Alison DaRosa is a six-time winner of the Lowell Thomas Gold Award for travel writing, the most prestigious prize in travel journalism. She served 15 years as Travel Editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune before accepting a buyout and venturing into the E-world in 2008. She helped launch San Diego News Network (SDNN.com) and was the award-winning editor of its Travel Page. She is the author of “San Diego Essential Guide,”