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. …
The Bank in Old Town has been a Mexican food restaurant since 1978, but its name tells another story. The building was built in 1913 in order to house First National Bank. The cement walls of the building and the bank vault both measure eighteen inches thick. The original hitching post, granite curb, and the …
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 …
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 absolutely love Anza Borrego Desert. It is a quick escape from the dense population that comes with living so close to the beach. The definition of a “well trafficked hike” even changes as you follow your compass east. So often this is just what we need, a little elbow room. “The Slot” trail in …
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 …
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 …
Driving to Badwater Basin within Death Valley there are several “elevation sea level” signs along the side of the road, but nothing beats the “sea level” billboard, hanging nearly 300 feet up the cliff face, at the Badwater Basin parking lot. Badwater Basin is the lowest place in North America. Its name comes from a …
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 …
I am so glad I don’t live on an island. There is so much to do so close (even with the vast sea directly to the west). Just two hours from Oceanside is Palm Springs. A ten minute ride later, hung by a cable kept taut by a 60 ton counterweight on the largest rotating …
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 …
The Buena Vista Audubon in Oceanside is a volunteer run chapter of the National Audubon Society. Started in 1951, the volunteers keep the nature center current and engaging for people of all ages. After walking through the San Diego wetlands along side the Buena Vista Ecological Reserve on their short, quarter mile nature trail a …
The new year is starting out well. The San Diego tide chart indicated a negative two foot tide at 3:00pm, meaning the sun, moon, earth and us were all in alignment. We made all sorts of new friends today. Mostly with kelp crabs, which kept popping out of the sea grass to see us. There …