Visit? Around the 4 Corners

In a recent newspaper, there was an Associate Press feature by Karen Matthews titled "Around the 4 Corners:  Modern Life, Ancient Ruins Coexist in Southwest."  This struck home a little bit because we have been planning to visit Mesa Verde National Park at some point and had recently visited the Wupatki National Monument and visited some of the ruins there and at the Grand Canyon National Park.

You can view the entries on my photoblog that are tagged with "Arizona" by clicking here.

The highlights Karen Matthews lists include visits to:

• The Hopi Mesas. This included a visit to a village that dates back to 1150 A.D.  The Hopi do not allow pictures to be taken in the villages.
• Chaco Canyon.  This is located in northwestern New Mexico and is accessible by dirt road.  It is an area that flourished from the 800s to 1100s A.D. and is run by the National Park service.
• Mesa Verde National Park. Yes, we want to eventually get to this place with the cliff dwellings which were mysteriously abandoned somewhere around 1300 A.D.
• Canyon de Chelly National Monument.  This is located in Arizona and includes the White House Ruins trail which is a 2 1/2-mile hike.

Other locations include:

• Grand Canyon National Park.
• Monument Valley.
• Petrified Forest.
• The Painted Desert.

Related websites:

• The original article is posted on-line on multiple sites but here is the Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/travel/ci_21472293/modern-life-ancient-ruins-coexist-southwest
• Hope Cultural Center: http://www.hopiculturalcenter.com/
• Cacho Canyon: http://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm
• Mesa Verde National Park: http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
• Canyon de Chelly National Monument: http://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm
• Grand Canyon National Park: http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
• Monument Valley: http://navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.htm
• Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert: http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

I hope you found this helpful.  Click here to see how you can support me.

Visit? Southern California Places to Explore Space

These recommendations are also from a recent Westways Magazine for Auto Club members.

Here are some places to consider visiting if you are interested in learning more about different aspects of space.

• Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  Started in the 1930s, it offers free weekly tours on Mondays and Wednesdays. jpl.nasa.gov
• Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial. This monument honors Ellison S. Onizuka, the first Asian American in space and one of seven astronauts that perished in the Challenger explosion. onizukamemorial.org
• Columbia Memorial Space Center.  This is next door to the Downey Studios building where all the Apollo astronauts were trained and where the Apollo space capsules were built.  Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.  columbiaspacescience.org
• California Science Center. The space shuttle Endeavor will eventually call this place its home. Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.  californiasciencecenter.org
• Griffith Observatory.  A grand art deco building overlooking Hollywood that features the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. Wednesday to Friday Noon to 10 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM.  griffithobs.org

I hope all of you find these places interesting.

Visit? New Mexico's intergalactic attractions

In the recent Westways Magazine that is published by the American Automobile Association, they had 7 places to visit in New Mexico that all had to do with space (in one way or another).

Here they are:

• Spaceport America.  This is outside of Truth or Consequences and you can take a tour for $59. http://www.spaceportamerica.com/
• Very Large Array (VLA). This has 27 antennas that travel on railroad tracks that can be found 50 miles from Socorro. www.vla.nrao.edu
• White Sands Missile Range. wsmr-history.org
• New Mexico Museum of Space History.  nmspacemuseum.org
• National Solar Observatory. This can be found 36 miles from Alamogordo.  nso.edu
• Apache Point Observatory. Located near the National Solar Observatory. www.apo.nmsu.edu
• Roswell. Information about Robert Goddard and his rockets as well as the Roswell incident. roswellufomuseum.com
• Chaco Culture National Historical Park.  These American Indians built their homes and structures to line up with solar and lunar events.  nps.gov/chcu

For driving purposes, it looks like it would probably require at least four to five days to cover all of these points of interest at a comfortable pace.

Visit? Get sailing

In a recent Sunset Magazine, they mentioned that the 2013 34th America's Cup will be held off the coast of San Francisco.  They have a feature that goes through some of the basics of what to expect as well

In the following link, they have listings on where to sail.  Their favorite charter companies include:

• Aloha Yacht Charters, San Diego
• Marina Sailing, Long Beach and Newport Beach
• Sail Channel Islands, Oxnard
• Sail San Diego, San Diego

Click here to go to Sunset. com to read more about how to get started sailing as well as find places in Seattle, northern and southern California to sail.


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Visit? Sunset Magazine - Secret Park Escapes

Some of these will be quite a drive from southern California, but can be included if you are willing to drive further.

In a recent Sunset Magazine article (still receiving for free) they talked about how to find Secret Park Escapes.  They outlined their three strategies to "outsmart" the crowds.  They include:

1. Finding the gems
2. Using the backdoor to the big guns
3. Explore north of the border (Canada)

Their top pics include:

• Capitol Reef, UT (Golden Throne Trail, Hickman Bridge Trail)
• North Cascades, WA (Sourdough Mountain Trail)
• Great Basin, NV (Lexington Arch Trail)
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (North Vista Trail)
• Crater Lake, OR (West Rim Trail)
• Last-minute campsite in Yosemite (Camp 4 or Tamarack Flat)
• Yellowstone (Grant Village)
• Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (Kolob Canyons and Timber Creek Overlook Trail)
• Kootenay, southeast British Columbia (Kootenay's STanley Glacier Trail)

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Visit? Set your sights on Point Loma

If you have been following this blog, you know that I receive some magazines for free.  One of them is Sunset Magazine.  In the September 2011 issue's "Weekend escape" section, there was a feature on visiting Point Loma for the weekend.

Here are their "six reasons" to visit Point Loma

1. Take in the city.  At J World San Diego on Facebook, a sailing school
2. The meal you've been waiting for. They recommend a restaurant called Sessions Public
3. Hook a Halibut.  You can rent a pole a fish for halibut at Sharkey's at Shelter Island Pier.  You can also rent kayaks there too, but their website did not describe this.
4. Concerts on the water.  The Humphreys Concerts by the Bay has concerts all year-round.  You can check their schedule at-a-glance here. 
5. A Jewel of a Hotel.  There are only 23 rooms at the Pearl Hotel.  This hotel is only one block away from the bay.
6. Your Screensaver Views.   You can see the San Diego skyline from the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in Cabrillo National Monument or grab a window seat at the Bali Hai Restaurant.

To read more, click below:

• Set your sights on Point Loma on Sunset.com

Visit? Palomar Observatory

Here is a potential place to visit if you are ever in the southern California area.

It was built in 1948 and weighs 530 tons.  The observatory is open daily except on December 24 and 25.  The hours of operation are from 9 AM to 3 PM while on Standard Time and from 9 AM to 4 PM while on Daylight Savings Time. They do not offer tours every day.  Check their website for more details.  They have a 10 minute podcast that you can download and listen to.

Check out their website below.  It also offers recommendations on places to stay and eat.

Related websites:

• Caltech's Palomar Observatory home page

Visit? Saddleback Butte State Park

In looking for things to do in the higher desert, I found a possible hike in Lancaster.  It is at the Saddleback Butte State Park.  They list a short 2.5 to 3 mile hike to the peak, and at the top you have a 360-degree view over the Lancaster valley as well as the Mojave desert. 

For the state park website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=618

Visit? Orange County Great Park

Here's another tip from Sunset Magazine.  There will be 1,347 acres of lakes, gardens, trails, museums, and an amphitheater.

They say that there are free balloon and carousel rides Thursday through Sunday.  For more information: www.ocgp.org

To subscribe to Sunset Magazine for 1 year, click below:

Visit? Limestone Canyon

I posted Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park on this earlier post.

There is another website that has lists activites related to the Irvine Ranch Open Space: http://www.irlandmarks.org/activities/

I also got this tip from Sunset Magazine which you can get a 1-year subscription here:

Visit? Sunset: Chasing Spring: a guide for 2011

I guess this is a sneak peak at the March 2011 Sunset Magazine issue of things to do in Spring.  On their website it still shows February as their "current" issue at the time of this post.

They list 20 things that can be done. They include the following:

• Shell Creek Road in Santa Margarita (San Luis Obispo)
• Anza-Borrego State Park with 3 and 6-mile hikes 
• Multnomah Falls (Portland)
• Superstition Mountains (Phoenix)
• Grand Falls (Flagstaff)
• Chambers Creek Park (Tacoma)
• Bites by Bike tour (Portland)
• Feather Falls (Sacramento)
• Bright Angel Bicycles (Grand Canyon)
• Superstition Farm (Mesa, AZ)
• Agritopia (Gilbert near Phoenix)
• Queen Creek (near Phoenix)
• Colorado National Monument (Grand Junction)
• Campovida (Hopland)
• Capay Valley 
• Cherry Blossom Festival at Descanso Gardens (Pasadena)
• Poppy Reserve (see my previous post from April 2010)
• SOMA Get Fit (Santa Barbara)
• Living Desert (search both of my blogs by searching for "Living Desert")
• Baron Ranch Trail (near Santa Barbara)

Although I have been trying to concentrate on places to "visit" near southern California, there are multiple opportunities in the above list.  

Click here to go to Sunset.com's current issue.  This list was from the March 2011.

Click here to subscribe to Sunset Magazine

Visit? Snow Play in the San Bernardino Mountains

We went to the Big Bear Snow Play earlier this month.  It looks like there are at least three that are in the San Bernardino Mountains.  You can view pictures from our trip by clicking here.

• Big Bear Snow Play. $25 for the day. Bring cash. http://www.bigbearsnowplay.com/
• Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain. $25 for the day.  Bring cash.  http://www.alpineslidebigbear.com/
• Snowdrift Park.  $12 per hour.  This looks like you need to walk up to the top.  http://www.snowdrift.net/index.html

Visit? Santa Rosa Plateau

This looks like a nice place to visit for a walk and relax.  It is located in the Murrieta area and consists of 8,300 acres of mixed-use terrain.

To get more information, click here: http://www.riversidecountyparks.org/locations/nature-historic-centers/santa-rosa-plateau/

Visit? Dana Point Bluff Top Trail

If you have been reading my blog, you can see that I am scheduled to receive Sunset Magazine through December 2010.

In a recent issue, there was an "Editor's Pick" with Dana Point as a place to "Walk off the Turkey"

Click here to be taken to Dana Point's site and additional information.

To subscribe to Sunset Magazine for 1-year with auto-renewal, click here.

AAA Westways: Connecting with Kin / Calico Ghost Town

I had an earlier post as part of my "Visit?" series about going to Calico Ghost town.

In the recent issue of Westways Magazine which is published by the Automobile Club of Southern California, there was a short feature on a family's annual reunion to Calico Ghost Town.

This family has been doing this for 30 years and they have some tips including the following:

• Begin planning early
• Discuss the budget
• Plan something for each age group
• Bring family photos
• Relax and enjoy yourself

For more details, click here to go to the article

Visit? Calico Ghost Town

We have driven by the signs near Yermo, California trying to lure people to visit the Calico Ghost Town.  Since it is in the desert, it looks like the summer is not the best time to visit.

I think at some point, we will visit this place.  It is a fair distance from the main part of southern California. Feel free to use your favorite mapping website to find out.

Here are some key points when perusing their website:

• It looks like they are open mainly on Fridays through Sundays.  There are several areas that are closed Monday through Thursdays.
• Most of their special events are based on the scholastic calendar from about September to May.
• Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 16 years.  It is free for children 4 years of age and younger.
• They have areas for camping in bunkhouses and for those with motorhomes.  The mini-bunkhouse can sleep six and has a private kitchenette and its own bathroom.  The regular bunkhouse sleeps up to 20 people and is $5 per person with a minimum charge of $60 per night.
• They have many attractions including a train.
• There are trails and areas for exploring with your Off-Highway Vehicles.

For more information, visit their website by clicking here.

To view posters and books about Calico Ghost Town that can be purchased at Amazon, click here.

Visit? Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico

This would be a longer drive to get there, but it looks like at some point we will need to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  Here are the issues keeping us from going:

• Minimum age looks to be 4 years of age.  If you have children 3 years and younger then they are not allowed.  This applies to us.
• It is about 900 miles from southern California.  Depending on how fast you drive and your gas mileage, this would be about 16 hours of driving maybe spread over 2 days with about 2 or 3 potty stops each of those days and 36 gallons of gas just to get there.

Related websites:

• National Park Service Website
• Wikipedia entry

Visit? Mount Rubidoux in Riverside, California

I have never hiked up Mount Rubidoux which is located in Riverside, California.  It looks mostly barren and is open from dawn until dusk and contains over three miles of trails.

Maybe we will have to visit....soon.

Related Websites:

• Wikipedia entry
• Friends of Mount Rubidoux

Visit? Amboy Crater

Amboy Crater is an extinct volcano located between Barstow and Needles.  It looks like there is a trail that can be taken from the day use parking.

Do not visit during summer or windy conditions.

Click here for the Wikipedia entry.

Visit? Mary Vagle Museum and Nature Center

The Mary Vagle Museum and Nature Center is located in south Fontana near the Jurupa Hills.  Their website does not have a site map, but it looks like there is fairly extensive grounds with a desert area, some water features, as well as a variety landscaping with flowers and other plants to view.

It is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.