Monday, May 27, 2013

Check In from Timberline Lodge

Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood
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GPS location Date/Time:05/24/2013 01:11:27 EDT

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Check In from the Alyeska Resort

The Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska
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Latitude:60.97042
Longitude:-149.09758
GPS location Date/Time:05/08/2013 18:38:52 EDT

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Check In from the Space Needle

Seattle's Olympic Fountain and Space Needle
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Latitude:47.62022
Longitude:-122.34944
GPS location Date/Time:05/20/2013 13:45:46 EDT

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Check In from Tonsina Point

Tonsina Point in Seward, Alaska
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Latitude:60.04906
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GPS location Date/Time:05/09/2013 17:50:29 EDT

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Check In from San Juan Island

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Latitude:48.50921
Longitude:-123.14453
GPS location Date/Time:05/18/2013 23:50:36 EDT

Lime Kiln Point on San Juan Island
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Check in from Kachemak Bay

Allison reeling in a Pacific Cod on Kachemak Bay
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Latitude:59.53607
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GPS location Date/Time:05/07/2013 16:40:42 EDT

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Check In from the Lower Angel Creek Cabin

Lower Angel Creek Cabin in the Chena River State Recreation Area 


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Latitude:65.03201
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GPS location Date/Time:05/03/2013 16:30:51 EDT

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Check In from the Denali Park Road

The Denali Park Road
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Latitude:63.73274
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Friday, May 17, 2013

California: Catalina and San Diego


America's southwest corner, at Border Field State Park
In mid-April, Allison and I traveled to several destinations in southern California including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Catalina, Orange County and San Diego. This posting covers our visits to Catalina and San Diego; Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County are addressed in a separate posting. 

Approaching Avalon Harbor
After a night and morning on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY, we boarded a Catalina Express high speed catamaran ferry to Santa Catalina Island (often called Catalina Island, or simply Catalina).  One of California’s Channel Islands, Catalina is located approximately 23 miles off the mainland.  After a smooth one hour ferry ride, we arrived at Avalon harbor where we spent two days. 

Downtown Avalon
Avalon is the only large town on Catalina, and its tourist center.  The town has been a popular getaway and resort for well over a century.  It has many restaurants and small hotels, as well as other attractions such as the Catalina Casino which offers movies and dancing.  In the early twentieth century Catalina was owned and developed by the William Wrigley, Jr. family, famous for Wrigley’s chewing gum. 

The former Wrigley Mansion in Avalon
Allison and I toured the town and its environs on foot, enjoying colorful waterfront views and hiking inland among Catalina’s rugged hills.  One morning I dove in Avalon’s underwater park, exploring its dense kelp forest and viewing marine life and several wrecks with Mark Guccione from Catalina Scuba Luv.  The excellent and popular dive park is adjacent to the Catalina Casino, and easily accessed via a broad set of stairs leading into the water.

Kelp forest in Avalon Underwater Park
 
Look Ma, no claws! A spiny lobster in the Avalon Underwater Park 
We spent much of our final day on Catalina at the lovely Descanso Beach Club, basking in bright sunshine on its restaurant deck and enjoying the active beachfront.  Although Catalina is plagued by thick fog on many mornings, we had delightful clear sunny weather for our entire stay. 

Hanging out at the Descanso Beach Club
After returning from Catalina we spent two nights in Orange County with my brother Marc and his wife Mieko, a visit detailed in a separate posting.  From Orange County, we then traveled south to the San Diego area.

Beach at Border Field State Park; Tijuana in background
Our first stop near San Diego was to America’s extreme southwest corner, one goal of our journey detailed in America Out of the Box.  The southwest corner is where America’s border with Mexico meets the Pacific Ocean.  On the American side lies Border Field State Park, with a beautiful long sandy beach and many acres of wild salt pan and marsh.  On the Mexican side is Tijuana, with a large bull ring and its own lively beach.

Shoreline border fence between Mexico and the United States
Welcome to "Friendship Park"; please stay on the path!
Although Border Field State Park has much natural beauty, Allison and I found the border itself somewhat surreal and sad.  Two sets of daunting fences deter illegal entry into the United States; one of them extends well into the ocean surf.  Numerous Border Patrol agents kept a watchful eye on us and all others in the park throughout our visit.  The Orwellian “Friendship Park” at the southwest corner, home to a historic nineteenth century border monument, is bisected by layers of steel grating and we were warned to stay on the short path leading to the monument; it was certainly an odd symbol of the friendship between two countries.  Viewing the happy Mexican beachgoers in Tijuana, sometimes only feet away, we could not help but think that their side of the border looked much more inviting.

Pool and beach at the Hotel del Coronado
 
Lobby of the Hotel del Coronado
Having visited this geographic goal, we traveled slightly north to the lovely town of Coronado outside San Diego.  There we checked into the venerable Hotel del Coronado, a large waterfront complex celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2013.  The well-maintained landmark hotel has hosted many famous and important guests and events over the years.  We stayed in a comfortable room in the hotel’s original Victorian building, which features extensive decorative woodwork throughout its lobby and public areas.

Diving in kelp at La Jolla Cove; click here for video
(photo and video courtesy of Kyle McBurnie)
The next morning I made two dives in nearby La Jolla Cove while Allison enjoyed the hotel’s beach and pool.  The very memorable dives, guided by Kyle McBurnie of SD Expeditions, were a highlight of the trip for me.  In the cove’s kelp forest we encountered many seven gill and soup fin sharks as well as sea lions, sheepshead, garibaldi (California’s bright orange state fish), large crabs and other marine life.

Seven gill shark in La Jolla Cove; click here for video
(photo and video courtesy of Kyle McBurnie)
That evening Allison and I toured downtown San Diego.  We walked through the city’s famed Gaslamp Quarter, home to many restaurants, bars, nightspots and stores.  We also drove through San Diego’s marina district, port, and historic old town which dates back to the Spanish colonial era.  Enticed by the old town, we returned there the next day for a quick walk and Mexican lunch.   

Giant panda at San Diego Zoo
 
Zebra at San Diego Zoo
Before returning to Los Angeles, we could not resist visiting the renowned San Diego Zoo.  Arranged in a large parklike setting, the zoo houses its animals in compounds which reproduce their natural habitat.  We saw pandas lounging in bamboo thickets, elephants and zebras in veldt-like expanses, hippopotami in a large pool, big cats such as lions and black panthers, and also more unusual animals such as meerkats and capybaras (to name only a few of the mammals).  In addition to the animals on display, we also observed zookeepers caring for the animals; for example, we saw one elephant getting a manicure (or was it a pedicure?)!

A "pachy-pedi" at the San Diego Zoo
In Catalina and San Diego, Allison and I explored new territory and visited both popular tourist attractions and also unusual “out of the box” destinations.  Because our time there was short, we could only scratch the surface of their many hidden treasures.    But we are very pleased to have become familiar with these delightful corners of America!
 
The Hotel del Coronado at night


Saturday, May 11, 2013

California: L.A. and the O.C.


The Queen of the World on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY
In mid-April, Allison and I traveled to several destinations in southern California including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, Catalina and San Diego. This posting covers our visits to Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County; Catalina and San Diego are addressed in a separate posting.

The R/M/S QUEEN MARY and former Soviet attack submarine SCORPION
After a late night arrival at LAX, we drove to Long Beach and checked into our unordinary lodgings on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY.  This regal old passenger liner is permanently moored in Long Beach’s harbor and serves as a hotel, museum and tourist attraction.  She features multiple restaurants, conference facilities and historical displays.

Our stateroom on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY
We stayed in one of the ship’s original luxury staterooms, outfitted as it was for her transatlantic passenger service many decades ago.  Our room was compact as would be expected of such accommodations, but nevertheless comfortable and well-maintained.

Bridge of the R/M/S QUEEN MARY
After breakfast, Allison and I toured the ship from stem to stern and bridge to engine room.  There was much to see including opulent halls and salons, her navigational and engineering facilities, and many photographs of famous passengers on board the grand old dame in her glory days and of her wartime service as a troop transport.

Upper deck of the R/M/S QUEEN MARY
We happily promenaded the decks in bright California sunshine.  Our time on board the R/M/S QUEEN MARY was extremely interesting and enjoyable.

Inspecting the SCORPION's (fully functional) periscope
We also toured the adjacent SCORPION, a former Soviet attack submarine.  We had the diesel-electric submarine all to ourselves, and enjoyed extensive access to the vessel's torpedo and engine rooms, bridge and crew accommodations.

The SCORPION's forward torpedo room
Allison and I then boarded a ferry from Long Beach to Catalina Island, a destination addressed in a separate posting.  Upon returning to the mainland we traveled to the home of my brother Marc and his wife Mieko in Mission Viejo.

With Marc at the Getty Center
(photo courtesy of Marc & Mieko M.)
Marc and Mieko graciously escorted us to several different attractions in Orange County and Los Angeles.  First we enjoyed a Friday night dinner at the Spectrum Center in Irvine, which seems equal parts shopping center and amusement park!  The large outdoor mall was crowded with shoppers and diners enjoying the warm evening air.

The Getty Center in Los Angeles
The next day Marc and Mieko took us to the impressive, modern Getty Center in Los Angeles.  There we toured two separate exhibits: an architectural and urban planning exhibit entitled Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, and a display of photographs entitled Japan’s Modern Divide: The Photographs of Hiroshi Himaya and Kansuke Yamamoto.

Exhibit banner from the Getty Center
In addition to viewing the two exhibits, we also walked through the Getty Center’s beautiful gardens.
Gardens at the Getty Center
Marc and Mieko then took us to Laguna Beach in Orange County, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner.  After dinner we attended a big band jazz concert by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at the Laguna Playhouse.  While Allison and I do not often listen to this genre of “America’s Classical Music” (as bandleader John Clayton aptly described it), we relished the orchestra’s tight performance of many excellent selections.  I found the standard “Emily”, highlighted by John Clayton’s bowed bass, particularly moving.

Dinner in Laguna Beach
After departing Mission Viejo, we spent two days in and around San Diego.  Like Catalina, San Diego is addressed in a separate posting.

Le Parc Suite Hotel in West Hollywood
The final stop of our southern California tour was in Hollywood.  There, we spent some time with our niece Courtney catching up on her personal life and work in internet publishing.  She was also very interested to hear about our own adventures, including the series of trips detailed in America Out of the Box!   We passed several hours with her over a wonderful dinner at Taste on Melrose Avenue.

Madame Tussaud's on Hollywood Boulevard
Although we had to leave California the next morning, Allison and I could not resist playing Hollywood tourists briefly before driving to the airport.  So we visited the Walk of Fame near Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, walking by the sidewalk stars of many film, television and musical celebrities whom we enjoy.  While we were there, preparations were underway for the premiere of Iron Man 3 at the El Capitan Theatre and we saw a crew literally rolling out the red carpet for the actors.

Iron Man 3 Premiere at the El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Boulevard
Allison and I did and saw so much during this visit to California; it is hard to believe that it lasted only eight days!  And yet we come away from the trip realizing just how many more things we would have liked to see and do.  The Golden State is certainly a land of many opportunities for those who wish to seize them.

Los Angeles from the Getty Center