In 1915 a large claim of gold was found in Oatman, and so begun a quest to find more. Within fifteen years it was estimated that 36 million dollars worth of gold had been mined in the area. It became a ghost town, however, when the interstate was built, and Route 66 that runs through …
Jerome is an old copper mining town, perched on the edge of the Black Hills of Arizona, one hour from Prescott. Jerome was founded in 1876, and was once known as the wickedest town in the west. I guess that’s what three million pounds of copper per month does to a town. There were 15,000 …
Watson Lake was created in the early 1900s, one or two man made reservoirs at the Granite Dells (about four miles from Prescott). The Granite Dells is a 1.4 billion year old geologic feature of intriguing rounded boulders, rock layers shedding off over time like the layers of an onion. There is a 4.8 mile …
In the late 1800s, Prescott epitomized the Wild West. Doc Holiday and Virgil Earp were regulars at the Palace, the oldest bar in Arizona, drinking in front of the hand carved bar (which is still a centerpiece at the saloon today). After a day of searching for gold, miners flocked to downtown Prescott to gamble, …
It is that time of year, the World of Orchids annual showcase is currently on display in the San Diego Botanic Gardens 8,000 square foot greenhouse. This year the exhibition will last from March 11- April 9. Throughout the showcase, upon multiple visits, visitors can expect to see different orchids as all the plants are …
The museum name is a mouthful, but very descriptive. The Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to displaying and giving tribute to skillful work created by underrated craftsmen (and craftswomen). These craftspeople are artisans who have built something intriguing on a small scale. The museum opened in 2011, and since has grown …
The California Science Center is a public institution of science and learning located in a 245,000 square foot complex with an IMAX theater. The museum is the West coast’s largest hands on science center and it is free to the public (except for parking and rides). The exhibits feature fire safety, conception and reproduction, natural …
Indian monk and guru Paramahansa Yogananda founded the self-realization fellowship in Los Angeles in 1920. Through the fellowship he introduced millions of people to meditation and kriya yoga. He taught that the universe is “God’s cosmic motion picture”. The Encinitas retreat and gardens was opened almost two decades later, in 1937. The gardens, which are …
The Safari Park is home to more than just animals, it also offers a unique haven for rare and endangered plants to thrive. Between the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park there are over two million plants that are cared for. They also act as a rescue center for plants confiscated from wildlife trafficking. The …
Just four miles past Pala Casino, on the south side of the 76 highway, awaits Wilderness Gardens County Preserve, the oldest Parks and Recreation open space preserve in San Diego County. It is part of the San Luis Rey River watershed, a river that enters the ocean 30 miles away, right next to where we …
The sun, moon, and earth were aligned today, making the tides low and the tide pool anticipation high. The tides were especially affected by the sun’s proximity to the earth, which happens each year, peaking January 2. The closer the orbiting bodies are to each other, the more impact they have on the tidal range. …
The San Diego Society of Natural History is the oldest scientific institution in southern California and the third oldest west of the Mississippi. They have been at their current site since 1933, the funds gifted by the philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. In this large space the society is able to grow their collection. They currently …
Beaver, Utah has a mere population of 3,500 but it has created quite a name for itself with the farm fresh Beaver dairy products sold at The Creamery. (Be prepared to stand in line.) We have been coming here since 2018 when this 11,250 square foot restaurant/ice cream shop/gift shop/play area/educational facility was built right …
The city of Yermo was established in 1902. In the 1950s, when Walter Knott opened Calico Ghost Town, Yermo’s Chamber of Commerce created a name for itself as the “Gateway to the Calicos”. It was also the gateway to Las Vegas. Until the 15 freeway was constructed in 1968, traffic went right through town. In …
King tides are a result of the moon, sun and earth aligning in combination with the proximity of the orbiting bodies (the closer they are, the more of a gravitational effect). It only happens a few times a year but is especially exciting because the extra low tides expose my favorite intertidal organisms to my …