When you think of a vacation, what do you see in your mind? If you love fly fishing, the perfect vacation would include some prime fishing in some beautiful spots all over the world. A fly fishing vacation doesn’t have to be just for the fisherman. The entire family can have a great time on a fly fishing vacation.
What should you look for when planning a vacation that involves fly fishing? Of course, it depends a lot on who is coming with you. If you are just going with “the guys”, and they are all interested in little else on this vacation but fly fishing, you just need a place to stay. But if you are bringing along the family, you will want to find a place that has things for everyone to do.
A fly fishing holidays can be both exciting and productive. Choose a spot where you can easily get to within your budget. Some fly fishing spots are located in remote wilderness country and you can only get there by plane or train. This can be an added expense.
When you are planning a fly fishing holidays, you can often come across packages that will cover all necessary expenses – sort of like an all-inclusive resort. However, many lodges don’t have restaurants so you’ll want to bring your own food. Be sure that your package covers transportation to the fishing spots you’ll want to go to. Some lodges even provide you with guides to show you where the best fishing is.
If the family is coming along, you may want to consider a location that is family friendly. Northern California has some beautiful spots for fly fishing plus there are ample entertainment options nearby for your non-fishing family. Many lodges have activities for children plus places for mom to relax as well. Some lodges even have spas so she can get pampered while you are out catching the big one!
If you’re going on a fly fishing holidays, why not try and get the family interested in this great sport? Children are always eager to learn about new things, and there are plenty of women who think the sport of fly fishing is a terrific challenge to master. Share with them your own love of the sport and get them excited. Then you can truly have a family vacation!
Whether you want to take a fly fishing holidays with your friends or with your family, careful planning can make all the difference in an enjoyable trip. You can have a great time while you do what you love – fishing! please click here for more fly fishing information.
When you think of a vacation, what do you see in your mind? If you love fly fishing, the perfect vacation would include some prime fishing in some beautiful spots all over the world. A fly fishing vacation doesn’t have to be just for the fisherman. The entire family can have a great time on a fly fishing vacation.
What should you look for when planning a vacation that involves fly fishing? Of course, it depends a lot on who is coming with you. If you are just going with “the guys”, and they are all interested in little else on this vacation but fly fishing, you just need a place to stay. But if you are bringing along the family, you will want to find a place that has things for everyone to do.
A fly fishing holidays can be both exciting and productive. Choose a spot where you can easily get to within your budget. Some fly fishing spots are located in remote wilderness country and you can only get there by plane or train. This can be an added expense.
When you are planning a fly fishing holidays, you can often come across packages that will cover all necessary expenses – sort of like an all-inclusive resort. However, many lodges don’t have restaurants so you’ll want to bring your own food. Be sure that your package covers transportation to the fishing spots you’ll want to go to. Some lodges even provide you with guides to show you where the best fishing is.
If the family is coming along, you may want to consider a location that is family friendly. Northern California has some beautiful spots for fly fishing plus there are ample entertainment options nearby for your non-fishing family. Many lodges have activities for children plus places for mom to relax as well. Some lodges even have spas so she can get pampered while you are out catching the big one!
If you’re going on a fly fishing holidays, why not try and get the family interested in this great sport? Children are always eager to learn about new things, and there are plenty of women who think the sport of fly fishing is a terrific challenge to master. Share with them your own love of the sport and get them excited. Then you can truly have a family vacation!
Whether you want to take a fly fishing holidays with your friends or with your family, careful planning can make all the difference in an enjoyable trip. You can have a great time while you do what you love – fishing! please click here for more fly fishing information.
I am pursuing my final career – and I am quite comfortable
working a 40-hour schedule for the first time in my life. I take
my time and pick my clients carefully.
I get to take a day off here and there for golf, and I travel
around the western states every couple of months. Over the past
two years I have been keeping an eye out for the perfect spot to
retire in the Western US.
I now live in a small community near the Bay Area in Northern
California. I’ve lived here for 20+ years, and it has been
great. The Bay Area is vibrant, has a good climate, and is home
to some of the most creative people on the planet. But it
certainly isn’t paradise.
It is an expensive place to live. The highways are congested.
The boarders of the US are out of control and that has hit
California hard. The government is dysfunctional, and we pay a
premium for that. While we have good weather, it is great half
the year and somewhat over-rated the other half. My business has
changed over the past five years. I can do about 80% – 90% of it
from anywhere. That’s the beauty of information and
communication technology.
Let me share with you what I have found as I looked for better
working/ retirement locations in the western US. – Portland,
Oregon area; especially Southern Washington – Prescott, Arizona
– Northern Baja, Mexico – Hilo, the big island of Hawaii –
Boise, Idaho
Southern Washington: I recently visited a friend who built his
dream house on a few acres in Southern Washington, about 30
minutes from Portland. His 2,500 square foot house cost about
the same as a ¼ acre lot in the Bay Area. He is within easy
drive of a good airport and Oregon has no sales tax. He can
explore the Cascades and reach ocean or skiing in a few hours.
Yep – it rains a lot, but not as much as Seattle.
Prescott, Arizona: This gem is home to 30,000 people, who enjoy
mountain vistas and a temperate, sunny, four-season climate
thanks to its mile-high elevation. If you aren’t real fussy, you
can find a nice house for 0k. If you are a little fussy or
want some land, expect to pay 0k or better. Prescott is an
old, established town with historic buildings and strong family
culture. It’s true that absentee Californians have snapped up a
good bit of the real estate up. But they have been are running
around most of the west buying spare homes and putting them in
the “bank” for future use
Northern Baja, Mexico: Don’t write this one off too fast,
especially if you are in So Cal. and want a second home near the
beach. It is not as crazy as it sounds You can live near the
beach in Rosarito and get an absolutely great ocean view or
ocean front house for a fraction of the price of a house located
two hours north in San Diego county. South of the Border
property even has financing available from this side of the
border.
Hilo Area on the Big Island: One of the best deals in the United
States has been discovered and land prices are climbing rapidly,
but guess what? Land in Hilo is still inexpensive. If you are
looking for a slow pace, it doesn’t get any slower than Hilo.
This area is absolutely beautiful yet not a prime location for
vacation resorts and condos. Condos on Kauai, Maui, and the
other side of the big island run 0 – 0k, yet a Hilo acre
lot can be purchased for to k, and houses for 0k. If
you want some privacy, like to garden, and have dreamed of
building a hideaway on an tropical island, there is still time
to do it in the USA. It rains almost daily in Hilo but showers
are short and the 75 to 80 degrees temperatures makes the
showers and lush green growth a real delight.
Boise is rated as the second best city to do business in the US
by Forbes Magazine. It has a population of about 400,000, and
median house prices around 5,000. Boise is an excellent
gateway to the natural beauty of the Northern Rockies. For those
of you not quite ready to hang it up, but looking for an
interesting, affordable small city environment, Boise deserves
your serious consideration.
John Thomas is an author, mentor, and business consultant who
works exclusively with entrepreneurs and owners of small and
mid-size businesses. He provides advice on web site promotion at
TrafficistheKey.com/
Are you looking for a cheap place to vacation this Summer? Perhaps you don’t want to travel too far from your home? Of course you are looking for a memorable experience, something you will really enjoy. If this is the case then look no further then one of the protected areas under the jurisdiction of the United States National Park System.
The National Park System of the United States is provided for by the National Park Service, which was organized by President Woodrow Wilson in the year 1916. The United States Park System was started with the goal of protecting various “special” areas throughout the United States so that these area would always remain as they presently were.
The National Park System started out small, with the introduction of Yellowstone National Park, located in the state of Wyoming as the first official protected area. Also in Wyoming was the first protected National Monument, Devil’s Tower.
There are 392 protected areas under the jurisdiction of the National Park System and the system employees 22,000 people. The parks all have different sizes and popularity. The largest park is over 13 million acres and the most popular park, Yellowstone, receives nearly 4 million people a year.
So, still looking to vacation this year to a place not too far from home? That should be no problem with the National Park System. With 58 National Parks in the United States it should not be hard to find one near your home.
For residents of California there is Yosemite, Sequoia and Redwood. If you live in the desert southwest then you are probably not too far from the Grand Canyon or Mesa Verde. Residents of Utah can spend time exploring Arches or Zion. Residents of North Carolina and the surrounding area can take time to visit beautiful Shenandoah and last, but certainly not least, is Yellowstone, where you can be one of close to 4 million annual visitors.
Entrance fees to National Parks are very affordable. Most parks charge from – to enter. If you plan on seeing more than one park on your trip you may want to consider purchasing a national park pass for .
We hope that this short article has motivated you to take some time to considering visiting at least one of our national parks. If you like it can only be a short trip, lasting less than a full day, or you can spend more time, weeks even, backpacking and camping in the backcountry (permit required). No matter what you decide, we wish you the best of luck.
Mesa Verde National Park is a really wonderful national park to visit if you are searching for a vacation that takes only a day or two. There are many Mesa Verde Hotels that you can stay in for affordable rates. Take some time to check out our website to compare prices of local hotels in Cortez, Colorado and the Four Corners area.
It was hot! But that was to be expected in August in northern California. Summers here were always hot, though our proximity to the coast tended to ameliorate the extreme temperatures common to the interior valleys. It was still more than warm enough to satisfy the most finicky of sun seekers. It has since occurred to me that it is insanity to hunt deer in one hundred plus degree temperatures, but this being only the twelfth summer I’d known overall, and the sixth summer to enjoy the pursuit of the Columbian Blacktail Deer in the company of my father, I knew no better and accepted it as the status quo. One does not know what one does not know.
The year was 1955 and we were attempting to continue a tradition of long standing in our family. Since the end of World War II, we had gathered each August at my uncle Arthur’s ranch where, as a group, we hunted deer. I had matriculated at age six from a “little kid” to one of those old enough and mature enough to accompany the hunters. I had to be in the direct company of my father and had to keep my “trap” shut at all times, unless spoken to directly, a difficult chore for a six-year-old in any case, but when traversing a wonderland of sights and smells, it was sheer torture to obey this edict, but, since I knew well the consequences of disobedience, my trap remained GLUED shut. Being forced to remain with the “little kids” again, after having made this jump would have been unforgivable in my eyes, so there was no doubt in my mind that I was NOT going to suffer that fate.
After all, the little kids did not get out of bed until the “men” had eaten their breakfast and were outside, making final preparations for departure on the hunt. This included such things as loading the magazines of the rifles, saddling old Tony, the horse, getting Ring or Dopey, the dogs, ready to go and finally, with two men on the Tony’s back and the rest of the contingent with a part of Tony’s tail, the entire entourage left the ranch yard, headed up the dirt road that led into the mountains, the venerable old Tony stoically carrying a couple and towing several more up the steep hills to the area to be hunted this day.
At that time, in that place, the use of a “jump dog” was common practice. What this meant, actually, was a dog, a nondescript mutt of questionable breeding, blooded, papered dogs being well beyond the means of we simple but hardworking folk in this austere, post-war economy. The dog was trained to search through the thick brush closely adjacent to the hunter, to jump game from their beds in the thick jungle of manzanita, madrone and chaparral brush that covered so much of these coastal hills. The dog was not usually encouraged to run the deer, jut to get it to it’s feet and moving, barking a few times to energize the creature. They were usually then called back and given lavish praise for their diligence and dedication. It was then the job of the hunter to get where he could see if the animal was a buck or a doe and, if a buck to make a good shot on it.
Uncle Arthur had two such dogs in the years I knew him. Ring was a unique, very intelligent and extremely well trained bitch. She was of questionable parentage, as I recall, she looked somewhat like a shepherd and labrador cross, but there were, no doubt other strains in her pedigree. She was a largish dog and not especially friendly to anyone but family members. She was so well trained that she would NEVER run a doe, would not even bark at one if she jumped it. With a buck, she would let us know in full voice, and would, if not called back, run the deer for a few hundred yards before leaving him to his own devices and returning for her well deserved praise.
Once, an emergency phone call caused the family to vacate home in a panic. Ring was inadvertently left inside the house. As she had been taught to eat only from her own dish, she would not even take food from the hands of even we kids. In their haste, the family had left a roast, just out of the oven on the kitchen table. When they returned three days later, they found Ring, still inside, her food dish empty and licked clean but the roast still sitting on the table, totally undisturbed. She had yielded to nature and broke her house training, but even that was carefully deposited on the linoleum of the bathroom floor. She was definitely a special creature.
At the time of this story, however, her offspring, Dopey, was the main dog, Ring having lived a long and full life was retired, much to her chagrin, and very soon thereafter passed away. I’ve always felt it was because she was no longer allowed to hunt with us. Dopey, as his name would imply, was not the dog his dam was, but he was good. He would meet every vehicle that came into the ranch yard, and he was always happy to see our little clan arrive and would stay around to greet everyone and encourage we kids to spoil him all we could, but if no rifles were removed from the vehicle, he soon lost interest and disappeared to wherever his habits took him, usually under the back porch of the house. However, let him see a rifle and he was almost uncontrollable… he was ecstatic with glee and joy… it was TIME to hunt again. He did not have the finesse that his dam had, but he was still a puppy, really and he would sometimes jump and sound off at a doe, so you had to be more on your toes with Dopey doing dog duty!
In 1954 my uncle had been killed in a logging accident on the ranch and the family was trying to hold on, knowing that it would not be possible, but hoping against hope that a miracle would happen. Shortly before season, my father was undecided as to whether he would hunt the ranch without Arthur. Even though Arthur was my mother’s only brother, he and my father were very close. Arthur had served in Italy during the war, coming home highly decorated and full of stories of his experiences. He was a fun-loving man as was my father. When my cousin Pete called, asking us to come hunt with them, we, of course, accepted immediately, even knowing it was going to be difficult to maintain the ambiance of years past.
Opening morning came very early and we went through the entire ritual, breakfast way before daylight and saddling Tony, loading the rifles, and gathering Tony’s tail to be hauled up the mountain in the pre-dawn darkness. First light found us high on the hill at the rim of Lawhead Canyon. Pete had circled in another way and was bringing Dopey up the bottom of the canyon, hoping to jump something on his way in.
While we waited, knowing we where well ahead of Pete’s timetable, my father asked me to walk through a couple of side canyons, using me for his jump dog! It was a ploy that worked so many times over the years that Dad often was heard to say that if he could get me to sound off a little better, he wouldn’t need a regular dog! Such was not the case this day. The brush in the areas I traversed was thick and difficult to get through. If there had been any deer, they left very soon after I entered the jungle. This area had been burned in the past and was miserable to get through. At one time, I fell, my hand crashing down into a buckthorn bush, driving one of its stiff spines completely through my finger, entering just down from the first joint of the middle finger and exiting almost to the first knuckle of that same digit. At that time, I would not allow anyone to touch it, but continued the hunt for the rest of the day. Removing it that evening after soaking the hand in bleach for a time and then having someone grasp it with a pair of pliers and rapidly yanking it out. Not an exercise for the weak at heart, I guarantee you! Had I known he intended to pull it out that way, I’d have never let him near enough to examine it!
About the time we thought Pete should be in our region, about mid morning, we moved to a spot were we could seen well down into the canyon. Dad assigned me to a stump with the admonition to remain there, “or else”… Having had experience with his “or else” in the past and being of sound mind, having no desire to repeat those consequences, I mounted my assigned stump and was quite content to watch the ensuing drama unfold.
I had been on my post for no more than fifteen minutes when we heard Dopey open… he had jumped something directly below us. Knowing he was not Ring, we could not trust that, because he had opened, that it was a buck, but we were hopeful. Presently, my father told me he was going to move down the side ridge we were on just a bit further, so he could see better into the gulch to the west of the main spur. He felt this would be the avenue the fleeing deer would take in eluding the dog.
By now, Dopey had long since quieted and was receiving his praise and adulation he felt his due and the mountain was silent in the warm morning air. Only the sound of the occasional insect or, rarely, a bluejay broke the stillness. The sun was rising and the air was getting hotter when we heard a branch break way down deep in the gulch.
Instantly, I was alert, watching as intently as my twelve year old eyes would allow. Dad, in full view further down the ridge was also intent on the area of the sound, telling me he had heard it as well. Minute after long minute, the time dragged on as if being held my some gigantic hand that would not allow it to elapse! Warmer, I swear it was getting warmer as I watched. The sweat was pouring from my face and into my eyes, making it difficult to watch. But watch I did!
There! Down the ridge about a half mile I saw movement in the brush. It was a deer, I was sure. I silently willed my father to turn to look at me. Eventually, after what seemed forever, he did so and I motioned to him that I had seen a deer coming up the canyon bottom. I, with gestures told him I did not know if it was a buck or a doe. He accepted what I had told him and returned to his vigil as I returned to mine. For another ten minutes the tableau held. The deer was moving up the canyon towards us, but oh so slowly! Regularly now, Dad turned to me for updates as to where the deer was. He motioned that he was going to move deeper into the canyon and I told him no! He was in great shape if the deer didn’t veer off course. We were in perfect shape with the wind as it was blowing gently into our faces as we maintained our vigil.
Another ten to fifteen minutes passed as the buck, I could now see antlers, though I could not yet tell how big they were, approached, pausing regularly to look back down the canyon he was leaving, making sure that nothing was trailing him too closely. Then I could see. He was a legal buck, as California at that time anyway, had a forked horn or better limitation. I motioned Dad on our next exchange and told him he was getting close.
At what was probably a range of seventy five yards from Dad, the deer left the trail he was on and started directly up the side of the ridge toward his position. I froze in place, afraid he would see me. When Dad again looked back at me, I was hunkered down as low as I could get, only my eyes moving and he knew that things were drawing to a close. He moved not a muscle as the deer made his way up the new trail he was following through the brush. At thirty yards, maximum, Dad had a clearing through the brush that gave him a good view of the buck and a great shot angle. He quickly, too quickly, actually, for the deer nearly bolted at that sudden movement, brought his ancient Remington Model 8 in the .25 Remington Caliber to his shoulder and fired one time.
This was the one time in all my experience of hunting with my father that I ever saw him make a one-shot kill. He made one other years later, but by then, I was in the Navy and thousands of miles away!
The buck, at the impact of the bullet striking just behind his left shoulder and penetrating both lungs, spun on his hind legs and charged out of sight into the thick brush at the bottom of the canyon spur. I was ecstatic. I had seen it all and I knew it was a good hit. I could see the blood spray from the right side at the impact and knew the buck would not be far. Dad, however was not so convinced, being a bit under the influence of Buck Fever by then. He called down into the canyon and was rewarded with an answering Halloooo… meaning Pete would be following up the trail soon.
Dad returned to my stump and we rehashed all we had seen and heard and all that I felt to be true. He said he thought it was a good shot and I assured him that it, indeed, was! It was just about then that Dopey opened again, apparently on the trail the deer had used coming uphill. Pete stayed right with him and my other cousin, Roger, who was on the next ridge over came towards us as well, drawn by the shot and the shouting.
Dopey, when the hit the blood trail opened and took off at a run into the brush the deer had so shortly before entered, only to almost immediately go quiet. Again the entire mountain returned to the silence of mid day as we wondered if this meant what we hoped it did. Confirmation came only moments later as Roger reached the point where the dog had found the deer to find the deer dead and Dopey lying contentedly next to him as if he, himself had bagged the buck!
The buck was a very nice three-point with prominent eye guards making a very nice rack for a Columbian Blacktail. He weighed about one hundred sixty pounds or so and with three men dragging and one twelve year old man carrying his father’s rifle, now unloaded, it was but a short trip to the fire trail at the head of the spur. There we brought Tony and loaded the buck onto him, tied him in place and began the trek back to the ranch.
That was our last hunt on that ranch. That winter, unable to keep up the payments since there was no man to work it, it reverted to the original owner and we never returned. I was by there the last time I was in California, about eight or so years ago and even the old house is gone now, a new vacation home standing where it once stood. My aunt and cousins moved into town then, and things were never quite the same again. We remained close to them for some time, visiting often, but that ranch had been so much a part of us that it was as if something had been wrested from our soul to rekindle that flame. I had lunch with my cousins last in 1978 when we lived close while I was on a special work assignment in that area. It was lovely and I love them dearly but our childhood was another era, another time and, though we tried, it will never, ever be the same again, except in our minds, where the big bucks still roam brushy canyons, an old horse tows us up steep hills with his tail and even the rattlesnakes wonder what has happened to make it all go away…
The Emerald City, Seattle Washington is home to the Seahawks, Space Needle, Boeing Field and Dr. Frasier Crane. Cloudy and wet on Nov. 24, Seattle has been hit by blizzard conditions on Dec. 20, 2008. Video Rating: 4 / 5
Located in central California, San Luis Obispo County is a nature-lover’s dream come true! Nestled in between both the thrill of southern California and the great wines of northern California, this county has a great mix of both! This splendid area of central California which is home to a well-known and productive landscape is definitely a wine-lovers paradise! The history, the culture, the people, and the truly magnificent and eclectic natural beauty make San Luis Obispo County one of the most fantastic places in all the United States.
The beautiful county that is San Luis Obispo is a contrast between the wonderful North and the terrific South of California. San Luis is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and San Francisco yet still retains the metropolitan feel of a major California destination. 280,000 people call San Luis Obispo County home and this makes it a very vibrant and well situated location for a family vacation. The City of San Luis Obispo is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is home to California Polytechnic State University and its 18,000 students. This makes San Luis Obispo County home to the most educated sector of California!
San Luis Obispo County has so many vibrant and naturally stunning cities and towns that a week in this central Californian oasis is not enough. Starting off in Prismo Beach for example, the adventurer can receive a lesson in clam-digging at the ‘Clam Capital of the World’ and grab a nice seafood dinner at the same time! Don’t forget to visit during the month of October to February to see the thousands of beautiful Monarch butterflies that call is Prismo Beach home. North of Prismo Beach is the beautiful seaside town of Grover Beach, and the entrance to Oceana Dunes Recreational Area. In this visitor’s Mecca, adventurers can rent four-wheel-drive vehicles and cruise the dunes along the coastline. The Stone Soup Music Fair, which is held annually at Ramona Garden Park in Grover Beach, is one the most popular attractions for all visitors near and far. San Luis Obispo County offers something for everyone in the family from its natural beauty to its eclectic cultural and historical significance.
San Luis Obispo County offers a little bit of everything for the adventuring family or solo tourist. Visitors who preferred the coast to the majestic mountains will enjoy a fine variety of bountiful and greatly adorned towns all throughout this central Californian County. Travelers can mosey a few miles north of Grover Beach and arrive at the beautiful town of Avila Beach. Here the adventure in group will find one of the warmest and sunniest beaches in all of San Luis Obispo County. In the winter there are fantastic whale- watching tours departing from nearby ports Saint-Louis that take visitors on a search for these majestic marine animals. If surfing is on the itinerary then it is Cayucos, a longtime favorite spot for those enjoying a ride in the waves of the Pacific Ocean. This town is also known for its fine antique shops and a number of antique fairs are hosted there each and every year. Even further north is the town of Cambria This charming artist’s town is home to many art galleries, specialty shops and some of the best eating in all of San Luis Obispo County.
San Luis Obispo is nestled right in the heart of of Californian wine country and cannot be forgotten as the home to some of the best wineries in the nation. With so many vineyards, as far as the eye can see for miles, it is little wonder that this is home to some of the tastiest libations in all of California! Central California is more than just beautiful people and splendid wines; it is also home to the most beautiful forests the eyes will have ever seen! Los Padres National Forest is home to the most spectacular and scenically gorgeous trees in all of California. The amount of trails and other hiking activities will leave one scratching their head with which way to go? There is so much beauty contained in one specific area of Los Padres National Forest that a trail of breadcrumbs will have to be left in order to find one’s way back! This may be a bit of a stretch but it does bring home the point that safety is of primary concern when hiking the arduous hilly mountains of Central California and San Luis Obispo County.
San Luis Obispo County is an up-and-coming area of California. In as much as the county sits in between both the northern and southern extremities of California this makes it one of the most interesting of all the areas of the Golden State. Apart from the natural beauty, that is intertwined and imbedded within San Luis Obispo County, the culture and the historical importance of central California cannot be overlooked or understated. From the California Gold Rush of the 1800’s all the way to the governmental candidacy of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, San Luis Obispo California has made its mark and will continue to make its mark as a tourist destination and political seat of power. The people of central California maintain a high regard for the environment and the natural resources of San Luis Obispo County. Take some time to really see what San Luis Obispo County is all about and guaranteed it will be the time of one’s life!
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Located in central California, San Luis Obispo County is a nature-lover’s dream come true! Nestled in between both the thrill of southern California and the great wines of northern California, this county has a great mix of both! This splendid area of central California which is home to a well-known and productive landscape is definitely a wine-lovers paradise! The history, the culture, the people, and the truly magnificent and eclectic natural beauty make San Luis Obispo County one of the most fantastic places in all the United States.
The beautiful county that is San Luis Obispo is a contrast between the wonderful North and the terrific South of California. San Luis is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and San Francisco yet still retains the metropolitan feel of a major California destination. 280,000 people call San Luis Obispo County home and this makes it a very vibrant and well situated location for a family vacation. The City of San Luis Obispo is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is home to California Polytechnic State University and its 18,000 students. This makes San Luis Obispo County home to the most educated sector of California!
San Luis Obispo County has so many vibrant and naturally stunning cities and towns that a week in this central Californian oasis is not enough. Starting off in Prismo Beach for example, the adventurer can receive a lesson in clam-digging at the ‘Clam Capital of the World’ and grab a nice seafood dinner at the same time! Don’t forget to visit during the month of October to February to see the thousands of beautiful Monarch butterflies that call is Prismo Beach home. North of Prismo Beach is the beautiful seaside town of Grover Beach, and the entrance to Oceana Dunes Recreational Area. In this visitor’s Mecca, adventurers can rent four-wheel-drive vehicles and cruise the dunes along the coastline. The Stone Soup Music Fair, which is held annually at Ramona Garden Park in Grover Beach, is one the most popular attractions for all visitors near and far. San Luis Obispo County offers something for everyone in the family from its natural beauty to its eclectic cultural and historical significance.
San Luis Obispo County offers a little bit of everything for the adventuring family or solo tourist. Visitors who preferred the coast to the majestic mountains will enjoy a fine variety of bountiful and greatly adorned towns all throughout this central Californian County. Travelers can mosey a few miles north of Grover Beach and arrive at the beautiful town of Avila Beach. Here the adventure in group will find one of the warmest and sunniest beaches in all of San Luis Obispo County. In the winter there are fantastic whale- watching tours departing from nearby ports Saint-Louis that take visitors on a search for these majestic marine animals. If surfing is on the itinerary then it is Cayucos, a longtime favorite spot for those enjoying a ride in the waves of the Pacific Ocean. This town is also known for its fine antique shops and a number of antique fairs are hosted there each and every year. Even further north is the town of Cambria This charming artist’s town is home to many art galleries, specialty shops and some of the best eating in all of San Luis Obispo County.
San Luis Obispo is nestled right in the heart of of Californian wine country and cannot be forgotten as the home to some of the best wineries in the nation. With so many vineyards, as far as the eye can see for miles, it is little wonder that this is home to some of the tastiest libations in all of California! Central California is more than just beautiful people and splendid wines; it is also home to the most beautiful forests the eyes will have ever seen! Los Padres National Forest is home to the most spectacular and scenically gorgeous trees in all of California. The amount of trails and other hiking activities will leave one scratching their head with which way to go? There is so much beauty contained in one specific area of Los Padres National Forest that a trail of breadcrumbs will have to be left in order to find one’s way back! This may be a bit of a stretch but it does bring home the point that safety is of primary concern when hiking the arduous hilly mountains of Central California and San Luis Obispo County.
San Luis Obispo County is an up-and-coming area of California. In as much as the county sits in between both the northern and southern extremities of California this makes it one of the most interesting of all the areas of the Golden State. Apart from the natural beauty, that is intertwined and imbedded within San Luis Obispo County, the culture and the historical importance of central California cannot be overlooked or understated. From the California Gold Rush of the 1800’s all the way to the governmental candidacy of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, San Luis Obispo California has made its mark and will continue to make its mark as a tourist destination and political seat of power. The people of central California maintain a high regard for the environment and the natural resources of San Luis Obispo County. Take some time to really see what San Luis Obispo County is all about and guaranteed it will be the time of one’s life!
Patio furniture has evolved in the last number of years and along with the economic crisis stopping families from having the ability to to take vacations somewhere else, the baclyard has become the perfect destination for having your vacations. You’ll find a range of items that could transform your outdoor area and garden to be more leisurely, and getting sun lounge chairs and steamers which are both ideal for the spontaneous suntanning session along with accommodating for all those splendid night time and mid-day barbeque’s, will make a significant difference.
Identifying what materials you prefer your backyard lounge chairs to be crafted from is dependant on tastes and style. One can elect to have cast iron furniture or might wish to look at a selection of different woods, including redwood, teak or rattan. Regardless of your preference, you must also consider that the most comfort is certainly attained by getting steamers that are fitted with soft cushions or purchasing cushions on their own. You will uncover many different garden cushions to pick from ranging in textiles, styles and comfort level.
Teak wood lounge chairs and teak steamers are getting to be very popular because it is known that teak matures and possesses a biological potential to deal with unwanted pests and critters. Should you be thinking of leaving your patio furniture outside in the outdoor elements over summer and winter, you should give thought to what impact sunlight together with rainwater and snowfall might have on the textile that it’s made of. Despite the fact that outdoor furniture is made for backyard use, make certain you have the most resilient furniture for your individual needs. As a way to make sure that your outdoor furniture lasts for years to come, you will need to treat your wood, or metal and upkeep is a tiny outlay for a lasting return.
Back garden reclining chairs are widely-used as a handy alternative to purchasing traditional seats for your backyard. They are often used round the pool, underneath the trees, on the outdoor patio and just about anywhere you absolutely need extra chairs. Although chairs are limited to seating only 1 individual, steamers are ideal for laying level and being used as a bench or just being useful to lay around on. This kind of adaptability means they are well worth the cost for you backyard, swimming pool area or patio gazebo.
Josie Duval has her own garden design and landscaping business. She is constantly searching for the best deals in garden furniture and garden structures, particularly Garden Loungers.
For the best deals on http://www.gardenloungers.org for a complete guide on loungers, steamer chairs and other bargain garden furniture ideas to make your backyard more fun this summer.
A great way to combat the sweltering heat on a hot summer day is to make a splash at a waterpark. There are a wide variety of parks all over North America where visitors can experience slippery loops, drops and high speeds on heart-stopping waterslides, relax in heated pools and embark on adventurous themed rides set in Ancient Egyptian pyramids and castles inhabited by dragons. It’s time to grab a towel, a tube of sunscreen and venture out to Canada and the United States’ best spots to get wet.
WILD WATER KINGDOM
Those who thrive on thrills and enjoy a good scream should try the Shot Gun at the Wild Water Kingdom, where riders twist and turn as fast as a bullet as they plummet into a 2.4-m (8-ft) deep pool of water. Meanwhile, the Midnight Express slide sends passengers through dark tunnels and 360-degree turns. The massive 100-acre (40.5-ha) water kingdom in Brampton, Ontario features 14 fun and sometimes hair-raising waterslides. Other attractions include a wave pool, a lazy river and an adventure playground for children. For something a bit different, climb up the park’s 7.6-m (25-ft) Wild Water Wall. Challengers face a slippery ascent as they get soaked along the journey to the top of the wall.
NOAH’S ARK
Riders should hang on tight as they spiral down an enormous black anaconda’s body at Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The Black Anaconda is America’s longest watercoaster at over a quarter mile (0.4 km) long. A whopping 49 waterslides, two wave pools, rivers and plenty of other water activities await at this popular summer spot. If not phased by being spit out of a giant anaconda’s mouth, perhaps it’s time to take The Plunge. After a long climb, those who dare to take this stomach-flipping ride will endure a chilling vertical slide to the water below. For the little ones, who aren’t quite ready for the big slides, the park has a variety of children’s attractions to choose from, including the Big Kahuna Kiddie Area with swings, kiddie slides and fountains.
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
Magic Mountain in Moncton, New Brunswick is Atlantic Canada’s largest waterpark. The park has eight waterslides, some with crazy turns and big drops. Those who want to soak up the sun and leave the fright of waterslides behind can hop on a tube and drift with the current on Lazy River, which circles around a replica of a 19th-Century steamship. If after more action, try the Kamikaze waterslide. In under five seconds riders encounter a near vertical drop and travel speeds of more than 60 km (37 mi) an hour. For a less terrifying experience, embark on the park’s orginal body slide, the Loop de Loop. The path of the Loop de Loop, which is a medium speed body slide, features gentle turns and drops. Young Magic Mountain guests can play in their own waterpark called Puddle Jumpers Pond. The miniature waterpark has four kiddie slides and two fun residents, Gizmo the Frog and Pinky the Whale.
FALLSVIEW INDOOR WATERPARK
As a thousand gallons of water gushes down from a gigantic tipping bucket, guests at Fallsview Indoor Waterpark may think the entire Niagra Falls is raining down on them. Visitors can dry off afterwards on one of the lounge chairs in the park’s indoor palm-tree studded Fallsview Beach or outdoors on the year-round sundeck. Grown-up guests can relax in the two oversized adult only Jacuzzis, while young waterpark enthusiasts set out on the slides. This large indoor waterpark, with 16 waterslides that tower up to six stories high, is located in the city of Niagra Falls in Ontario.
Fallsview Indoor Waterpark3
SCHLITTERBAHN WATERPARK RESORT
Weave through a labyrinth of caverns in an old castle to find an escape route from a fierce dragon at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunsfels, Texas. The quest includes six dark caverns with spectacular special effects, such as spinning tunnels and fog. The Dragon’s Revenge Special Effect Family Thrill Adventure Ride is the latest addition to the 65-acre (26.3-ha) waterpark. Another highlight is the Blastenhoff Beach, which has non-sticky sand and towering waves to ride. Stretch out in a sun lounger and snooze off to the sound of the crashing waves. To escape from the Texas heat, retreat to the shade under one of the beach’s enormous umbrellas.
SIX FLAGS WHITE WATER
Face the wrath of a severe storm or slide down nine stories at the speed of light in Atlanta, Georgia’s Six Flags White Water. The Tornado and the Cliff Hanger are two of the park’s most extreme rides. After the slides, unwind in the park’s version of the Atlantic Ocean. The 700,000-gallon (2,628,000-L) ocean has endless four-foot waves and is shark free. Before leaving the park, young visitors should check out Tree House Island. The island features a four-story tree house with slides, chutes, bridges and a tipping bucket.
Lost River of the Pharoahs at Water World4
RAGING WATERS
At Pirate’s Cove, a themed interactive water fort, a gigantic pirate’s skull is on a mission to get visitors wet, continually spilling water on those wandering below. Raging Waters in San Jose, is northern California’s largest waterpark. The 23-acre (9.3-ha) stretch of land houses water forts, scary slides like the twisty Blue Thunder/White Lightning and interactive play areas. The Activity Pool, which has waterfalls, slides and even an alligator’s back to climb on, can be a fun spot for the whole family.
WATER WORLD
Located only 15 minutes from downtown Denver, Colorado, Water World’s 64 acres (25.9 ha) of land transports visitors to mysterious lost worlds. Go back to the time when dinosaurs reigned in the Voyage to the Center of the Earth ride or to Ancient Egypt in the Lost River of the Pharoahs ride. During this Egyptian ride, visitors white water raft into an ancient pyramid where cobras, grave robbers and even a living mummy reside. Eerie sound effects make the pyramid’s creepy inhabitants seem too close for comfort. To get a good view of Water World’s attractions take a seat on the park’s aerial tramway, the Funhouse Express Gondola.
WORLD WATERPARK
Tired shoppers will appreciate the soothing heated water in the hot tub at World Waterpark, in Edmonton, Alberta. The 5-acre (2-ha) tropical retreat, which consists of kilometres of waterslides, a wave pool and numerous water-based activities, is located in Canada’s largest shopping mall, West Edmonton Mall. All year round, shoppers can take a break from the stores and hit the beach or the fun tangle of slides in this impressive indoor waterpark.
SPLISH SPLASH
A sudden drop followed by out-of-this-world spinning leaves passengers feeling as if a supernatural force is at work. The Alien Invasion is one of the many themed rides of Splish Splash waterpark in Long Island, New York to explore. Other themed rides include the dark and twisty Shark Attack and the action-packed Hollywood Stunt Rider. The 96-acre (38.8-ha) park has several interactive attractions, such as the Monsoon Lagoon and the Elephant Slide. In the Monsoon Lagoon children maneuver around a shipwreck with ropes and slides. The Elephant Slide area features a large elephant statue in a wading pool, where young visitors slide down the animal’s back and play in the water that sprays out of its trunk.
Shopping experience at San Francisco is blissful with full of unique shops in very interesting areas of the city. You may be looking for the best gourmet food or may be hunting for the hottest new fashion trends; San Francisco is one stylish city to shop. From the preferred tourist Fisherman’s Wharf shops to the elite Union Square designer stores; San Francisco is a great place for shopping for every type of shopper.
Take a trip down to the piers of Fisherman’s Wharf and explore yourself in to the world of shopping. Start at Ghirardelli Square where you would find the best waterfront shopping experience along with mind-blowing restaurants and live entertainments at the Fountain and West Plazas. From here you will also experience other popular waterfront shopping complexes.
PIER 39 is a multi-level shopping mall catering to all Fishermen’s Wharf shoppers. This is the busiest of the waterfront complexes and PIER 39 welcomes over 11 million visitors to over 100 specialty stores onsite. This complex also has 10 bay view restaurants, which allows shoppers to rest and enjoy the incredible views from the pier. Another important highlight of the pier is the opportunity to have a look and photograph California sea lions as they sun bathe on floating docks.
Another attractive place for shopping is The Cannery, it has been designed in an old, European styled piazzas. Explore this Fisherman’s Wharf waterfront complex’s shops, its ceramics studio and great fine restaurants. You have live entertainment in Jazz Club Nouveau or The Cannery’s preferred Green Room Comedy Club. Famous street performers are also often found milling around The Cannery Grounds making this area a very great shopping experience for the whole family.
Move on to the Ferry Building Marketplace in the Embarcadero and experience some of the world’s greatest gourmet food here. Breads, cheeses, chocolates and more are all available with this stylish, contemporary marketplace. Round up your shopping experience with an outstanding late lunch at the San Francisco restaurants. The marketplace is even more crowded during weekends. During the weekends the outdoor Farmers’ Market opens up their market and welcomes shoppers to taste the finest Northern California fruits, vegetables, breads, chocolates and many more. The best plants, fresh flowers and amazing gifts are all available at the Farmers’ Market.
Fashionable and stylish people would prefer traveling downtown to Union Square to shop all the fashionable shops, which makes this area top in San Francisco. Huge departmental stores, designer stores and variety of other high end specialty shops make this shopper’s shopping area. Shoppers hunting for antiques, vintage clothing and unique items would desire to visit Chinatown, Haight Ashbury and SoMa. These neighborhoods are home to few hidden San Francisco shopping gem. Whether you are looking for newest and greatest original fashion trends or looking for a more classic look, San Francisco has all the shops you would ever want.
If you want trains and wildlife without ever leaving your resort, check out California’s Lazy Z Resort with trails and wildlife right out your cabin door.
The Lazy Z is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills – Mark Twain country – where a tiny hamlet was named after some well-known writers: Twain and Brett Harte. The town is called Twain Harte and it’s a quiet little berg hidden among the trees northeast of historic Sonora. The folks who travel the 108 highway in these parts of Northern California are generally headed for the mountains where the snow piles high each winter and the streams run deep with run-off in the spring.
All of this is only about 140 miles east of San Francisco so, with about a three-hour drive, you change time zones from the 21st Century back to the 19th. Reminders of the old Gold Rush days are everywhere in these parts – from a replica of Mark Twain’s cabin to the historic main streets of towns like Sonora and Angels Camp. Church steeples and Victorian homes are everywhere you look, and one can almost imagine the downtown patrons tying up their horses along the dirt roadway before paying their weekly visit to the Mercantile.
About 11 miles from Sonora, Twain Harte is where you start to see the signs for the Lazy Z Resort. There are a couple of different ways to get there, but we went through the town and followed the signs through the forest and a smattering of homes and cabins until we found the Lazy Z property. Set apart from everything else in the area, the Lazy Z is a group of about a dozen cabins spaced nicely around several dozen acres of trees and trails. There is a main resort area with a clubhouse, lots of games, reading materials and a pool with spectacular rock landscaping to make it seem like it’s really part of a mountain stream.
And everywhere there are trees. The trees and topography make the resort feel much more remote than it actually is, and provide ample separation between the cabins. If you are looking for the “cabin in the woods” experience, this is it – many of the cabins feel like they’re out on their own, yet they are only a short walk from pool and other guests.
Our cabin was just like a small vacation home – not the five-star variety, mind you, but a cabin like many people can actually afford. The cabin was nicely furnished with a couch, love seat, oversized chair, all adjacent to a large stone fireplace. Also in the Great Room were a dining table and a bar. The cabin also had a kitchen, refrigerator and enough counter space for light meal preparation. There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms, but the part we loved the most was the giant, expansive deck where you could sit among the trees and really feel like you’re in the woods.
But just in case you weren’t sure, you can also hike the property’s nature trails which are every bit as interesting as most trails you find in the wilderness. Wildlife is abundant and we came across several deer as well as squirrels and other creatures. The Lazy Z property is so big that you can hike for half an hour and not revisit anyplace you’ve already been. If you have small kids, this is ideal because you can take them out to play in the “Wilderness” without going to far away.
The property was originally built as the Lazy Z Guest Ranch in 1946 and was owned by the current owners’ grandparents, Harold and Mildred Zelinsky. There were a total of 100 acres with lots of room for horseback riding and other activities. After the grandparents retired in the early 70’s and sold the property, the resort fell into disrepair and, for a time, was used as a boys’ home. That’s when the Zelinskys’ son, Ken, stepped in to buy the property back and sent his oldest son Steve to begin re-building this resort that had meant so much to the grandchildren while they were growing up. Today, the Lazy Z is run by Steve and his sister and brother, Lari and Matt.
The Lazy Z still retains some of that guest ranch heritage and Steve will often host barbecues down at Zeke’s Cantina, an Old West style barn where large groups can get together and enjoy tasty beef and pork hot off the grill and party in a place reminiscent of a western saloon.
The Old West also lives on, they say, through Farmer John. It’s rumored that a ghost exists on the property and he’s been seen by several housekeepers, guests, previous tenants and some of the Lazy Z owners themselves. He’s believed to be living in a house that is 100 years old and occasionally will wander the resort and play tricks on housekeepers and guests. He’s been described as being over six feet tall, wearing a floppy straw hat, denim coveralls, carrying a shovel. But don’t worry – he’s said to be a friendly ghost who just wanders the property protecting his gold find that he never got to spend before his untimely demise 100 years ago.
If you want to get an idea of what life was like back then, then drive 15 miles or so to Columbia State Historic Park, a fun historical park that is ideal for families.
When you combine that with a comfortable “cabin in the woods,” the area near Sonora and Twain Harte offers the perfect opportunity to escape for a few days from your everyday modern life.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: The Lazy Z Ranch is about four miles outside of Twain Harte, a small town northeast of better-known Sonora in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The ranch is just off Highway 108, an east-west route connecting the Central Valley with Highway 395 on the eastern side of the mountains.
WHAT: Lazy Z is a quiet resort, best suited to couples and families who enjoy being in the outdoors, and who want a good base of operations for exploring nearby Gold Country
WHEN: Anytime of the year, although Twain Harte’s elevation of 3,600 feet means it will have ample snowfall in winter.
WHY: The Lazy Z is off the beaten path and offers an experience that seems even more remote than it actually is. While roads in this area are a little confusing, it’s fairly easy to find your way to Sonora, Angels Camp, Columbia and many other points of interest in this historic region.
HOW: For more information on the Lazy Z Ranch, phone 800-585-1238 or visit www.lazyz.com.
Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of www.californiaweekend.com, a site focusing on California travel, and www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, which features Pacific Northwest travel
They are safe from hunters who would want to harm them. We were also safe because we stayed in our car as the elk moved in on our location.
