Santa Barbara, California

Driving up the coast of California a must stop is Santa Barbara. In fact, I think it was probably my favorite stop along the way; though we didn't spend much time there. In retrospect, we should have altered our reservations, stayed and explored more. Santa Barbara is rich in history, dating back to 1542, when a Portugese explorer Juan Cabrillo first sailed up the coast to claim the area for Spain. He made contact with the inhabitants, Chumash Indians. Later the area was explored more by Viscaino who named the channel Santa Barbara after The Roman Catholic Feast Day of Santa Barbara.

It wasn't until 1780 when establishment of a Mission and Presidio took place. In 1796 1,000 Chumash Indians were baptized. Trouble and damage to the area from an Earthquake in 1812 occured. The American Period began in 1845......but wait. Don't want to tell you all about it. Explore and find out for yourselves.

Santa Barbara is rich in history, quaint, and quite pretty there along the ocean. Watch the sunsets, eat at any local establishment and you'll be glad you did. Pick a cute affordable Mom and Pop type Motel/hotel for your stay. Enjoy yourself and avoid the chains. Santa Barbara doesn't look like anywhere USA.

Want to sun yourself on the beach........enjoy. Perhaps you want to fish, or visit a local winery. Much to see and do. I'm sorry our time there was short. We didn't have much daylight by the time we stopped, sorry only a few pictures. Even in the cool evenings open pit fireplaces warm you as you stroll up and down the beach sidewalk or dine outside across from the beach.

I highly recommend staying at The Mason Inn. We had a wonderful room just one block from the beach. Our room was very affordable, large enough for a table and chairs, microwave, and small fridge. Definatley not your routine bed in a room hotel.

We had free internet service as well. A very comfortable room. I'd like to go back and spend time in The Mission. We were there in June of last year when fires were everywhere in California. Believe going later in the year would have been a little more comfortable temperature wise.

On recommendations from our host at Mason Inn, we ate dinner at The Fish House. Ola la la!

Gettysburg

"Four Score and Seven Years Ago, our Fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Great words spoken long ago. Come bring the whole family, be apart of living history.

Bring your camera to capture the monuments,

Cannons



After a full day of living history, relax and enjoy The Gettysburg Battlefield Resort with your family. While the kids go for a swim at the pool or have play time at the playground, Mom can enjoy the beautiful gardens. Bring your RV and enjoy Pennsylvania RV camping. Scenery, relaxation, activities galore and Gettysburg camping await you. Don't have an RV? Not to worry! Enjoy accomodations in brand new cabins with all the ammenities. Camp in Gettysburg in style! Pssssssss, there's a Jucuzzi for tired muscles for us adults at this Gettysburg Campground near the historic area.

There's much to see and do in historic Gettysburg. If you want a day off from history, take the time to enjoy boat or canoe rentals, nature trails, or fishing. Then if you're not to tired, take a drive through Dutch Country or visit "The Sweetest Place on Earth....Hershey's.

Gettysburg Battlefield Resort RV Campground has 215 camp sites and Internet service. Call for your reservations today and you'll be amazed how much everyone can have fun learning and being a part of history. Call 1-888-455-9579 for your reservations, RV camping Gettysburg at The Gettysburg Battlefield Resort.

Let the fun begin!

Joshua Tree National Park, California

One feels so very tiny here in this vast landscape.

Petroglypys, if only we could read the stories they tell us.


Left from cattle rustling days, a dam. We also saw some tools, and a water trough. Hard to imagine trying to live, and work cattle in this desolate desert area. How hard life must have been.


Climbers....yep they're really there. We were quite a distance and this is a zoom folks. Gives you an idea of the size of things there.


Fantastic outline here of a Joshua Tree against the dark and angry sky of an approaching storm.

Hiking, camping, siteseeing via car, climbing??? Explore nature in many ways. Joshua Tree National Park--something for people of all generations. Got a family, stop in the visitors station and sign the kids up for The Jr. Ranger Program. You'll be surprised how much you learn with them. There are Ranger lead walks, talks, and evening programs. Interested in geology? You'll be in heaven here. Desert yes.....but not in the way many of us think of a desert. It was pretty nippy the day we were there, the climbers though probably liked the cooler temperatures. We were there in February. We spent a day there, our accomodations were in Desert Springs. If traveling from other areas, I would suggest packing a lunch as nothing really much is available along the way.

Entrance into the park is $15.00 (unless you have a Golden Annual Pass). Camp grounds vary from $10.00 to $15.00.

Like to go off road, ride horses? Those activities also exist here.

Layer, take water regardless of the time of year you go.

The Joshua Tree (Yucca Brevifolia)is a giant member of the lily family. If you see a Joshua Tree, chances are good you're in The Majave Desert, but you might also see it growing along side a Saguaro Catcus in the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona or mixed with pines in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Mormon immigrants that reach the Colorado River named the tree after the biblical figure Joshua. They felt the tree's limb were guided travelers westward. All tree limbs reach up to obtain the light, so to me they seem no different than other trees.

You do see the landscape change as you drive through the park from The Mojave Desert to The Colorado Desert.

Hope you enjoy these few of the many pictures I took that day.

No packing Day of Vacation...come and see

Sunset in my backyard. Thats right, good for the budget you can make a vacation day at home. Fix a nice meal, sit outside take in the smells, sites and feel. It's like being on a balcony. Enjoy the gardens the yard staff has worked hard to make them beautiful for your enjoyment.

I've ordered a vodka and tonic here, nice to sip as I view or walk among the gardens. No TV, no cell phones folks. Sit and enjoy...you'll be surprised how much like vacation it can be. This activity is probably more adult, though you could make it a family vacation. Put out the sprinkler and let the kids run through it. Get finger paints, a pick sheet of paper and let them paint with their bare feet.