored and spicy foods.

www.dempseys.com
Hopmonk Tavern

Fans of Gordon Biersch brewery and restaurant rejoiced when Dean Biersch opened Hopmonk Tavern. Joining the brewery’s own concoctions on tap are local, national and international beers that offer a well-rounded selection.

Hopmonk represents a marriage between the art and science of beer making. Hops are, in most cases, the key component of an individual brewer’s “signature” in that style – “art” of brewing.

“Monk” is a tribute to the monks of Northern Europe, who brought a certain methodology and management to the brewing process – symbolizing the “science” of brewing.

Favorites include Hopmonk Kellerbier, Hopmonk Tavern Ale, Hopmonk Dunkelweizen  and the Bavarian-style Dark Wheat Beer.

www.hopmonk.com
Stumptown Brewery

A small brewery, Stumptown only brews three of their own beers. Since they only have the ability to brew a few styles in house at any one time, they rotate styles and provide guest taps for other local breweries.

This allows them to offer variety, and to showcase a few excellent examples of styles that aren’t brewed on site. It’s first, and most famous, brew is Rat Bastard Pale Ale, which numerous regulars claim was named in their honor.

Also brewed on site are Bootlegger IPA (first tapped on the 70th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition) and Bush-Wacker Wheat, which the brewer claims has a “high coefficient of chugability.”

www.stumptown.com
Ruth Mc Gowans Brew Pub

Ruth McGowan’s Brewpub, in the heart of downtown Cloverdale, opened by Mary Ann and Mike Brigham in 2002, and was named after Mike’s grandma.

Feisty, stout-hearted Ruth still shoveled snow off her sidewalk and mowed her own lawn at age 96, back home in New London, Wis.

Ruth McGowan’s beers are now being distributed at many fine dining establishments throughout the area.

Beers are crafted using time-honored methods and outstanding ingredients, and favorites include Caroline’s Blonde Ale–great with spicy food, flagship Cloverdale Ale, Floyd’s India Pale Ale and Monster Brown Ale.

www.ruthmcgowansbrewpub.com
Old Redwood Brewing Company

The Windsor Town Green is home of beer tasting room, the Old Redwood Brewing Company. The brewery makes micro-brewed batches and serves them up in an atmosphere reminiscent of winery tasting rooms.

Behind the taps are four partners, Dominic Foppoli, Adam Derum, Mike Stewart, and Bobby Anderson. New, locally inspired brews are introduced each month and have included such blends as The Fulton, made with local honey; Windsor Wit, a raspberry wit beer; The Highway IPA, and The Colonel.

Tasting hours vary, but are typically Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 7p.m.

www.oldredwoodbrewing.com

Moonlight Brewing Co. 

Started in rural Santa Rosa in 1992, the small brewery has capacity for about 1,000 barrels per year. While the original brewery was housed in a converted tractor barn, today it is makes its home in a custom-built building.

Currently all the beers are only sold in kegs and are mostly found in San Francisco, the East Bay and North Bay counties. Mendocino and Lake Counties have a few spots, and there are rare sightings in Santa Cruz, Seal Beach, and San Diego.

The brewery is too small to be open for tours or tasting. Because they don’t bottle at this time, there are no labels or bottle caps available for collectors.

www.moonlightbrewing.com
Although the following aren’t breweries, they are also excellent places to sample a variety of Sonoma’s best microbrews:
Craft Beer Bar – Heritage Public House

Heritage Public House is a unique craft beer garden located in the Santa Rosa Vintners Square urban winery village. In good company with several small, boutique wineries, it features craft brews available on tap from small, California brewers.

www.heritagepublichousesr.com

Sprengers Tap Room

This tap-room in downtown Santa Rosa claims to have more beers on tap than any other bar north of San Francisco. In total, there are 40 beers on tap — an entire wall — with the majority coming from Sonoma and other Northern coast counties in California.

It’s an easygoing place, where everybody knows your name — or at least makes an effort to learn it. The grill behind the bar serves up burgers, matchstick sweet potato fries, hot wings and daily sandwich specials.

There’s also an outside area, live music on select nights, TV’s, family-friendly dining and lots of sports on TV.

www.sprengerstaproom.com

Maui, by any standard, is an amazing place to visit.

It is home to some of the world’s top beaches, best accommodations, renowned golf courses, elite spas, a diverse culinary scene and some of the nicest people in the world.

Still, even the most fabulous destination can be a little gloomier for pet owners who have had to leave their four-legged family member at home.

Pet lovers take heart. The Maui Humane Society (MHS) has introduced a new program for pet-deprived visitors who want to interact with and help homeless animals while vacationing on Maui.

Helping Paws Visitor Program

Visitors can offer a “helping paw” at the shelter every Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Even children are welcome, although they must be 10 or older, and must be accompanied by a supervising parent for the duration of the volunteer session.

“We have visitors stop by our shelter on a daily basis, just wanting to be around the animals,” says Jocelyn Bouchard, CEO of the Maui Humane Society.

“Until now, we didn’t have any organized way for them to get involved here, unless they wanted to adopt a pet. As with most animal shelters, we are challenged with limited facilities, funding, and staffing, and we rely heavily upon volunteers.

We are excited about these new programs, as they are a win-win-win for all concerned – our visitors who love animals, our staff who appreciate the volunteer help, and most of all our shelter animals who benefit so much from interaction with compassionate people.”

Tripp is “barking for dollars” and wants visitors to know that money they donate to the shelter will be partially matched by the local visitor industry.

Click here if you are interested in making a contribution

Each half-day session starts with a brief orientation followed by pre-planned activities such as walking dogs, bathing puppies, brushing cats, or playing with puppies and kittens—an important part of their socialization.

Outside of animal interaction, visitors who are willing can also help with maintenance, kennel cleaning, gardening, or office work.

Visitors and group planners can also create their own individualized volunteer projects, but must contact the MHS in advance to organize the details.

Wings of Aloha Program

Another way to help? Visitors can also adopt a pet from MHS and take it home as a cherished new member of their family.

“Visitors often fall in love with one of our shelter pets and decide to adopt it,” notes Bouchard. “Of course, we always ensure our animals are going to loving homes, but the adoption application process is simple, and transporting your new pet with you to your home city, even internationally, is usually not complicated.”

As an island community, Maui has a limited resident population and a shortage of homes for orphaned pets. Last year, MHS created the Wings of Aloha program to fly shelter animals to areas in the U.S. and Canada where, working in partnership with local rescue organizations there, the pets are guaranteed adoption into loving homes—particularly in communities with no animal overpopulation issues and thus a high demand for adoptable dogs and cats.

Over the past several months, nearly 200 homeless Maui pets have found families in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Canada through Wings of Aloha.

Although airfare for animals can be costly, if a shelter pet flies under the same reservation as a ticketed passenger, the cost is significantly reduced. Click here if you are looking to adopt a pet.

Travelers need not need do anything but contact MHS in advance to confirm details. MHS staff will meet the passenger at the Kahului airport during their flight check-in process and will handle the check-in of the pet. (The pets do not accompany travelers in the passenger cabin.)

About the Maui Humane Society

The 60-year-old Maui Humane Society (MHS) is a private, non-profit organization and the oldest and largest animal welfare agency on the island.

As the only agency on Maui that accepts all domestic animals in need, MHS sees approximately 10,000 animals coming through its doors each year.

Its varied services and programs range from adoptions and spay/neuter to cruelty investigations and humane education. The MHS shelter is located in central Maui, on the highway between Kihei and Kahului.

The Details
Maui Humane Society
808.877.3680 x14
www.MauiHumaneSociety.org

Pasadena, the glamorous city that spreads California sunshine to weather-weary television viewers every January during the Tournament of Roses Parade, enjoys a rich history dating back more than 125 years.

Incorporated in 1886, it is the second-oldest incorporated municipality in Los Angeles County, following only the city of LA itself. It’s history with the Tournament of Roses is almost as old as the city itself–the first parade was held in 1890.

Pasadena quickly gained acclaim as a stop on the famed Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe Railway, and the city became a popular winter vacation spot for Easterners fleeing the winter weather.

Today, Pasadena is home to several of LA’s leading museums, a major theatre, a thriving restaurant scene, and a cozy, walkable historic center, making it the ideal weekend getaway for the cultural tourist.

Getting started? Here are some of Travel Glitter’s favorite things to do in Pasadena.

See & Do

The Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

Museum lovers will need a full day–and then some–to take in all that the Huntington Library Art Collection & Botanical Garden has to offer.

Located on the 207-acre estate of the late Henry Huntington, the facility, which recently underwent a $20 million renovation, is one of the pre-eminent cultural facilities in the world.

It is home to some 1,200 objects of European art from the 15th to the early 20th century, including the famed “Pinkie” and “Blue Boy” paintings.

American artworks can be found in its Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art, which features art from the colonial period through the mid- 20th century.

The facility’s library features celebrated works from American and British literature, including an original Gutenberg Bible and Ellesmere’s manuscript of Canterbury Tales.

The facility sits on a massive 150-acre botanical garden, featuring 12 distinctly zoned gardens and nearly 14,000 varieties of plants. 

Our favorite is the Garden of Flowing Fragrance (Chinese Garden), which has a serene 1 1/2-acre lake, a stream, a waterfall, giant rock formations and several beautifully hand-carved stone bridges that virtually transport visitors across the Pacific Ocean.
www.huntington.org

Norton Simon Museum
For more than 30 years industrialist Norton Simon (1907–1993) amassed an astonishing collection of European art, ranging from the Renaissance period to the 20th century, as well as a collection of Indian and Southeast Asian art spanning 2,000 years. Today his collection, housed at the eponymous Norton Simon Museum, is considered one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled. Home to more than 12,000 objects of art, the Museum can only display about 1,000 at a time in its galleries and gardens. The facility also includes two rotating exhibition spaces, which have featured such major installations as Hiroshige: Visions of Japan, Van Gogh’s “Self Portrait” and Unflinching Vision: Goya’s Rare Prints.
www.nortonsimon.org

Pacific Asia Museum

Since 1971, Pacific Asia Museum has celebrated the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The landmark building and garden reflect a northern Chinese, palace-style architecture, and the permanent collection features more than 15,000 works of art.

The museum has a regular schedule of special exhibitions and public programs.
www.pacificasiamuseum.org

Gamble House

Built in 1908 for David and Mary Gamble (of Procter and Gamble soap and toothpaste fame), and designed by Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene, the Gamble House is a noted example of architecture from the early 20th century Arts & Crafts Movement.

The house, a National Historic Landmark, celebrated its centennial in 2008 and recently completed a $3.5 million exterior restoration. Owned by the City of Pasadena and operated by the University of Southern California (USC),

The Gamble House periodically offers guided walking tours of the historic Arroyo Terrace neighborhood, a National Register historic district that’s home to nine Greene & Greene houses as well as the works of other noted architects such as Myron Hunt, Edwin Bergstrom, Elmer Grey, and D. M. Renton.
www.gamblehouse.org

Pasadena Playhouse

When acting troupe Gilmor Brown Players settled in Pasadena in 1917, the sleepy town was mostly home farmers and wealthy vacationers.

Locals fell in love with the troupe and raised enough money to build them a permanent theatre and in 1924, the Pasadena Playhouse–then known as the Pasadena Community Playhouse–was born.

Designated the official State Theatre in 1937, the Pasadena Playhouse has seen world premiere productions by playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill and Noel Coward.

The Playhouse has played a significant role on the advancement of LA’s entertainment industry. It constructed and operated the first television station in Southern California – KTTV — whose call letters are still used by the local Fox affiliate today.

The theatre also trained the Air Force in the use television and radio equipment, and it supplied many of Southern California’s earliest TV stations with the first trained technicians in the business.

The theatre’s vast collection of memorabilia such as programs, photographs and written material from 1916 to the present, can be viewed by booking a complimentary tour. (Tours must be arranged in advance, and a donation is suggested.)
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

Eat & Drink

The birthplace of Julia Child, Pasadena offers more than 500 restaurants to delight the food-loving traveler.

Old Pasadena

The Old Pasadena Historic Area, a National Historical Landmark dating back to the 1870s, spans 22 blocks and is home to 200 outdoor cafes, restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and specialty shops.
www.oldpasadena.org

Melting Pot Food Tours

Not sure where to eat first? Melting Pot Food Tours offers a culinary walking tour of Old Pasadena, where guides introduce participants to popular one-of-a-kind restaurants and shops.,

while exploring the history of the charming neighborhood. Stops along Old Pasadena’s colorful alleys might include a Mexican tortas cafe, a Nepalese-Tibetan restaurant, and a local chocolate shop.
www.meltingpottours.com

Pie N Burger

To enjoy old-school Pasadena eats, check out Pie ‘n Burger, which has been open on California Blvd. since 1963. The current owner began eating at the restaurant on a summer vacation when he was 9 years old.

He started working there as a student, and the rest, as they say, is history. Although he’s freshened the menu a bit over the years–a vegetarian burger appeared under his ownership–he mostly serves the same food he ate as a kid.

A stop here, where some of the staff are still working after four decades, will provide a great way to delve into the history of Pasadena.
www.pienburger.com

Stay

The Bissell House

Originally built in 1887, the Bissell House anchors “Pasadena’s Millionaire’s Row,” also known as the Orange Grove Mansion District. It was the home of Anna Bissell McCay, daughter of vacuum magnate Melville Bissell, from 1902 until the mid 1950’s.

The charming three-story building is located in a neighborhood that harkens back to a bygone era. calling to mind small town America, and is located a short half mile walk to Mission Street, with it’s eclectic collection of eateries, bookstores, antique shops, art galleries and historic library.

Be sure to ask the owners about the wild parrots, numbering well into the hundreds, that make their home in the neighborhood.
www.bissellhouse.com

Arroyo Vista Inn
Secreted away in the hills above the Arroyo Seco Canyon, the Arroyo Vista Inn dates back to 1910.

With its Lester Moore-designed Arts and Crafts architecture, and its picturesque views of the San Gabriel Mountains, the inn provides a perfect hideaway from the L.A. sprawl, while still being located within five miles of most major Pasadena attractions.
www.arroyovistainn.com

Langham Huntington, Pasadena
Located at the base of the picturesque San Gabriel Mountains, the Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa has been a Pasadena landmark since 1907.

The luxurious AAA Five Diamond hotel features 380 guest rooms, eight cottages, elegant dining, and an award-winning spa.
http://pasadena.langhamhotels.com/

Want more Pasadena? Check out the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Many of the national parks located in the southwestern USA, such as Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Mesa Verde National Park or Aztec Ruins National Monument, are distinctive for their stone dwellings built high into the rocky cliff walls.

Although these residences are known to have built by the Ancient Pueblo (Anasazi) people, who first inhabited the “Four Corners” area of the United States some 1,500 years ago, there is still much to learn about the history of this ancient people.

To that end, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center is dedicated to unraveling the history of the Pueblo people.

Assisted by thousands of students and adults, Crow Canyon conducts excavations at more than 30 ancient sites, making discoveries that have contributed to important new ways of understanding Southwestern archaeology.

Pueblo Ruins of Chaco and Mesa Verde Country

Among the landscapes of southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, ancient ruins reveal new evidence about the ancestral Pueblo people, commonly known as the Anasazi.

Trip highlights include Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Aztec Ruins, as well as sites in Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Guests will also tour Crow Canyon’s current multiyear excavation, featured on the PBS series Time Team America.

The program begins and ends in Durango, Colorado, and takes takes place at elevations between 5000 and 8000 feet above sea level.

All travel is by van on rural roads, with long sections of gravel and dirt road in Chaco Canyon. The pace is somewhat leisurely, but participants must be comfortable hiking and standing for several hours at a time.

The program runs September 14–19, 2014; rates start from $1,895 per person.

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
800.422.8975
www.crowcanyon.org

Related Post

You’ve seen historical sights, museums, art, beaches and much more during your travels, but have you ever seen goats? Goats are rapidly becoming a visitor attraction, and goat farms around the U.S. are opening their barnyard doors and welcoming visitors to see the animals, take tours and learn about life on a farm.

At a goat farm, chances are you will meet Billy, Nanny and Buck (the most common goat names). Or maybe you might get a visit with Vincent Van Goatie. Visitors can usually milk a goat, make cheese or explore life on a goat farm.

Here are some places around the U.S. for those who want to add visiting a goat farm to their list of experiences:

Surfing Goat Dairy

The goats on Surfing Goat Dairy in Hawaii don’t make it to the waves, they reside on the slopes of Haleakala Crater on the island of Maui. The only goat dairy on the island, casual tours are available: just drop by and meet some Saanen and Alpine goats. Before you depart, visit the shop that features more than 30 different cheeses.

For a more serious experience on the 42-acre farm, the Grand Daily Tour takes two hours, and visitors feed and milk a goat and lead the herd from the pasture to the dairy. Final stop: sampling cheeses produced at the dairy. You get a ribbon that says “I Milked a Goat Today.’’ Farmers Thomas and Eva Kafsack are originally from Germany and traveled around Europe to learn all about cheese making.
www.surfinggoatdairy.com

Mystery Bay Farm

Mystery Bay Farm in Washington offers a tour that includes a visit to the milking parlor and cheese making facility along with the basic history of goats and sustainable farming.

This tour is $10 per person. But if you want to splurge, at both 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. three people can spend $100 and milk the goats along with the basic tour. And if you want more, there is a custom production tour that is for those who want a detailed dairy experience. The price varies.

Alpine goats are in residence along with Rachael Van Laanen, the owner, at this five-acre farm on Marrowstone Island. Cheese making classes, farm dinners and souvenirs are available.
www.mysterybayfarm.com

Blue Heron Farm

In Texas, which has the largest population of goats in the U.S., Blue Heron Farm offers tours on their 10.5-acre organic farm. Christian and Lisa are the farmers.

Want to get to know the goats before you visit the farm? Go to their website and read detailed profiles of the goats. Kind of like a dating website, only for goats. Tour schedule varies, no tours on Saturdays.
www.BlueHeronTexas.com

Beltane Farm

Beltane Farm hosts concerts, wine tastings, cheese tastings and other food and farm gatherings in Lebanon, Conn. The Oberhasli goats (of Swiss origins) are known for producing great cheese. Mark and Paul are the farmers and cheese makers and hosts.

Check the calendar on their website for events and where to purchase their products. Many items from Beltane Farm, including yogurt and raw and pasteurized milk, are for sale at area farmer’s markets.
www.beltanefarm.com

Goat Facts

A few goat facts. A doe or a nanny (the correct name for a female goat) can produce three to 5 quarts of milk each day. There are 210 breeds of goats, according to Goatworld.com. Essential info for visitors: wear closed toes shoes.

Fly anywhere in the Western United States, and on a clear day you might be lucky enough to see barren deserts, snow-capped mountains, mega cities, waving ribbons of farmland, massive rivers, sandy beaches and jagged coast line.

Heck, the region is home to some of the biggest, tastiest and most unique destinations in the world, not to mention that it houses nearly 75 percent of the country’s national parks.

Now Sunset Magazine, the trusted publication known for its celebration of all things Western U.S., has the Sunset Travel Awards, the magazine’s first-ever awards program to celebrate the west’s premiere travel destinations.

“Each month, Sunset strives to point our readers in the direction of the West’s ultimate travel attractions, escapes and getaways,” said Peggy Northrop, Sunset Editor-in-Chief.

“Our goal with the Sunset Travel Awards is to provide an invaluable travel resource to our readers as well as well-deserved acknowledgment to the tourism and hospitality professionals and proprietors who make our region one of the top destinations in the world.”

In search of the West’s standout travel destinations, organizations and businesses, Sunset will issue awards in 33 different categories, including:
• Best Beach Town
• Best Food Town
• Best Ski Town
• Best New Cultural Attraction
• Best Wine Country Hotel/Resort
• Best Luxury Camping
• Best Amusement Park Ride
• Best Western Cruise
• Best Hotel/Resort for Pets
• Best Tasting Room/Vineyard Experience
• Best Hotel Dining
• Best Hotel/Resort for Families

Additional awards will honor outstanding new public attractions, including best National Park restorations, newly saved historic neighborhoods and expanded open spaces.

Award submissions are due by October 31, 2014. Finalists for each category will be selected by Sunset editors and featured on Sunset.com on January 15, 2015.

The winners from each category will be voted on by the Sunset Travel Awards Advisory Board, which includes a dozen distinguished travel professionals from across the West.

While most of the awards require a written application and entry fee, Sunset editors also want to hear what readers think. So be sure to voice your opinions on Facebook, Twitter or other favorite social media channels using the hashtag #sunsettravelawards.

Sunset Travel Awards
www.sunset.com/travelawards

Destinations from around the world actively promote their visitor attractions. Explore the sights, shop, visit the beaches and enjoy – and spend lots of money and contribute to our economy. Tourism is a leading economic engine.

These days some countries have also decided that having someone spend two weeks in their country isn’t quite enough. They want Americans to make their destination a permanent home.

Many places – particularly in South and Central America – actively recruit American and Canadian residents. And many people are seeking out a life in someplace other than North America.

Why? Some want an adventure, to explore a different culture or learn a new language. Money is often a factor, it is possible to live better for less.

The discounts and deals are numerous. Panama offers expatriates discounts from 15 to 50 percent on restaurants, movies, doctor bills and prescriptions. For others it is a statement: “I didn’t leave America, America left me.’’

Living in another country is not just about packing your bags and getting on an airplane. A basic tourist visa is usually good for 30 to 90 days. A residency permit takes diligence to obtain. Colombia has 17 different options for residency.

In Panama there are 10 different options. Sometimes you need to apply for the residency visa outside the country. In other cases the application must be made while you are in the country.

“The rules are constantly changing,’’ said Lief Simon, global real estate investor and part of Live and Invest Overseas, a company that has made a business out of helping people to establish a home in a new county.

He went on to say that in some countries, it is possible to apply for citizenship five years after receiving a residency visa.

While U.S. citizens can hold multiple citizenships, that does not apply in Singapore, where citizens must renounce their U.S. citizenship, according to Simon.

Some Western European countries (Ireland, Italy, Spain and Germany) offer citizenship through ancestry. If your grandfather or grandmother or was a citizen you might be able to apply. How far into the family history can you go? It varies.

Lots of paperwork is always part of the process and chances are you will have to provide a copy of an FBI background check. Uruguay requires an Interpol check. All of the essential documents must be translated by a certified translator (usually in country).

That means the documents that you have for a move to Mexico won’t work if your destination is Argentina. Yes, Spanish is the official language in both countries but there are differences.

The 400 people who heard Simon and others speak at the recent Retire Overseas Conference got an overview of the wheres, whys and hows in  living overseas.

Although exact numbers aren’t available, more and more Americans are opting to live in another country especially after they retire.

For many at the three-day event retiring abroad is about selecting a place that is most welcoming.

And once you find your new home there are some rules about when you can leave. In Ecuador you cannot leave the country for more than 90 days in the first two years.

If your new home is Columbia you must visit the country once every six months. Malaysia has no time restrictions on new citizens. So it is possible to come and go whenever. But as with many rules, that could change.

If you mention the word “park” in a city like LA, many folks are off on a tizzy about parking their beloved vehicles before they realize you’re talking about the other kind of park – the leafy kind designed for rest, relaxation and renewal. 

Yep, urban parks in Los Angeles do exist.

Everyone knows about the granddaddy of them all, beautiful Griffith Park.  It’s the city’s largest and it has made appearances in countless Hollywood movies.  And yes, sports fans might even remember to mention Elysian Park, since it’s home to their beloved Dodgers.

…point to a renewed interest in beautiful outdoor spaces

But today we celebrate some of the newest additions to LA’s urban park scene – the ones most residents don’t even know about. They’re creative, even surprising in their design, [think water-wise plantings] — and they point to a renewed interest in beautiful outdoor spaces. 

They’re for today’s LA resident and visitor, and a joy to “discover” for the first time.

So grab your sunglasses, pack a lunch, or simply bring a book.  There’s a new breed of park out there, and there may just be a bench or patch of grass with your name on it.

Grand Park

It used to be a wasteland of concrete, but no more.  Dubbed “the park for everyone,” the first thing you notice are the pink tables and chairs throughout. Yes, pink. Admire the majestic views from the four distinct terraced areas connecting City Hall to the Music Center.  Wow, city planning at its best. You’ll quickly forget you’re atop a giant parking lot as you stretch out on the grand event lawn.

The stunning restored fountain – one of the largest in LA – is a glorious site to behold during the day, and at night it boasts a vibrant light show. Join the kids and dip your toes in the inviting wade pool, or grab a coffee in the well-placed Starbucks. 

Find your own quiet corner or join the crowd for ever-changing art exhibits, community dance events or live musical concerts. Reminiscent of Washington D.C., Grand Park will make you proudly announce, “Downtown LA is back.”

Between 200 N Grand Avenue and 227 N Spring Street, Downtown Los Angeles

Vista Hermosa Natural Park

This oasis can be your little secret. Just blocks from the 110 freeway, you’ll be mesmerized by the skyline views that are so close that you feel you can reach out and touch them. Did we mention the stunning views?

Deceptive in size, the grounds feature terraced trails and flowing streams.  Green grass welcomes from every direction, and there are even two small parking lots and clean bathrooms. Hike or picnic by the waterfall, or watch a soccer game on the giant field below.

Enjoy this quiet sanctuary and thank the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the LA Unified School District for collaborating – for they gave us a truly unique space that makes you say, “Wow, LA is beautiful.”

100 N. Toluca Street, Downtown Los Angeles

Grand Hope Park

This little gem has been cleaned up and caters to that new breed of LA resident, the one who resides downtown, as it’s within blocks of LA Live and the Staples Center.

Walk through the gates of the mosaic clock tower and join the new loft-dwellers as their kids frolic in one of downtown’s only gated playgrounds.

No dogs are allowed, so it’s safe to lounge on the huge grassy space and make friends with the Fashion Institute students who spill out of the campus buildings nearby.

People-watching can be your new sport of choice here. Get your yoga on with one of the gathering classes, or simply watch from your own shaded corner under the arbor and the bougainvillea trees. This is city living at its best.

W. 9th Street & Hope, Downtown Los Angeles

Disney Hall Blue Ribbon Garden

Though technically not a park, this garden on the rooftop of the gleaming Walt Disney Concert Hall has to be mentioned, as it’s one of LA’s unique spaces open to the public.

Channel your Manhattan vibe as you take in the city views and bask in the creative aura of the concert hall and nearby children’s amphitheater.

Staircases from 1st Street or Grand Avenue take you to this shaded sanctuary featuring lush vegetation, organic herbs and plenty of seating. Check out the mosaic fountain and make your wish.

135 N. Grand Avenue, Downtown Los Angeles

Silver Lake Meadow

For years, residents could jog around the Silverlake Reservoir and visit the nearby dog park, but no green space existed to simply hang out. Enter the newish Silverlake Meadow. Cue rejoicing locals.

Though technically more a lawn than a meadow, this small dog-free space is perfect for frisbee tossing or a light picnic. There’s not much shade, so bring an umbrella, or simply come and enjoy the changing colors on the hillside and reservoir at sunset.

Mingle with the hipster families and see for yourself why Silverlake feels a world away from stereotypical La La Land.

2300 Silver Lake Blvd., Silverlake/Los Angeles