When you think of "wine cruises", typically you think of riverboats floating through European destinations like those along the Rhine, Rhone, and Garonne (Bordeaux) or maybe even Portugal's Doro river. However, one of the absolute best ways to experience North America's best wine regions is on a Coastal California cruise.  What we liked about sailing on Holland America Line's Koningsdam was that it created an immersive experience - on the ship, as well as in port as well.

Baja Mexico is one of our absolutely favorite places to visit and if you are looking for an awesome guys getaway filled with golf, fishing, and great drinks than there isn't much better a place to visit than Los Cabos. There's no shortage of resorts here with a wide variety of price points and amenities but Pueblo Bonito Pacifica impresses us with a wide variety of man-friendly activities beyond just the normal golf and fishing.

When most people think of Catalina Island, the bustling village of Avalon first comes to mind. That’s the Mediterranean-style “city” (by Catalina standards) with shops, restaurants, boutique hotels and funky bars such as Luau Larry’s with its Wiki Wacker cocktail, all of which make it a very popular tourist spot for people throughout Southern California. Well, gentlemen, there is another part of this island 26 miles across the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles that is ideal for a men’s getaway for a weekend or mid-week escape. It’s Two Harbors.

Loreto Mexico and in fact the entire Baja peninsula has been a destination for adventure-seeking men for more than a century. Whether it's fishing, hunting, surfing, or simply evading the liquor laws during prohibition, Baja has been known as the place to go and have some fun. However, what I love about Loreto is that it's quiet, safe and offers an opportunity to experience the unspoiled beauty of Baja. 

The first time I visited Loreto Mexico, I absolutely fell in love. I had the opportunity to stay at a fabulous resort and virtually the entire experience revolved around that one place. As nice as resorts can be, the amenities, service, and convenience all comes at a price. When I talked with friends that visit Loreto for their annual fishing trips though, it became clear that there's more to visiting Loreto than just luxury hotels. On my most recent trip, I had the chance to visit several properties and all of them would make a great basecamp for a Loreto getaway depending on what you are looking for. Let's take a look...

The first time I considered the idea of flying a Mexican airline, all sorts of thoughts went through my head. Would it be safe? Would I be able to communicate with the crew? And yeah... negative stereotypes popped in my head too. Last week though, Volaris invited me to join them to celebrate their new service to Loreto, Mexico from San Diego / Tijuana and it was a great experience. Sure, nothing is perfect - this is a budget airline but the price is right, the flight felt safe, the plane was very clean, and each of the staff that I met was friendly. Beyond that, there's not much more to ask for an airline... and frankly, I often find less from American airlines.

While conventional history suggests that the wine industry in California is relatively new - the truth is thanks to the Spanish Jesuit missionaries we've been growing grapes in California for more than 300 years! While most Americans think of "California" as a US state, "California" is actually the stretch of land that includes Alta California, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. National boundaries and centuries of politics can make things complicated when it comes to a heritage like this. However, the role that the Catholic church's Mission System played is clear. So let's grab a glass of "missionary wine" and explore some history of wine in California and indeed that of wine production in the New World itself.

When most guys think of a guys weekend in Baja they probably think of the glitzy resorts of Cabo but increasingly there are other destinations along the Sea of Cortez that are rising as well. One hidden gem is Loreto, Mexico - located about a third of the way up the eastern side peninsula but less than two hours by plane from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

I've had the opportunity to visit a lot of different golf courses and while most are entertaining and have their unique aspects, few have the WOW FACTOR that TPC Danzante Bay does. It's a hidden gem located on the Sea of Cortez, less than a two hour flight from LA, San Diego, and Phoenix. Not only is the course phenomenal - but it's surrounded by some of the best fishing and off-road adventure terrain known to man.

The resurgence of interest in Ensenada and the Valle de Guadalupe has brought the culinary adventurers back to Baja. When you start to do a little research to choose where to dine, one name pops up among the talented chefs of the region: Javier Plascencia

Baja California, Mexico is a legendary peninsula that has some of the most beautiful coastline, mountains, valleys, and vistas of anyplace on Earth. It is also a playground for some of the most wealthy and adventurous people in the world who love to test their physical endurance and technical ability as a driver during the Baja 1000 and other races held here. We recently had a chance to spend four days here, driving a Baja challenge car that had actually completed the Baja 1000 course and it's an amazing experience. What you might not know is that there's no credentialing authority, so all you need to do to compete is show up with a car and pay your entry fee!

San Diego has more diversity in hotels than nearly any other city of its size. There are ultra-luxury hotels as well as small boutique hotels and then there's The Pearl Hotel. I've driven by this location dozens of times and didn't realize it was even there since it's one of those places that is literally hidden in plain site. However, after staying there a few weeks ago as part of our Beercation with Travelocity I can't believe I've missed this hidden gem.

Isn’t now the perfect time for a dudes-only vacation? Imagine sun-washed beaches, beautiful bikini-clad women, and adrenaline pumping adventure. Baja California, a free and sovereign state in Mexico, features diverse geography for a vacation that truly has it all: beautiful beaches, desert bike trails, tree-covered mountains, and remote islands. Whether it’s beer-fueled fun, you’re after or relaxation to recharge your batteries, there’s no place like Baja. 

We're heading to Drai's Beachclub / Drai's Nightclub at The Cromwell next week, so we'll have more on this incredible club and one of the newer resorts on the strip. However, if you want to combine the high-energy EDM scene with an awesome cruise on one of my favorite ships (Carnival Inspiration) then you gotta check out The Groove Cruise. It's not for everyone, but this quote from the website about sums it up: "There’s no 2am curfew on this vessel! With nightly after-hours going into the early afternoon, there is no better way to leave the world behind."

Tijuana (and most of Mexico) has gotten a bad reputation over the past few years for being a violent war zone that is unsafe for tourists. In a way though that makes it sort of intriguing when paired with the fact that it is rapidly becoming known as a foodie destination. My friends that I asked in San Diego though were mixed on their opinions, but everything was put in perspective when I spoke with two guys from Tijuana. I told them that I used to live in Chicago and their reaction was, "Woah! That place isn't safe!" Their reaction was shocking to me. However it's understandable, because like us they relied on media stories, rumors, and exaggeration and got the wrong impression about a place they've never been. This is a really important lesson to consider, because the only way to really see what a place is really like is to actually go visit, explore, and experience it for yourself.

That's exactly what we did - in a safe, controlled way, led by Derrik Chinn of Turista Libre for a tour of three taco restaurants and an ice cream parlor in Tijuana.