Travelrific® Travel Journal
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California Dreamin’
By Linda Tancs
In the ultra luxe enclave of Belvedere Island, California, a one-square-mile suburb of San Francisco, stately homes command spectacular views of San Francisco, Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and Mt. Tamalpais. One stunner is Locksley Hall, a 10,000-square-foot house that sits at the tip of Belvedere Island. On offer for a mere $65 million in 2005, its wraparound veranda with Corinthian columns affords a 360-degree view of the above-named sights. Belvedere is derived from the Italian expression for “beautiful view.” Yes, indeed.
Horsing Around in Norco
By Linda Tancs
The City of Norco in southern California promotes itself as Horsetown U.S.A. That would be an apt description, considering that there are more horse trails than sidewalks. A central part of residents’ lives is the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center, featuring an assortment of equestrian events and rodeos. Of course, they celebrate National Day of the American Cowboy at the Center (this year on 28 July). This got me thinking about equestrian terms found in everyday English. Here’s a handy list.
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To Sur With Love
By Linda Tancs
Big Sur is a popular tourist destination in California, a coastline stretching along Highway 1 generally between San Simeon and Carmel. The stunning vistas afforded by the Santa Lucia Mountains’ dominance over the Pacific Ocean and the rock formations at sunset on the beach are a shutterbug’s dream. But don’t forget about the redwoods, conifers, oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, maples, alders, meadows, water ouzels and belted kingfishers in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, just 26 miles south of Carmel. Open one half hour prior to sunrise until one half hour after sunset, this Central Coast treasure beckons hikers and campers. There’s even a 61-room lodge with a conference center, Wi-Fi, cafe and grocery store.
Trash Into Treasure
By Linda Tancs
As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That’s particularly true at Glass Beach, a beach in MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg, California that is abundant in sea glass created from years of dumping garbage over the cliffs into what became a public dump. Over many decades the sea and surf has molded an array of household garbage (including obviously lots of glass) into curious colorful trinkets. Tread carefully.
America’s Luckiest City
By Linda Tancs
San Diego, California bills itself as “America’s Finest City.” Turns out, it might also be the luckiest according to Men’s Health magazine. The editors analyzed such data as debt levels, the most hole-in-ones on the golf course, the fewest lightning strikes, and the least deaths from falling objects. Apparently, residents of the southern California city enjoy their sunny clime with low debt, little lightning and even fewer mulligans. Where does your city fall on the list?
Moonlight Escape in Napa
By Linda Tancs
You’ve probably heard of the harvest moon, the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. You might have seen a red moon, caused by the particles in the Earth’s atmosphere. How about a snow moon or a wolf moon? Full moon names come to us courtesy of Native Americans. You can experience each one of them on the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Moonlight Escape tour in Napa Valley, California, one of the top wine growing regions in the world. Who could resist dinner for two in a private booth under the light of the full moon, two glasses of house wine, and the adventure of a train traveling through the night over the silver vineyards? Pick your favorite moon, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Gilroy’s Garlic Fest
By Linda Tancs
Where will you find 10 tons of beef, four tons of pasta and calamari, two tons of scampi
and two tons of fresh Christopher Ranch garlic? Gilroy, California–of course. This weekend marks the 33rd annual Garlic Festival at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, 30 miles south of San Jose. Locals can save five dollars off up to two general admission tickets on Friday with proof of residency. Cook-offs and celebrity demos are scheduled throughout the weekend, with the garlic showdown of professional chefs culminating on Sunday. You’ll be swooning to the cool sounds of jazz, rock ‘n roll, country, blues, reggae, swing and much more coming from the strolling musicians and stage performances. Don’t miss this year’s Gourmet Alley, featuring the Surf & Turf Alley Wrap–a steak, shrimp, rice, cilantro and garlic aioli wrapped in a garlic-infused lavash. Breath mints are optional.
Opera in a Ghost Town
By Linda Tancs
Death Valley Junction is an unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert in California. Formerly known as Amargosa, its sole claim to fame these days is the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel run by a former New York City Radio City Music Hall dancer, Marta Becket. Performing faithfully on weekends for an audience of none or some, Marta’s House is a previously abandoned recreation hall built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company. The marker in town explains that the community, with a population high of 300, is a historic crossroad used by Indians, ranchers, farmers, settlers and tourists. At this junction, the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad connected with the Las Vegas-Tonopah Railroad to service the Ryan and Lila C. borax mines near Ryan during the years 1914-28. The town is on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Hare-Raising Experience in San Francisco
By Linda Tancs
The rabbit, or hare, is the fourth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Welcome to the year of the rabbit. San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Festival will culminate on 19 February with an evening parade from Market and Second Street to Kearny and Jackson. Named one of the top ten parades in the world by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), the San Francisco march is one of the grandest night illuminated parades in the country (think: Disney), not to mention one of the largest celebrations of Asian culture outside of Asia. Parade highlights include elaborate floats, lion dancers, folk dancers, Chinese acrobats and a 250 foot long Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”) flowing along the parade route. Happy Year 4709.
Seaworthy in San Diego
By Linda Tancs
American author George William Curtis once said, “It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.” That could certainly be said of the Star of India, a wood-and-iron trader constructed in 1863 as the Euterpe. Now a museum piece at San Diego’s Maritime Museum, the masted beauty was made seaworthy again in 1976 after years of decay and holds the Guinness World Records distinction as the oldest active sailing ship. The downtown waterside museum also boasts a replica of a British frigate as well as a submarine, steam ferry and steam-powered yacht. All aboard!
