We’ve spent 10 years writing about beach vacations in California, but early on, we were alerted to the vacations in California that didn’t have a beach anywhere in them. After visiting over 250 beaches, it was time to go exploring the other California assets such as its mountains, state parks and beautiful national parks. In recent months, we’ve checked out Sequoia National Park and in the past, visited the beautiful Big Trees park in Calaveras County. If we had strictly stayed at the beach, can you imagine what we might have missed? And why wouldn’t you want to report on something so compelling, and so delightful as the world’s largest and tallest trees? California has many, many biggest and best assets, and offers some of the best vacations in the world. We know, because we’ve seen tourists from around the world in the national parks, especially. Sure, beaches are a dime a dozen. There are warmer beaches, there are sandier beaches, and there are more aqua-colored waters than our ocean colors here in Calif. On a recent road trip of the state’s beaches, we discovered in fact, that there are really no more than 150 beachfront hotels in the entire state, and that’s not very many! In Florida you will find a lot more, which explains why Florida does so well when it comes to lurury vacations and resort stays. California can’t compete, mainly because there are laws in place to protect and preserve the beaches for all people. That’s absolutely great and we love California for making the beaches public!
Now for the vacation in California that has nothing to do with a beach. In the winter the mountain tops glisten white and many head to the mountains for a winter wonderland snow and ski trip. From Mammoth to Lake Tahoe, Big Bear to Bear Mountain, skiiers know when it snows, and they go. For us year-round sunshine fans, a winter mountain vacation can be a nice change. Another delight is the desert in the winter and spring. In the summer it is downright hot. Businesses shut down and come back into operation when the fall comes along, thanks to high temps. Check out places such as Palm Desert and Palm Springs in the winter, and your desert vacation is optimal for relaxation. I can go on for hours about the opportunities to travel in California in non-beach destinations. Suffice to say, the beach is one thin strip of land that runs 1000 miles along the oceanfront, but the other 99 percent of land is not a beach, and that’s where the fun begins for those willing to explore.
South Coast Watershed Resource (WRC) at Arroyo Burro Beach opened recently and will be open to the public on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This eco-friendly building in the Santa Barbara serves as an educational learning center and as a model of green building practices. Watersheds determine the health of our creeks and beaches with approx. 80 % of ocean pollution originating from land. In a unique and symbiotic partnership, environmental educators from Art From Scrap’s Green Schools program have been teaching watershed education classes at the WRC, began managing the building in 2006, and recently received funding from The Coastal Fund at UCSB to hire two student interns. Displays, games, watershed models, a wet lab, and an extensive library of books about water issues, all offer guests insight and ideas for conservation. A photovoltaic system, use of natural lighting, and salvaged floor that was originally a gymnasium court are points of interest in this eco-friendly building. Location: 302 East Cota Street, Santa Barbara, CA
While tennis at the beach is not one of the top sports activities these days, you will find out that courts are in demand on a spring day in February and with perfect weather, even a novice player can have fun just being outdoors.
I could tell that tennis at the beach just isn’t what it used to be when my local beach resort hotel, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, shuttered the metal gate to its courts, and closed tennis down, opting for other activities on demand, such as a new pleasure pool built in theme park fashion for kids. Out in search of great beach tennis, I knew the courts along Balboa & Newport Blvds. would be in demand on this sunny Feb. afternoon, so I decided not to head south for a game. I’ve played often at the two courts available in Huntington Harbour at the Harbour View School. These were courts renovated through the help of a Realtor I’ve met, Sean Stanfield, who ranks as one of the top 10 in sales nationally. Thanks Sean for helping save the decaying court surfaces we used to trip and fall over!
A nice public court that’s often available in early afternoon is in Seal Beach. And the beauty of this park with two courts is that there’s a view of the Alamitos Harbor from the courts (through the green mesh). On this particular afternoon, the weather was just out of this world. We’d been going there in the recent rains, taking a broom and sweeping off the courts so we could play. Sure, my tennis balls are duds now, thanks to getting wet. But the setting makes everything so enjoyable. Kids swing and play in the lawns and playground near the courts, and basketball players get togehter for games on the other side of the fence. There’s a soft breeze that blows through from the Pacific Ocean just a few blocks away, and even though the afternoon sun hits one person smack dab in the eyes, it’s still worth playing. While I’ve never actually discovered tennis courts ON the beach, the closest experience can be found at the tennis courts at Hotel del Coronado. From your elevated vantage point, you can play tennis and see the beach and bay just below the courts. It’s outstanding!
Huntington Beach turns 100 today. Happy birthday to you. Solvang’s is coming up in just a year or two and they are gearing up. What do people do to celebrate city birthdays? Parades, floats, contests, city plaques, time capsules, races and relays are but a few of the 21st century events to make the season bright for residents who now reside in these 100-year-old California beach destinations. Are you have a birthday? Here’s a deal to make your event even more memorable and noteworthy. Disneyland is allowing California residents to get into the theme park free on their special day.
Master Model Builders at LEGOLAND California are busy making a birthday cake to celebrate the Park’s 10th birthday. Build and submit your own LEGO models in the “10 Years of Fun” Building Contest.
Finalists from the contest will be invited to walk the red carpet at
LEGOLAND California’s birthday celebration on March 20, 2009 featuring
a VIP screening of the new Bob the Builder 4D movie “Bob and the
Roller Coaster.”
The
“10 Years of Fun” Building Contest starts today and continues through
March 12, 2009. Contestants are asked to build their own
LEGO tribute to LEGOLAND California’s 10th birthday. Entrants in three
age categories (4 to 9, 10 to 15 and 16 and up) are asked to send
photos
of their LEGO creations to the Park to be judged by Master Model
Builders. Five winning models will be chosen from each age category and
photos of
their models will be displayed during the birthday celebration on March
20.
Models must be made entirely out of LEGO brick, and can be no larger than 12 inches tall by 10 inches wide.
Actual models cannot be accepted,
but photos of creations can be uploaded online at legoland.com/poster
mailed to “10 Years of Fun”
Building Contest, One LEGOLAND Drive, Carlsbad California 92008; or
hand delivered to Guest Services at LEGOLAND California by 5 p.m. on
March 12,
2009. For complete contest rules and regulations, visit legoland.com/poster
Finalists
will be notified by phone or e-mail and listed on LEGOLAND California’s
website by March 17, 2009 and will receive the red carpet
treatment at LEGOLAND California’s 10th birthday party. Grand Prize
winners from each age category will be announced that night and will
receive
a LEGOLAND prize package including a family four-pack of annual Resort
passes with unlimited admission to LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE™
Aquarium for one year.
Governor Schwarzenegger, please leave our car license fee alone. And please don’t increase our gas tax. What are you trying to do, break our backs? While the governor again created a budget that throws out red flags, this Valentines Day at the California beaches we’ll be seeing red. In our household, we are discussing what salad we can dine on as our family Valentine treat. I have posted events on my calendars such as smooth jazz concerts ($75), gondola rides ($75), and other items for Valentine’s Day. Fortunately I have done and seen all those things and don’t feel I’m missing out. But the truth of the matter is that one neighbor just lost their house, another divorced and sold their house to pay off debts, and still, these people went to rock concerts at $50 a pop. I wondered where they were getting the money from if they were losing their house.
The cold, hard facts are that Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday that is all about spending money. I’ve never been one to believe that on a particular day, things suddenly become important or special. One comedian said, “Let’s pull out emergency Christmas to stimulate spending.” California beaches will be mostly cool this Valentine’s Day. The hotels aren’t booked this year. And as far as sales go, they are down across the board. Not just for Californiabeaches.com, but for nearly every hotel and hotel rooms broker. There’s room at the inn, and some deals if you look around. In our next segment, we’re going to start concentrating on those rooms along the beach. There’s only 150 or so hotels on the beach in California, believe it or not. And when you find them, they’re not always cheap, nor are they always nice. Nevertheless, there are some shining stars worth pointing out. I’ve spent 10 years looking for them and I know some hidden secrets the locals don’t tell you about or publicize. For now, go treat yourself to a new pen, coffee drink, special meal, or even a t-shirt or socks. You don’t have to spend a fortune this Valentine’s Day. At the beach, it’s all about sand, waves & weather.