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| Charter a ticket on a plane, train, or your own automobile and head for a fun destination. Sometimes just a day out of town can make you feel refreshed and energized about life. |
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Washington State
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August is the month to get away before the back-to-school and pre-holiday grind starts. This year we are Katching the Day in Washington State. We will spend the next few issues highlighting our trip and sharing our insight into the northern tip of our great country.
The Evergreen State is divided into ten parts: Seattle, the Eastside, North Puget Sound, South Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Olympic Peninsula and Coast, Columbia Gorge, North Cascades, South Cascades, and Eastern Washington. We actually explored the Columbia Gorge on a KTD trip back in 2003. That’s the area that runs along the Columbia river that separates Washington from Oregon.
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Our 2010 trip will focus on Olympic Peninsula, North Puget Sound, and of course, Seattle. We will be making a two day trip to Canada while we are up there.
Our first stop is Olympic National Park in the Peninsula. It is home to the largest rain forest (Hoh) in the contiguous United States. It rains 140 inches per year which keeps the forest perpetually green and damp under towering trees over 200 feet tall. The park is home to 200 species of birds and 70 species of mammals including the bald eagles. FDR made this monumental park a national park in 1938. This park is unique in that there are no roads running through the park. The only way to visit most of the pristine park is to hike or horseback ride in.
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| KATCH THE EVERGREEN DAY AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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Solvang
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Our final city in our Katch the Day series on Central California is Solvang. It is just an hour north of Santa Barbara and 45 minutes south of Oceano and Pismo Beach. This little town is nestled in the valley of Santa Ynez and is the Danish capital of America.
The small town was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish teachers and was incorporated on May 1, 1985. The population is only 5400 but this little town bustles. We would recommend, however, not going during the summer. Because of its location, the town bakes in the valley, with not much breeze for relief and the streets are empty as residents and guests stay indoors.
There is folk dancing every Saturday night and you can buy the best cloggers in the country in a variety of stored in the town.
There are dozens are wineries in the surrounding areas just a little drive away, and a charming place to buy lavender-based items at Clairmont Farms in the next city over, Los Olivos. Lavender is a nice herb for chicken and beef. |
Our favorite stop when we go to Solvang, though, is the ostrich farm on the main highway (246) that runs straight through the town. We like to stock up and buy filets and hamburger patties that are frozen and can make the easy trek back home in a cooler. Ostrich meat is leaner than chicken and sweater than beef. It is a treat worth the effort and price.
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| KATCH THE DANISH DAY AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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PISMO BEACH
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During our summer of Katching the Days, we recently re-discovered the Central California coast. We continue our five part KTD series on this area of wonderland.
The third city we want to highlight is Pismo Beach. It’s just north of Grover Beach and Oceano beach. Pismo has an annual two-day clam festival in October. However, the natural tourist attraction happens November through February when hundreds of thousands of Monarch butterflies migrate through this town. February 5th is the Official Annual Monarch Butterfly day.
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Though this town may start to feel like just another beach city, it quickly turns into a boutique town with its quant shops, restaurants, and nice “cruising” street with parking in the middle of the street instead of along the sidewalks. To add to it’s uniqueness is an annexed police station downtown in the same building as the Chamber of Commerce.
RVing is a big thing in this little town. The Pismo Coast Village RV Resort is well named. It feels like a village. There are 400 spaces with electric/water hookup, laundry room, restaurant, and general store. They even have their own private access to the sand of Pismo Beach.
Because it is in Central California, the water is a little colder, but it’s a nice change from the bustle of Southern California beaches. Pismo has a picturesque pier, accommodating restaurants, and plenty of places to sleep if you’d rather skip RVing and stay in a hotel.
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| KATCH A PISMO BEACH DAY AND LEAVE THE BUSIENSS-KEEPEING TO US! |
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OCEANO
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During our summer of Katching the Days, we recently re-discovered the Central California coast. We continue our five part KTD series on this area of wonderland.
The second city we want to highlight is Oceano. It’s just south of Grover Beach (which is just south of Pismo Beach). Oceano isn’t actually a city; it’s a part of the county of San Luis Obispo. Because it is county run, it has no city police, fire, or city ordinances. It is governed by the county, and the surrounding cities help patrol Oceano. |
Interestingly, this town has a back country type of feel. The area is not at all touristy, houses have been sitting on the same lots for a long time without any city regulations, and the people are very laid back. What puts Oceano on the map is its dunes on which you can ride your off highway motor vehicles. Oceano is a State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). Entering the Oceano beach from Grover Beach, you drive south along the coast (literally) and get to Oceano where you will find hundreds of recreational warriors out in the dunes with their buggies, 4-wheelers, and motorcycles, riding up and down the dunes. You can also camp on Oceano’s beach. Reservations are made through the California State Park.
There is horse back riding at Livery Stables for $50. The ride is a pleasant hour through Oceano’s back dunes (where no vehicles are allowed), along the coast, and through a green beltway. It is worth the trip just for the horse ride.
Because Oceano is county run, it doesn’t have its own website. To find out more, google Oceano and several good resources will provide the information you need to enjoy this quirky town.
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| KATCH THE BEACH DUNES DAY AND LEAVE THE BUSIENSS-KEEPEING TO US! |
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GROVER BEACH
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October, many times, can be almost as hot as September in Southern California. There is an alternative to the heat: Central California. We recently re-discovered this land between the bustling OC and the lights Northern California. We start a five part KTD series on this area of wonder.
The first town we want to highlight is Grover Beach, named after the founder, DW Grover who bought the land from Isaac Sparks, who founded Pismo Beach (covered later in this series). What is there to do in this town of 13,000? It is the “gateway” to Pismo State Beach, which includes Pismo, Grover, and Oceano beach (also discussed later in series). |
Off of the 101 (about 90 miles north of Santa Barbara), you exit Grand Avenue and head west straight to the ocean. Grand takes you through the heart of Grover Beach, past the State Beach paying booth, and onto the sand!
We surreally drove onto the sand because the ground of the shoreline is so hard that it can withstand the weight of vehicles. There is the ocean, light through traffic, then soft sand to park your chairs and relax on the beach next to your vehicle. You could actually drive into the ocean, but it’s not recommended.
Three other interesting points about this beach: 1) the waves are very small, 2) the water is cold, because it is central California, and 3) the air temperature is usually not over 70 degrees. What do these three add up to? Clear waters and sand. It does not attract the sunbathers or surfers that So Cal beaches pull in. The strange result is a solitary beach with people reading books, playing in the shallow water with their small kids, and having little bonfires right in the sand (no firepits needed). The picture shown is our Business-keepers Bronco on the sand with a 15mph sign in the background. Ocean is not shown, but picture is taken from shoreline looking inland.
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KATCH THE COOL PARK-ON-THE-SAND DAY
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LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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JOSHUA TREE
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The Fall in a National Park like Joshua Tree is an experience to behold. We had to Katch the Day in this high desert wonderland just an hour east of Palm Springs. There are some things that make this park unique from its counterparts in the rest of the nation.
First, it is in the high Mojave desert. In the summer it’s hot, but in the winter it will snow sometimes and the daylight hours are in the cool 70s; a perfect temperature for hiking.
Second, its namesake, Joshua Trees, are sprinkled throughout the park. There is a short walk off the main drag, Pinto Basin Road, in an area called Cholla Cactus Garden that naturally displays hundred and hundreds of Joshua Trees. It is a wonder to take in. |
The third unique feature about this park is the rocks. And we don’t mean the high scaled kind you find at Yosemite, but simply large rocks. Mounds and mounds of rock that you can easily climb on with good-gripping sneakers. There is a small turnout off of Pinto Basin Road, you can almost miss it because it’s a dirt road, that you drive down to a dead end spot. There, you can climb rocks and pretty much be alone in the still quiet of the desert. (Pictured on right here). It’s quite a novelty to the kid in all of us.
The fourth unique thing about this park is that there are no huge souvenir shops or eateries (in fact NO eateries; bring your own food and drink), no showers or RV hookups (though RVs are allowed), and no heavy tourist traffic. Just a bunch of people who have discovered this unique, quiet desert wonder.
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| KATCH THE JOSHUA TREE WONDER AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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PALM SPRINGS
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In October, when the weather cools, we like to head out to Palm Springs and the surrounding desert cities. Palm Springs is beautiful this time of year. The air is crisp, but not too cold, the nights are full of stars, and everyone comes out to play.
Our favorite attraction is the tramway. Most everyone knows about this aerial ride up the cliffs of Chino Canyon, but few have actually taken the time to ride the tramway. Plan on having lunch or dinner their and absorbing the experience.
The Living Desert. This is the desert’s version of Wild Animal Park. It is located in the neighboring city of Palm Desert and hosts a wide variety of wildlife and botanical wonders on its 1200 acre sprawl. |
Another little secret of Palm Springs is the Indian Canyons. This offers a spot of fresh air. There are hiking trails, Indian art and artifacts, and photographic opportunities of the contracting desert themes. There are three canyons, each with their own beauty and stories.
You can use Palm Springs as your “base camp” to fulfill your culturally needs, and wander up to Joshua Tree National Park (only 1.5 hrs away) to discover nature’s fulfillments.
Lastly, and what Palm Springs is known for, is her great shops, dining, and clear, open night skies.
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KATCH YOUR DESERT BREATH FOR THE DAY,
AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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YOSEMITE
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The National Park Service holds a special place in our hearts. Though many think of the parks as a summer getaway, the winter season offers insights to the joys of nature.
Yosemite in particular is an easy 8 hour drive to a winter wonderland.
You can ski at Badger Pass, or join a ranger snowshoe walk to explore the forest.
Yosemite has a legend called Lee Stetson. Lee is an actor who looks a lot like the real legend, John Muir. Lee performs amazing one-man plays about Muir and his adventures in Yosemite. Muir is the man who spearheaded the preservation of Yosemite as a National Park . You can find Lee performing at the Yosemite Lodge during the winter, and in the Valley’s theatre in the summer. |
If you are looking for a unique photograph to submit to the OC Fair’s 2008 competition, consider the Photography Walk where you will learn how to take great winter pictures. And of course there is always something for the kids such as Wee Wild Ones at the Ahwahnee in front of their gigantic fireplace.
Due to its popularity, lodging inside Yosemite Valley takes a little planning. For the winter, you need to call about 6 months in advance. For the summer, call one-year-and-one-day in advance. Phone: 559-253-5635 or yosemitepark.com/reservations.aspx. There is a 10% non-refundable fee for the reservation service.
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| KATCH THE YOSEMITE SPIRIT AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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San Diego
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Since the San Diego fires, the county has been hurting financially to get back on its feet. Let’s all support this county with our entertainment dollars. Besides the zoo and the wild animal park, there are San Diego Nights, a craft and entertainment fair, which starts in December at Balboa Park.
We recently took a drive down to see the harbor and view the USS Midway aircraft carrier. Though we didn’t go on (a small fee at that), it made for a wonderful backdrop to our afternoon lunch.
Or you could spend the day at the Wild Animal Park. If you are a member, you won’t feel rushed to see everything because you can come back as often as you want. |
We sometimes park ourselves on the bench next to the gorillas and watch them interact with each other. They make for some fun conversation among friends. One sign says “Don’t stare at the animals.” Sure enough, some youngster stared and one of the gorillas scooped up its own waste and hurled it at the boy. Fortunately for the boy, the gorilla doesn’t have a second career as a relief picture for the Angels, and his hurl missed by a mile.
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| KATCH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY DAY AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara is a lovely Katch the Day away from home destination. It only takes a few hours to drive there, enjoy the day, and return by early evening. Of course, you can always stay overnight in this quant beach town, if you have a little extra time to relax.
We particularly enjoy the wharf. The pier extends out far and wide. So wide in fact, that they allow you to drive on it. There are several restaurants from which to chose, and if you fancy fishing, |
bring your line and bait and enjoy the catch with the locals. The interesting part of this pier is that you can walk right up to the edge, and we do mean edge. There is no railing!
Then there is the spit. This piece of land adjacent to the yacht club, is a concrete sidewalk that jets out between the Pacific Ocean and the man-made. Along the spit, are a multitude of flag poles waving flags from all the various non-profit organizations in and around Santa Barbara. If you’re feeling particularly inquisitive, ask a local, as we did, what each flag represents. It’s quite fun to see how “local” your chosen local is when they recall the flag symbols.
We could go on and on about this enchanting town, but we’ll leave it at this:
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| KATCH THE SANTA BARBARA DAY AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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Moro Bay
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On the way back from Katching the Day at Cambria, in central California, we stopped at Morro Bay. This enchanting town gets its attention from the big rock that looks like a dome. The Morro Rock is seventh in a chain of volcanic peaks called the “Seven Sisters” that follows alongside Highway 1 for twelve miles north of San Luis Obispo. The rock is home to over 250 species of birds. You can check out the wildlife from a kayak, sailboat, or just |
walk around most of it (some is not accessible to the public).
What was interest was to see the rock from the hotel room. Sitting at a small table in the room, drinking coffee, we would watch as the fog moved through the Rock and sometimes the Rock would totally disappear then a few minutes later re-appear. Each time it re-appeared it seems larger than the last time. We started a game of “Hey, look at the rock now,” because the weather made the Rock take on a life of its own.
The shopping isn’t abundant, and not as charming as Cambria, but this town has its own personality. It’s really a fisherman’s town. Lots of fishing boats, seafood restaurants, and small bars where locals pick their guitars, (and we do mean locals).
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| KATCH THE MORRO BAY DAY AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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Cambria
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We wanted to Katch the Day in the Central Coast and came across this enchanting little town called Cambria (just south of San Simeon and Hearst Castle). They have wonderful bed and breakfasts, restaurants, shops, and galleries. They even have their own live theatre; they were performing Shakespeare. In this town you will not find the chain companies such as Starbucks or Best Western because chains are not allowed in this town by city ordinance.
We discover Artifacts Gallery, the favorite gallery of the famous “Frogman” artist, Tim Cotterill. His work with bronze frogs is fascinating.
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This is a perfect place to get caught up on your reading, reflect on the year, make plans for next year, Christmas shop, and eat well. The town is quant and yet so electrifying. And if you think this town is small, drive a little up the coast (between Cambria and San Simeon) and see the next town called Harmony. They probably named the town Harmony because you have to have it among the residents to live here —it has a population of 18! No kidding, only 18, and yet it does have a post office. When you mail letters from there, the postmark reads about 1.5” in diameter, HARMONY,CA. Want to do something totally different for Christmas cards this year? Mail them from Harmony, CA.
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Katch the Day in Cambria and (a few minutes) in Harmony and
leave the Business-keeping to us! |
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San Diego Wild Animal Park
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We headed south to Katch the Day in San Diego Wild Animal Park. The Park encompasses over 1,800 acres and is leased from the county of San Diego for $1 a year to protect its inhabitants—more than 3,500 animals representing more than 400 species. The Park was originally established to protect endangered animals and not open to the public. However, when the staff noticed how many people were pulling over the side of the road to peek in to see the animals, the administration decided to spruce up the place and make it a park.
All proceeds (entrance fees, donations, memberships (which we highly recommend) go directly to the care and research of these animals. In fact, the park houses a major quantity of certain endangered species that are scarce throughout the world but yet we have them here in our own San Diego backyard. The Park also
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breeds certain animals and sends the young off to other zoos that don’t have that particular species so people all over the world can see and learn about such animals without endangering the ones that live in the wild.
There are many animals to see on this huge lot of land, so be sure to take the free railway that runs through the Park. Also check out the Elephant show, go up on the Balloon ride (shut down when there’s too much wind), spend a little extra money and go out into the safari and see giraffes up close and personal. Check out the website: www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/index.htm |
| KATCH THE WILD ANIMAL PARK AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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Old Town San Deigo
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San Diego has many wondrous things to enjoy, and one little place we stumbled upon recently was Old Town San Diego. This little town, which is only a mile long and one-half mile wide, is considered the birthplace of California.
In keeping with the history of this small town, everything has a Spanish and Indian flair to it. From the food, to the stores, to the buildings. Our favorite building was the Whaley House on the main drag-San Diego Avenue. Thomas Whaley came to California and first settled in San Francisco |
during the Gold Rush. Mr. Whaley’s great-grandfather, Alexander Whaley, participated in the Boston Tea Party and the Revolutionary War where he provided flintlock muskets to solders and the use of his house to General George Washington. His great-grandson, Thomas, followed in his active footsteps. The house Thomas built in San Diego was used as a theatre, a meeting room for the Board of Supervisors, a courthouse, and a general store over the course of Thomas’ life there. The house has been completely restored, and for a small fee you can see how the house functioned in all its capacities.
Old Town San Diego is conveniently located right off the 5 freeway, just south of highway 8. Enjoy a day or a few hours and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time. |
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KATCH OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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Amtrak to Santa Barbara
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Last spring we took the Amtrak to a wonderful place. We told you all about the train ride, but we’ve waited until now to tell you about the destination—Santa Barbara!
This quant town is more than just a train stop, or a little wine-sipping rest. It’s a town for all your cares and whims.
The train station is perfectly positioned in Santa Barbara so that you can easily walk to all the ideal places such as the ocean, pier, restaurants, and even the Mission.
We especially enjoined the Botanic Garden, with all of its lush greenery and native flowers. There was a sea of California Poppies in full bloom at the end of March. This is a great place to take a picnic lunch! (We cheated and took a cab here, but well worth the fare). |
We also checked out the Santa Barbara Historical Society on De La Guerra Street (the name gives some history away). We then hiked up a ways to the Old Mission of Santa Barbara. There are self-guided tours for $4.00 that allow you to see how the missionaries of Spain settled in this town. The Mission still holds weekly masses in the sanctuary.
One of the biggest kicks was eating on the pier and later walking to the end; (you can even drive on the pier). The pier isn’t that long, but strangely enough it has no guard rails. You can walk right up to the very edge of the pier without obstruction! |
| KATCH SANTA BARBARA, AND LEAVE THE BUSINESS-KEEPING TO US! |
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Palm Springs Tramway
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The Palm Springs Tramway is a must for locals and tourists. Mt. San Jacinto State Park has made this a smooth trip up in a cabin that holds 80 people, makes two 360 degree rotations in its 10 minute ride up the mountain. And what a view it is.
We recommend, if you go this time of year, to take warm clothes and make t a time to play in the snow. You can bring your own snow shoes, skis andpoles, or a sled. You can also rent snow shoes and boots and they do have a small supply of rental skis (sleds you buy for $20);however renting |
eats into your play time. We definitely suggest you bring gloves, waterproof boots, a jacket, and a hat to cover your ears. It can get chilly (32 degrees) up there. There are no lights in the meadow area so playing in the snow is during daylight time; rental places at 4pm. However, the restaurants (from cafeteria style to fancy), a gift shop, and beautiful viewing from outdoor patios stay open until the last tram leaves at 9:45pm.
To get to the Tramway, take the 10 east to the 111 to Palm Springs for about 8 miles until you see the sign for Tramway, turn right and follow the road up about 1,000 feet. Park in one of many parking lots (make a note of the name of your parking lot) and catch the shuttle bus to the main station at the base of the mountain. You buy your tickets there which are sold on a time slot basis leaving every 10 minutes. Your wait to ride the Tram will depend on how busy they are; we had to wait 1hr 10 minutes to go up. This gave us time to freshen up, eat a sandwich we packed, and do a little shopping in a gift shop. The price is $21 for adults and $14 for children. |
| Ride the Tram, play in the snow, and leave the business-keeping to us! |
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La Brea Tar Pits
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We Seized the history and went to the La Brea Tar Pits at the Page
Museum in Los Angeles. Just an hour away, this museum offers a fascinating insight in the history of the animals that used to walk the face of the earth.
Many, many years ago, in the area that is now the Page Museum off of Wilshire Blvd, crude oil (i.e. tar) seeped out |
of the ground through conduits and fissures in the coastal plain sediments forming pools.
Animals wandered into the pools and got trapped. Their predators went after them and they too became trapped. Over time, they seeped into the tar and new animals would get caught. Because of the nature of tar, the animals carcasses were preserved.
Scientists are still uncovering fossils in the pits and you can watch them in the “fish bowl” laboratory inside the museum as they clean and tag the fossils. There are many animals that have been fully uncovered and now on exhibit. Catch the short film on the history of the pits and take some time to walk the museum campus outside where they have marked the actual tar pits.
The museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm; weekend and minor holidays 10am to 5pm. Admission is $7 for adults and $4.50 for children, students, and seniors. Parking is $8.00 or you can park on the street and pay the meter. 5801 Wilshire Bl, L.A. CA 90036
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| Seize the animal's past, and leave the business-keeping to us! |
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Ojai
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We recently took a trip to Ojai, California
and found the town to be an enchanting place to visit. We happened upon it when they were celebrating the first annual Lavender Festival. Yes, a festival celebrating the lavender plant and all its charms. Leave it to this enchanting little town to find a reason to celebrate. Although this Festival is gone, there are still many other interesting things to do in Ojai.
We particularly liked the store Human Arts Home, located on E. Ojai Avenue. This store has unique, hand-made |
furniture and accessories for the home. It would be remiss if we neglected to tell you about the art found in Ojai. In fact, if we were to thumbnail Ojai, we would say it is the inland, rustic version of Laguna Beach. Find that special picture or sculpture for your home in this quaint little town and you'll discover it will be the center of conversation for years to come.
To get to Ojai, take the 5 north to the 101 north. Exit highway 33 going northeast. Hwy 33 will take you straight into Ojai. It is about 2 hours from Orange County. Check for better routes depending on traffic. Check out www.visitojai.com for more information.
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| Enjoy the Ojai countryside and leave the business-keeping to us! |
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