We all love to get away. The new sights, the adventures, the photos, the food … even the travel itself can be exhilarating. For Alysia Gray Painter that adventure is part of her daily routine. No, really. As the blogger for NBC LA's "The Scene" and "Worth the Drive" on NBC LA, San Diego and San Francisco, she gets to write about the greatest getaway destinations, restaurants, museums, hotels and places to be for legions of readers.
Alysia has been with NBCLA.com since October 2008. Previous to that, she served as the West Coast managing editor and Los Angeles editor for AOL CityGuide. In addition, her writing has appeared in Bark magazine, McSweeney's, Modern Humorist and in various PBS programs and publications. Alysia also pens young adult novels in the evenings. Read on to hear more about the perks of her job, as well as the top five California destinations you just can't miss.