Staycations California

Doheny State Beach

While sitting on the beach at Doheny State Park recently, my friend said to me that it felt like we were somewhere else, not California. As I looked around, I felt the same. The ocean had two different hues of blue with the lighter shade near the shore and the darker shade farther out. There was a distinct line between the two colors so it looked as if there was a reef. The air was hot and humid and we felt like we could almost be sitting on a beach in Hawaii or the Caribbean.   Taking a swim, the water temperature was warm too, well, warm for California standards at 72 degrees. I know, I know, a far cry from the 80 degree temperature in the Caribbean but refreshing enough for us!   So, as an avid daydreamer, I spent the rest of the day imagining I was somewhere else.

A line separated the light hue of the ocean to a darker one on the outside.

Doheny State Park
In reality, Doheny State Park is just south of the Dana Point Harbor.   Besides having a camping area, it also provides day use parking, grass picnic areas, and volleyball courts.

At the south jetty sits a popular surfing beach where the waves gently roll in making it a perfect spot for long surfboards as well as the shorter sticks.   In recent years, the stand-up-paddle(SUP) boarders have shared the lineup which has made it more crowded than ever. However, it looked like there were plenty of waves for everyone to enjoy their day. In keeping with my fantasy of being somewhere else, the surfing beach looked a lot like Waikiki in Hawaii with its crowds and slow rolling waves.   All you needed were the outrigger canoes sharing the waves and I would swear I was there!   Oh, and a Mai Tai wouldn’t hurt either.

Farther down the beach, campsites are available for motor homes as well as tents. There are no hook-ups but bathrooms and showers are provided.

Orange Sun and Moon

We were lucky enough to get assigned an ocean front space.   All of the spaces are close to the beach but being right there is pretty special, especially at sunset when we enjoyed our dinner while watching the dazzling display of orange.   Soon, the fire pit was ignited and we munched on s’mores as we viewed the bright moon descend towards the horizon and then magically turn into a vibrant orange as it slithered from our sight.

Enjoying these natural events is at your disposal whether you go for the day or for the whole weekend. Day parking lasts until 10:00pm so there is plenty of time to enjoy the day and far into the night.

SUP’s and Rocky Trenches
You can easily launch your SUP right out front of the day use area or your campsite because there are long intervals between the wave sets.   The park keeps you safe with lifeguards but I would suggest checking with the park first to find out what hours lifeguards are actually on duty.

A lull in the waves makes the Pacific look like a lake.

You do have to time your SUP launching so a set of waves aren’t crashing right when you are about to take off.   The waves break pretty close to shore which can send that 10’ vehicle flying into unsuspecting legs, causing the unlucky person to do a forward or back flip. Yes, I did witness this and after seeing if the person was okay, let’s just say it was a lot on the humorous side.

The only thing I didn’t like was the rocky trench that was just at water’s edge.   As you step in the water and head out farther, all of a sudden you are in a trough filled with beach rocks of every size.   It is not pleasant on your feet!   Once past this small and miserable channel, you step up on even ground with the relief of soft sand the rest of the way. Eventually, we discovered that if you time it just right, you can dive into the trough to keep your feet from having to trudge over the rocks, but you better time it correctly or you end up face first in shallow water.

The dreaded and evil trench is just a  few feet from waters edge.

The ocean was calm with an occasional wave and there were no rips or currents, at least on this day. Once you finished your swim, you had to traverse over the dreaded rocky trench again on your way back to shore. A few moments of achy feet is all worth it to swim in our glorious Pacific Ocean and only a minor downside to camping here.   Doheny is still one of my favorite camp spots and highly recommended by Staycationscalifornia.

Open ocean is right out front of your campsite for a leisurely stroll on your SUP.
The Harbor

The Dana Point Harbor is close by if you want to bypass the campsite cooking, you can find every type of food from fine dining to simple cafes. There is also a launch ramp in the marina if you have a boat, kayak, or any other type of water toy.   There are stores and shops plus rentals for boats, personal water craft, and kayaks.

Paradise Found
It occurred to me that I didn’t really have to daydream of being somewhere else; Doheny is exceptional all on its own. I don’t need to imagine that I am in Hawaii or St. Thomas… I have it all right in front of me!!

As summer was coming to a close in California, Doheny provided a perfect slice of heaven. No need to pack your bags and get on an airplane… paradise was right here all along.

 

Story and Photos: Debbie Colwell

Parting Shot:

Two different ways to enjoy the day. One in the safety of a beach chair and the other flying high above the breakers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caliber

We went to a private fund raiser recently and had the pleasure of seeing the San Diego band appropriately called “ Caliber”.

Caliber was named the 2014 winner of “Best Local Band” and I can see why.

Besides the fact that they are excellent musicians and singers, they ooze of charisma while performing. Brian Prusinski and Lady Ivy are the front people and both look like they are having a great time on stage. Scott Proseus adds to the sound with his expert guitar playing . Case in point, during one song I could have closed my eyes and sworn Santana himself was on stage.

They are known for engaging the audience and didn’t disappoint on this venture. They came off of the stage to dance with us, had us singing, and at one point threw out percussion instruments for us to shake to the up-tempo tunes they were playing.

Most of the music we heard was dance music from every era including today’s hits. If we weren’t shaking our booty out on the dance floor we were sitting back and enjoying the high caliber music. Pun intended.

A fun, fun, fun, band that I recommend going to see or booking for your event.

Here is their contact and their website.

 

Photo:Jolan Schmidt

Falling Asleep at the Wheel

Imagine cruising down the road going 85 miles per hour with no worries about speeding tickets, gridlock, sig alerts, or fender benders.  The road is actually a railroad and we are talking about riding on the train!! In our case it was the Coaster which services Oceanside and 6 other stops on its way south to its final destination of San Diego.

On any given day in California, a train leaves a depot transporting travelers to work or for play. In our case it was play as we were heading to San Diego for the annual Sand Sculpting Contest at the ’B’ Street Pier.

Also leaving that terminal is Amtrak and the Metrolink trains. Amtrak travels up and down the entire state of California and can be a great option for a weekend trip out of town or a one day excursion.

 
Great Stops
With the Oceanside Transit center nearby, we have often jumped on the train to visit places just for the day . On one such occasion, we took the train and traveled just 30 minutes up the road to San Juan Capistrano for a leisurely lunch and a visit to the mission which is only steps from the train. Another time we took a short hop over to San Clemente where the train traverses only a few feet from the beach and stops across the street from the base of the pier. We have also journeyed as far north as scenic Santa Barbara to enjoy a traffic free weekend away from home.

Either way, it is always fun to take the train!!

All Aboard!
On this outing, we decided we didn’t want to mess with traffic or parking, so we took the Coaster to its final stop at Santa Fe station in San Diego.

The seating on the Coaster includes regular train type seats facing the same way, seats facing each other for groups, and tables which allow you to eat, play games, or work on your computer.
Wi Fi is also included.

The hour or so ride to San Diego can be scenic as it passes through stretches that give you an unobstructed view of the ocean and the lagoons nearby.  Once you arrive at the Santa Fe Station, the trolley is right across the street and, from experience, we knew it would take us to the stop we desired.   So we easily strolled over and hopped on it to take us to the Embarcadero.     For twelve dollars, we bought a round trip day pass which also included the trolley.

The view from the train.

The Embarcadero is home to attractions such as, the USS Midway museum ship , the Star of India, and seven other historic vessels belonging to the San Diego Maritime Museum. It is a bustling area that offers every type of boat tour or dinner cruise imaginable and restaurants and hotels are nearby.   Just to the south is Seaport Village with more restaurants and a variety of shops.

‘B’ Street pier and the U.S.S. Midway

Sand Castles
The Sand castle event was held on top of the ‘B’ street pier.   Along with the event, local vendors displayed their goods, live music played on a stage, and food trucks were available with an eclectic mix of cuisines.     At the sand castle competition, a few artists were still working on their masterpieces while others were completely finished. It is interesting to see them work at their craft as we took note of the tools, techniques, and the patience it takes to build something from a shifting substance such as sand. One 3D art piece allowed you to look through the middle to see the tiny figure at the end and I was in wonder on how they could build such large square structures out of sand. I remember trying to work on my own castle as a kid only to have it crumble when I tried to square off a wall.   It is testament on how much these artists know about their medium and how advanced it has become from its beginnings as a childs activity at the beach.
They also don’t have to worry about their big brother casually coming over and yelling ,”Earthquake” as he kicks down their creation. Just saying.

The Bay
The star of the show for me was the bay itself.   At the end of the pier you have a clear 180 degree view of the harbor and the entire action taking place in front.   Pirate ships sailed by slowly and you could see the passengers happily enjoying the ride.   As two of the ships passed by each other you soon heard the loud explosions coming from old time cannons.  Of course there were no actual cannon balls flying from one ship to the other as I think that might wipe the smiles off of most of their faces. However, the illusion of a battle was what it was all about.

Engaging in battle.

Speed boats and personal watercraft flew by with the huge military ships as their backdrop. A massive aircraft carrier moored across the bay reminded us that we shared these waters with an actual working naval port.  As you looked south, the Coronado Bridge stood high and mighty hovering far above the sailboats that were gliding easily among the warm summer breezes.

Close to Seaport Village sits a small marina with an active fishing fleet.

Submarines also find their home in the harbor.

Pirates ships seem to be aplenty.

On a wonderful summer day like this I can make any excuse to go to San Diego, they could have had turtle races and I would have still made the trip.

Hop on a train and discover your area or any place nearby. Happily, you will never hit traffic, you will always find a parking space, and you’ll never have to worry about falling asleep at the wheel!

 

Story and Photos: Debbie Colwell

 

We are always on the lookout for unusual and interesting things to do here at Staycations California. So perusing through our trusty Groupons we came across the Lions Tigers & Bears Sanctuary in Alpine, California.

About LTB
Lions Tigers & Bears is a non-profit rescue facility that provides a safe haven for unwanted and abused Big Cats and other exotic animals.

The facility allows the animals to live out their lives with love, safety, and medical care.

Founder, Bobbi Brink, started LTB after witnessing the abuse affiliated with the “exotic animal trade” where animals were subjected to terrible care and conditions. The facility started out helping big cats but soon ended up taking in a few different types of bears.

Take a Tour
Walking tours are offered at the facility to view and feed these wonderful animals. Guides offer up information along the way and all questions are answered by the informative staff. There are double fences around each enclosure which made it safe for separation of the animals but made it hard to get a photo without a chain link fence in the shot.

Feeding the animals is an extra fee and you are allowed to go beyond the first fence to get up-close. You also get to pick which one you want to feed. Will it be the hungry lion, tiger, or bear? Don’t worry, the 30 foot plus fence stands between you as dinner. Did I say “as” dinner?   I meant, you “and” dinner.

All kidding aside, these animals were born into captivity and it is always uncertain how they would react with human contact as they grow older.   So best to stay behind the barriers and admire them from afar. During the feeding an extra long barbecue type fork is used to offer up the meal between the links of the fence. There is plenty of room for safety, yet it is close enough to see the whites of their eyes, or the yellow of their eyes in some cases.

Tigers
I choose the tiger and was mesmerized on how big his paws were. They were the size of a human face! This magnificent animal gladly accepted each bite of food it was offered and you almost felt like petting it if you could…almost. You can participate in the two feedings daily or just sign up for the tour. Seeing the size of the tiger, I was glad I live in California where these cats don’t roam around freely.   Still, you can’t help but appreciate these large animals and feel happy that they have a great home.

Bears
On to the bears which are a part of California wildlife. The sanctuary had a few different breeds including Black and Grizzly. The bears were brought out of their pens to hunt for the meat chunks that were earlier placed in their habitat. One bear bypassed the food and headed straight for the pool of water. The big beast was in heaven as it splashed around in the mid day heat. Again, you marveled at the size of these animals and it made me feel glad yet again, that I live in a city where my only concern about getting bit is by a mosquito.

The big draw was the leopard with most of the group holding out to feed this colorful and spotted animal.   Because of a generous donor, Conga the leopard had her own enclosed skyway that allowed her to view all action taking place below.   She knew it was almost feeding time as she paced back and forth eyeballing the volunteers while waiting for them to arrive with her meal.   Showing off her climbing abilities, she easily ascended high on the chain link fence to pick off the food from your outstretched fork.

The facility also had bobcats and mountain lions.   It was the first time I have seen a mountain lion and again this is an animal we could possibly run into on California hiking trails. They told us that they can chirp like birds and it is an unusual sound to be wary of if you hear it in the wilderness.   Best defense is to be prepared with pepper spray and a whistle.

Most of these animals cannot be returned to the wilderness for one reason or another, so they happily live out their life under the guidance of the founder and volunteers.   Their beginnings may have been terrible but this part of their life at the sanctuary will be filled with love and care.

Bobbi Brink has a home on the facility and there is also a retreat where you can stay overnight and enjoy the sounds of wild animals at night. Imagine going to sleep with the sound of a lion roaring or a tiger growling.   That is something we don’t experience every day.

There is also a fully operational medical room on site for immediate animal care.

Lions
We made our way to a shaded area with chairs and tables to enjoy a cold drink after the tour.   The grand finale was announced and all eyes glanced towards the large but empty area just a few feet away. Out came the lions searching for the food that was strewn about in the enclosure.   After the munch-out, they drank from the pool of water and then settled in for a well deserved nap.   One lion growled a little at the tigers that were caged close by but soon joined the others for the afternoon siesta.   It was awesome to see them roam free in their own habitat. You were then allowed to walk freely around the facility to take a look at all the animals again.

All and all, it was an interesting tour and experience. It is not every day you can be so close to wild animals, especially these magnificent cats. As dangerous as some of these animals could be, we couldn’t ignore the fact that they had been animals that were abused, neglected, or unwanted by man.   Thankfully, the Lion Tigers & Bears Sanctuary is around to care for them unconditionally.

If you want more information or want to help, please check out their website link:

Or Browse:   http://lionstigersandbears.org

Story and photos: Debbie Colwell
Photo of Debbie feeding tiger: Jolan Schmidt

 

Parting Shot:

Seeing this lion eyeball me made me glad there were not one but two fences between us.

This week we take you to the Moonlight Theater in Vista, California.

I was reading a question on the Moonlight Theaters web page and it asked, “ Is it a good place to bring a date?”   I had to laugh because I thought, “Heck yeah it is a great place to take a date!!!” Unlike the movies, you are sitting outside and in most cases on a warm summer night. You will be under the stars and get to see the oranges and reds of the sunset as it sets just beyond the stage. You can bring your favorite food or your dates favorite food and set it up with a table and wine, then enjoy a romantic meal before the stage production begins. However, don’t forget you’ll have plenty of neighbors close by so don’t get too romantic.

The Moonlight Theater is an outdoor venue that is known for having some of the most professional Broadway caliber shows.

The venue offers reserved seating with actual stationary chairs but a lot of people prefer sitting on the grass that is adjacent to the seating area or on the hillside just beyond. The hillside seating offers a state-of-the-art sound system so you hear the whole musical clearly. The grass area on each side of the reserved seating is the closest to the stage and that real estate can get snatched up by those early in line.   I hear it is now artificial turf because of the water shortage but still gives you that picnic feel. It opens an hour-and-a-half early so get there to claim your space!

If you don’t want to bring your own food, the on-site Artisan Café sells a variety of wines and beers and has sit down seating available two hours before the show, however I would suggest reserving your seats. There are also walk up concession stands available at the venue.

Low chairs are provided when you walk in the door and yes you have to give them back, but they are included in the ticket price. No, you can’t bring in your own chairs. If you grunt and groan getting out of a low beach chair, you may want to opt for their reserved seating chairs that are normal height.

Beside romantic dates, it is a great gathering place for friends and family to kick back enjoy a meal, socialize, and finally enjoy a top notch musical production. You can bring everything you need except alcohol. As mentioned, that is available at the Artisan Café.

Adding to a great evening and keeping the first date expenses low, they provide free parking that is available adjacent to the Amphitheater within Brengle Terrace Park. Plus they operate a free shuttle in the main grass parking lot before and after the show.

I have been there many times and have never seen a bad production or had a bad seat.

The production of Shrek runs through August 29^th. Staycationer JoJo was lucky enough to catch it during the week and has a a few photos of the venue for us below. The show was inspired by the DreamWorks animated film, “Shrek”, which featured the green-skinned ogre that we have all come to love. This show has all sorts of characters, spectacular stage and lighting effects, levitations, a huge fire breathing dragon operated by 4 stage hands and of course the music and the actors.

The actors are all either professional regional actors or Broadway artists. Each production also is accompanied by a live orchestra.

So if you are on a first date or married 50 years, the Moonlight Theater gets you out enjoying the wonderful summer nights of California under the stars above. Oh, and a Broadway caliber production doesn’t hurt either.

 

See a teaser of the production of Shrek the Musical at this link: