Oakhurst is the closest town to the Yosemite Valley, but it’s nearly a two hour drive, four hours round trip. Going to the Valley twice allowed us to see everything we wanted to, especially considering there is so much to do and see right outside the park. The Lewis Creek National Recreational Trail is a …
The Westcoast Wrestling Company has been the “premier platform in professional wrestling” since 2008. They move their wrestling ring to different venues and when it is close by, in Murrieta, and your brother-in-law is the ref, you have to go. It was a family affair, both in our party and as far as the wrestling …
Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society was founded in 1957 in Fallbrook, California. Fallbrook is part of San Diego County, one of the top gem and mineral mining regions in the United States. Tourmaline, kunzite, calcite, morganite, topaz, and garnet are some of the more commonly mined materials. The collection at the free museum is comprised …
The Huntington botanical gardens are second to none, 130 acres of 83,000 plants, some of which are rare and endangered. The Huntington plays an active role in the United Nations Convention on biological diversity, propagating and preserving their living plant collection. There are sixteen distinct garden themes at the Huntington. One of my favorites is …
Mt. Gower Open Space Preserve is a 1,574 acre county preserve in Ramona. It protects an area for future generations to see what Southern California used to look like before it was bulldozed for homes. Wind blowing through chaparral and oak trees is so peaceful. We are fortunate to have so many places to escape …
Across the street form the California State Capitol is the California State Library, located inside the Library and Courts Building (part of the Capitol Extension Group listed on the National Registrar of History Places). The building was completed in 1929. It is considered one of the nation’s most historically significant buildings. At the time of construction sculptor Edward …
I love this time of year at the Safari Park, although if you go expecting to see animals you will leave disappointed. Wild Holidays at the Safari Park is all about the lights and Christmas festivities. This year (because no two years are exactly alike) my favorite event was the choreographed light show, when the …
North County San Diego is developing into yet another Southern California winery hub. Cordiano Winery is a step above, one of the few that offers food. The owners are Italian, and their pizza, pasta, salad, and wine options really makes you feel like you are visiting their homeland. It is a lovely place to spend …
Unlike Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm is not nostalgic to me. We went to Disneyland multiple times per year but I don’t recall one trip to Knott’s Berry Farm as a child. The surprising thing is that Knott’s Berry Farm has much more history than its neighbor Disneyland (which is only seven miles away). The Knott Family started selling …
The Nutcracker Ballet is holiday tradition dating back to the 1960s. Although the ballet was first performed in Russia in 1892 (at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, where I saw Swan Lake when there) it was not in the United States until 1944, and it took a while to catch on. Now it seems that every …
The San Diego Botanic Garden has over 5,000 species of plants. So something is always in bloom no matter the time of year. The blue sky, that is just a bonus.
The Cerezo Bluffs tide pools are like a treasure hunt, the treasure being the organisms that the low tide has left exposed. Although it is a little cooler than normal it is still sunny and beautiful (and much less crowded in winter than in summer when it often looks like Disneyland). I prefer the solitude …
There is nothing that kicks off the holiday season like the Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights. The weather doesn’t change too much in Oceanside, so we depend on things like this to remind us that it is almost Christmas. I don’t know what I like more, the lights on the boats or their reflection on …
Every year we look forward to the Holiday Tree Lighting (which aligns with Thursday night Sunset Market). It is the best of both worlds, the traditional farmers market foods but with Santa fanfare. It starts with Santa entering Downtown Oceanside on a firetruck, and after the tree lighting there is a Santa meet and greet. …
Disney California Adventure Park has only been open for a little over two decades. Since its opening it has become a park that you can spend a whole day at. There is everything amazing about California (great food, deserts, beer, hidden Mickeys, weather, drinks, rides and interesting characters) packed into 72 acres. So fortunate to …