The Savvy Tourist

Day Trippin' to Oak Glen

Tucked away in the mountains between Beaumont, CA. and Redlands, CA is a little tiny burb called Oak Glen. I think it is officially located in Yucaipa, CA., but it is not exactly on the beaten path. Years ago, while wining about missing the East Coast and my annual apple pickin' escapades, a friend mentioned to me that I could find some great apple orchards up in Oak Glen. So, while savvy auntie was still visiting we made this one of our day adventures.

It really is like a different world when you get to a mile high in the mountains. The rolling hills and clear blue sky that we discovered up in Oak Glen, along with the apple orchards and working cider mills were enough to take me back in time. There is a scenic route through town that leads you to each and every orchard, farm, market, restaurant and even petting zoo.

Beginning our self-tour was a stop at Riley's Farm where they feature "u-pick" apple orchards, hoedowns, tours and hayrides. They also do a schedule of civil war reenactments. If you are really adventurous they have Primitive Historical Farm Stays by reservation only.

We did not have time to stop at every single establishment, which I am sure offers some sort of unique addition to the area. (I hear the spicy peanut butter is to die for!!) There is enough to keep you busy all day, especially if you are looking for something to do with your kids. Right in the middle of the scenic route sits Oak Glen Village where there is a Curio Shop, Art Gallery, Candy Kitchen, Bakery, Leather Shop, Country Store, and Animal Park.

 

If you want to make a weekend of it, try The Sage Herb Farm where they offer Garden Getaway Weekends, along with herb classes and garden tours. There is also camping and RV accommodations in the area for you savvier tourists.

So, young or old, there is something for everyone. Experience a heart-warming meal and a slice of apple pie, then stop by one of the shops so you can take home fresh apple butter, jams, jellies and candied apples.

Don't forget to check back in the summer months when you can pick fresh raspberries!

Jumbo Hostel

Here is an innovative new concept when it comes to the "all-nighter" on an airplane...the Jumbo Hostel. Now you can sleep in luxurious accommodations on an airplane without ever leaving the ground. You can actually spend the night on board a real jumbo jet and never leave the airport. To some, this may sound like an incredible waste of time, but to others it could be quite the novelty in sleep-overs.

The airplane, a decommissioned model 747-200 jumbo jet was built in 1976 and was last operated by Transjet, a Swedish Airline that went bankrupt in 2002. It was originally built for Singapore Airlines and later flew for Pan Am. The airplane is now located at Arlanda Airport on it's permanent concrete foundation after undergoing a complete conversion. Over 450 seats were removed to make room for what is now a unique sleeping experience for guests. The hostel is built like any house, subject to regulations and standards. It now serves as a spectacular and (not so) original landmark at the Arlanda Airport.

There are 25 rooms on board this newly renovated Jumbo Hostel with a total of 85 beds in all. The rooms are configured with 3 bunk beds in most rooms. There are also quad dorm options, all with separate shared shower and bathroom facilities. There is one luxury suite in the converted cockpit with a panoramic view of the airport.

If sleeping in an airplane (when you don't really have to) is not exactly your cup of tea, well then, you can just stop by for...well, a cup of tea! There is a cafe' where you can purchase breakfast, coffee, cookies and snacks. You can also walk along the left wing observation deck and experience the feeling of standing on top of a real Jumbo Jet's wing.

In the travel industry convenience is a big plus, so if you have an early flight to catch, staying right at the airport (literally) may be the solution for you.

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.    

  

Kindle it...if you can

A little over a year ago I did a post about the Amazon Kindle. My curiosity was peaked backed then and it is again, but for different reasons this time. Santa was generous enough to leave a Kindle under my Christmas tree this year and I just love it. When I started researching the Kindle last year, there was quite a bit of content available to purchase for this electronic handheld reader. I questioned whether or not it was cost worthy considering a lot of the books were rather pricey considering they weren't real books that I could put my hands on. Somehow they just get wisked through the air and appear on the Kindle within seconds at my request. I now know that is not magic but rather Amazon's Whispernet technology. Well, a year later and there is a remarkable amount of material available for the Kindle and so far it is cheaper than buying the real book. It is not limited to books either. You can subscribe to newspapers, magazines, and blogs. One of the first things I did was subscribe to the Reader's Digest on a monthly basis.

Now you might wonder why I think this has anything to do with travel or blogging. Well, since I travel and blog sometimes at the same time, I think I will find the Amazon Kindle quite useful. I like to take more than a few books with me in my luggage and we all know that is almost impossible these days since you have to stuff your life in one bag or be charged out the wazoo by the airlines. I will have my book that I am currently reading for pleasure, (usually a James Patterson murder mystery) and a current newspaper from the hotel, (usually USA Today), several blogging reference books and some travel guides depending upon where I am visiting. That takes up quite a bit of room in my luggage! But now, I can have all those things and more on just one small electronic reading device that stores neatly in my luggage or even my purse.

Another great feature is that if you are thinking about buying a book, but aren't quite sure about it, the Kindle lets you download a portion of the book and read to see if you are interested first. You can also subscribe to magazines and newpapers free for 14 days to make sure that is the best subscription for you before you purchase.

The Kindle is difficult to get, but it sure is worth the wait!

Julian, CA.

When most people think of Southern California, they think beaches and sunshine and probably movie stars. Well, we do have all that, but we have much more. Since I was raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I am more used to seasonal changes and some occasional weather issues like cold temperatures and snow. That is something I kind of miss...maybe just a little. The rest of my family, except for maybe my son, thinks I am a bit mental.

The other day we took a day trip to Julian, CA. to share with my Aunt who was visiting from West Virginia. I like to visit Julian occasionally because there I can experience all four seasons. At just over 4,000 feet elevation, Julian provides a mild Summer for hiking, camping, and fishing, and a colorful backdrop for fun Fall activities.  The Winter brings the perfect wonderland for the holiday season and then Spring produces all the flowers and new nature that warms our hearts after a cold Winter.

Julian, CA. is an historic gold mining town that was founded after the Civil War. Although it is quite popular with tourists, it has remained small in general population and retains it's old world charm. The tiny town has since taken on new found fame as "Pie Town" because of The Julian Pie Company, who ships pies out by the hundreds to all over the country.

There is plenty to do in Julian for the whole family. They have shopping (my favorite), Art Galleries, historic sites, dining, wine tasting, and of course, many types of lodging. A trip to Julian makes a great day trip if you live in the area, but I think I will stay for the weekend next time I go so that I can experience all the dining options. That is very hard to do in just one day, especially when there is pie involved!!

It all started...

About 20 some years ago I did one of those impromptu trips that began by blindly opening up an atlas and pointing to a random spot on the not-so-smartly chosen page. This trip, now that I think of it, was the beginning of many adventures to come...and boy was it an adventure.

Let's just say I was very young and dumb naive at the time. We ( I was traveling with a new friend who quickly became one of those friends that will be there for life because she knows all my secrets and weaknesses) no sooner left the Denver airport after securing a rental car when we heard on the radio that a major airliner had crashed in Denver. How did we miss that? It made us a little nervous knowing how close we were to such a disaster and not being caught up in it. We were leaving the airport while everyone else was arriving for the crash and it's aftermath. It kind of made me feel like I had started my own little chain of unfortunate events. I was leaving a trail of death and destruction behind me. Okay, too dramatic?

Anyway, we continued on our journey to our destination of random choosing, Manitou Springs, CO. It is a small, quaint town about an hour south of Denver and just west of Colorado Springs. One of those places that seems quite removed from the rest of the world. The town is located right at the base of Pike's Peak. It is as though it is being protected on all sides by the strong arms of the mountain.

This was my kind of town. One of those "everyone knows your name" kind of places. The locals had been there their whole life. They thrived on the tourists that came to visit and shop in their unique stores and eat in their homestyle restaurants, and then leave. What they liked best about tourists,is that they are temporary. Even though the natives were friendly, it was their world, not ours. Many people had come to Manitou Springs over the years and decided to make it their home. Mostly because it is known as the healthiest place on earth. The combination of fresh mountain air and mineral spring waters were known to have a special healing power for the sick. Lucky for the folks in Manitou Springs, we were only here for a short time.

 It was a very cold and damp November and I very much enjoyed the crisp air while ducking in and out of the little shops that held the wares of the local artisans. There were so many wonderful things to see, most of which is from the Native American heritage that still holds it's roots in this tiny town. One of my most memorable moments was spent sitting in a little cafe by a window sipping hot apple cider while the snow lightly dusted the sidewalk. Of course, sitting on a bar stool sipping some Irish Cream in the evenings became a fast favorite too!

One thing I did learn about this part of the country is that people are much more prepared and confident in inclement weather conditions. One day we started up Pike's Peak (in our rental car) for a day of Christmas Shopping at The North Pole. I love collecting ornaments for my Christmas tree from different places so that was all I could think about that day...until we realized the roads were a sheet of ice and our little rental car was in no way prepared for this trip.(Did I mention we were young and stupid?) Not only did we stop making any progress up the mountain, we began sliding backwards down the mountain. At this point I was wishing I had purchased the extra insurance, among other things. The car did eventually stop sliding, but that didn't really improve our situation. We were stuck there to die in our rental car on a small mountain road in Colorado where no one would know to look for us. Too dramatic again?  Just as the panic was beginning to set in and we were trying to decide how to bail out of the car and let it slide down the mountain without us, a few strong young guys showed up with chains and rope and brains and walked our car back down the mountain safely. (And to think my therapist doesn't understand my fear of heights.)

I made my way back to the safe comfortable bar stool and stayed there until I thought it was safe again. Well, it turns out that was just the beginning of my harrowing driving experience in the Colorado snow. The very next day, the weather man was talking about a full on blizzard headed our way. Being as we had jobs to get back to, we thought that maybe we should cut our little adventure short and head back to the Denver airport before we couldn't get there at all.

Too late! Did I mention that this quaint little town was surrounded and protected by this nice big mountain? Well, we no sooner got out of town (just a few miles down the road) then the blizzard was already rearing it's ugly head. I started our snowy trek out on the freeway only to realize that there really weren't very many cars on the road. The ones that were out there appeared to be more prepared than I was, again! After what felt like hours of driving at 20 mph, I decided I couldn't trudge through 6 feet of snow with a rental car any longer. I pulled off at the next exit, only to find out I had arrived uninvited at the United States Air Force Academy. Believe me when I say "there are no rooms at the Inn". The guard at the gate was less than delighted with my presence and informed me that I would have to continue back from whence I came and find a hotel. Two hours and two exits later, we came upon a Sheraton and found shelter for the night. The attendant at the reservation desk was very surprised to see us as he informed us they had closed the freeway hours ago. They must have done that while I was making my way somewhere between civilization and the USAFA.

The next day, the freeway was open and the sky was clear so we headed up to Denver, once again. This time, it was so much easier driving in 6 feet of snow, behind 18-wheelers, with the sun shining on the snow and reflecting in my eyes. NOT!!!!

Upon arriving at the Denver Airport, we remembered the tragedy that we had left behind us only days before. The passing blizzard had only made matters worse at the airport and there were people camped out all over the place. Even with all those people spread out everywhere, there was a horrible somber silence due to the crash, and I wasn't sure I was ever getting on an airplane again. Of course my boss, awaiting my arrival on the East Coast had other plans! It is a wonder I ever traveled again.

Not only did I travel again, I find myself going back to Manitou Springs quite frequently these days and sharing it with my family, while one of the kids is actually attending the USAFA nearby. Little did I know back then...

This one is for you Cleo...although still my dear friend, never have I traveled with since.