The oasis at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in February 2010.
If You Go: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is located at 200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Tag: California
Smith-Madrone Wine
Want to go wine tasting in St. Helena? Want to go somewhere with great wines and a view to match?
Look no further than Smith Madrone Winery. There are several reasons it’s a favorite of ours.
First…the wines. Since there are slopes that seemingly face every direction, this means different grapes get the exposure they need. Eastern exposure for dry Rieslings, southern and western exposure for Cabs, and cooler north-facing for their Chards.
Their wines are all made from the winery’s dry-farmed estate vineyards. For those of you into soil…these are mostly deep-red Aiken Stoney Clay. Volcanic rocks, sandstones, limestones, shale…just to name a few. This certainly helps in the tastes of these wines.
Then, there’s the views. You’re at and elevation of 1,300 to 2,000 feet on Spring Mountain so you can see a long distance in just about every direction.
When you visit, take some time to walk around the estate. See if you can find the 120 year old Picholine Olive Trees. Then, wander into the barn for some amazing wine tasting. This will be like no other wine tasting in the Valley.
The people are just as great as their wines and the views. Stuart Smith and Charles Smith III are down-to-earth guys who know their business. It doesn’t hurt that Stu was named one of the wine industry’s post inspirational people in 2018.
Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
You will understand why we love the wines, the people, and the experience.
If You Go: Smith Madrone Winery is located at 4022 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, California 94574.
Phone 707/963-2283; Fax 707/963-2291 www.smithmadrone.com, info@smithmadrone.com
They are open by appointment only at 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. There is a tasting fee.
Where the Surf Meets the Turf
Del Mar Horse Racing
Where the turf meets the surf…Bing Crosby’s song gets sung here during every racing day.
Why? Bing and a few of his friends in 1937 opened this new seaside racetrack at Del Mar. This was to be a horse palace by the ocean where you could play all day, party all night, and leave the cares of the world behind.
Names like Dorothy Lamour, W. C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, Ann Miller, Red Skelton, Pat O’Brien, Gary Cooper…lots of Hollywood stars frequented here.
Then there are the horses and jockey who raced and won here. Seabiscuit comes to mind, winning in 1938. So does jockey William Lee Shoemaker. His 52 wins sets him apart from others. That was 1949.
Did you know Del Mar racing stopped during 1942 to 1944 due to the war? The grounds were used for training by the Marines. Manufacturing site parts for the B-17 bombers also took place here.
Fast forward to today. Opening day was July 17 this year and runs through September 2. So much goes on here, with concerts after races, food truck events, wine events, and more.
And…hats. Yep, hats. Opening day Hat Contest is all part of the tradition that dates back to 1937 when Bing greeted guests as they entered. The official contest was established in 1995, however. These are no ordinary hats. Many people spend months designing that perfect hat to wear on Opening Day. You want to be seen? Wear a spectacular hat.
What do I like about this track? Everything.
First of all, it’s a gorgeous facility. When you walk around the buildings and grounds, you can almost feel the essence of those who made their dream a reality. It’s easy to imagine yourself in their dream.
If you like horses, this is the place to be. When they are getting ready for the next race, they parade in front of you, not off in the distance. Gaze into their eyes as they look over the row of spectators. Am I picking a horse or are they picking me?
Want to get up close when they thunder around the track? Two ways you can do that. Stand at the rail when they’re running on the dirt track. You hear them coming before you see them. And…then they’re past you.
Or, walk through the tunnel under the track to the inside of the track. When they run on the turf, you have the perfect place to watch them as they seem to lengthen their stride as they fly past you. Maybe, not as thundering on the turf. Still, you can hear them coming.
These powerful horses are magical. It’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement as you watch some of the most talented horses in the world.
They are all striving for one thing…reaching the finish line first.
Just like the first people to watch here in 1937, when I’m at the Del Mar Track, this is one of the best places to be on a sunny summer afternoon. The cares of the world disappear.
If You Go: The Del Mar Fairgrounds are located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014. More info about horse racing can be found at https://www.dmtc.com/
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
The first episode of Animal Planet’s THE ZOO: San Diego at the San Diego Zoo features our own San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
This heartwarming
television series will take you behind the scenes to share the incredible
stories of the animals that call the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari
Park home. THE
ZOO: San Diego also shares the world-class, highly specialized care each
animal receives from veterinarians, keepers, trainers, and researchers, many of
whom have deep and meaningful relationships with the animals they have
dedicated their lives to caring for. The show also reveals the often-surprising
steps we take in our journey to end extinction.
THE ZOO: SAN DIEGO will introduce a wide range of animals to Animal Planet audiences this season, including pandas, giraffes, Galápagos tortoises, koalas, elephants, mountain lions, two baby cheetahs that are learning how to be ambassadors for their species and a flock of ostriches known as the “Spice Girls.” Viewers will watch as California condors are brought back from the brink of extinction and get an up-close look as Joanne the gorilla celebrates her fifth birthday along with her troop. Animal Planet audiences will also follow the animal care teams—keepers and veterinarians at both the Zoo and the Safari Park—many of whom have dedicated their lives to caring for animals, and the numerous projects and initiatives that place this nonprofit organization at the forefront of wildlife conservation.
About San Diego Zoo Global:
As an international nonprofit organization, San Diego Zoo Global works to fight extinction through conservation efforts for plants and animals worldwide. With a history of leadership in species recovery and animal care, San Diego Zoo Global works with partners in science-based field programs on six continents, and maintains sanctuaries and public education facilities in many places. Inspiring a passion for nature is critical to saving species, and San Diego Zoo Global’s outreach efforts share the wonder of wildlife with millions of people every year. Current major conservation initiatives include fighting wildlife trafficking and the impacts of climate change on wildlife species; broad-spectrum species and habitat protection efforts in Kenya, in Peru and on islands worldwide; preventing extinction in our own backyard; and expanding efforts to bank critical genetic resources and apply them to the conservation of critically endangered species.
Way to go… Check it out for yourself.
There will be a special two-hour season premier on August 10 at 8 pm ET/PT. The following week this will return to its regular schedule of 9 ET/PT.
Map & Atlas Museum
Map & Atlas Museum of La Jolla
Not your typical museum. Not even what you might think of when you hear map and atlas museum.
Yes, there are maps and atlases. Maps of the world from the 1400s to a map of Disneyland from 1958 to a map of the TWA route from 1930. And, everything in between.
This collection is eclectic, educational, and astounding. With their goal of creating an awareness and appreciation for the geography, history, politics, and artistic beauty of antique maps and atlases, they have succeeded.
Different exhibitions include maps categorized by Exploration, Colonization, California as an Island, and Sea Charts. Other galleries include maps of Europe, Africa, Asia, New England, a 1946 map of California wine areas, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the 1816 first edition of John Melish’s map of the US.
Education opportunities abound for school kids to adults. Keep looking. You’re sure to see something different every time you visit. I have.
The most recent visit featured an exhibit of pictorial maps from Museum Founder Mr. Michael Stone’s collection. Maps including Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disneyland USA 1958, San Francisco, and one titled A Hysterical Map of the Mother Lode where California was Born and Hell was Raised.
In another room the San Zeno Wheel. It consists of three movable disks that turn on a central axis, a device known as a volvelle. The disks are made of pine, covered in vellum, giving the impression of a huge manuscript sheet. It was originally made for the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona. Just have to see it to believe it.
Next time you’re in La Jolla…stop and visit. Admission is free.
If You Go: The Map & Atlas Museum of La Jolla is located 7825 Fay Street, Suite LL-A (lower level courtyard) in La Jolla. It is open Wednesdays and Thursdays and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 11 to 4.
Sunnylands…a Gem in the Desert
A gem in Rancho Mirage has to be Sunnylands. If you’ve never heard of it or been there, it’s worth finding out more about it.
First…a little background.
Walter and Leonore Annenberg were extraordinary philanthropists, designating more than $3 billion in grants and gifts to major research universities, hospitals, medical centers, public schools, and cultural and civic organizations.
In addition, Mr. Annenberg served as Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, Great Britain. They continued to play important roles in public service.
For more than 40 years they welcomed political, business, educational, and entertainment leaders to Sunnylands, their 200-acre winter home in Rancho Mirage.
They established The Annenberg Foundation Trust in 2001 to address serious issues facing the nation and the world. This is a place where intimate and solution-driven meetings can take place. Presidents, premiers, experts, scientists, generals, CEOs, leaders can meet here in a neutral location surrounded by beauty.
It’s so much more than just a great venue for leaders to meet. It’s truly a peaceful place, as only the magic of the desert environment can provide.
Over 70 species of native and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean are displayed in the nine acres of gardens.
Plan a visit. Just wander around the grounds, watch the short video of the history, or schedule a visit to their historic estate. If birding is your thing, book a tour with a local birder. Activities change with the seasons.
If You Go: Sunnylands Center and Garden is open with free admission and parking Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Sunnylands is at 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.
You’re Packing What?
Packing doesn’t have to be an issue. You’ve probably read tips and more tips for packing this way or that way. Everyone seems to have their own tips. Take a look at a few of these…then let me know what works for you.
You don’t really need to pack all the clothes you think you’ll need. Try to stick to a simple color palette and work pieces around that. I pack clothes that don’t wrinkle and can be rolled for efficiency and space in my bag. I also know ahead of time whether there will be a washer available. If not, I pack things I can wash in a sink.
There is no need to bring things ‘just in case.’
Plus, unless you’re going to a very, very remote spot…there will probably be shops. So you forgot to bring more than one pair of socks. I’ll bet you can buy them.
How many shoes do you bring? How do you pack them? Think about what you will be doing and bring the bare minimum. If you’ll be hiking or walking where they will get dirty, pack them in your laundry bag to keep them from getting dirt all over your suitcase.
I also check ahead of time to see if there is a hair dryer. Hotels, Air B&B’s, VRBO’s will all list it on their website. No need to pack one if there is one there.
How about your extra lithium battery? It has to go in your carry on luggage. Your corkscrew? It can go in your carry on if it doesn’t have a knife on it. If it does, put it in your checked luggage.
Did you buy the latest travel gizmo or gadget? It looked so cool in the ads. Now…you have to pack it. Before you buy it, decide if it’s really worth the space it’s going to take up.
If you’re going outside the US, be sure to pack the one travel gadget that’s worth it. Your adapter…you’ll need it.
Ocean Beach and Wine
Wine tasting at 3rd Corner in Ocean Beach
Who would have thought wines from Greece, Sicily, Georgia (the country), and Lebanon would be so interesting and tasty? They were.
What did we taste?
Malagouzia, a white Greek wine grape, from Domaine Michaelidi. It was virtually extinct until Professor or Oenology Bassilis Logothetis re-discovered it in Nafpaktia in 1983. Delicious, it reminded me of a sauvignon blanc with a hint of semillion. Great for patio, pool, and summer.
Carricante, a white wine indigenous to Sicily, from Cusumano, Alto Mora. Late-ripening and grown on the steep slopes of Mt. Etna, it was a little more full-bodied. Don’t think chardonnay. Think a nice, food friendly drink with a hint of minerality.
Saperavi, native to Georgia, from Doqi. It was acidic and quite fruity, with a hint of oak. These grapes are also grown in the US in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
The one from Lebanon was a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Cab from Chateau Musar in the Bekaa Valley. Lots of dark, red fruits came through on this one. With a smooth finish, it would pair well with lamb or prosciutto.
Look at Those Planes
Sure. Let’s visit the Palm Springs Air Museum. We’ve been to other air museums and enjoy seeing the planes and reading about their history.
This one is different.
The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft and from Korea and Vietnam. Flyable, being the key word. Also, unlike many other museums, the air-conditioned hangars have no ropes to keep people from interacting with the exhibits and the more than 60 planes.
We wandered in and out of hangers, asked questions of many volunteers who actually flew some of the planes, and toured the interior of a flyable B-17. This one has been used in several Hollywood films. Impressive.
Hangers are organized by theme. The Pacific (Navy) Hangar includes exhibits and aircraft used by the Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Highlights include the Pearl Harbor diorama narrated by NBC journalist and author Tom Brokaw, the Grumman “cats”; the Avenger, Corsair, Dauntless and Invader.
The European (Army) Hangar features exhibits and aircraft used by the Army in the European Theater during World War II, plus a T-33 training jet used in Korea and Vietnam. Some planes in this hangar include the B-25 Mitchell Bomber, P-47 Thunderbolt, the renovated flying Red Tail P-51 Mustang, the P-63 King Cobra, the Spitfire and the C-47. There is also a Tuskegee Airmen mural and a wall showing the European battles of WWII.
The smallest hangar is where we found the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Since opening in 1996, they have maintained their status as a museum that flies its aircraft. Definitely worth a visit to be able to see and get near planes that shaped our history. It was even more impressive to hear the engines and see the planes as they readied for takeoff.
They are open every day from 10 to 5, except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with free parking. Check their website for more info, https://palmspringsairmuseum.org. Then, plan a trip. You’ll be glad you did.
If You Go: The Palm Springs Air Museum is located at 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA.
La Quinta Arts Festival
You really do need to see it to believe it.
La Quinta Arts Festival has been ranked the #1 Fine Art and the #1 Fine Craft festival in the nation.
Strolling the grounds, the setting couldn’t be more beautiful. Green grass, a lake in the middle with its own Island Bar, and plenty of food and beverages…this is no ordinary festival. It’s truly an outdoor gallery.
Presenting 220 of the foremost cotemporary artists, this is a four-day event. Wander through a delightful mix of culture, whimsy, serious glass and paintings, diamonds, sculptures, and so much more. You’ll wonder how to fit that copper fountain into your patio design, which piece of glass would catch all the sunlight in your living room, and if the hummingbird piece or the woodpeckers on a tree would look better in family room.
With music and performing artists, there are a plenty of places to sit and appreciate both while also enjoying trendy food, beer, and wine.
This year’s festival runs from March 7 to 10. Keep it in mind for next year.