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.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
California’s Mammoth Lakes Basin
California’s Sierra Nevada mountains have some pretty spectacular scenery!
The “Lakes Basin,” as it is commonly referred to, is only a few miles from the town of Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes sits on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range and is best known as a top notch down-hill ski destination. It is especially popular with skiers from the Los Angeles area.
(Mammoth Lakes Basin)
The Mammoth Lakes Basin is mostly a summer destination, being a popular spot for hiking, biking, rock-climbing, camping and fishing. There are more than a dozen lakes set in this beautiful environment of mountains and forests.
We visited the area several times when we lived in California and our kids were young. Always had a pleasant half …
“Pic of the Week”, January 6, 2023: Heather Lake, Sequoia National Park
Heather Lake is a popular day hike destination in California’s Sequoia National Park. The trail begins from the Wolverton parking area, heads north (part of the Lakes Trail) and over 4.1 miles climbs about 2,000 ft to Heather Lake (situated at 9,280 ft). It’s considered a moderately difficult hike.
There are two options to getting to Heather Lake from the Lakes Trail: 1) The Hump Trail requires more elevation gain (about 200 ft), is shadier, and doesn’t have the exposure of the Watchtower Trail. It is the safer option, even if it is slightly longer.2) The Watchtower Trail is not for those with a fear of heights as it takes you on a ledge blasted from a sheer cliff for a half mile, …
Jan 5, 2023
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.All Trips / California / Southwestern USA
Sherman Library and Gardens, Newport Beach
The coastal city of Newport Beach is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, swimming, surfing, beach walks, a nice harbor, and trendy homes (and the beautiful people who populate them).
We were surprised to find a small garden and library complex in the city adjoining the Pacific Coast Highway that was most pleasant to visit and explore. We visited in the winter, before the CoVid pandemic, and while some plants weren’t in bloom many were and we really enjoyed our visit!
SHERMAN GARDENS
(Orchids, Sherman Garden)
The botanical garden is thoughtfully designed and is a lot of fun to explore. Arnold Haskell was the founder of Sherman Library & Gardens. He was a businessman who enjoyed gardens and education. After accumulating the land over a …
Tagged Sherman Library
.All Trips / Car Culture / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA
Hood Ornaments and Emblems: National Automobile Museum
There’s something about the artistry of old cars I find appealing. Besides their interesting designs and contours, a detail I’d never thought much about became apparent to me when we visited the terrific National Automobile Museum in Reno. I became intrigued by the details of the older car’s hood ornaments and emblems. This was especially true of cars made more than a century ago.
I thought it might be interesting to look at some of these older cars from the perspective of first studying their emblems and/or ornaments, then looking at the whole car. These are arranged chronologically by year of release …
Tagged cars, National Automobile Museum, Reno
.All Trips / Car Culture / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA
Mr. Harrah collected approximately 1,450 automobiles during his lifetime — a staggering number when you think about it — which he stored in warehouses around Reno. His was the world’s largest collection of historic automobiles which were open to the …
The National Automobile Museum, Reno
The National Automobile Museum is considered one of the 10 best car museums in the USA and features an amazing collection of vehicles from the late 19th century and 20th century. The museum displays over 200 cars, and lots of associated memorabilia.
Most of the vehicles displayed in the museum are from the private collection of magnate William F. Harrah, founder of Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos, so the museum is sometimes referred to as “The Harrah Collection”. The museum opened in 1989.
One of the first cars you see on entering the museum, a 1994 Beatnik Bandit II, built by Eddie Roth
Mr. Harrah collected approximately 1,450 automobiles during his lifetime — a staggering number when you think about it — which he stored in warehouses around Reno. His was the world’s largest collection of historic automobiles which were open to the …
Tagged automobiles, cars, museum, National Automobile Museum, Reno
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
Yosemite Falls is actually made up of three separate falls:
1) Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet) comprises half of the fall’s vertical drop. The upper fall is formed by the waters …
Majestic Yosemite Falls!
At a height of more than 2,425 ft (739 m), Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park and even one of the tallest waterfalls in the world. It can be seen from many vantages in the park. I’m especially fond of this view from across the valley, although the perspective from Glacier Point is also pretty terrific.
Yosemite Falls is a popular attraction, especially in May-June when it’s at peak flow from the melting snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountains, as it was when we visited this past spring.
View of Yosemite Falls from Valley Floor
Yosemite Falls is actually made up of three separate falls:
1) Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet) comprises half of the fall’s vertical drop. The upper fall is formed by the waters …
.All Trips / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA
Anderson Junk Yard, Dayton
Dayton is a short drive from Carson City, Nevada. We have some friends who live there and, as I’m prone to do, my wife and I wandered around the historic core of this small town.
A few blocks off the main road we came across this treasure chest of junk. Acres and acres of great stuff sitting in the elements rusting and fading away. A lot of it was quite old, like farm equipment, but what impressed me most was what a diverse collection of stuff this was — cars, trucks, toys, and so much more!
The sign said we were at “Anderson Yard”. The place was locked up when we visited, but we were able to walk around its fence and …
Tagged Anderson Junk Yard, Dayton
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
It’s interesting to stroll through and read the grave markers for people who died here, many of whom played important roles in the development …
Yosemite National Park’s historic Cemetery
I’ve traveled to Yosemite National Park at least a dozen times in my life, always enjoying each visit, but it was not until my latest visit that I discovered it had a small historic cemetery in it.
Yosemite Cemetery (also known as Pioneer Cemetery) is located in Yosemite Village, near the Yosemite Museum. It’s quite secluded and peaceful, shaded by cedars and surrounded by a low split-rail fence. The graves were originally scattered throughout the park but after President Lincoln signed the bill creating Yosemite National Park into law, the remains were collected into this small cemetery.
Pioneer Cemetery, Yosemite National Park
It’s interesting to stroll through and read the grave markers for people who died here, many of whom played important roles in the development …
