“KEEN-wah!” “KEEN-wah” is the proper pronunciation of the word “quinoa.” It tops my list of favorite grains, yet it really isn’t a grain at all. It’s a leafy green vegetable akin to spinach that looks like small, pearly, nuggets of perfection. Packed full of protein and antioxidants, quinoa is perfect for a vegetarian burger. This is the last [...]

Established as a city park in 1892, Echo Park, a thirty-three acre municipal lake, used to be a reservoir. In fact, Echo Lake was originally part of the Los Angeles Water system. It’s hard to imagine a time when the city diverted the water from the Los Angeles River into man-made reservoirs, but originally, Echo [...]

If Vegas is representative about anything, it’s about taking care of the customer with luxury, style, and panache. For the owners, management, and staff there, it’s a daily occurrence at such illustrious and luxurious hotels including Caesars’ Palace, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Bellagio, the Wynn’ Encore and Tower Suites, and Mirage, just to name a few. The [...]

By now, you all know the drill! We eagerly put the television on to watch the Oscar’s live, and hope to watch an exciting and eventful Oscar’s event. Of course, seeing what the celebrities are wearing is always fun.  More often than not, we’re bored to tears, well into the first hour. Ahh, somehow that’s part [...]

It’s that time again to clear your desk, declutter your life a little, and remove all excess noise and distractions to take a look at some interesting activities we’ve assembled for you.  In case you weren’t paying attention to the weather, it appears that rain is heading our way.  There’s no question we’ve had a [...]

When the Moors invaded Spain in 711 AD, not only did they bring their influence in architecture and science, but also in food. The Moors’ occupation of Spain may have lasted for over seven hundred years, but the Moorish legacy stayed forever enriching the Spanish culture and lifestyle. Spain subsequently, captured the Moorish influence. [...]

That’s driving on the lone road, known as the Interstate 15 highway, or taking a plane. Most people Fear and Loath the almost 300-mile trek, driving from most parts of Los Angeles. This fear and loathing of driving to Vegas, is mainly based on the possibility of encountering heavy traffic, wear-and-tear on our cars, and for some. [...]

Even though Travelin’ Local’s mission tagline is "From Los Angeles to San Diego and everything in between," many people would only include SoCal in that analysis. In that, they would be wrong. Also included would be Las Vegas. Yes, Vegas, baby, Vegas! For millions of Southern Californians, Vegas is considered part of our Backyard. For each generation, including the [...]

Southern California’s physical beauty is immense and vast. That’s why California is aptly named the thee Golden State. Indeed, many of us take for granted what living here really means. California’s long association with gold make this a natural nickname for the state. From the naming of the state in the 16th century to the California Gold [...]

Do you ever have one of those moments when an idea for something exciting lands on your lap? That happened to me last week when I decided I was going to lighten up my favorite burgers. Last week’s burger was a terrific beef burger. When you put beef, poultry, or seafood between two pieces of [...]

When it comes to choosing a Yoga studio, the amount of options available to choose from may be overwhelming.  A studio should be chosen according to the type of yoga taught , but more so, by the theme and vibe of the studio, as well as the teachers who can teach what you want to [...]

Did you know that Los Angeles used to have the “Largest Trolley System in the World?” With a fleet of over 900 electric trolley cars, covering over 1,100 miles of track, Los Angeles was the leader in streetcar transport and tracks. Alas, it died a slow death when the last streetcar was put into “cold storage” in [...]