Latest news with #California-style
Time Business News
5 days ago
- Time Business News
Vacation at a Lake: California's Quiet Escape with a View
Nothing beats a lake vacation when all you want is peace, a splash of sun, and a view that doesn't involve traffic. Whether you're dreaming of lakefront cabins in California or a cozy house on the water with room for your entire crew, this kind of getaway just hits differently. No stress. No schedule. Just nature, good wine (yes please), and the sound of water instead of horns. California has its share of hype, but its lakes are somehow still underrated. Especially when you skip the crowds and head for lake house rentals in quieter areas. You get the views, the fresh piney air, and mornings that start with coffee on a deck instead of emails. Each lake has its own rhythm. Some spots are made for paddleboards and lazy swims, others for fishing or sipping something cold while the sun goes down. The best part? There's a lake house in California for pretty much every kind of traveler—solo recharge, couple's retreat, or a whole family reunion. And yes, the rental options are endless. From rustic lake cabins in California to modern lakefront vacation rentals built for big groups, there's no shortage of dreamy places to crash after a day in the sun. Lake Tahoe is the poster child for lake vacations in California. Crystal-clear water, mountain views, and enough hiking trails to keep you busy for a month. It's stunning in summer, cozy in winter. Rentals: This is where you find some of the best lake house rentals in California—sprawling lake homes, sleek condos, and lakefront cabins with hot tubs. Just don't wait till May to book for July. You'll be sleeping in your car. Shasta's massive, with hundreds of miles of shoreline. It's a houseboater's paradise but also good for fishing, kayaking, and those long lazy days that turn into long lazy evenings. Rentals: You've got choices: waterfront cabins for rent, floating houseboats, or laid-back lakefront homes. Some of the best lakehouse vacations happen here when you mix a big group with a slow pace. This one flies under the radar. It's California's oldest natural lake, and the vibe is less polished, more peaceful. Think vineyards nearby, warm water, and no jet ski circus unless you want one. Rentals: You'll find lakeside cabins in California-style ranch homes, old-school cottages, and plenty of lakefront houses for rent in Kelseyville, Lakeport, or Nice. It's not flashy—but that's the charm. Tucked in the San Bernardino mountains, Big Bear feels more like a mountain town than a lake spot. Great for paddleboarding, hiking, or just enjoying pine-scented air and grilled burgers on the deck. Rentals: Picture-perfect A-frame lake cabins, plus family-size vacation rentals close to town. If you're after a Southern California lake house with both lake and ski options, this is your move. Small, warm, and super family-friendly. Bass Lake is close to Yosemite but has its own scene with quiet beaches and boat rentals. It fills up fast for a reason. Rentals: Lakeside cabins, vacation homes with private docks, and plenty of Airbnb lake houses are available. It's one of the best lakes in California with cabins if you want that cozy, campy feel without roughing it. Bring: sunscreen, a hoodie (nights get chilly), water shoes, fishing gear (if that's your thing), and something to grill. sunscreen, a hoodie (nights get chilly), water shoes, fishing gear (if that's your thing), and something to grill. Skip: dress clothes, overplanning, and anything that requires ironing. You're here to unplug, not perform. You don't need to overthink it, but a few tricks help: Look for lake house rentals for large groups early—those get scooped up fast, especially on long weekends. early—those get scooped up fast, especially on long weekends. Always check if 'lakefront' actually means on the water. Some 'lakefront cabins California' listings mean a 10-minute uphill walk. the water. Some 'lakefront cabins California' listings mean a 10-minute uphill walk. Listings on Airbnb or Vrbo with keywords like waterfront vacation rentals California or lakefront cabin rentals California usually bring up the good stuff, but don't be afraid to book directly with hosts. Locals often offer better deals and better tips. And a final note: bring earplugs. Not for noise, but for people trying to convince you to 'just go to Napa instead.' There's something about the lake. Mornings are slower. Food tastes better. Even kids forget about their screens for a minute. Whether you're renting a cabin for two or a California lake house rental for twelve, it's not about the Wi-Fi speed—it's about finally breathing a little deeper. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Epoch Times
Blue-State Governors Form ‘Clean Cars' Coalition After Congress Blocks California's Strict Emissions Rules
Governors from 11 Democrat-led states said on May 23 that they're launching an 'affordable clean cars' coalition to promote non-fossil-fuel-powered vehicles after Congress voted to block California from setting stricter car emission standards than federal rules. 'The Affordable Clean Cars Coalition—led by the U.S. Climate Alliance—will sustain America's transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, support U.S. automotive manufacturers and workers, and preserve states' clean air authority,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said in a Friday The climate alliance Governors from California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington—all states that have adopted California-style low-emission vehicle rules or similar programs—are part of the coalition. 'We will continue collaborating as states and leveraging our longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act, including through state programs that keep communities safe from pollution, create good-paying jobs, increase consumer choice, and help Americans access cleaner and more affordable cars,' the 11 governors said in a joint statement, after Congress on May 22 voted to rescind California's latest federal waiver allowing it to set tougher emissions standards than national rules. California has long received federal waivers allowing it to set tougher standards under the Clean Air Act, influencing national vehicle design due to its large market. Republicans have long said that the rules are too costly and burdensome for automakers. Related Stories 4/24/2025 5/21/2025 Advocating for greater consumer choice and fewer regulatory burdens on businesses, Republicans proposed a The Senate Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), the resolution's sponsor, said that the initiative will protect consumer choice by ensuring all Americans can access vehicles that suit their needs, preferences, and budgets. 'American consumers, not out-of-touch politicians, should decide what vehicle best fits their individual needs,' Joyce said in a May 1 At the time, Joyce urged his Senate colleagues to support the measure 'to save our auto industry and protect the freedom of the open road.' The resolution drew controversy because it aimed to overturn a waiver—rather than a regulation—which the Government Accountability Office Newsom 'Republicans went around their own parliamentarian to defy decades of precedent,' Newsom said in a statement. 'We won't stand by as Trump Republicans make America smoggy again.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSantis says anyone running for Florida governor as a Democrat is ‘dead meat'
Gov. Ron DeSantis says prominent ex-Democrats may run for governor next year as no-party independent or third-party candidates because the Democratic Party label has become toxic in Florida. 'You're seeing this stuff about a three-way race because people know if you have a 'D' next to your name in this state, you are dead meat because this party is a disaster,' the Republican governor said. DeSantis, who narrowly won the 2018 election and won a blowout victory in 2022, delivered his political analysis in response to a question at a news conference in Tampa. He ran through a long list of issues on which he said Democratic Party views diverge from what most voters want. 'If you look at all the things that we've done, the Democrat Party in this state fought us tooth and nail,' he said, citing his policies on reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, and government money for people sending their children to private schools. On crime, DeSantis said, Democrats 'wanted to have California-style policies.' 'That's the type of stuff that they wanted and so I think what you're seeing is you're seeing an effort for people to try to think if they remove that albatross around their neck, then somehow they're going to be viable,' DeSantis said of potential no party/independent or third-party candidates. 'But here's the thing: You can dress it up anyway you want. If you put lipstick on a donkey, guess what? That thing's still a donkey,' he said. The Democrats' longtime symbol has been a donkey. The Florida Democratic Party didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Ex-Democrat Jason Pizzo, a state senator, has said he's running as a no-party affiliation/independent candidate for governor. Ex Democrat John Morgan, the well-known personal injury lawyer, plans to form a new political party that could be a vehicle for him to run next year. Democrats are in terrible shape in Florida. The party hasn't won an election for governor in more than three decades, haven't won a top-tier race since 2012, and have fallen behind Republicans in registered voters. On Tuesday, Republican Party leaders were gathering in Miami-Dade County to celebrate their overtaking Democrats in the number of active registered voters in the state's largest county. If inactive voters, who still can cast ballots, are included, Democrats are still ahead. As hurricane season nears, DeSantis allays concern about federal disaster agency: 'We've never relied on FEMA' Florida's 2026 governor race: Would third-party candidates lock in another Republican victory? Jason Pizzo says he'll run for Florida governor as an independent David Jolly entices Florida Democrats with dream of winning 2026 governor's race Confidence among Hispanics in U.S. economy dips, FAU national poll finds The governor and his wife, Casey DeSantis, were in Tampa to talk up the Hope Florida program, her initiative to help single parents, people on public assistance, seniors and others who need help get assistance, often through religious organizations. It's been under scrutiny, including by Republicans, for its financial practices. On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times first reported that a prosecutor's office opened an investigation relating to the Hope Florida Foundation. Casey DeSantis hasn't said if she plans to seek the Republican nomination for governor next year, when term limits prevent her husband from running for reelection. She didn't provide any clarity about her plans on Tuesday. After the governor's assessment of the Democrats, Casey Desantis said, 'All I have to say is 'Preach, brother.' I mean it's true. We've got to save the free state.' She demurred about next year's election. 'We literally just went through an election cycle,' and 'people are so tired of politics.' She then offered criticism about 'these career politicians.' She answered after a reporter said he wanted to pose a question to her during the question-and-answer session that followed both DeSantises talking about Hope Florida. 'You can ask it to me and if I think it's good for her to answer I'll pass it along,' DeSantis said. After hearing the question, DeSantis said, 'I'll let her come up and take a swing if she wants to,' before giving his views. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@ and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘It's a lot more real now, and a lot more scary' – meet the Kildare sisters who poured their savings into a hotel and overhauled it on a budget
The Kildare sisters are the team behind The Little Island resort in west Cork. The California-style boutique motel overlooks the rugged Castlefreke coastline and Owenahincha beach and comes complete with a swimming pool and restaurant, aptly named the Swim Club Deli. The O'Sheas bought it for €450,000 in 2022 after plans by previous developer-owners to knock it down and replace it with nine individual houses were rejected by An Bord Pleanála. 'We were originally looking at townhouses and thinking, right, maybe we can turn this into an AirBnB. We had feelers out for a long time, and then we saw the ad for this, and we were like, 'it's a bit bigger than we had anticipated, but sure, we'll go have a look anyway'. And that was it,' Aislinn says. Planning to buy a hotel is one thing, but funding it – and its transformation – is another. 'It was very much exhausting all of the options, a lot of scrimping and scraping. I spent about three months solid just trying to find grants and funding options, and there wasn't a whole lot out there at the time for hospitality. There's stuff out there for other businesses, but for us specifically, it was really hard to find anything. 'So it was a lot of pouring all of our own savings into it. We were really lucky to be able to get investments from other family members, and then we were basically just about able to get the doors open. That allowed us to secure funding through more traditional means, like banks and stuff for the next phase, which we've just completed as well.' The fact that Aislinn was shopping with her sister was a surprising roadblock for getting a mortgage. 'Whenever we talked to banks about stuff like this, it was always like 'well, we don't really like to grant loans to siblings, because what if you get married and you want to do something with somebody else?' 'And it's like, well, you've more of a chance of falling out with a partner or somebody than with a sibling. I feel like you're more closely tied.' From the get-go, the plan was to spend €400,000 on the first phase of renovations – and they managed to stick to it. They say it takes a village, and theirs was a definite help. 'Especially in the first phase, we had to do a lot of it ourselves, because we couldn't really find anybody, but also we couldn't afford to get a crew in to do all the stuff. So we did all of the clean-out and demolition ourselves,' Aislinn says. 'And it was kind of dragging family members in whenever they had a few days off work or school or whatever, to come help us clean up and paint walls.' ADVERTISEMENT Throughout the whole project, the goal has been to make savings where possible, some of which may pay dividends in the long run. 'We went to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) for their green initiatives fund, that was something that was always important to us as well. We're trying to make it as sustainable as possible,' Aislinn says. 'It will get to a point that it's all renewable energy that we're using. We've put in a lot of stuff that was probably more costly than we would have wanted, but it will last us in the long term. We replaced the roof because there's a big hole in it, we went with one that will generate all of our hot water, so it will stand to us in the future.' The hotel offers the sisters a new career path, which is complemented by their work histories. Aislinn's background is in graphic design, while her sister previously worked in business. 'I'm not the money person, Nicole very much looks after that. She does all of our accounts, and she handles all of the payroll stuff and the admin side of it. Then the website and the social media and stuff is more my avenue,' Aislinn says. 'That was a big help, not having to outsource the website or get in somebody that can look after the books and stuff. Obviously, we have accountants that do our end of year, but really everything else Nicole can do, we're really lucky there.' With two years of hard work behind them, the sisters are preparing for what will hopefully be a busy summer ahead. While €400,000 was the starting point for phase one, Aislinn finds it hard to put a number on what the final total will be. 'We still have a long way to go and there's so many other things that we want to do as well. I can see this carrying on for years and years, and God knows how much we're going to end up putting into it,' she says. 'But it's kind of where we're at at the moment; we're just taking those accounts and getting enough funding to do the next bit, and then going from there.' As they prepared to open the first of their bedrooms to guests, the question of room cost was a tricky one to answer. 'Obviously you'd have an idea from a consumer perspective, but the way things have gone in the last couple of years, inflation is crazy, and you kind of lose track of what things should cost. So we did a lot of research into that,' Aislinn says. 'There was obviously looking at what's around us and what other things are valued at. But we did speak to a few people. I was in touch with somebody from Fáilte Ireland, and they gave me a lot of advice on how to approach the [rate for a] bedroom, specifically, because that was a big one. You don't want to start off wrong.' They landed on a starting rate of €180 a night for a room with a sea view (€205 if you want to bring a pet along to your private patio). And with the question of how much to charge comes the question of how soon will they see a return on their hefty investment. It's one that weighs on the O'Sheas, too. 'Last year, I wasn't as worried, because we're not going to make our money back or start making real money until the bedrooms are open,' Aislinn says. 'Now it's at that point where it's like, okay, the bedrooms are open, and if the money doesn't start coming in, obviously we have lots of loan repayments, and there's a lot of overheads associated with the whole business. So it's a lot more real now, and a lot more scary.' But setting out to open the The Little Island resort was the O'Sheas' way of escaping the hamster wheel of a 9-5 or more traditional office job. Looking back on the experience so far, it's clear that although the stakes were, and still are, high, a lot of determination and a dash of sisterly companionship will hopefully lead them safely to success. 'A lot of people were like, 'Oh, you're mad, it's such a huge thing to take on'. And there were elements of that for us as well. This is definitely more than just doing up a house,' Aislinn says. 'But I don't know, we just jumped straight in and everything fell into place once we started on it.'
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Putting divorce rumors to rest, Barack and Michelle Obama step out for dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant in D.C., met with cheers
Barack and Michelle Obama have been the subject of divorce rumors since 2024, but the couple just silenced those rumors in the best way possible, by stepping out together for a romantic dinner date. Barack and Michelle Obama enjoyed a date night at Osteria Mozza in Washington, D.C. Greeted with cheers, the couple appeared close and cheerful. The former First Couple was seen smiling and waving at their favourite Italian restaurant in D.C. Their public appearance, combined with recent heartfelt tributes and podcast comments, debunked speculation that their marriage was on the rocks, as per a report by the Daily Mail. What happened during their recent date night? As they brushed aside rumors of marital problems, the couple was beaming as they navigated Georgetown's crowded Osteria Mozza on the weekend, pausing to wave to customers. An employee at the Italian restaurant also shook hands with former President Obama, as per a report by the Daily Mail. Live Events ALSO READ: Signal gate: Pete Hegseth reportedly has a meltdown at White House Easter Egg Roll in front of his own children in a desperate plea to save his job As Michelle passed by in front of him, her face unaltered and her head slightly bent, Barack gave a few quick smiles and held up his hand to wave to the staring customers. During their most recent visit, other customers were in awe; a video of the delightful moment showed them repeatedly exclaiming "Oh my God" amid the applause, as per a report by the Daily Mail. After the video went viral, one supporter declared, "They will always be my President and First Lady." As others noted, the couple must 'love that spot' because they're 'always there.' Michelle has previously dined at the chic 'California-style Italian' restaurant, besides Barack's January visit. Two weeks after the restaurant opened in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, she threw a holiday dinner for her team of ten people in November. The restaurant has grown to be a favourite of the couple since it opened in 2024. Barack and Michelle were last spotted together in December, almost five months prior to this outing. Why were people talking about a possible split? Concerns regarding their relationship were raised when Michelle skipped Jimmy Carter's funeral and Donald Trump's inauguration, both of which were held in January. Barack recently disclosed that he and his wife were in a "deep deficit" and that he had been attempting to "dig his way out by doing fun things." How have the Obamas responded to the rumors? In a recent interview with actress Sophia Bush for a segment of her podcast Work in Progress, the former first lady addressed the rumors. 'That's what I believe is the hardest thing for women to do: let people down," she said. 'So much so that people this year assumed that my husband and I were divorcing because they couldn't even comprehend that I was making a decision for myself.' 'That this couldn't be an adult woman making her own decisions, could it?' The Obamas have time and again tried to allay rumors about their marriage, particularly on Michelle's birthday and on Valentine's Day, by sharing a sweet selfie of themselves on Instagram. FAQs Are Barack and Michelle Obama getting a divorce? No, their recent public outing and loving posts on Valentine's Day and anniversaries show they're still very much together. Why were there rumors about their marriage? Speculation began when Michelle skipped key events in January, but she explained that she was simply making personal decisions for herself.
