We hope you had a wonderful and safe holiday season, and a great start to the New Year!

We're currently in beautiful Three Rivers, gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California. We've had a wonderful time staying at Three Rivers B&B, exploring the spectacular Sequoia National Park, ringing in the New Year with a dinner and dance party, and watching the annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Dip at the Gateway Restaurant. We hope you can join us for our special Big Blend Birthday Bash radio show airing live on January 5, from the Three Rivers Comfort Inn & Suites. We'll be celebrating 17 years of magazine publication, 7 years of radio, and 7 months of non-stop travel on our Big Blend Spirit of America Tour of all 401 National Park units. Thank you, for being part of our publishing, radio, and travel journey!  

In this edition, Ward Heinrichs explains the 2014 Labor Law changes for California; Linda Kissam experiences Spain's Cava country; Maralyn & Norm Hill tour Jacksonville, Florida; Chef Ivan Flowers shares his Spanish Flair seafood recipe; plus, an update on Winter Fun & Events in Three Rivers.