California Traveler

Apologies and BIG News!

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:08:00 +0000

Apologies for not updating this blog for a very, very, very long time. However, for the last several years I have been focusing on other things and have not been able to travel. The last time I visited California was in 2011, so I have not had any more personal experiences to post about. That, however, is going to be changing.

So, here's the BIG news. I mean, really big news...

I will be moving to California in a few months and will be able to add a lot of new content once I'm settled. So, don't despair, we will be back and better than ever for the last few months of 2015 and beyond! I'm excited for the change and the opportunity it brings to explore more of California. I thank all of you who have read my past content and hope you will stick with me in anticipation of the new content I will be able to add.

So, cheers to more California travel in 2015 and beyond!

Whoops! It's 2014!

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:07:00 +0000

Wow! I've really been slacking. It's been a little over six months since my last post. What a bad blogger. I've missed posting so many good deals and events. I plan to get myself in gear and post more in the near future, so don't despair. We'll be back and better than ever!

Pigeon Point Lighthouse stands tall on the central California coast

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 19:17:00 +0000

Pigeon Point Light Station in Pescadero

Along the central coast of California lies the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, located about 50 miles south of San Francisco off Highway 1. The Pigeon Point Lighthouse dominates as one of the tallest lighthouses in America at 115 feet. The lighthouse began operation in 1872 and, though currently closed to the public, is still in operation with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel features very affordable accommodations for those willing to sleep dorm-style and, still low rates, for those wanting private rooms. The Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel are adjacent to the lighthouse itself. Besides the accommodations, there is also a coastal hot tub for guests to "rent" (reservations available at check-in.) You will need to be a member of Hostelling International in order to stay at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel, but annual membership is very affordable at only $28 per year (a daily member rate of $3 is also available.) The hostel is part of the Northern California Hostels network of eight hostels located from Pigeon Point to Sacramento.

Pigeon Point is a beautifully scenic location on the central coast in between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. History walks around the lighthouse grounds are offered between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Fridays through Mondays. The area features a boardwalk perfect for whale watching January through April; tidal pools; and an interpretive center. You can also explore nearby Pescadero March and Año Nuevo State Park.

Pigeon Point is also part of the California Coastal Trail, a 1,200 mile trail extending from Oregon to Mexico. The California Coastal Trail (CCT) is currently more than half complete, allowing walkers, bikers, equestrians, and wheelchair rides access to the California coastline. Coastwalk California is a volunteer group advocating for completion of the CCT. Besides advocating for the CCT, Coastwalk offers a variety of guided day and overnight hikes along the California coastline.

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This one goes out to all the SEO spammers

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 00:11:00 +0000

I apologize to anyone who sent me a legitimate email at my official website email address, as I completely forgot to check it for several months. My email is there for people to contact me about articles I write, to provide article suggestions, or to alert me to promotions. It is not there for people to inundate me with proposals for SEO, website design and the like. So, to all you spammers who have sent me emails (which I only just saw) I do not need SEO strategy and results or website design or development or photo retouching (I'm a photographer) or 1st page Google ranking (maybe one day I'll get there on my own), or any of the myriad other proposals or whatnot I have received. Thanks, but no thanks. I'm still a little confused about the whale watching dude.

End of rant.

New post coming tomorrow.

Groupon Deal Alert: USS Pampanito at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:12:00 +0000

USS Pampanito

Groupon is currently offering a deal for the USS Pampanito, located at Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The offer says there is limited quantity available for a limited time remaining, so act fast if you want to take advantage. The Groupon is good through December 18, 2013; so, you can buy now for use later on this year. There are three different options available for purchase and the largest discount is at 63%. The deal has been offered before, but prices have increased since last year. Lock in your savings if you plan to go to San Francisco this year.

The USS Pampanito is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association. This National Historic Landmark served six patrols in the Pacific during World War II, sinking six Japanese ships and damaging four others.

The submarine is open daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day) from 9:00 am. Regular adult admission is $12.00 and children ages 6-12 are $6.00 (children under 6 are free with an adult). There is also a self-guided tour for $3.00; however, you can download a free audio tour ahead of time to play on your smart device.

Mendocino County's Glass Beach disappearing a piece at a time

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:51:00 +0000

Sea glass can be found on many beaches around the world, but one beach that has been one of the most abundant sources of sea glass in the world is disappearing just as fast as people can pick up the pieces. Glass Beach, near Fort Bragg in Mendocino County, was used as a dumping ground by area residents until it was closed in 1967. Once called "The Dumps," this beach was eventually cleaned up and opened to the public as part of MacKerricher State Park in 2002.

Image credit: Jef Poskanzer

Sea glass is typically created by the natural wear and tear of the ocean on broken bottles, glasses, and the like. Many pieces of sea glass have been created over the years from items lost at sea during shipwrecks. The natural ebb and flow of the water smooths the surface of the broken glass until the pieces are frosted pebbles. In recent years, sea glass has been a very popular collectible and is often used in making jewelry. Because of the increase in collectors and a decrease in littering, sea glass is not as abundant as it once was.

Glass Beach in Fort Bragg has especially suffered the ravages of collectors, even though the beach is posted with signs prohibiting collection, people are still picking up bags of the glass. If you visit Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, or a glass beach anywhere else, make sure you know the rules about collecting the glass. If you're not sure, just don't do it. Besides Glass Beach in MacKerricher State Park, there are two other nearby sea glass beaches. The other two beaches are more difficult to access, so the glass is more plentiful as there are less people to take it. Beaches are naturally beautiful places to visit, so the addition of the colorful sea glass is just a bonus, but one that should be preserved for all to see.

Sea glass can be found on beaches around the country and there are many places that celebrate this unique glass with festivals. Natural sea glass (yes, there is "fake" sea glass) gets harder to come by as more people collect and fewer people litter (not to mention that we use fewer glass bottles these days). If you want a piece of sea glass, there are many places you can purchase it as it is a popular collectible in tourist areas, art galleries, and jewelry shops.

Besides being home to several sea glass beaches, Fort Bragg is also home to the International Sea Glass Museum, as well as their own Sea Glass Festival.

Sea Otters Return to the Monterey Bay Aquarium

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Photo Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Department of the Interior/USGS
U.S. Geological Survey/photo by Don Becker

March 23 marks the return of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's most popular exhibit, the sea otters. More than 50 million visitors have enjoyed the sea otters at the aquarium. The two-story exhibit has been upgraded to include new interactive features where visitors can learn more about the adorable animals and the efforts undertaken by the aquarium to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

The aquarium's Sea Otter Research and Conservation program is home to the only center that rescues and releases California sea otters. The program has aided more than 600 ill, injured and orphaned sea otters since 1984.

The exhibit otters have helped Monterey Bay Aquarium researchers learn more in depth information about the animals, gathering baseline data about otter growth and development.

The current sea otters who will share exhibit time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium are Rosa, Abby, Kit, Gidget, and Ivy. Rosa is the oldest at almost 14 years and Ivy is the youngest at just 1-1/2 years old.

Official Logo

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:37:00 +0000

I now have an official logo for this blog. I hope you like it, I designed it myself under my business Mixed Media Designs & Communications. Let me know what you think.

Oakland Zoo Family Deal Alert

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Flamingos hang out near the entrance to the Oakland Zoo.

Living Social is featuring a great deal for a family of four to visit the Oakland Zoo. The deal offers a 51% discount on a one-day family pass to the zoo, covering admissions for two adults and two children for only $27. General zoo admission for one adult is $15.75, so you can see the savings this deal offers. The Oakland Zoo is smaller than the San Francisco Zoo, but is still a pleasurable outing for a family. It is located in the 525-acre Knowland Park just off highway 580 in Oakland. Currently, there are four days left to purchase the deal, which is good through August 5, 2013.

Girl with a Pearl Earring visits San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:36:00 +0000

Starting this past Saturday, January 26, and going through Sunday, June 2, 2013, you can see Johannes (Jan) Vermeer's masterpiece, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Along with Vermeer's masterpiece, more than 30 works from other Dutch masters will be shown in this special exhibit at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. The exhibit Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis will be running in conjunction with Rembrandt's Century, and exhibit featuring 17th century works on paper from graphic artists and print makers in the time of Rembrandt. The exhibit is anchored by a large number of etchings by Rembrandt van Rijn.

The Girl with a Pearl Earring exhibit is the first American stop on the tour of these famous painting from the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague; the Dutch museum features one of the world's greatest collection of works from the Dutch Golden Age (1584-1702). The museum has not lent such a large group of works from its collection in nearly 30 years; however, a major renovation to the museum allows this exhibit to be possible. The Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis is closed to the public during renovations and is expected to reopen in mid-2014.

Timed tickets for this special exhibit are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors 65 or older, $21 for students with current ID, $15 for youths ages 6-17, and free to members and children under 5. Included in admission is the adjacent exhibit, Rembrandt's Century, as well as general museum admission. The de Young Museum is located at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive in Golden Gate Park; the museum is closed Mondays.

A Favor to Ask

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 04:49:00 +0000

If you haven't already, please like my page on Facebook. I post and share links and articles and pictures that enhance the California Traveler blog experience. So, please do me a favor (and yourself, as well) and like the California Traveler Blog page on Facebook. Thanks!

Groupon Deal Alert: deYoung Museum

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

The deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park.

Act quickly to take advantage of this Groupon for admission to the "Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance" exhibit at the deYoung Museum located in Golden Gate Park. This exclusive exhibit runs through February 17, 2013 and there are three days left to purchase this deal on Groupon. The deal is for a 50% discount on admission to the exhibit and general museum admission. If you redeem your admission this month (January), you also get a 20% discount at the museum store.

Rudolf Nureyev in 1973 by Allan Warren

Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) was a Soviet-born dancer and choreographer who defected to the West from the Soviet Union in 1961. He was a hugely popular international performer appearing on stages around the globe; he also appeared in a number of television programs and films. The deYoung's exhibit features more than 80 costumes and 50 photographs from Nureyev's personal collection, among other items.

The deYoung Museum is part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, along with the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park. The deYoung museum is the fourth most visited art museum in North America. The museum features permanent exhibits concentrating on art of the ancient Americas, Oceania and Africa, as well as American art and international textiles and costumes. There are also frequently changing temporary and traveling exhibits from museums around the world.

The deYoung Museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. General admission to the museum for adults is $10. Admission is free the first Tuesday of every month. Special exhibits may have additional admission charges. Tickets for "Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance" are $20 for adults. The museum is located at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

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January is California restaurant month

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 02:22:00 +0000

California is hosting a statewide celebration of food during the month of January. They have a website and Facebook page dedicated to the event. They have a whole host of events going on across the state, online and through various social media outlets. The are running a photo contest with entries uploaded to Instagram and Facebook. They will also be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with various California-based chefs on Facebook.

To enter the Foodie Photo Contest, you'll need to snap a picture of your favorite "California inspired" meal and post on Instagram or their Facebook page with the tag #DineInCA. You'll need to have your friends and family vote for your picture to help you get to the Top 10. Those photos making the Top 10 will be judged by a panel of experts on quality, style, and creativity. The grand prize in the contest is a 7-day deluxe foodie trip to California for two. There will also be three runner-up prizes awarded. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada ages 21 and over. For more details on the contest, check out the complete rules.

The "Knife Point Interviews" will be hosted live every Wednesday in January on Facebook. If you miss the life session on Facebook, the transcripts will be posted to the Visit California website. I'm excited for the last interview in the series with Roy Choi, of Kogi Korean BBQ food truck fame. Chef Choi and the Kogi food truck started a trend that has exploded across the country, inspiring other chefs to open their cafes on wheels.

Many restaurants across the state will be participating in California Restaurant Month or with a resturant week celebration in their own city. There will be restaurant week/month specials, so check with participating restaurants for their offerings. Another source for information, as well as reservations, for the upcoming foodie celebrations is Open Table: California Restaurants. Open Table, if you're not familiar with it, is an online reservation system where you can earn points for dining at participating restaurants. If you want to dine at any of the restaurant week/month participants, you might want to make your reservations early as seatings can fill up quickly.

California Restaurant Month Schedules*:

Napa Valley Restaurant Month, January 1-31
San Luis Obispo County Restaurant Month, January 1-31
Berkeley Restaurant Week, January 13-20
San Francisco Dine About Town, January 15-31
Oakland Restaurant Week, January 18-27
Newport Beach Restaurant Week, January 21-27
Dine LA Restaurant Week, January 21-February 1

*Check out the California Restaurant Month website for more celebrations around the state.

San Francisco Giants win the World Series and get a ticker-tape parade

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:21:00 +0000

For the second time in three years, the San Francisco Giants have won Major League Baseball's World Series. To honor the hometown winners, the City of San Francisco will be celebrating on Wednesday, October 31, with a ticker-tape parade. If you are in the city, stake your place early to watch the spectacle. The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the foot of Market Street. Players, coaches, and immediate family members will be riding in convertibles, so the fans can see them better than in their 2010 victory parade. The parade ends at City Hall and Civic Center Plaza where San Francisco's mayor, Ed Lee, will present the team with a key to the city. The Giants organization will be live-streaming the parade on their website. In order to accommodate the expected crowd, additional public transportation services have been added.

Deal Alert: Groupon featuring San Francisco Sightseeing Deals Galore

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:34:00 +0000

San Francisco Skyline

If you're planning a trip to San Francisco any time in the near future, it almost always pays to check out deal sites such as Groupon and Living Social. Today, I was checking out Groupon and noticed the following deals for sightseeing adventures. So check out these deals for some fun things to do on your next San Francisco trip and save some money (who doesn't love doing that?)!

View of Golden Gate Bridge from the water.

Deal #1: A 50% discount for a twilight cruise on the Red and White Fleet. For $29 you get a ticket for the California Twilight Cruise, which operates Thursdays through Saturdays from November 4 through March 31. The cruise departs Pier 43-1/2 at 5:30 p.m. and travels around the sites and lights of San Francisco Bay. The cruise features a buffet and one ticket (beer, soda, wine) per ticket (more drinks available for a charge from the bar.) You can buy one discounted ticket for yourself and up to three as gifts. You'll need to make an advance reservation for your cruise. While there are 5 days left to buy this deal, it is being offered in a limited quantity, so act soon to secure your discount. The Groupon expires March 27, 2013.

Deal #2: A 50% discount for a Ride The Ducks amphibious tour of San Francisco for two. For $34 you get a tour ticket for TWO people for the 90-minute Ride The Ducks city tour. The tour takes you along the city streets, as well as in and out of the Bay. Tours operate daily in September and October, Friday-Monday in November, and weekends only in December (as well as December 24-28). You'll need to make an advance reservation for your tour. There are 3 days left to purchase this deal, but since quantities are limited purchase soon to secure your savings. The Groupon expires on February 28, 2013.

Deal #3: A 50% discount for the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf. For $16 you get TWO tickets for the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf. The Wax Museum has been in operation since 1963 and is one of the world's largest wax museums. The museum features a variety of both historical and modern celebrity galleries. The Wax Museum is open daily 365 days a year and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. There is limited time remaining to get this deal, so check it out now. The Groupon expires June 26, 2013.

Deal #4: A 50% discount (I'm sensing a them, here) for the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda. For $16 you get admission for to this historic museum; the second option is admission for up to four for $29. You can find more information about the USS Hornet fro a previous deal posting. The deal has a limited time remaining to purchase, so act soon to score your savings. The Groupon expires January 16, 2013 and is good for standard admission during regular operating hours of 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Deal #5: A 53% discount for a San Francisco Time Machine Tour for two or four. For $19 you can get a tour for two and for $29 you can get a tour for four on the Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine historical walking tour. This walking tour lasts approximately two and a half hours and covers about two miles of San Francisco sightseeing. Tours depart fro Union Square Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tours must be booked one week in advances and the Groupon expires December 26, 2012. There is limited time remaining to purchase, so check this one out soon.

Deal #6: A 50% discount for a Chinatown Ghost Tour. For $24 you can get one adult admission for the ghost tour or for $48 you can get two adult admissions. SF Chinatown Ghost Tours depart Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 pm. The tour includes a magic show held in a former gambling den. I posted earlier this year about a similar deal from Living Social, so if you missed out on that one, check out the Groupon. A limited amount of time remains to purchase this deal, so act quickly to get your scare on. The Groupon expires March 13, 2013 and reservations are required for the tour.

Deal #7: A 50% discount for Wildlife and Eco Tours from San Francisco Whale Tours. There are several options, including a discount for a private charter. For $19 (one person) you can get on a 90-minute California Coast and Tributaries Eco Tour or for $38 two can go. Tours depart daily from Pier 39 at 3:30 p.m. on the Kitty Kat catamaran, an eco-friendly water vessel. You'll need advance reservations for your tour and your Groupon expires November 21, 2012. There is a limited time remaining to purchase this deal, so get on over to the Groupon website to check it out.

Deal #8: A 59% (w00t!) discount for two or four on Bay Voyager tours out of Oakland. For $69 two people will get their choice of an approximately two hour tour of San Francisco Bay. For $139 four people get to go for the same thing, either a San Francisco Bay Highlights tour or a City Night Lights tour. The San Francisco Bay Highlights tow is about two hours and covers 30 miles. The City Night Lights tour is about an hour and 45 minutes and takes you along the waterfront lights, including a trip under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. You'll need to make advance reservations for tours, which operates seven days a week depending on bookings. Again, this deal has a limited time remaining to purchase, so head on over and check it out. The Groupon expires November 29, 2012.

Growing grapes in California wine country.

Deal #9: A 51% discount on a Sonoma Passport. For $29 you get a Sonoma Passport for two. The Sonoma Passport offers access to free wine tastings, discounts, and other specials at 26 wineries across Sonoma County. As with most of the other deals on here, there is a limited time remaining to purchase. The Groupon (and passport) expires December 31, 2012.

Definitely check out these deals for your next trip to San Francisco. I've had some good luck using these kinds of discounts to do things I wanted to do, but for less. On my last trip to San Francisco I used discount deals for a Red and White Fleet Bay cruise and discounted admission for two to Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the Mirror Maze.

Sea Otters and Sea Otter Awareness Week

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:06:00 +0000

Joy, the Monterey Bay Aquarium's late "super-mom" sea otter .

Sea otters are amazing animals. They are the smallest marine mammal and spend their entire lives in the water. Because their entire lives are spent in the water, they also have the thickest fur of any mammal. Their fur is what keeps them warm, which makes them vulnerable to oil spills as the oiled fur loses its ability to insulate otters from the cold. Otters are a threatened species because of over hunting in the past, environmental disasters and many human based dangers (boats, pollution, etc.) Many otters end up suffering from toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease caused by cat feces.

Every year, at the end of September, sea otters are celebrated with Sea Otter Awareness Week. In its 10th year, Sea Otter Awareness Week will be celebrated from September 23 - 29, 2012. There are many events occurring in coastal areas (where you might find sea otters) and around the country. One event that will be held in many cities on the West Coast is a screening of the documentary Otter 501. Otter 501 blends fact and fiction to tell the story of an orphaned sea otter pup. If you can't attend one of the screenings or any of the other Sea Otter Awareness Week events, you can now purchase a DVD of Otter 501. I wasn't able to see the movie when it screened at the closest location to me (a little less than two hours away), so I will definitely be buying a copy.

Another great way to celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Week, or sea otters in general, is to make a donation to the many worthy organizations who work to support sea otters, sea otter research, and sea otter conservation.

Donations can be made to the following organizations, among others:

Monterey Bay Aquarium - Operates SORAC, Sea Otter Research and Conservation program. They have saved more than 500 stranded otters since 1984.
The Marine Mammal Center - Provides rescue and rehabilitation to marine mammals in need. The have rescued approximately 207 sea otters since 1995.
The Otter Project - Advocates for otters and protects coastal habitats and watersheds.
Friends of the Sea Otter - Advocates for increased protection of otters and their habitats by working with state and federal agencies.
Defenders of Wildlife - Works to protect otters and other wildlife throughout the US. Worked to establish California Sea Otter Fund on state tax forms.

Deal Alert: San Francisco Bay Whale Watching

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:16:00 +0000

Head out past the Golden Gate for some whale watching.

I've been slacking off lately on California Traveler as I have a few other projects I've been working on, but will be posting a few things int he next coming days. To get started, I found this deal on Groupon for a SF Bay Whale Watching tour. If you want this deal, though, you need to act quickly as it ends today. For $125 you get a 50% discount on a whale watching tour for two good through July 31, 2013. You need to make a 7-day advance reservation for the tour. This is a really good deal, because the whale watching trip is a day-long affair, lasting from check-in at 7:30 a.m. to your return between 3-4:00 p.m. Whale watching trips take place on weekends and holidays.

I think this would be a fantastic adventure whether you live in the Bay Area or are a visitor to the area. You take a trip 27 miles offshore to the Farallon Islands. You will be in the waters of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, which are home to twenty-six federally listed endangered or threatened species. This is a unique opportunity to experience a different side of nature, plus the opportunity for whale watching. Some whales and dolphins can be sited year-round in this area, but there are several whales who have certain migratory seasons. Blue whales can be seen from July - Octobers; Humpback whales cane been seen from July - November; and, Gray Whales can be seen from October - January.

So, I hope you can take advantage of this deal. I wish I could, but I don't know when I'll be able to get to California next. So, let me know if you do this, I'd love to hear from someone who has actually done it.

Alcatraz Anniversary 50 Years On

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Alcatraz Island housed a federal penitentiary from 1934 until 1963 where "difficult-to-manage" prisoners were sent. During its time as a federal prison there were 36 inmates who tried to escape, only three were never recovered (either dead or alive.) Fifty years ago, three inmates escaped from Alcatraz: Frank Morris, John Anglin, and his brother, Charles Anglin. To this date, the U.S. Marshals Service maintains active warrants on the men and continues to follow-up on potential clues.

Prior to serving as a federal prison, Alcatraz was a Civil War fortress and also home to the first lighthouse on the West coast. Today, besides being a large tourist attraction, Alcatraz serves as a bird sanctuary and is also home to many different trees, flowers, and other plants.

Hollywood has long focused on the years Alcatraz spent as a prison. There are many books, movies, and TV shows that feature Alcatraz. "The Rock" is a featured location in numerous movies, with some using Alcatraz as a location and others purporting to be about actual events. These are just a few of the entertaining feature films starring Alcatraz: The Rock, Escape from Alcatraz,The Birdman of Alcatraz, Murder in the First, and Point Blank. If you are looking for more accurate historical information, there are many good books to choose from, including ones that cover specific inmates. Alcatraz served as a prison for less than thirty years, but it how most of us remember it.

Deal Alert: USS Hornet Discount

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:36:00 +0000

The Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet (CVS-12). Photo #: USN 1116887 from the Naval Historical Center

Living Social is offering a half-price deal on admission to the USS Hornet Museum, which is located in Alameda, CA. For $21 you can get admission for two adults and two children for $21 (regularly $42) or for $15 you can get two adult admissions (regularly $30). The USS Hornet was commissioned in 1943 and is the eighth US Navy ship to bear the name. It served missions in World War II and Vietnam, as well as participating in the recovery of the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 space capsules and crews. The ship was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1991and was opened as museum in 1998. The USS Hornet also has the distinction of being considered the most haunted ship in the Navy and has been investigated by many paranormal groups, including TAPS from the SyFy Channel's Ghost Hunters.

I have not been to the the USS Hornet, although I did drive by the location on my last visit to California. It is on my list of places to see for futures trips. The Living Social deal is available to purchase for six more days and the promotional value of the deal is valid through November 19, 2012.

Golden Gate Bridge turns 75

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:06:00 +0000

The Golden Gate Bridge will celebrate 75 years of existence this May 27 with the Golden Gate Waterfront Festival. The festival will be held over a four mile length from Fort Point to Pier 39. The festival will begin at 11am and end with fireworks over the bridge around 9:30pm.

The bridge officially opened on May 27, 1937 with a celebration that lasted a week. The bridge is named for the Golden Gate, the entry way into San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The bridge became an instant landmark and is recognized around the world as a symbol representing San Francisco.

The official color of the bridge is Golden Gate Bridge International Orange. The bridge is continuously painted as painting is one of the major maintenance jobs on the bridge. When the bridge opened it contained the longest main span for a suspension bridge in the world, a record it held until 1964.

Driving is not the only way to get across the Golden Gate Bridge. Visitors can also walk or bike their way across or just make a stop at the gift shop or cafe. Visitors can even pass the time admiring the gardens. The pedestrian sidewalk is also accessible for wheelchairs.

For more information and updates on the anniversary festival, check out the official festival website. For more information about the Golden Gate Bridge, visit the bridge website.

Deal Alert: Groupon for USS Pampanito in San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:49:00 +0000

They just keep coming. So, if you haven't checked out Groupon or Living Social for vacation destinations (or even local ones) you need to get on it right now. I don't check them out daily, myself, but if I do see a deal like this I like to pass it along. Today's deal on Groupon is a 50% discount for two adults ($10) to tour this historic submarine located at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. You can also purchase, for $14, admission for two adults and up to four children, a 61% discount. There are two days left to buy this deal, but the quantities are limited. The deal expires April 3, 2013, so there's plenty of time to use it.

The USS Pampanito is located at Pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf and is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association. This National historic Landmark served six patrols in the Pacific during World War II, sinking six Japanese ships and damaging four others. The submarine museum is open daily at 9AM.

Another Living Social Deal

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 01:02:00 +0000

I have to give a shout out to this Living Social deal for La Tosca restaurant in San Carlos (in the Bay Area.) I love this restaurant and definitely consider it a neighborhood gem. I've reviewed it on this blog before, so you can check out my past review. There are currently TWO days remaining to purchase the Living Social deal: for $10 will get $20 worth of food and drink. Yes, it won't cover an entire meal for two (or probably even one), but you're basically getting $10 off your food...a deal anytime you can swing it. The promotional value of the deal expires on October 1, 2012, so there's definitely time to use it. I highly recommend a visit to La Tosca as the food and service are always excellent. Whenever I'm in the Bay Area, I try to make sure I get there.

Visit California iPad app review

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:13:00 +0000

Icon for the Visit California iPad app

As promised, here's my review of the recently released Visit California iPad app. I downloaded it last week after I received notification about it being available. I've tried it out several times in order to give a thorough review. It's very pretty with lots of great images of various California locations. It's also very interactive with maps and guides, plus it has links to Yelp so you can check out reviews, buttons to post discoveries on Facebook and Twitter, as well as trip planner and trip journal tools.

In order to use the Trip Planner, you need to create and account (or sign in if you already have one.) I tried to sign up for an account via the app (it has the spot to do so); unfortunately, even though I tried several times, I never got the sign up to work through the app. So, I signed up on the Visit California website, and then logged in on my iPad. Once I created my online account and logged in on my iPad, I was able to create My Trip, which was pretty cool. You literally have information at your fingertips (just one fingertip will do.) Within the information about the attractions/locations are links to the attractions/locations website, if available. So, in app, you can view information on external websites and simply return to the app by touching the "cancel" button (you also have the option of opening the URL in Safari.)The trip journal feature is like your own little trip blog with the ability to add photos as well. You can also share your journal postings on Facebook or Twitter, however, when I tested the sharing feature (only on Facebook) all it did was post the title of my post with a link to the Visit California website, none of my content was visible.

Overall, I'd say this app is useful in planning your vacation, certainly the trip planner feature is nice as you can add or remove places to your itinerary as you see fit, keeping access to the information you need at your fingertips. I can definitely see how this would be a useful app when you are actually on your trip, especially if you are driving and come across other possible places of interest. The app also features the official visitor's guide, as well as a few other guides to help you plan your activities. The electronic version of the visitor's guide includes interactive features which allow you to access more information and images of various locations. So, download this app and save some trees and space in your luggage. On a scale of 1-5, I'd give it a 4.

There's an app for that...

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:25:00 +0000

I received an email the other day from Visit California announcing their new iPad app. While I was searching for it in the app store on my iPad, I discovered many other California travel related apps that are new or I had not previously seen. This gave me the idea to download a bunch of apps and come up with some reviews and recommendations. I already have a number of apps, both iPhone and iPad, but I've downloaded some more and will be testing them out over the next few weeks. Most of these will be free apps, but some won't be...I'll waste my money, so you don't have to.

Let me know if you have any favorite travel apps or favorite California travel apps. Tomorrow I will let you know what I think of the new Visit California iPad app.

Deal Alert! Another Living Social Deal for San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (caltraveler) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:31:00 +0000

S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien Liberty Ship in San Francisco

Seriously folks, you need to sign up for both Living Social and Groupon for cities you like to travel to (not just your hometown.) These sites often feature great sightseeing deals. I just spotted another one today on Living Social for two adult and two children's tickets to the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien National Liberty Ship Memorial. This family pack deal is a 52% discount and is only $12. The deal is available for six more days and the tickets are good through July 26, 2012.

The Jeremiah O'Brien is located at Pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. It is open daily from 9AM - 4PM. The S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien is only one of two remaining functional Liberty ships from World War II and remains historically accurate. The ship is a National Historic Landmark and is on my list of things to do in San Francisco. I've seen it from the outside, but have yet to go on it.