For 10,000 years, the Esselen people have lived here. At one time, their lands encompassed an area extending from the San Francisco Bay area down to Lopez Point, south of Big Sur. But by the time of colonization, their lands had dwindled (due to pressure from Penutian speaking tribes), to a coastal area stretching forty miles from the Carmel Mission down the Big Sur coast and … [Read more...] about Esselen Women
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Historic La Playa
From an Artist's Retreat to a Hotel of Distinction
In 1905, artist Christian "Chris" Jorgensen—an accomplished painter known for his evocative watercolors of California landscapes—started construction on La Playa in the remote and wild dunes of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was to be a winter home and studio for Jorgensen and his wife, Angela Ghirardelli. Ghirardelli was heiress to the San Francisco chocolate empire, but despite her … [Read more...] about Historic La Playa
Flying Under the Radar
Guitarist John Beland's Star-Studded Career
He's quite possibly the most famous musician you've never heard of. A newly minted Pebble Beach resident, John Beland has lent his guitar and vocal chops to countless recordings and live performances. A conversation with him is liberally peppered with a plethora of mid- to late-20th century musical household names such as Arlo Guthrie, Ricky Nelson, Rita Coolidge, Glen Frey, … [Read more...] about Flying Under the Radar
Monterey Bay Life
New Book Features Iconic Images by Famed National Geographic Photographer Frans Lanting
If a human sees an estimated 25 million images in an average lifetime, iconic wildlife photographer Frans Lanting has probably seen double that. Lanting, known worldwide, lives quietly just outside of Santa Cruz with his partner in life and work, Chris Eckstrom. They've spent decades traversing the globe for National Geographic, and spend much of their "free time" leading … [Read more...] about Monterey Bay Life
High-Speed Hospitality
Laguna Seca Team Revs Up for Success
On a sun-drenched stretch of the peninsula, just a few miles inland of the Monterey Bay, sits one of the country's most famous road courses and its history is everything one would expect from a race track sitting just a stone's throw from one of the country's most famous car events. Laguna Seca, or more officially, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, was built back in the 1950s … [Read more...] about High-Speed Hospitality