Golden Mountain Dream

The Mojave National Preserve has a lot to offer including historical railroad systems, lots of vegetation (sage, junipers and Joshua trees), and volcanic rock formations.  It spans 1.6 million acres making it the third largest unit of the National Park System.  That means that it is impossible to experience all it has to offer in one single visit.  If you are interested in wildflower viewing you would be best advised to check the chart on line to help plan your trip because of quite dramatic variations in temperature due to increasing altitude.   There are various hiking routes but for serious hikers the best advice is to go on the abandoned dirt roads and ridge lines and see where they take you.  The developed trails include: Teutonia Peak  Trail; Mid-Hills to Hole in the Wall Trail; Lake Tuendae Nature Trail; Rings Loop Trail.  For those who don’t want to use their legs, horses, llamas and mules are welcome on all trails too.

If you happen to be in Southern California any time soon and you are looking for a great hangout for you and the whole family, then you might just want to check out Balboa Pier and beach.  To get there, go via the Pacific Coast Highway or for a short cut and slightly more adventurous route, through Balboa Island and thereafter the Balboa Auto Ferry which will take you via Newport Harbor and let you off at the edge of the Fun Zone (which is an awesome waterfront amusement park).  Apart from the actual pier and beach you get the whole of Balboa Peninsula which is a great beach town for anyone looking for some fun and a getaway experience.  At the beach tourists and children are offered surf break and while you can’t quite go surfing like the pros, you can definitely use this as your tryout surfing time.  Your kids will simply go crazy for the Fun Zone there and the Ferris wheel may just bring back enjoyable nostalgic moments for you if you’re not interested in joining them up there in the sky.  You can just sit back and enjoy the rest of the fun of the fare munching on popcorn and cotton candy and all those other great treats you remember from your carefree childhood days.

Are you looking for something different to do in California this summer?  Are you in the mood for an adventure with a difference?  Then the California 2010 State Fair could be the thing for you.  This fair offers fun things to do for the whole family!  For the kids (actually I would go for this too!), there is the Days of the Dinosaur Exhibit which offers a prehistoric wonderland.  There you will be privy to life-sized robotic dinosaurs as well as activities the kids can get involved in.  The Jungle and Reptile Adventure gives animal lovers the opportunity to take a real look at all sorts of alligators, tortoises, exotic birds and more.  If you book early, you will save money and check out the 25% lower food prices on offer too.  For wine connoisseurs or anyone who likes a tipple, there will be over 1,200 wines available for tasting.  So this really is a family adventure fun for everyone!

Are you looking for something different to do in California this summer?  Are you in the mood for an adventure with a difference?  Then the California 2010 State Fair could be the thing for you.  This fair offers fun things to do for the whole family!  For the kids (actually I would go for this too!), there is the Days of the Dinosaur Exhibit which offers a prehistoric wonderland.  There you will be privy to life-sized robotic dinosaurs as well as activities the kids can get involved in.  The Jungle and Reptile Adventure gives animal lovers the opportunity to take a real look at all sorts of alligators, tortoises, exotic birds and more.  If you book early, you will save money and check out the 25% lower food prices on offer too.  For wine connoisseurs or anyone who likes a tipple, there will be over 1,200 wines available for tasting.  So this really is a family adventure fun for everyone!

If it is a bit of peace and tranquility that you are seeking on a trip to California (or even while you are living in the golden state), then I would suggest spending some time at the Joshua Tree.  There you will be subject to amazing space, stunning views and non-polluted air, typical of that which you will find throughout the region.  And don’t be fooled by how it looks from driving by, as the true beauty of the Joshua Tree can only be experienced on closer examination.

At the Joshua Tree you will find lots of animals and plants, a wonderful cultural history, as well as geologic features not found in many other places.  For bird lovers this is the place to be.  Seek out: the rock wren, cactus wren, phainopela, verdin and more.  In the winter you will find sage sparrows, dark eyed unco, and cedar waxing.  So depending on when you visit, there are seasonal birds that appear.
Perhaps you are into flowers?  From late February at the Joshua Tree you will be subject to the wildflower season with an incredible cream colored bloom which turns into bright cacti a few months later.  And if you want to time the weather just right, make your visit around spring and fall. Or if you’re looking for some rare Californian snow, you might be able to catch it during the winter months.
Whatever nature you are seeking out, the Joshua Tree is a must-see.

Get away from it all for a relaxing and incredible experience at The Inn at Parkside.  Located near downtown Sacramento, this bed and breakfast includes an Asian-inspired spa experience.  The mansion is a quick drive, or a short walk, from the California State Capital, downtown businesses, Old Town Sacramento and the Crocker Art Museum.

You’ll find Eastern and Western music playing in your beautiful guestroom accommodations and you’ll enjoy a delicious multi-course breakfast.

For those who love to indulge, the Asian-inspired spa treatments will allow you to do just that.  Choices include everything from the Tunisian Warm Oil Stone Massage to the Malaysian Silk Warm Oil Stone Massage and more.  Enjoy Balneotherapy where you combine your message with a “bath cure” or unwind with a traditional Swedish Massage.

Why not take a bit of an adventure next time you’re down by Winchester, CA?  This summer the Lake Skinner Recreation Area is set to be the location of something altogether quite different.  There are so many beautiful places to see and great things to do throughout California, but if you want to do something really different, check out the upcoming Temecula Valley Balloon and Festival anniversary. Now in its 26th year and still going strong, this awesome event offers great wine tasting in the perfect location (of the festival’s wine gardens), good food, entertainment for kids, exhibits, upscale entertainment, arts and crafts and more.  For anyone who is a real wine connoisseur, this event can’t be missed as there will be top wines from throughout Temecula Valley wineries as well as other good ones from throughout southern California.

Ballooning in Southern California

But this is event is more than just another excuse to enjoy the region’s fine wines.  While you are there, take advantage of a trip on a hot hair balloon and enjoy the relaxing sensation of floating softly into the sapphire skies above Lake Skinner around the wine country.  You’ll be floating from the wines so why not elevate that experience in the skies as well?

If you live in Northern California, you may be interested in knowing about the Japan Society of Northern California.  This is an educational non-profit organization which is the West Coast’s leading forum on Japan and US-Japan relations.  Their goal is to strengthen cooperation and understanding between the people who live in the United States and those in Japan.  They do so by creating programs that help to increase knowledge and to increase personal interactions between these groups.

Founded in 1905, the Japan Society believes strongly in the power of knowledge and the power of personal contact.  Their members who live through the Northern California area, enjoy great opportunities to meet and learn from leaders in the arts, business, politics and society.

On Monday, May 10th, for instance, the Japan Society of Northern California hosted a major international symposium at the Hotel Nikko.  This symposium marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Japan’s first diplomatic mission to the United States.  The symposium focused on the future role of the US-Japan partnership.

If you’re near the Santa Cruz, California area, you simply must visit the Golden Oriental Spa.  This spa recently opened at 1211 Ocean Street, which was home for 10 years to the visitor center run by the Santa Cruz County Conference and the Visitors Council.

Sophia Yuan (pictures at left), the owner of this new spa, brings years of experience running a large spa in China.  She immigrated with her family four years ago and opened a small spa called Nice Day. She opened this spa with co-owner Brian Morrissey, also pictured at left.

The near spa includes three employees and offers nine treatment rooms with a Chinese décor.  It is offering excellent prices for all sorts of spa treatments and is looking forward to serving the local clientele with great Chinese spa treatments and other amenitites.

If you have ever dreamed of taking a cruise on a boat, sitting back and breathing in that tantalizing Californian clear, sunny air, Lake Almanor in Northern California should feature pretty near the top of your to do list. At Lake Almanor, the skies couldn’t be brighter and the water couldn’t be bluer. For the best boating and fishing times, one would be well-advised to check the weather forecasts and schedule the trip during Californian summertime, as rainy periods would not be so suitable. But if you are one of those individuals who enjoys the great Californian outdoors, Lake Almanor also offers fun for snowboarders, skiers and more.

For environmentalists, Lake Almanor is a dream come true. A staggering 1,000 out of 1,600 acres at Almanor to this day remain unspoiled forest land. For anyone who lives for the outdoors and adores California, Lake Almanor is a must stop. Plan to spend a couple of days there at least, since it would be a shame not to take advantage of all the Lake’s other activities, including boating, swimming, biking, water-skiing and more. Stay overnight and get a real taste for the outdoors as a camper.

But if you ever feel the need for a few of your creature comforts, rest assured that Lake Almanor sits on the doorstep of wonderful shopping and dining areas too. Whatever you choose to do, and whenever you decide to go, you definitely won’t be bored at Lake Almanor if you enjoy a taste of golden mountain dream.