Can't get enough of Southern Cal

[Zeke]

In the sense that I was born here and have lived here all my life except for 2 years that sent me back in a hurry. But, after all the years I haven't seen tons of things. Never been to Griffith Observatory or the Huntington Library. Mt. Palomar either. No Death Valley. Of course the list is longer than what I have seen and done. That would be lots.

Some places I wouldn't go if it was free transportation and admittance. Universal Studios and Magic Mountain come to mind. Just in Long Beach alone things have popped up in the restaurant scene that I will never even see the exterior. There are hundreds in the city. 2 small towns I lived in I ate at every single one more than once.

Won't happen here.

[otto_kretschmer]

Palomar is a good road for motorcycles. Go to Borrego Springs sometime for lunch.

[Evans, Marv]

+1 on the Palomar road for bikes, but it can be crowded. For lunch in Borrego Springs go the the "Red Ocotillo" right off Chrtismas circle. We like riding out there during the spring when the flowers are blooming. The visitor's center is a nice place to walk and see desert plants.

[Bob Kontak]

I have stayed in Long Beach Marriot in the 80' several times. There were several pyrimid looking structures that made up the hotel. Maybe razed? There was a nice seafood restaurant within walking distance. It was pleasant.

In the early 2000's I stayed on the Queen Mary for a night then a few years later in Downtown Long Beach. By the final visit there were a lots of places to eat across the water from where the Queen Mary is docked but I have no idea what has been built since.

I was lucky to travel plenty to California. However, I wish I would have known you guys for insight when I went. E.g., we would do two three week stints in Pasadena talking to Parsons about refinery project engineering. Wide open weekends. So of course, Universal Studios for one weekend day. Once was enough.

[Yorkie]

In two weeks time I leave Southern California after 32 wonderful years. The move has been in the planning for the past two years so that spurred me into action to see all I can of this wonderful part of the world. I’ve systematically tried to visit each part of the city, eat in the restaurants, ride my dirt bikes in the deserts, visit the wild and weird (Savatiin Mountain and Bombay Beach come to mind) soak up the natural beauty. I’ve just finished visiting Utahs Mighty Five National Parks on the back of a tour from Seattle to Redondo Beach. I will miss this country and its generous and kind people. See it before you die if you can.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by Zeke

In the sense that I was born here and have lived here all my life except for 2 years that sent me back in a hurry. But, after all the years I haven't seen tons of things. Never been to Griffith Observatory or the Huntington Library. Mt. Palomar either. No Death Valley. Of course the list is longer than what I have seen and done. That would be lots.

Some places I wouldn't go if it was free transportation and admittance. Universal Studios and Magic Mountain come to mind. Just in Long Beach alone things have popped up in the restaurant scene that I will never even see the exterior. There are hundreds in the city. 2 small towns I lived in I ate at every single one more than once.

Won't happen here.

WHY? What else ya got going on? I definitely wouldn't put off doing stuff so you can post on Pelican.

Went to Death Valley yesterday to see the superbloom. It was fabulous. Drove up, looked around, had a great burger in Panamint springs and drove home. Camped and ridden in Death Valley quite a bit. Never seen it this green.

[masraum]

I've spent 4-6 weeks in the LA area (Mission Viejo - Santa Barbara). I've also spend nearly that much time in the San Fran area (Los Gatos - Miur Woods). It's a beautiful place full of lots of culture and stuff. I'd love to visit more, but I don't know that I want to live there. The cost of living seems insane at least on the housing front.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by MMARSH

WHY? What else ya got going on? I definitely wouldn't put off doing stuff so you can post on Pelican.

Went to Death Valley yesterday to see the superbloom. It was fabulous. Drove up, looked around, had a great burger in Panamint springs and drove home. Camped and ridden in Death Valley quite a bit. Never seen it this green.

Well, right now I have old age, an ill wife and little money just for starters. Now I need to cook dinner so I won't be posting on PPOT for awhile.

[Baz]

Not disagreeing. But the entire state in beautiful!

[Evans, Marv]

Originally Posted by Yorkie

In two weeks time I leave Southern California after 32 wonderful years.

I feel like my neighborhood is gone. I've had three nearby neighbors move. One to TN, another to FL and the next door neighbors moving to NJ. I think finances had something to do with it. They cashed out big time to move to lower cost locations.

[Bugsinrugs]

Lived in California my whole life. Grew up in Oakland when it was still safe. Mostly it is the mild weather. No humidity and never gets really cold or really hot. I have retired up in the foothills where we get some snow but it melts fast. For beauty I think of Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, right now I have old age, an ill wife and little money just for starters. Now I need to cook dinner so I won't be posting on PPOT for awhile.

Zeke, definitely understand about your wife. I imagine caring for her takes a good amount of time.

But, when I asked why, I didn't necessarily mean right now. I was just trying to be cute. You said you've lived here basically your entire life, so I was curious why you hadn't looked or explored around more.

[look 171]

I was the kid that couldn't sit still. Since I was about 17, I started to go see different places and I don't mean places that attracted kids my age but all or the natural beautiful places near me or in socal like kayaking into sea caves, Boron mines, and all of the off the beaten path places. Been to most places around here or the state, and all the tourist attractions including the tourists traps. I am now digging into the historical places such as the Tehachapi Loop the other thread mentioned.

There are so many places here just in Socal that are worth visiting.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by MMARSH

Zeke, definitely understand about your wife. I imagine caring for her takes a good amount of time.

But, when I asked why, I didn't necessarily mean right now. I was just trying to be cute. You said you've lived here basically your entire life, so I was curious why you hadn't looked or explored around more.

I've explored a lot. I've been to a lot of CA but there is quite a bit to see. I'm am urban guy. I use to drive through industrial areas just to read the businesses signs. In the 70's I knew where every race shop was in L.A. and Long Beach. All the names from SoCal and there were many.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Just retired and I'm starting to work my list:
Getty Center is free for seniors once a month.
Exposition Park to see the Space Shuttle I worked on.
It's soon to be Fishmas in the Sierra's, off to CAMP, FISH and be uncomfortable cuz I'm old.
Got a list of wineries in the Guadalupe Valley, Baja CA. to try out.

My big adventure is to be at each corner of California like Huell Howser did, Forests and Sea @ the N/W, N/E corner is very remote and is high desert Chapparal, S/W corner is Imperial Beach just down from Coronado, S/E corner is by Yuma AZ via Palm Springs & Salton Sea

[1990C4S]

There was a great (PBS?) video about building the telescope on Palomar, I've not been able to find it online...

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I've explored a lot. I've been to a lot of CA but there is quite a bit to see. I'm am urban guy.

Exactly the opposite for me! I was raised on a small ranch in a then rural area near Thousand Oaks.

I have rafted or kayaked 90% of the rivers in California so I have spent some time in the Cal-Boonies.

When I was stationed at North Island we would take topo maps with us and look for really rural areas to camp; motorcycle in some cases, trucks in others. Flying in California, especially in an H-60, is a visual over load at times....Yosemite, China Lake, the Sierras, etc.: From the Palm Trees to the Pines:



Camp Pendleton had a low level route along the beach called, I think, Long Rifle. It was amazing to fly below the Dune Line at times.

Cue "The Way We Were".

[speeder]

Originally Posted by 3rd_gear_Ted

Just retired and I'm starting to work my list:
Getty Center is free for seniors once a month.
Exposition Park to see the Space Shuttle I worked on.
It's soon to be Fishmas in the Sierra's, off to CAMP, FISH and be uncomfortable cuz I'm old.
Got a list of wineries in the Guadalupe Valley, Baja CA. to try out.

My big adventure is to be at each corner of California like Huell Howser did, Forests and Sea @ the N/W, N/E corner is very remote and is high desert Chapparal, S/W corner is Imperial Beach just down from Coronado, S/E corner is by Yuma AZ via Palm Springs & Salton Sea

Sounds like a good list but the Getty Center is always free for everyone. Maybe you mean the parking?

[look 171]

The one area I have not been able to explore is the northern part of our state. I like to one day drive from the cost through the costal ranges to the 5 on the small or logging roads. My fear is that I may run into the illegal pot growers and they will shoot my ass and no one will ever know same for the north eastern parts. Pretty much anything above Redding. There are places out in the desert that is a bit difficult or too remote to get to in the south east but now have to watch the cartels I am told.

[Zeke]

Every pine and redwood looks like the last one. Every town built for the gold rush of the logging industry looks like the last one. Big Sur is a one and done deal just like most other things. Even Lake Tahoe and I've been there several times. Fortunately most of those time were long ago when the lake area was pristine and not overrun with commercialism.

Hard to find non tourist areas unless you are in poor country. We have a lot of trailer park type communities. By that I mean most of the houses aren't as nice as a good trailer home. Every desert community is a drug fest wasteland. That is unless it is inside a national park.

The Colorado River scene is namely a 24/7 drunk. Fun when young. Fun 40 years ago and even then it was a 24/7 drunk, just better drunks. Until you get way the hell up the Kern River, it's just like the Colorado River.

The wine country is nice as is a lot of the middle coast as long as 100 dollar bills are plentiful in your wallet. Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm were great in the 60's. Now they are a pricey zoo.

Not to say there aren't pockets of paradise in CA. There are many. If you don't know, you need a guide. I've been up and down the state many, many times. I was in San Francisco for 2 months working. I saw the belly before the whole city was the belly. It was pretty cool. I was in Haight-Ashbury in the late '60's. That ought to tell you I've been around.

Just missed a bunch doing all that I did.