Four Points Bulletin

Travels north, east, south, and west of our Oceanside home base.

A negative two foot tide is a positive for us. All sorts of interesting sea creatures, typically blissfully covered with water and sea grass, were exposed. We spent at least two hours exploring/playing. The highlights were the lobsters, the sea hare, and the bright red kelp crab whose intense color perfectly matched his personality. Angry. …

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Lyon Air Museum is located in a hangar on the west side of John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA. The museum was established by Major General William Lyon (the real estate magnate), designed to “preserve the stories of the greatest generation in aviation.” Lyon Air Museum is riveting, amplified by the continuous sounds of …

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Every visit to the Prince of Peace Abbey church is a little different than the time before. The colors of the vibrant stained glass varies dramatically depending on the sun’s position and brightness, producing different hues and creating different pleasing moods. It’s beautiful. And it’s in Oceanside.

We have been on a natural movie set tour lately. Over a hundred movies have been filmed here, in Red Rock Canyon State Park, including the beginning scene of Jurassic Park (a personal favorite). The rusted, distinct badlands topography along Hagen Canyon Nature Trail is nothing but surreal. Weathering, erosion and deposition may sound boring …

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There is nothing like the Alabama Hills, which is why it has been the set of hundreds TV series (Lone Ranger, Annie Oakley, Bonanza…) and movies (Django Unchained, How the West Was Won, Iron Man…). With rounded rocks and arches in the foreground and jagged snow covered Eastern Sierra mountains in the background, the Alabama …

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Vasquez Rocks is nearly 1,000 acres of intriguing sandstone rock formations in the high desert of Los Angeles County. The beautiful nature center displays fauna, and includes information about local geography and those who have utilized it since prehistoric times. From indigenous populations to Vasquez (the bandit who hid from authorities amongst the rocks) to …

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King tides were off the charts today. King tides occur a few times a year when, not only are the sun, earth, and moon aligned, but the moon is also closer to earth than usual. King tides can occur at either full or new moons. Today is a new moon (technically a waxing crescent, but …

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