Big Blend Magazine presents Champagne Sundays  

Julian, California
Julian is a historic gold mining town located up in San Diego’s mountain region. A year round destination, Julian is one of Southern California’s most popular getaways. A strong sense of early California will guide you down the wooden sidewalks embracing delightful shop windows, all typical of an old gold mining town. Wineries, horse and carriage rides, blossoming apple orchards, star gazing and cultural events are just a few Julian’s highlights - it’s a dreamy experience for the romantic, the family get together or the nature lover. We will be chatting with Krisie Morgan who is from the Julian Chamber of Commerce, and is also a part of the Julian Doves & Desperados re-enactor group. Krisie will tell us what’s happening in Julian for the spring season, including the areas annual blooming of daffodils and lilacs, and events such as the Annual Wildflower Show, Annual Mayfest Celebration, art shows, and more. For more about Julian – Click Here.  

Silver City, New Mexico
One of the '100 Best Small Towns in America', Silver City is nestled in the foothills of the Pinos Altos Mountains at an elevation of 6,000 feet, bordering the Continental Divide. Boasting crisp clean air and beautiful sunny days, Silver City offers four gentle seasons to enjoy. The area’s colorful history dates back to 1870 when silver was discovered above La Cienega (Marsh) de San Vicente. Tales from those early days tell of characters like Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Judge Roy Bean, "Dangerous" Dan Tucker, and the Hearst family. Visitors can explore the nearby 3.3 million-acre national forest and wilderness areas, browse the historic downtown and art district, as well as enjoy a full calendar of fun events and activities throughout the year. We will be talking with Nicole Robbins who is the Executive Director of the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, to find out what makes Silver City such a great springtime destination! For more about Silver City – Click Here.  

Visalia, California
Nestled in the heart of California’s Central Valley, at the base of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Visalia is an agricultural destination that ranks in the top three productive growing counties and produces over 250 different kinds of crops. Being located amidst the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Forests, the outdoor activities are endless boasting of Mount Whitney - the tallest mountain peak in the continental US; the General Sherman Tree - the world’s largest tree; 2 National Parks, the Sequoia National Forest; the deepest canyon in North America, the ‘Trail of 100 Giants’ and the Kaweah Rivers. Visalia has a charming hometown atmosphere a delightful downtown district offering first class dining, shopping, art and cultural opportunities. Erin Capuchino from the Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau will be joining us to talk about Visalia being such a unique travel destination. We will also talk to Agnes Heaney about Visalia’s upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For more about Visalia – Click Here.  

Tucson, Arizona
We are going to find out about the wildflower season at Tohono Chul Park, a beautiful 49 acre park that is a leading Southwest center of desert nature, arts and culture – and is listed by National Geographic Traveler as one of the Top 22 Secret Gardens in the U.S. and Canada. We are going to talk with Russ Buhrow, who has been wandering the southwestern deserts for nearly 40 years. In these wanderings he has found many interesting and beautiful native plants, many which have come to be cultivated and are now available to the public, through the Tohono Chul Greenhouse. Recently he has grown and made available many native desert ferns which were said to be “impossible” to cultivate.  Russ comes from an agricultural background, has a BS in Agronomy and MS in Horticulture from the University of Arizona. Russ has been the Curator of Plants at Tohono Chul Park for the past 16 years. For more about Tohono Chul Park and their upcoming Native Plant Sale – Click Here.  

Amado, Arizona
We’re going to head just south of Tucson, to talk with Suzanne Eversull, the co-owner of De Anza Trails RV Resort, which is a truly unique pet-friendly RV resort where ‘Fido’ is treated with just as much importance as you!  Nestled between the Santa Rita Mountains to the east and the Tumacacoris to the west, the resort is within minutes from Tucson, Mexico, Green Valley and Tubac – one of the country’s top historic artist communities frequented by artists, movie stars, and public figures. The area is also part of the ancient Juan Batista De Anza Trail that runs from Nogales to San Francisco, and is home presidios, early Spanish Colonial missions, ghost towns, artist colonies, old mines, observatories, and more. Activities feature hiking, bird watching, golfing, mountain biking, and special events including rodeos and art festivals. For more about Amado and De Anza Trails RV Resort –Click Here. 

Ocotillo Wells, California
We’re going to chat with Deborah Traviss, co-owner of Leapin’ Lizard RV Ranch which is located in Ocotillo Wells. This small desert community is situated within the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which offers over 600,000 acres of compelling scenic wonders and is a popular destination for off-highway explorers, backpackers, hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, nature seekers, RV'ers and campers. Ocotillo Wells is a scenic 20 minute drive from the desert resort community of Borrego Springs which offers golf, tennis, shopping, dining, and more. Deborah is going to talk about the area’s hikes and attractions, the local ‘sky hike’ frequented by pilots, the upcoming desert wildflower season, and more. For more about Octotillo Wells & Leapin’ Lizard RV Ranch – Click Here.