Atlas Obscura, Packing Tips, Wine

This episode of California Now kicks off with a conversation with Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras, who specializes in surfacing curious and wondrous travel destinations.The Atlas Obscura website lists around 13,500 unique—and some might say odd—destinations around the globe, and California is favorably represented on the site with nearly 1,000 listings. Thuras shares insights on a few of his must-see places to visit, including several stops in Sacramento and a small museum in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, which houses artifacts gathered by the man rumored to be the inspiration for Indiana Jones.

After that, Pauline Frommer offers up a few packing tricks she has assembled over a lifetime of travel as co-president of Frommer’s—including her absolute favorite item to bring whenever she leaves home. And then acclaimed wine writer Jon Bonné talks about his latest book on wine culture, The New Wine Rules, before sharing some of his favorite destinations in the Golden State.

Guests

Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura

Pauline Frommer, co-president of Frommer’s

Jon Bonné, senior contributing editor of the online beverage magazine Punch

Resources

Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras shared some of his favorite hidden wonders in California

UC-Riverside Citrus Variety Collection

Holyland Exhibition

Watts Towers

Sacramento Underground Tours

Safetyville, USA

Silver Lake

Pauline Frommer offered some tips on packing your bags

TSA rules and guidelines

California’s independent bookstores

Jon Bonné, Senior Contributing Editor of the online magazine Punch, discussed wine culture and the California wine scene

The New California Wine

Sonoma County wine

Healdsburg wineries

Anderson Valley wineries

Broc Cellars

Ridge Vineyards

About the Host

Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis, Calif., in 2016 and is just getting to know his surroundings. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.