Page 14 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2021 REDISCOVERING CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST

156 VANAGON ROAD TRIP

When my oldest son finished his college studies
a decade ago, we decamped for the Rogue River
in southwest Oregon for a mellow, four-day
rafting and kayaking trip with OARS (oars.com),
an Angels Camp, CA-based outfitter.

164 TWISTIES AND NAKED LADIES
My friend Jamie is an “Iron Butt,” one who can
ride a motorcycle for hours and hours without
getting off the bike. When he asked me if I
wanted to go for a motorcycle ride, not only
did I not want to go, but I had visions of black
leather Harley Davidson jackets, heavy chains,
and blazingly loud noise.

172 "Do you need a penguin?" a blond Swiss woman
OFF-PISTE FUN IN INTERLAKEN

shouts at me as she elegantly whizzes past. For a
moment, I’m confused about what she’s referring
to but then I recall the skating aids for small chil-
dren at the entrance to the rink. Clearly, my dis-
graceful wobbles and arm paddling cause concern
in the general public but I'm having so much fun!

Alison DaRosa

Alison DaRosa is a six-time winner of the Lowell Thomas Gold Award for travel writing,
the most prestigious prize in travel journalism. She served 15 years as Travel Editor of The
San Diego Union-Tribune and was the award-winning editor of the San Diego News Network
Travel Page. Alisonwrites a monthly Travel Deals column for the San Diego Union-Tribune
and is a regular freelance contributor to the travel sections of the Los Angeles Times, USA
Today and AOL Travel. Learn more about Alison on her website, www.AlisdaRosa.com.

Carl H. Larsen

Carl H. Larsen is a veteran journalist based in San Diego. He now focuses on travel
writing, and issummoned to pull out his notebook whenever there’s the plaintive cry of
a steam locomotive nearby. In San Diego, he is a college-extension instructor who has
led courses on the Titanic and the popular TV series “Downton Abbey.”

14 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2021