Staycations California

The Adamson House:
Just perusing Google to find something to do up in the Los Angeles area, we came across the Adamson House in Malibu.

This grand home sits on the beach very close to the Malibu Pier so we thought it might be interesting to see what it was all about, plus I have never seen the pier.   At the very worst, hanging out by the beach wouldn’t be such a bad way to spend the day.

Situated just off of Pacific Coast Highway, we saw the Adamson sign and turned into an all day parking lot that cost a hefty twelve dollars a car.  We learned later you could also park on the street to save the parking fees.

The sign just off of PCH

Since the home is open to the public, you don’t have to pay to just walk around the outside or visit the museum.   It is only if you take the inside docent led tour that you have to pay a nominal seven dollars each.

The front courtyard. You can walk around without taking the tour.

We paid the fee and made our way into the five car garage that has been converted into the visitor center/ museum.  There you can view old photos and learn a little more about the beginnings of the house.

While in the garage, you are then led to a seating area where the guide proceeds to tell you the history of how the home came to be.

My problem is, I am a visual person so I just wanted to get into the house.  To top things off, somewhere during our guide’s speech she mentioned that no photos could be taken inside, darn!!!!

I started getting antsy, the history lesson was taking way too long. I just wanted the basics but she was getting into the chronicles of both the original families.  I looked around and most people seemed to be enjoying the lecture by laughing when they were supposed to or nodding during interesting tidbits. My eyes were wandering, I was officially losing interest.  Maybe these types of tours are not for me.

The History of Adamson House:
So with that in mind I will give you a very brief history.

This site was once the home of the Chumash Indians who lived there until the late 18^thcentury.  Later, the Rindge family owned the location as well as 20 miles of additional coastline  Soon the family’s daughter, Rhoda, along with her husband, Merritt Huntley Adamson, used this plot of land to construct a beach house.

Built in 1929, it sits on one of the most premier oceanfront spots in all of Southern California.

In 1968 the State of California bought the property and it is now a National Historic Site plus a California Historical Landmark.

There is so much more involved in the history but let’s leave it at that and get to the actual tour!

The Tour:
It was now time to go inside!   Standing in the courtyard, we got our first glimpse at the massive front door while the docent described the windows, tiles, and other architectural features.  My eyes wandered yet again but this time towards that amazing beach, the sparkling ocean view, and just offshore, the emerging rocks of the tide pools
.

The view from the court yard. The tide pools are to the left.

Continue reading “The Adamson House, Malibu”

Del Mar

We didn’t set out to go to Del Mar on this typical gray day in California but somehow we ended up driving through this southern coastal town located in San Diego County.

We had an activity planned but changed our mind, so we turned back towards Interstate 5 which was just a short mile away.

However, the freeway was going to have to wait as we came across a great little lookout featuring an expansive view of the San Dieguito Lagoon.  There was a long wooden pier like structure that allowed us to walk out and gaze over the waterways.   It was then and there that we decided to explore a little more around this area and the rest of Del Mar.

A few friendly locals were also enjoying the scene and let us know about all the different types of fish that wander through the canals.  They also rattled off the many species of birds that call this place home including an often returning Blue Heron.

Amazingly, we were told of an Osprey nest about a mile away , so finding it was now our immediate mission.  This is exactly why I like to talk to the people who live in the area because you find out about little tidbits like this.

So we set out in the general area and drove around until we saw the nest perched way up high on a super tall man-made pole.  I strained my telephoto as far as it could go and definitely saw the Ospreys, all three of them.

The male sat at the very top post protecting and surveying the scene below while the female tended to the nest or maybe newborns?  I moved a little closer to get a clearer shot even though I could tell the male was watching me closely  to make sure I didn’t disturb his home and family.   Pretty cool getting eye balled by an Osprey while I was about a quarter mile from the Interstate 5 and only a stones throw from  Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Where the Surf Meets the Turf
Speaking of the fairgrounds, this is Del Mars claim to fame.  These renowned grounds are the host to over 300 events every year.  This includes the big draw events like, the San Diego County Fair, Del Mar thoroughbred horse races, the Scream Zone at Halloween, and the Holiday of Light show at Christmas.  There are a multitude of shows for horses, home products, concerts, and much more.

Continue reading “Del Mar”

The Tale of Ghosts, Munchkins, Musical Bridges, and Man-Made Animals:

The plan was to go to Los Angeles for the day to explore a few different and unusual things that we investigated via Google.   However,   laziness was taking over as on this dreary gray day in Southern California, the warmth of a couch was more inviting.

As the morning was slipping away, a few of us decided that we had to get going and seize the day.   Los Angeles was out of the question now because it was already approaching noon and L.A. is a two hour drive.

So our trusty search engine found a few out of the ordinary things to do in the nearby San Diego area that sounded interesting.

Each one on its own wouldn’t be worth the drive but we bunched a few together since they were all within five miles of each other.

With a plan of action and directions in hand, we set off to visit four unusual things to do in San Diego.

The 25^th Street Musical Bridge
On one of the lists we read, it told about a bridge in San Diego that has 488 chimes on its rail that If struck would actually play music.

Artist Roman de Salvo and composer Joseph Waters created this unusual musical display by attaching brass pipes over the steel bars of the railing.  A song was created by cutting each pipe a certain length to create different notes.   These brass pipes fit over the steel bars of the railing so that when you hit them with a stick or metal piece, you could create a musical tone and if done right, play the song.

So the information we received said to bring something like a stick or a metal rod as a bare hand wouldn’t work.  Basically, it is like a giant xylophone in the form of a guard rail next to the sidewalk.

On this Saturday afternoon, the bridge was easily found and I asked a passerby if that was the musical bridge since nobody was on the sidewalk.  He didn’t know so it made me wonder if we would look stupid going back and forth whacking on the railing.

Then I looked over at Staycationer JoJo and saw what she brought to hit against the pipes.  It was a hollow plastic vacuum cleaner attachment!!     You know the kind you use to get in corners and behind furniture.   I thought to myself, is that is all she could find?

The bridge was in fact the musical bridge and it sat above a noisy highway.  I found this odd but as it turns out, I preferred the noise of the cars below over the awful concerto JoJo was playing.  Yes I could hear the ringing of the pipes and I am sure with a piece of metal it would sound quite nice.  However, the clattering of the plastic attachment overwhelmed the mellow wind chime type ringing coming from the railing.  What was supposed to be a pleasing sound was actually, ok, I will say it…annoying.

I don’t think the composer had vacumn cleaner attachments in mind when he designed the musical pipes.

If you choose to go, you can find the bridge on 25^th Street in San Diego near F and G streets.  It hovers over the State Route  94 freeway.   Take it from me, bring something metal.

Continue reading “Four Unusual Things to do in San Diego “

The Day at the Docks

On the end of the line, the mighty trout was fighting for dear life while on the other end,  Staycationer JoJo was fiercely reeling it up to the surface.   As the fish tugged and pulled, the rod would bend over almost to its breaking point.  Two minutes into this struggle, JoJo was huffing and puffing as her face was turning a bright crimson red.  She was getting tired now although soon it would be over.   You see there wasn’t really a live fish on the line, this was just a simulation, one of many booths and demos at the annual “Day at The Docks” event in San Diego.

JoJo trying to catch a fake trout

Prior to her trying this demo, there was a young boy working rigorously  to snare in a large Marlin that could be seen on the TV monitor in the tent.  Every time it jumped out of the water he would reel in the line at a rapid pace.  When it was her turn, big kid JoJo selected a smaller fish thinking she wouldn’t have to work that hard.  The trout proved to be quite a challenge.

I briefly thought I’d give it a try but the line behind me was full of youngsters anxiously waiting their turn.  I had to give it up for the kidlets as it was a great chance for them to try fishing.

The even younger tykes were given an opportunity to catch real fish in a penned in area next to one of the docks.  The netted area was stocked with small mackerel and from what I saw, every one of them caught a fish.

All of this interaction was part of this amazing celebration and was a perfect day for the whole family.

Day at the Docks:
I feel bad about reporting about it after the fact although sometimes we have to experience it ourselves first.   If it is a worthy happening as this one was, hopefully you will put it on your bucket list for the following year.

Held at America’s Cup Harbor near Point Loma, every year the Day at the Docks celebrates the beginning of the sport fishing season.  San Diego’s sport fishing fleet is known as the worlds largest.

Part of Americas Cup Harbor Continue reading “Day at the Docks”

I wish I would have visited the San Diego Botanical Gardens just two hours earlier. Maybe I wouldn’t have man-handled my succulent that I was replanting because of a broken pot. The poor thing is either going to flourish in its new home or die a slow death.     Coincidentally, two hours later while I am at the botanical gardens, a lady was speaking on how to plant and handle succulents.  She taught the crowd about things to do and things not to do.  My planting skills were on the not to do list.

The informative seminar is one of a few that they had in progress on this warm spring day in April.  Nearby, another woman spoke on the care of orchids which was perfect for my friend who had one sitting on her dining room table at home.   I am sure she listened carefully to the helpful tips as to keep the beautiful flower the vibrant purple that it was in its current state.

Art on a Sunday Afternoon
The “>San Diego Botanical Gardens has been a mainstay in Encinitas, California for many years.  Originally it was called Quail Botanical Gardens but changed its name in 2009 to gain more attention as a regional attraction.

We saw an advertisement for an “Art Fest” on social media that caught our eye and decided it was the time to give this place a visit.

So on a warm Sunday afternoon we decided to check out the San Diego Botanical Gardens and the “Art Fest”.   The festival was in full bloom with various booths featuring paintings, photography, sculptures, gourds, wood carving, and various other crafts, all from local artists.  It is always nice seeing what these creative people display and we were not disappointed.

Continue reading “San Diego Botanical Gardens”