More than just a canvas for whimsical critters overlooking the ocean — Story by David Laws A concrete bunker-like structure built in the 1950s by the U.S. Navy to train Cold War pilots in aerial combat today stands as a controversial nexus of art, culture, history, and science in the otherwise sedate, seaside resort of Pacific Grove at the western tip of California’s Monterey Peninsula. …

By David Laws Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Bardeen and Brattain's Transistor “We should tell Shockley what we did today.” — Walter Brattain While driving home from Bell Telephone Laboratories Murray Hill facility in New Jersey during a “Miracle Month” of intense activity culminating in their demonstration of the first…

Why “Vancouver Pinnacles” turned out not to be in Pinnacles National Park — Story and photographs by David Laws On a horseback ride inland from Monterey, the Spanish colonial capital of Alta California, in 1793, English maritime explorer Captain George Vancouver came across “the sight of the most extraordinary mountain.” His report of an imposing cliff face eroded into tall columns helped to establish today’s Pinnacles National Park. …

A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure — Story by David A. Laws Did Sir Francis Drake claim Monterey for Queen Elizabeth? What is a flagpole skater? Why did the new nation of Argentina attack the port of Monterey? How do you find the Dark Watchers? You can find the answers to these and eighty other questions in Secret Monterey: A Guide to…

“Nature is not nice but she is amazingly efficient!“ — “Rick” Story by David A. Laws Photographs by Jean and David Laws and Linda Abbey “David. Hurry, you really don't want to miss this." I jumped from my seat and rushed to the window. My wife pointed to a woodpecker on the trunk of a big-leaf maple tree about ten feet from the house. …

Here are some options and recent clarifications — “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.” — John Muir Story and photos (except as noted) by David A. Laws Beginning in late May, Yosemite National Park in California is instituting a reservation system for admission during the summer of 2022. Designed to reduce congestion while major infrastructure…

Legendary travel writer, editor, raconteur, mentor, and inspiration to all travel writers, Georgia Hesse passed away on February 4 in San Francisco at 88. In 1963, Georgia founded the Travel Section of the Hearst flagship San Francisco Examiner newspaper and crafted it into one of the country’s premier travel writing…

Gordon Moore died on March 24, 2023 — “No one has done more to influence life in the computing era.” — John C. Hollar former CEO of the Computer History Museum Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and scientist Gordon E. Moore, promulgator of Moore’s Law of exponential growth in technology has died. …

“The ocean is a wilderness … wilder than the Bengal jungle and fuller of monsters.” — From Cape Cod by Henry David Thoreau (1865) Story and photos by David A. Laws “They’re out there somewhere,” I said, pointing to the horizon. “Dad, keep your eyes on the road. We’ll look for the Farallones,” said my son Mark…