The Savvy Tourist

Mt. Palomar Observatory

We live so close to  San Diego that many of our day trips are actually spent down in that area. We have a whole repertoire of activities that we like to do depending upon the weather or perhaps the visiting relative at the time. It just so happens that every time we start to head south we drive right by Mt. Palomar and my mother says "I would really like to see the Mt. Palomar Observatory sometime." Of course, we are already on our way to somewhere else so her wish always goes unfulfilled. Just recently while trying to think of something special for her birthday, we remembered her desire to drive up Mt. Palomar and see the Observatory.

Our day started off unusually warm even for SoCal. It was in the mid 80s with those warm Santa Ana winds blowing. We knew better than to be fooled though. We were planning to trek up over 5000 feet so we knew it would be a little cooler and we remembered to take a few jackets, just in case. We pile in the truck and decided (as we usually do) that we were all hungry. What is it about a road trip that makes people so hungry? There just so happens to be a very small burger stand right off the exit we take to start up the mountain so we thought we would try it. I had heard great things about it, but it  always looked abandoned whenever I drove by. This little stand I refer to is called Nessy Burger. If you follow that link, you will enter a food blog that did a detailed report on the Nessy Burger. I can update a few things like...they are now open on Sundays and the burger is a little more expensive, but other than that, this guy really hits the nail on the head. I thoroughly enjoyed my Nessy Burger, although I could feel my arteries clogging while I ate it. The burger had an awesome flavor and was very juicy and fresh. The dining ambience...well there really isn't one unless you call sitting next to a busy freeway exit on a picnic bench with migrant workers ambience. Then again, that's pretty much authentic SoCal and I like it!

After we finished stuffing ourselves, we headed on up the mountain for our adventure. It turned into quite a pleasant day. The skies were clear which made the views breathtaking. The traffic was minimal and we had several chances to stop and take some pictures. We were able to see the charred reminders from the fires in the last few years. That part was kind of sad, but there were many signs of  new life sprouting up around the dead trees. Of course as we made our trek higher and higher, it started to get considerably colder. When we rounded the corner at the top of the mountain and headed toward the Observatory on the north side, there was snow and lots of it. The roads had been cleared but there was snow piled  up on either side with people who had stopped just to get out and build snowmen and slide down the hills. I took in the beauty of the meadows that were covered by a blanket of undisturbed snow. I did see one guy who was making a snowman in the back of his pick up truck to take home with him. I'm not sure if he thought this all the way through or was perhaps just trying to make his kids happy.

We finally arrived at the Observatory and it was a blustery 41 degrees. It was quite refreshing for a few minutes, then it was just plain cold. The few extra jackets we brought did not begin to keep us warm enough for this weather. I am not complaining though, I really enjoyed seeing the snow and feeling the cold. I surely did not feel as though I was in sunny SoCal and that was okay for a little while.

   

I can actually see the Observatory from my house on a clear day, but I had no idea of it's actual size being as it is so far away. This structure is magnificent, and the size of the telescope inside is unbelievable. It is an awesome site for both young and old. The history behind the Observatory is very interesting in that it took over 40 years to actually be realized, including taking a break for WWII. One of the most interesting parts to me is the transportation of the 200-inch mirror up the mountain. The trip that took us only 1 hour including "Kodak Moment" stops, took 3 trucks 32 hours to arrive safely with this precious 40 ton cargo.    

  

I'll be back...to Breakers Inn

Next time we venture to the Gualala and Sea Ranch area up in Northern California, we will absolutely be staying at Breakers Inn. I took a chance on it from reviews that I had read and pictures on the Internet. It turned out to be just what I was looking for. Our time in Gualala was very relaxed and we didn't have much on our schedule. That left us all the more time to thoroughly enjoy the accommodations provided by the Breakers Inn.

            
Breakers Inn is a sprawling beachfront hotel that looks as though it ties the entire town together with it's quaint and welcoming atmosphere. It has a weathered exterior and a warm, inviting inside. It really is the perfect place to be while watching the sun set over the Gualala River as it flows out into the ocean.

Each room has it's own individual theme and is decorated with the feel of a different region. We stayed in "Denmark". We had a beautiful four poster bed with soft comfy bed linens. Our bathroom had a separate steam sauna and huge shower. The best part was the whirlpool spa tub situated perfectly in the room with a private ocean view. We also had a fireplace, but since it was July we really didn't have an occasion to use it. I think I will return in the winter just so I can have a fire burning while in the tub watching the sun set over the ocean (maybe a glass of wine would be in order too). To make things even better, the room was also equipped with a wet bar that included refrigerator and microwave and coffee pot. You really don't have to leave your room if you don't want to. Of course you will probably want to venture over to the free continental breakfast provided each morning. I ate my breakfast in my room, sitting on my own private deck, drinking my morning coffee and watching the sea gulls play on the beach. How great is that? If I had more time on this trip I think I would've curled up and read a good book out on that deck. Could be a plan for my winter trip!!

       

If I am only staying somewhere for a few days, I usually prefer to forego the maid service. Breakers Inn offered a service where the housekeeping staff will leave a basket by your door filled with everything you need including fresh towels, toiletries and coffee supplies. This is absolutely where we will be staying for all of our Gualala area visits. I recommend this place whole heartedly.

Time has forgotten Bodega Bay

After one final stroll through the Town of Tiburon, we headed out north on 101 toward Petaluma. The first Petaluma exit is Petaluma Blvd. We turned off the highway there and headed west towards the coast, connecting with Bodega Ave. in the center of town. Bodega Ave. takes you on a beautiful and relaxing journey through the country all the while smelling the ocean getting closer and closer. As we drove for about 40 minutes, enjoying the scenery and peacefulness of the countryside, I started to realize I felt as though I had traveled back in time. The closer to Bodega Bay I got, the stranger things felt. That must be what Alfred Hitchcock felt like when he decided to film The Birds. A lot of this famous thriller was actually filmed in Bodega Bay and the small town of Bodega back in 1963. Believe me when I say nothing has changed since then.

While waiting for family to arrive to meet us for lunch, we had some time on our hands and decided to check out the area and walk along the harbor's edge. I expected a lot of activity considering this is July. Don't all people flock to the coastal towns for vacation in July? Well, not here. Again, I felt as if time was standing still here in Bodega Bay. There were hundreds of beautiful boats in the harbor, but no one there to use them. It was low tide and there was a beautiful expanse of beach to enjoy, but only one lone person digging for clams. There was an abandoned boat in the middle of the harbor that just gave you the feeling that everyone had disappeared and didn't care what they left behind. It was actually starting to make my skin crawl, and I knew exactly why Alfred Hitchcock picked here to film his horror movie. I am thinking that a remake is in order because nothing has changed, if anything it is creepier now!

We had lunch at a small diner located on the opposite side of the harbor. It was pretty busy, but I think it was only because there are not that many choices in town. I got the distinct feeling that they do not cater to tourists. The service wasn't that great, the flatware wasn't that clean, and the food wasn't that fresh. The clam chowder was incredible, but that is where it ended. The bill wasn't very reasonable compared to the quality of the whole experience. I felt as if they were serving food as a means of survival. Almost like everyone in this town is trapped here and has to make do with what they have available to them. I would not have been surprised had I received a "Help us" scribbled at the bottom of our receipt.

We took a few moments to drive through the actual town of Bodega as that is where the house that was used in "The Birds" is being kept as a landmark. It is only open to the public during the weekends on certain hours, so we didn't get to see inside. From what I understand this is the main attraction in town, but again, I feel like it has been forgotten and neglected like everything else in this town.

The Tale of Tiburon

Back in the day, I think the hustle and bustle of Tiburon, CA. was more than it is today. The tiny peninsula that plays host to three different communities was a very busy industrial center. The Town of Tiburon (as it became known in 1979) was the center of activity with fish packing plants, dairies, military installations, cattle ranching and the railroad. Railroad cars, locomotives and also ferry boats were built there to serve the San Francisco Bay area and beyond. Tiburon even survived Prohibition being that it's location made it very easy to sneak in alcohol from ships anchored in the bay. The Town of Tiburon is the largest of the three communities. There is also Belvedere, which was known as a subdivision for the wealthy San Franciscans who built weekend homes there, and Strawberry, which remained a dairy ranch until after World War II.
Today, Tiburon is a nice quiet place to relax and "get away from it all". There are still many buildings and establishments that have been there for many years and keep the charm of the town intact. The railroad is long gone, except for a few casual reminders like the passenger depot and the Depot Palm that had been used to mark every passenger station in the Northwestern Pacific system.
Even with tourists, the town is peaceful and the people are friendly. Many of the residents are commuters to the San Francisco area and use the ferry system to get to work. The tourists (like myself) use the ferry to spend the day in San Fran while being able to get back to peace and quiet for the night.
That was a perfect day! We grabbed a bite to eat at the coffee shop on the corner of Main Street, then waited for the ferry to arrive while exploring the downtown wharf area with camera in hand. The cost of the ferry was a little high at $9.50 per person each way, but considering you are not fighting traffic,or paying for gas, toll, and parking,I would say it was worth it. The schedule is very convenient for both commuters and tourists and the trip itself was very pleasant and relaxing. They do not waste any time either. You board the ferry and buy your ticket onboard after leaving the dock. Very simple. We walked around Fisherman's Wharf, taking in all the sights, mostly just around the Pier 39 area. We shopped (my favorite thing to do) and ate (my other favorite thing to do if I'm not shopping) and took pictures of everything and anything as usual. We ate a fantastic lunch at Pier Market Seafood Restaurant which had the best clam chowder ever and some luscious libations to go along with it. It is very difficult to decide where to eat while at Fisherman's Wharf. Everything sounds and smells so good and many menus are similar in that their specialty is seafood. Price can be a deciding factor and also ambiance (if you can call it that on a wharf). All the restaurants have their menus posted outside so you know what they offer before making a commitment.

So, with tired feet and full stomach we headed back to Tiburon at the end of the day via ferry with the sun in our faces and the cold breeze at our backs. This is July and yes, you need a jacket to be able to enjoy the ride from the outside deck. You can also take shelter inside where there is a little beverage bar for anyone needing a coffee, beer, or snack. Again, very convenient.
There are actually many different ferry services to choose from whether you are departing from Tiburon or from San Francisco. You can visit Sausalito, Angel Island, or even take a tour of Alcatraz Island. Of course, you cannot do all that in one day.
It was back to Tiburon for us, and the ferry trip gave us the opportunity for even more picture taking that we could later bore our family to tears with.

There are most certainly things to do without leaving Tiburon. There are many adorable little shops and eateries all along Main St. to explore, although a tad pricey. Everything is very unique and a little "artsy", mostly gallery and boutique type establishments. There is a strip of shops known as Ark Row, where all the shops used to be houseboats on the lagoon. They are now anchored permanently by land and a parking lot and almost resemble a movie set because of their small size.

Many people rent bikes from San Fran and ride the ferry over to Tiburon and spend a leisurely day riding along the coast of the bay and through the town. For us, it was a perfect place to relax and do whatever we wanted without the pressure of a schedule or activities list. We even took an evening stroll through town admiring the architecture, beauty and peacefulness that is the Town of Tiburon.

As if to mark this lovely spot on the map, there is a beautiful sculpture in the center of town that moves likes sails in the wind.

The Golden Gate Bridge

There has been more than one list compiled to represent the Seven Wonders of the World. I did not realize this, I thought there was only one. I guess what that really means is that no one could actually agree on just seven. That brings me to my post. On our way to Tiburon we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge which connects the city of San Francisco to Marin County. As we were crossing the bridge I was in complete awe of it's structure and beauty and the statement that it makes just by being there. You see the Golden Gate Bridge all the time on TV, in movies, in books, magazines and in travel brochures. It is one of the first things that come to mind when someone mentions San Francisco. It is a landmark like no other. Until now, I have to admit I took this bridge for granted, since it has always had so much recognition. I was not anticipating the emotion that I felt as we crossed under the huge support towers of this renowned suspension bridge. I immediately thought of it as a wonder of the world. After returning home, I did a little research and found that The American Society of Civil Engineers must have had the same feelings I did because this particular bridge is on their list of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Here are a few photos I tried to take, but believe me when I say you must see it in person. San Fran has some funky weather that makes photography either a thrill or nightmare, depending on the moment.

    

   

Sea Ranch and Gualala

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will be headed to Northern California next month for a little business and pleasure mixed together. My intended destination is the area known as Sea Ranch located about 100 miles north of San Francisco along the coast. Sea Ranch is a quiet little unincorporated area that has become a popular vacation spot. Not widely known, Sea Ranch is actually filled with repeat customers every season as people are always coming back for more peace and quiet and getting back to nature once they discover this beautiful little part of the country. There are many ways to experience Sea Ranch. You can stay in an upscale hotel, a Country Inn, an historic hotel, or perhaps a small cottage in the tree covered cliffs. There are also many homes for rent, whether for a week or a season. There is also camping for anyone interested in sleeping with the bears.

Just about 10 to 12 miles north of Sea Ranch is a quaint little town known as Gualala. Gualala (pronounced locally as wa-la-la) used to be a very profitable logging town, providing much needed lumber to the San Francisco area after the earthquake in 1906. Tourism is now their main source of economic resource. Gualala is named after it's perfect location where the "river meets the sea". Being in Gualala is like being in a novel and turning back time. You can sit for hours on the beach and never get enough of the view or the undisturbed wildlife that surrounds you. I plan to take a "moonlight float' down the Gualala River while I am there, and of course I will also be using this wonderful place to refine my amateur photographic skills (or lack thereof). Speaking of photography, that leads me to the reason for my trip. I will be attending a photographic arts showing in the Burnett Gallery of the local Gualala Arts Center.

I have made my reservations for lodging at The Breakers Inn and I look forward to writing about it upon my return. I have made arrangements to take a tour of the property and their facilities so I will have more to share with all of you.

Scenic route back to Nashville

After our fabulous lunch at The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. we meandered through a few stores admiring the local wares until it was decided we needed to head for home to beat the traffic. Traffic? What traffic? I guess the idea of "traffic" in general depends on what you are used to. I live in Southern California where it can take 5 hours to travel 80 miles to the Los Angeles International Airport. That is traffic! What I observed here in quiet little Gatlinburg, TN. was a few cars traveling slower than normal. I figured they were all just savvy tourists trying to take in all the sites. If you have been following this series, you will remember that I am not driving and I really have no clue where I am going from the backseat so I go where the driver decides we go. That being said, we decided to go another route that would be more scenic and have less traffic. Now again, if you've been following this series, you know this doesn't usually go well for us, but we did it anyway because...well, I don't know...we're tourists? Instead of heading North on Rt. 441 out of Gatlinburg towards more civilization, we headed in more of a Southwesterly direction on a road known to the locals as Little River Road because it travels beside the Little River.
The sun was shining through broken clouds and the river was rushing alongside the road like it had somewhere to be, making me feel like we had traveled back in time. This is what being in the Great Smoky Mountains is all about. This was a beautiful drive that I will never forget. We were able to pull off the side of the road safely and take pictures along the way. We finally got some good photos to commemorate our trip to Tennessee. We eventually rounded the bend near civilization, the small road turned into a parkway, connected with U.S. 40 towards Nashville, and we were headed home from our little adventure. It is amazing what you can see when you are just along for the ride.

Here are a few photos that we took along the way. You can click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

The tale of three cities......

All that fresh mountain air made me sleep like a baby. It really does feel good to get away from it all every now and again. The first thing we did was grab a fresh cup of coffee from the Tassimo machine and head out onto the back deck. Any other season would have been more colorful for photographic purposes, but there was a certain peace and serenity in the mountains that morning that was easily captured by the camera.

   

It was very quiet and very still (I swear I'm gonna call Stephen King), almost like every living thing was just waiting for Spring. The woods were filled with wild rhododendrons just waiting for a sign that it was time to bloom. I can only imagine the beauty that overtakes this area when the weather warms up a bit, but for now, it is still winter. The bears are hibernating and thankfully so were the snakes. Don't get me wrong, I love bears.....but from a distance.....or stuffed. Snakes, I am not as fond of and was very happy not to have to look out for them while I was crawling through the wooded paths in search of an unsecured Internet connection with hubby's new iTouch. It takes me awhile to acclimate to my environment and I was so craving access to my blog life. Luckily, we also took the camera on my search for civilization and came up with a few nice shots.

   

It didn't take long for the peace and quiet to end, moments actually. It was apparently time to go on our daily trek down the mountain and see some sites. My mother-in-law had a few specific things she wanted to see and when she sets her mind to something, well let's just say, there was a reason she was doing the driving. She probably wouldn't get to do anything she wanted to do if she didn't have us all trapped in the car like rats headed in the direction of her own agenda. Hopefully when she gets done curling her nose up at this remark, she will laugh because she knows I am right!

At this point I am still hoping to catch a glimpse of Gatlinburg, although I am realizing that there is a fine line between Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Even the GPS got confused. I told you about some of the exciting attractions in Sevierville, but you may recognize Pigeon Forge as the home of Dollywood, Dolly Parton's Great Smoky Mountain Family Amusement Park. At first I thought this to be a little hokey (even though I am a huge fan of Dolly's singing), but I am finding out that hokey is part of the fun around these parts! Dollywood offers rides and attractions like rollercoasters and kiddie rides. There is also shopping, crafts, shows, and many special events including Five of the South's Largest Festivals. The dining experience is renowned at Dollywood with it's famous southern cooking and choice of venues. We did not actually go to Dollywood this time around, but I think I might suggest it for next time. I hate to admit it, but it sounds like fun.

We were headed to a place called Alewine Pottery that had caught someone's eye on a TV ad. We were finally headed to Gatlinburg so I was cool with this plan. We drove down the road a piece (about 4 miles) and lo and behold there it was....Gatlinburg. I was just starting to see a few stores and hotels and some more cabins on the ridge, when we hung a left and were headed back out of town again. Everything for the next few miles was all about goods and wares crafted by local artisans. A unique characteristic of Gatlinburg are the craftsmen who demonstrate their special talents and skills. An historic 8-mile loop has been designated as Tennessee Heritage Trail. Established in 1937, the artisans whittle, paint, sew, weave and carve to create original collectibles.

After making our way through the arts and crafts village, we decided that we would pick up an awesome BBQ rib dinner from Damon's Grill and head back up to the cabin before dark and enjoy a little family time with games and movies. This time it was me who threw a wrench in our otherwise grand plan. When it came time to pay for our carry out meal, I realized that while running my mouth in a cute little store where I bought a cute little stuffed alpaca bear, I forgot to get my credit card back from the merchant. In a little bit of a panic, we hurried back to the store to retrieve my card. This set us back about a half an hour which made getting back to the cabin by dark almost a problem. So, we decided to take a short cut.........with the help of the GPS.........in the mountains.......

Travelin' to Tennessee

We are off to Tennessee tomorrow morning. I actually bought my tickets online through Travelocity and we will be traveling on Delta Airlines connecting in Atlanta. Believe it or not, I have never traveled on Delta and I am very excited to see what they have to offer. After all, since I plan to be a famous "Travel Critic" someday, I better start paying attention to detail while I am actually traveling. I usually use travel time to completely zone out, but this time everyone better be on their toes, because here comes Annie, the soon-to-be much feared Travel Critic. (Okay Jay, you can stop laughing now!!) My hubby calls me "Annie Ego", after the not so beloved food critic, "Anton Ego" from Disney's Ratatouille.

The main focus of the trip is to visit family in Nashville, but we will all be headed to the Great Smoky Mountains for some much needed R&R in a beautiful cabin in the woods. How cool is that? This is also going to be one of those trips where we try to implement our amateur photographic abilities and get some really great pictures. So, I am being told I will be out of touch this weekend as there is no Internet access available up at the cabin. We shall just see about that!!! Isn't there a Starbucks like every 100 feet now?

Send in your postcards!

Hey everyone!! Check out my new POSTCARDS page! I have added a slide show using postcards from my very own collection. (Friends, family and travel clients have all supported my postcard collecting habit for many years now). Send me some of your favorite postcards and I will add them to the show. Wouldn't it be fun to see your postcards in my slideshow? I will be adding many more every day so keep checking back!

A Monochrome Kind of Day

It has been very stormy here this week and although it has brought a significant drop in temperature, it has also brought some beautiful skies. Posted on the left sidebar, in my latest photo album are the results of me experimenting with black and white photography and today's cloudy skies. Hope you enjoy!

University of Redlands Jazz Band

This last Thursday evening we had the distinct pleasure of hearing a group of extremely talented musicians perform at The University Of Redlands. U of R's Jazz Band is made up of some of the finest young musicians I have ever had the privilege to hear play. The amount of talent and character that each musician brings to the table is just amazing. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the University and hear any of the musical ensembles perform, I strongly recommend that you do so. In the meantime, check out the photo album I posted of The University of Redlands Jazz Band.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

The Carrier Pigeon, a 175-foot long clipper ship with a gilded pigeon as her figurehead, was launched from the shipyards at Bath, Maine in the fall of 1852 and left Boston on January 28, 1853 for her maiden voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco. On the morning of June 6, the vessel was spotted off Santa Cruz, but visibility worsened and shrouded the ship in a thick blanket of fog as the day progressed. That evening, the captain, believing he was a good distance from land, steered his vessel shoreward. Before land was sighted, the Carrier Pigeon struck rocks and quickly began taking on water. The captain and crew made it safely to shore, but the ship was a loss. After offloading a good portion of the supplies, the vessel, valued at $54,000 and still stranded on the rocks, was sold for $1,500. Since the time of the wreck, the point of land closest to the rocks that claimed the Carrier Pigeon has been called Pigeon Point. Previously, the point had been known as Punta de las Ballenas (Point of the Whales) as a whaling station was located nearby.

At least three more ships were lost near the point in the 1860s, prompting the editor of the San Mateo County Gazette to write the following in 1868. "Pigeon Point is the most extensive promontory on the coast south of the Golden Gate, and which point seems especially adapted for a light-house. No other one place on the Pacific Coast has proved so fatal to navigators as this locality, and it behooves those most interested in maritime affairs on the coast as well as in the East to bring their influence to bear immediately upon the government officials, and never relax their efforts until a light-house is erected at Pigeon Point."

After a struggle to secure property at the point, Congress appropriated a sum of $90,000 for the Pigeon Point Lighthouse in March of 1871. The fog signal and Victorian fourplex were completed first, and the steam whistle, with four second blasts separated alternately by seven and forty-five seconds, was fired up for the first time on September 10, 1871. Torrential rains and difficulty in assembling the spiral staircase, which had been fabricated by Nutting & Son in San Francisco, contributed to delays in completing the tower. After the lantern room was in place atop the tower, the delicate lens was assembled inside, and the light was exhibited for the first time on November 15, 1872, over fourteen months after the fog signal was completed. At sunset that evening, Keeper J. W. Patterson started the brass clockwork ticking, ignited the lard oil in the lamp, and soon the lighthouse according to Patterson was "exchanging winks and blinks with its neighbor of the Farallone. For further history on this and other lighthouses please visit Lighthouse Friends

Once per year at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse they shut down the modern light and switch over to the 5 kerosene lamps and fresnel lens of the original, as it was 135 years ago. For the first 5 minutes they leave it static to indulge all of the photographers who turn out and want to capture this once in a lifetime shot. Below is one such photographer's embrace of the moment.

My Photo Albums

While entering into this new phase of our lives (without children), my husband and I have discovered a new passion, or rather an old passion. Photography! It seems that while we were both teenagers living on opposite coasts we both had a love of photography. I liked to take black and white photos and develop them in my homemade darkroom (a.k.a. the laundry room) with my best friend.
Now, we take gorgeous digital color photographs of just about anything that doesn't move out of our way quick enough. We made an elaborate purchase just last year of a Nikon D200 Digital SLR Camera. Coupled with my husbands love of Apple computers and their accompanying  photo editing software we have been able to take some pretty darn good pictures. Thomas Mengelson we aren't, but we try. I decided to start sharing some of our amateur fun with you all. We are planning a few trips in the near future that will be very photography oriented so hopefully my albums will grow. I hope you enjoy our photographs as much as we enjoyed taking them.