Pismo Beach in Winter
Blue skies, expansive beaches, and frigid nights best describe my Christmas weekend at Pismo Beach. I don’t consider myself a beach person. Have I mentioned that before? I come from
Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove
In the dim and long ago past I camped at the Pismo State Beach North Beach Campground. Little did I realize
Christmas Travel
My desire to travel over the Christmas holiday is new this year. For decades the season has been spent with family gathered together at
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, part II
My recent outing to Newport Beach was an eye opener. I had heard of the Christmas Boat Parade but had no idea that it was celebrating its 107th anniversary this year. It isn’t as old as the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, which will be 127 this coming New Year’s Day, but still an impressive age.
I was truly surprised by
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, Part I
I recently went to Newport Beach for the first time. Yes I know. I’ve lived so close for years and years and just never made the trip down to Orange County. We won’t get into that now. It happens to all of us. This was a Christmas outing, a chance to see the famous Christmas Boat Parade and I went with a local community group. It’s so nice to leave the driving to a bus driver. But being tied to
Travels with Jem
There are times, well most of the time if I were honest, when driving alone is just dull. Music entertains only for a while and then I long for conversation. It’s just more enjoyable if I can bounce ideas about with someone else. That’s why I’ve started
Old California Christmas at the Rains House
On the first Saturday in December the John Rains House is alive with light as the Casa de Rancho Cucamonga Historical Society presents its Christmas open house complete with Civil War period costumes, music and
The Maloof Gardens
For years I’ve heard about master woodworker Sam Maloof and his home and gardens just up the hill from where I live. And as is so often true with attractions in one’s hometown, I just never went to visit the place. It was time I did so.
I chose a perfect autumn day with a blue skies streaked with clouds, clouds being a rarity for southern California. The air had been chilly in the morning and I was overdressed by the time arrived a little after noon. Thank goodness the garden wasn’t so large that I would expire from
The Getty Villa
It’s been over twenty five years since I visited the Getty Villa. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to go back. Live got in the way I suppose. In all fairness I should preface this post by saying that in my youth I majored in Classical Archaeology so not only was this a visit to an ancient time, but a trip to my past as well.
Getty Villa is located in Pacific Palisades right off Pacific Coast Highway not far from Santa Monica. It’s a lovely setting for a museum devoted to the art and architecture of classical Greece and Rome. The main building of the museum is modeled after