California Dreaming: Tom and Tracy’s California Journal
From The Maitai Vault
What’s great here in the Golden State? There are some stops in California that demand extra time and energy to explore. Others require just a quick stop. That’s what we’re here to do. From magnificent museums to gorgeous settings to events unique to our great state…and even a fork in the road…this section gives you a unique cross section of California, and the places you should spend some time exploring while visiting. My most recent posts are at the top as we keep adding places that we travel, and add additional information to spots we revisit more frequently. Hopefully this will give you some ideas on what to see in our great state.
April 18, 2018
“He Gave His Life For Tourism” King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh – Los Angeles (EXHIBITION CLOSED) Visited: April 2018: Although no “condo made of stone-a” could be found, Tracy and I recently had the opportunity to witness more than 150 ancient Egyptian artifacts from the tomb of the […]
April 2, 2018
… Where No Spacecraft Has Gone Before! Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Tour – Pasadena/La Cañada Flintridge Visited: March 2018 One can’t talk about the “Space Age” without including the major accomplishments and innovations created by the brilliant minds at Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s research facility. That’s why I was so […]
March 8, 2018
I Am Woman! Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park – Richmond Visited: February 2018 On a drive from Southern California to Bodega Bay, our route took us over the San Rafael Bridge. We diverted a few exits short of the bridge to check out a museum I had […]
February 28, 2018
Beware The Pear! Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park/Vallejo’s Petaluma Adobe – Petaluma Like so many visits to our friends Kim and Mary in Bodega Bay, the four of us used the weekend to hike along the beautiful Sonoma Coast … […]
February 15, 2018
Hooray For Hollywood! Hollywood Museum – Hollywood Visited: February 2018 Wham!!! Pow!!! Bam!!! Holy Campy Hollywood History Batman! Once we heard there was a special exhibit featuring the Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder Robin, Tracy and I carefully slid (not as young as we used to be) down the MaiTai […]
January 31, 2018
Back In The Saddle Again Autry Museum of the American West – Griffith Park (Los Angeles) Visited: January 2018 Four years ago, Tracy and I visited the Autry Museum of the American West (then called the Autry Museum National Center) in Griffith Park, but before I could write anything about […]
December 13, 2017
Star Trekking Griffith Observatory – Los Angeles Visited: December 2017 If you want to see some real stars when you visit the Hollywood area, forget Hollywood; this place is it! The Griffith Observatory is one of Southern California’s most famous landmarks, and millions of visitors have gotten spaced out here […]
November 10, 2017
The Tao of Tom Thien Hau Temple – Los Angeles Visited: November 2017 Entering Chinatown in Los Angeles, Thien Hau Temple beckoned me on a unique journey, where, unbeknownst to me at the time, I would eventually experience the “Tao of Tom.” Once again, this was a Southern California landmark […]
October 25, 2017
England Comes To Pasadena Church of the Angels – Pasadena Visited: October 2017 It’s not often I mistake Southern California for the English countryside, but a few days ago while driving in the Pasadena, South Pasadena, Highland Park Triangle, for a brief moment I felt like I’d been transported to […]
October 13, 2017
California’s Lincoln Memorial…and more! Lincoln Memorial Shrine, Redlands Bowl & A.K. Smiley Public Library – Redlands Visited: October 2017 No score and three days ago, and dedicated to the proposition that all museums are created equal, I donned my stovepipe hat and traveled out to Redlands to check out the […]
September 26, 2017
Accidental Treasures San Secondo d’Asti Catholic Church – Ontario & Madonna of the Trail – Upland Visited: August 2017 It all started innocently enough a few weeks ago while I was researching our 2018 trip to the Piemente region in Italy. Specifically, I was looking at the town of Asti […]
June 3, 2017
Pasadena’s Dedicated Public Garden Arlington Garden – Pasadena Last Visited: April 2017 On a beautiful Sunday morning in Pasadena (and aren’t they all), our corgis were feeling a bit restless. Luckily, we live very near to one of Pasadena’s beautiful hidden secrets, Arlington Garden, a three-acre site that also happens […]
April 14, 2017
Hoppy Days Are Here Again! The Bunny Museum – Altadena Thanks to their adoration of everything bunny, Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski have taken hare raising to a new level. What started as a gesture of love by two people exchanging bunny gifts has turned into the largest collection of […]
April 10, 2017
Intrigue, Scandal, Ghosts & Deaths In The Mansion Greystone Mansion & Gardens – Beverly Hills Visited: April 2017 Lights! Camera! Murder! The historic Greystone Mansion & Gardens, nestled above Beverly Hills, which is now primarily used for private events, weddings, and filming, has a history that includes scandals, at least […]
March 14, 2017
An Arresting Museum Los Angeles Police Museum – Los Angeles (Highland Park) This is the city…Los Angeles, California. The story you are about to read is true. None of the names have been changed to protect the innocent (or guilty). It was Wednesday, March 1…another warm, winter day in the […]
February 17, 2017
“Pasadena’s Stained Glass Marvel”All Saints Episcopal Church – Pasadena Last Visited: February 2017 For those who have never read anything I’ve written about (you have lots of company), although not a religious person per se, I am very fascinated with places of worship. It’s has been nearly a year since […]