Egyptian Museum and Planetarium San Jose

The Egyptian Museum & Planetarium has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in the western United States. No need to travel all the way to Egypt, just take a trip to Rosicrucian Park in San Jose California. Inside the museum you will find an extensive collection of artifacts, jewelry and displays of Egyptian antiquity. Take the family on a fun trip and get a great look at what life was like in ancient Egypt.
Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
1342 Naglee Ave, San Jose, CA
Tel: (408) 947-3636

Seacliff State Beach and Pier

The most unique feature about Seacliff State Beach is the 500-foot-long pier that connects to the old cement ship Palo Alto. The beach and pier sit in a corner of Monterey Bay known as Soquel Cove. The pier is popular for fishing and the wide sandy beach is good for swimming during the summer. Seacliff State Beach also has a park with a covered area for picnics. There are 26 RV camping only sites at the park. The Palo Alto ship is unsafe and closed to the public, only the pier is open to the public. There is an occasional wedding performed on the old ship by a captain acting as minister. Other than that the Palo Alto is only used by roosting seabirds, including pelicans and cormorants.
Directions
From Hwy 1 take the State Park Drive exit into the neighborhood of Aptos.

Oktoberfest California Style

The Oktoberfest is a festival held each year in Germany during late September through early October. Visitors eat huge amounts of food and drink traditional German beers. California also has it's share of Oktoberfest events, although not as big as the German celebrations they are just as fun. Here are some of the states best Oktoberfest to visit in California.
Alpine Village - Chosen by USA Today as one of the best Oktoberfest in the world. Admission to the Oktoberfest is $5 - Friday Saturday (21yrs & over only) Sunday is Family Day, 12 noon to 7pm. For information and 50% Oktoberfest discount tickets call (310)327-4384 833 W Torrance, Torrance California, 90502
Old World Village - Complete with German bands imported from Europe, dancing, and imported beers (of course) and tasty German foods from bratwurst to potato salad to hot pretzels and apple strudel, Oktoberfest has something for everyone. 7561 Center Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.
Oktoberfest by the Bay - Traditional Bavarian dancing is provided by the Nature Friends Schuhplattler and takes place every couple of hours. Fort Mason, San Francisco.
Phoenix Club Anaheim - The Express Band will entertain you in our park and the Festhalle. General admission $10.00, $5.00 for members. Ample free parking. The Phoenix Club 1340 S. Sanderson Avenue Anaheim, California 92806 (714) 563-4166

Oak Glen California

For over a century Oak Glen's acres upon acres of apple orchards, with their delectable combinations of unique and heirloom varieties, have brought generation after generation of visitors back. Whether they come for the orchards (several offering u-pick), the charming shops, the cozy restaurants. Apple season in Oak Glen is once again in full swing so if your looking for an interesting day trip check out Oak Glen.
Directions
From Los Angeles, take I-10 / San Bernardino Freeway east to San Bernardino (approx 50-60 miles). Turn right towards Cherry Valley (0.2 mile), then turn left (east) onto Cherry Valley Blvd. (3.4 miles). Turn left (north) onto Beaumont Ave. (0.8 mile). Road name changes to Oak Glen Road. You'll reach Oak Glen in about five miles.

Tom's Farm Corona California

Located along interstate 15 in Temescal Canyon Tom's farm has been selling fresh produce since 1974. Over the years the place has grown into a family destination with kids rides and attractions.
While not really a farm (nothing is grown here) Tom's is defiantly a great place to fill up your shopping bags full of fruits nuts and candy. And if your hungry there are several different restaurants serving lunch and snacks.
The lastest addition to Tom's attraction is a reproduction of an 1800's steam train which takes you on a short trip around one section of the farm. Tom's is a fun place to take the kids for a weekend day trip.
Tom's Farm 23900 Timescale Canyon Road
Corona, CA 92883 951.277.4422

Things to do Labor Day Southern California

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and it's the last chance to get out enjoy Southern California before school starts.

If you live in So Cal you are never far from an attraction interesting destinations. Check out these great places to visit on Labor Day weekend.


AMUSEMENT PARKS. - Arrive early to beat the crowds and check online for coupons and specials to save money

Disneyland

Knott's Berry Farm

Magic Mountain

Legoland

Sea World

San Diego Wild Animal Park

San Diego Zoo

BEACHES - So Cal has some of the best beaches in the World. Planing a beach party with a fire. Get there early in the morning to reserve a fire ring.

Huntington Beach

Laguna Beach

Crystal Cove Beach

San Clemente Beach

Malibu Beach

Occeanside Beach

Trestles Beach

Newport Beach

Salt Creek Beach

WINERIES - No need to travel to Napa So Cal has it's own wine country.

Laguna Canyon Winery

South Coast Winery & Resort

San Antonio Winery

Mount Palomar Winery

Bernardo Winery

Southen California Wineries

DAY TRIPS - With so many intersting places to go in Southern California the hardest part of your trip will be choosing where to go.

LA Farmers Market

Griffith Park

Nixon Library

Upper Newport Bay

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Orange Empire Railway

USS Midway Museum

Julian Historic Gold Town

Mission San Luis Rey

Southern California Day Trips

Crystal Cove Camping Southern California

All that is left of the trailer park above Crystal Cove Beach is pictures like the one above. Construction crews are clearing the 35 acres of canyon and beach, and transforming the site into Southern California's first coastal campground in two decades. Workers are now ripping out nonnative plants, removing concrete foundations, demolishing outbuildings, and taking out old power lines and other infrastructure, said Ken Kramer, Orange Coast District superintendent for California State Parks. The project is expected to take two years and the campground should be open by summer 2010. While the new campground is built a lucky few can rent one of the restored beach front Crystal Cove Cottages.

Japanese Friendship Garden Balboa Park San Diego

If your looking for a quite place to relax after a hectic day visiting San Diego attraction try the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. The gardens surround the Tea house built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. garden was a nice tranquil place to take a moment to relax. There is a display of traditional dolls, and a pond featuring some beautiful brightly colored koi. Entrance fee is only three dollars and after you're done you can enjoy a snack from the Tea Pavilion. If you're at Balboa when and need a place to enjoy a quite moment then check out the garden. Japanese Friendship Garden 2215 Pan American Road San Diego, CA 92101
More things to do in San Diego

Moaning Cavern Zip Line

California's newest zip line is in the Northern California town of Vallecito. Twin 1,500 feet long lines take riders for a thrilling trip down the mountain side. The zip line at Moaning Cavern lasts 35 seconds and reaches a top speed of 40 miles per hour. At $39 for the first ride, that's about $1.10 per second. A second zip line is in the works which will be a mile and a half long, surpassing what's said to be the country's longest at 5,400 feet in Icy Strait Point, near Glacier Bay, Alaska. No athletic ability is needed here. In fact, no need to even hang on. The harness wraps around your legs and torso and hooks onto the zip line's metal trolley. The Moaning Cavern zip lines can carry a rider as light as 70 pounds or as heavy as 260.
Moaning Cavern Park
5350 Moaning Cave Road
Vallecito, CA 95251
For more information call (866)762-2837

The Kiss Statue USS Midway San Diego

The 25 ft tall Kiss statue is of the famous photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt during the VJ Day celebrations in Times Square in 1945.

Located next to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego the statue is quite popular with couples striking the same pose and having their picture taken next to the huge figures

The official name of the 6,000-pound sculpture is “Unconditional Surrender” however most people just call it the kiss statue. The work of art was dedicated on February 11, 2007 and has been turning heads ever since.

On valentines day 2013 a new permanent bronze kiss statue replaced the original foam core version.

Edith Shain  the woman who is being kissed in the statue attended the unveiling of the original statue , she died in 2010 at age 91.

Sea Ranch, California

Sea Ranch is located along the in Sonoma County and is a popular vacation destination. This quaint seaside village is about 100 miles north of San Francisco and is famous for its distinctive architecture of weathered-wood structures. Most homes at The Sea Ranch do not have lawns or fences. All public landscaping must use native plants. A herd of sheep is used to keep grass cut low to the ground to reduce the threat of fire during the summer months. Visitors can stay at the Sea Ranch Lodge or rent out one of the houses for their vacation. No amusement parks here just a quite relaxing small town along the rugged northern California coast.
For more information about Sonoma County:
Sonoma County Tourism Bureau
420 Aviation Blvd., Ste 106
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-539-7282
sonomacounty.com

Sonoma Coast State Beach

Sonoma Coast State Beach extends 17 miles from Bodega Head to 4 miles north of Jenner. This section of Northern California coast is made up of several beaches including Shell Beach, Portuguese Beach, Salmon Creek Beach and Wright's Beach. Activities including beach camping, tide pools, fishing and beach combing. The water is too cold for swimming unless you have a wet suit but there is plenty else to keep you busy. Sonoma Coast State Beach one of California's most scenic attractions and unlike the beaches in Southern California they are very rarely crowded.

The Luffa Farm in Nipomo California

A Luffa or Loofah sponge is used like a body scrub. Both the coarse textured sponge and the soft textured sponge are called Luffas or Loofahs. The latter soft textured luffa sponges aren't in fact derived from the luffa fruit, but are manufactured by folding in several layers of soft mesh-like fabric into a cloud-like shape; commonly used in tandem with shower gels/lotions.

If you have ever wondered how this natural sponges are grown and are on a trip through central California you are invited to stop by The Luffa Farm for a free tour. The luffas you buy in stores are typically grown, or "made in" other countries. These Luffa sponges are made and grown right here in California. Luffa sponges are non-abrasive enough to wash dishes, cars, sinks, toys, golf clubs, floors, walls, windows and of course great for bathing. So next time your looking for a natural sponge look for the label "grown in Nipomo" or better yet head out to the farm and see firsthand how the luffa vines look.
The Luffa Farm
1457 Willow Road
Nipomo, CA, 93444
OPEN
Wednesdays through Sundays
10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
www.theluffafarm.com