Plan extended seasonal vacations during summer and winter months. Group destination locations together in regional trips to explore what several bucket list towns have to offer in the general vicinity – with only a week or two vacation time to spend, we recommend organizing your itinerary by travel regions.
From the winery-dotted Napa Valley and winding roads of the Pacific Coast Highway to the natural beauty of Yosemite and star-studded streets of Los Angeles, the options for experiencing the magic of the Golden State are endless. No matter what part of the state you choose to visit, your eyes are in for a treat. Don’t believe us? Take a quick photo road trip with us to see why California is the place to be.
South Coast Region
San Diego
La Jolla Concours d’Elegance celebrates its 15th year perched high above the blue Pacific “Cuvier Park is one of the most spectacular locations in coastal California, a state that knows its share of spectacular coastline. The tony town of La Jolla is populated mostly with incredibly successful retirees who like the year-round sunshine and ocean views, but there are enough beautiful people around to give the car show that extra zing of Hollywood glamour when they set up the show tents and roll the cars onto the lawn”.
Orange County Beach Towns
Huntington Beach
Back to the Beach Festival | April 27 and 28 , 2019 “Artist Blink-182, The Used, Goldfinger with special guests, and more will perform on Huntington State Beach April 27 – 28, 2019. There will be food, drinks and attractions at the festival. Parking is available but the festival highly recommends to take ride share or get drop off. A general ticket admission and VIP ticket admission are offered. Check out places to stay for hotel accommodations.“
Newport Beach
Newport Beach Film Festival celebrates 20th anniversary “When the Newport Beach Film Festival started in 1999, its office was a little bigger than a family room, with tremendous sound effects coming live from nearby John Wayne Airport. In its early days, the fest had emerged humbly from the ashes of the Newport Beach International Film Festival, whose founder filed for bankruptcy. During the first year of the festival, 2000, organizers screened about 120 films and attracted approximately 12,000 attendees.“
Laguna Beach
Laguna Student Launches Film Career “Michael Tanaka loves everything about Laguna Beach. Tanaka’s short film “24 Hours” showcases his feelings about the town and its residents. The five-minute piece, which features Laguna locals chasing adventure from sunrise to sunset, was selected for inclusion in the Newport Beach Film Festival.“
Mother of the Year: Laguna Beach’s Meg Weidner Stars in ‘Best Mom‘ “I play Addy, a writer working at a magazine owned by her mother (Donna Mills). Addy is a big overthinker and envies the fun relationship her husband (Jilon VanOver) shares with their daughter, Esther (Violet Hicks). She signs up for an improv class to get out of her head, but the class turns out to be taught by her husband’s ex (Krista Allen). It’s about the joy of failing up.”
Steps:
21) Spend the time to find the best place to live and invest. It will be worth your while. The great thing about living where others spend their vacation is the year round quality-of-life.
24) Determine which maker or breaker community issues you will find across all resort communities vs. those unique only to the quality-of-life towns at the top of your best places list.
32) Plan extended seasonal vacations during summer and winter months. Group destination locations together in regional trips to explore what several bucket list towns have to offer in the general vicinity – with only a week or two vacation time to spend, we recommend organizing your itinerary by travel regions.
33) When you move, will your established neighbors share your same values? Does your new home have potential over the long term to develop into a high appreciation real estate investment while being affordable for mid-life or empty nesters? Do the weather patterns in winter or summer make you want to live there year round, or only on a seasonal basis. Doesyour new community offer a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities?
34) On your visits look for any newer developments that may trigger changes in neighborhood patterns. New construction in or around the neighborhood? Major regional economic adjustments? Transition from households with children to ones that are empty nests? Rezoning, and dramatically rising/falling land values?
Last year, honorary awards were bestowed on eventual Oscar winners Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro, Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell, among others.
Photo by Rob Latour /REX/Shutterstock (9360603ac)
A sprawling ranch in northern California that’s almost twice the size of Manhattan has hit the market for the first time since being created by the late stock market tycoon Dean Witter.
Actor Rob Lowe lists his scenic spot in Montecito for $47 million.
“Actor Rob Lowe and his wife, jewelry designer Sheryl Lowe, have listed their estate in Montecito for $47 million. Set on 3.4 acres of scenic grounds, the property centers on a 10,000-square-foot main house that was designed by architect Don Nulty and built in 2009. Also on the property are guest and pool houses, vegetable gardens and a swimming pool and spa. A tennis court features two observation areas. Mature trees dot the grounds.” Los Angeles Times · By Neal J. Leitereg (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Santa Barbara Film Festival Sets 2019 Dates
Photo by Rob Latour /REX/Shutterstock (9360603ac)
“The 34th annual Santa Barbara Film Festival is set to run January 30-February 9 in 2019, organizers said this morning. Official events will be held throughout the city, including the Arlington and Lobero theaters, for the fest that takes place in the heat of movie awards season. Last year, honorary awards were bestowed on eventual Oscar winners Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro, Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell, among others. The 2018 fest went on as planned in the face of the horrific Thomas Fire that scorched 280,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, making it the largest wildfire in California history. The conditions led to mudslides in Santa Barbara’s neighboring towns of Montecito and Summerland, killing 17.” Deadline · Patrick Hipes REX/Shutterstock
Kayaker paddles with a dozen great white sharks off coast near Santa Cruz
“Nicolle Otman paddles in a kayak as great white sharks circle. Captain and Marine Biologist Giancarlo Thomae took the video and says about 40 young great whites are making the waters off Aptos their home in spring. Thomae has been kayaking with great whites ever since they started showing up in increasing numbers off the coast of Aptos, just south of Santa Cruz, four years ago. He and other experts believe about 40 juvenile great whites are making the area off the pier at Seacliff State Beach their home each spring. In the first year, the sharks were small, at about eight-feet long, and in each following year, they measured larger. This year, they average 10 to 12 feet with some as long as 13.” SF Gate · By Amy Graff, SFGATE Photo taken: June 23, 2018. Media: Giancarlo Thomae/Sanctuary Cruises.
Boomtime: What San Francisco looked like at the end of the Gold Rush
“View down Sacramento street, May 1855: This view is the fifth plate in Fardon’s seven-plate panorama. From the slopes of the Clay Steet Hill (Nob Hill), the view is to the east down Sacramento Street to the bay. At the right is the back of Saint Mary’s Church (which faces California Street at Dupont.) On Sacramento, several signs in Chinese are visible, as is a “family grocery”, two “coffin ware rooms”, and “Vance’s Daguerrean Rooms” (the photographic studio or Robert H. Vance.) Across from Vance’s is the Armory Hall. (This view provides and interesting comparison to a daguerreotype in the Bancroft Library; BANC PIC 1905.16242:104–CASE.) Barely visible at the far left is a sign for the City of Paris store.” SF Gate · By Amy Graff, SFGATE Photo: G.R. Fardon / UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library
Are you taking from tidepools? In Marine Protected Areas, volunteers track bad behavior at the beach
File photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG
“Swimmers enjoy Shaw’s Cove, a Marine Protected Area. You can look – just leave it where you found it. Don’t take the fish — or other sea creatures — in Marine Protected Areas. Don’t even slip a shell into your beach bag. People may be watching and documenting your every move, noting whether you’re breaking the law while exploring sensitive ecosystems. In Orange County, they include areas from Bolsa Chica and Crystal Cove, through Laguna Beach, and into Dana Point. In Los Angeles County, they include Point Dume north of Malibu and Point Vicente/Abalone Cove off Palos Verdes. While some areas have restrictions but still allow some fishing, others – such as Laguna Beach and Point Vicente/Abalone Cove – are a “no-take” zone, meaning nothing can be taken out of the ocean, from tide pools or beaches.” By Laylan Connelly | lconnelly@scng.com | Orange County Register File photo by Mark Rightmire
Landmark mansion at tip of Newport Beach’s Harbor Island on market at $60 million
“The 14,200-square-foot home boasts over 300 feet of bay frontage, along with views of the turning basin. An imposing, French neoclassic mansion on a half acre at the western tip of Harbor Island is on the market for just under $60 million. Built in 1990, the lavish, 14,200-square-foot home boasts over 300 feet of bay frontage, along with expansive gardens and views of the turning basin. The dock can accommodate a yacht larger than 120 feet, as well as other boats, according to the listing. The updated, three-story home has six bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, formal living and dining rooms, and catering and staff quarters. An elevator, walk-in wine cellar, waterfront tile pool and subterranean parking for eight cars are among the amenities.” Orange County Register By Marilyn Kalfus (Google Earth)
Colors of Carlsbad: The Real-Life Instagram Filter
“While you can find these four colors all over the world, I had the chance to discover them in Carlsbad, California. About an hours drive north of San Diego, the small beach town sometimes gets lost in the Santa Monica’s and Newport’s of the state, but it’s not one to miss. You may know it as where Legoland is found, but there’s plenty more to see than just that. The small city has that coveted beach-town vibe without the touristy feel. Here, everyone feels like a local. For the most colorful view of Carlsbad, visit March through mid-May when The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are in full bloom. The 50-plus acre farmland is home to rows and rows of brightly-colored Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers, creating an ombre field of picture-worthy spots at every turn. While you can’t freely traipse through the fields, there’s many “cutouts” that let you get that perfect shot.” arizonafoothillsmagazine.com SUZANNE KOCH Carlsbad State Beach
“Old Home Beach, also known as Indian Beach, is a narrow beach on Trinidad Bay in the small town of Trinidad. It has been renamed, probably out of political correctness, but some signage still has the old name. This protected beach offers great views of Trinidad Head and the bay with many picturesque rocks sticking up. There are two ways to get to Old Home Beach from the bluff above it. The first is down a trail with stairs behind the Trinidad Lighthouse Memorial at the corner of Trinity and Edwards Streets.The second beach access is down a trail at the end of Parker Street called the Parker Creek Trail (park on grass at top of the hill and walk down Parker St.). The view from the lighthouse memorial is stunning.” californiabeaches.com
“This village on California’s northern coast combines big scenery with small-town charms. Winding three and a half hours north of San Francisco, the road to Mendocino may be as magical as the destination itself. Frequently no wider than a country lane, it corkscrews through mountain passes, parallels patches of farmland and vineyards, traverses a cathedral of redwoods, and chases the Navarro River to the sea. And what an arrival it is: tabletop headlands carved below by massive sea caves and topped above with barns, lighthouses, and cliffside inns. Amid the dramatic landscape nestles the downtown, with Victorian homes in Easter-egg colors and Main Street lined with a bookstore, museum, toy shop, chocolatier, B&Bs, and eateries.“Coastal Living · By Ann Wycoff Photo: Thomas J. Story
Mendocino County
Nearly 27,000-Square-Foot California Ranch Asks $31 Million
“A sprawling ranch in northern California that’s almost twice the size of Manhattan has hit the market for the first time since being created by the late stock market tycoon Dean Witter. Lone Pine Ranch, in both Trinity and Mendocino counties, is asking $31 million. It’s typically difficult to find ranches that have everything, according to Mr. McDavid. “Usually you have to make some sacrifice, like I really want a big herd of elk or I want trout water. It’s very hard to get it all in one place,” he added. But Lone Pine Ranch has an extremely diverse amount of wildlife and land, Mr. McDavid told Mansion Global. There’s viable cattle and timber operations, fishable water, and resident wildlife includes populations of elk, blacktail deer, pig, bear and quail. “You go to some other parts of California and you’re going to find some pretty desolate land, this place is really rich,” Mr. McDavid said. “It’s just a really beautiful landscape.” The Los Angeles Times first reported the listing. Mansion Global · Liz Lucking BILL MCDAVID
PG&E expects to pay $2.5 billion for North Bay wildfires
“A Northern California utility said Thursday that it expects to pay at least $2.5 billion in connection with deadly wildfires that whipped through wine country last October — some of them ignited by its fallen power lines. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. also warned that its liability could be considerably higher after state fire officials determine the cause of 21 major fires that devastated the region last year. They killed 44 people, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and wiped out vineyards, marijuana farms and other agricultural operations.” AP Photo Jeff Chiu, File
Steps:
20)Maybe the lists of best places don’t appeal to you. Where can you go to make a fresh, new start? Don’t limit your imagination. Think anywhere — across the globe. Where do you really, really want to live, work and play? Why not live where it’s a vacation all year round?
21) Spend the time to find the best place to live and invest. It will be worth your while. The great thing about living where others spend their vacation is the year round quality-of-life.
30) Review headlines and relevant news as far back as you can find online to surface each community’s unique pulse and identify information necessary to make your decision. Is there a “ticking time bomb” issue you may uncover that eliminates the resort from your bucket list? Search on topix.com.
32) Plan extended seasonal vacations during summer and winter months. Group destination locations together in regional trips to explore what several bucket list towns have to offer in the general vicinity – with only a week or two vacation time to spend, we recommend organizing your itinerary by travel regions.
“Asked what it’s like to bodysurf one of the most famous breaks on Earth, a regular once opined, “It’s the closest thing to the great trauma of being born.”
“When Ole Hanson drove through here in the 1900s, nothing existed between San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside. He cooked up this dream that he wanted to have a ‘Spanish Village by the Sea,’ and unlike so many other developers, he wanted to have a clean slate.”
50 Essential Western Travel Experiences. The Wedge, Newport Beach, CA
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
“Asked what it’s like to bodysurf one of the most famous breaks on Earth, a regular once opined, “It’s the closest thing to the great trauma of being born.” When a big swell hits the Wedge, already gigantic waves bounce off the jetty at the south end of Balboa Boulevard; combining with the next wave, they create magnificent, malevolent monsters that can top 25 feet.” sunset.com Kevork Djansezian / Getty
Green Day drummer Tré Cool gets $1.83 million for Newport Beach duplex
“The property, touted as a “classic” beach community spot, is near Lido Marina Village and Lido House, a new, upscale hotel. Click through the slideshow for a tour.” ocregister.com Marilyn Kalfus (Photo by Chris Snitko, ModernTake)
A Restaurant. Classically Hip Since 1926
“Originally built as a restaurant and service station, construction began on The Arches in 1925, the same year Coast Highway opened up from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. Founded by John Vilelle and James Sturgeon, it was named by 10 year old Victor Chatten in a contest advertised by them in the Balboa Times. The distinct Mediterranean style of the original buildings, with arches and red tile roofs, quickly made it a recognizable staple of Newport Beach as it helped to shape and inspire the town in its early stages.” arestaurantnb.com
Irvine and Huntington Beach Make Top Ten List of Happiest Cities in America
“WalletHub released a survey of the happiest cities in America. Our own Irvine and Huntington Beach are in the top 10 happiest cities, coming in at No. 8 and 9, respectively.” orangecoast.com Alan Gibbons
Huntington Beach News Staff
“Editor Louis Paul Hart in suit and hat on right about 1915. Having begun with a paper edition in 1904 in Huntington Beach and in the years since, we continue to bring you the news of the people and events that other media’s bypass.” hbnews.us
Corky Carroll: Best beaches to surf in Orange County — for summer or winter, beginner to advanced
“Intermediate to advanced: For the most consistent waves with the most power I would have to recommend the area closer to the Huntington Beach Pier. This is sort of the heart of one of the most aggressive surfing communities on the planet and where “the good guys” hang out. Also good in winter, although not as consistent due to Catalina, are the two spots in the Trestles area just south of San Clemente called Uppers and Church. The direction of the swells hits these two breaks perfectly in winter months.” ocregister.com Corky Carroll (File photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)”
90 Candles: San Clemente to Celebrate Its 90th Anniversary
“Ole would advertise land tracts in newspapers in San Diego and Los Angeles, and people would come down and get a chicken dinner and the sales pitch. They could mark off lots if they wanted and put down their deposit,” Culbertson said. “When Ole Hanson drove through here in the 1900s, nothing existed between San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside. He cooked up this dream that he wanted to have a ‘Spanish Village by the Sea,’ and unlike so many other developers, he wanted to have a clean slate.” sanclementetimes.com By Eric Heinz
Why the swallows stopped returning to San Juan Capistrano and how people brought them back
“Cliff swallows are one of more than 350 bird species that migrate along the Pacific Flyway. They stay in the Northern Hemisphere from March to October. But swallows aren’t returning to Mission San Juan Capistrano in the numbers they used to. A remodel of the mission in the 1990s removed nests from overhangs, and with that loss of habitat, swallows did not return to the mission.” mercurynews.comBy KURT SNIBBE | Southern California News Group
No Surf? How About a History Lesson?
“On the surfing front, anybody who rides waves around here should have a brief appreciation for just how San Onofre came to be one of the birthplaces of surf culture on the West Coast. It was first surfed in the early 1920s, although it’s still debated who the first person to surf at San Onofre was. Some say it was Laguna Beach’s George “Peanuts” Larson. Others contend it was Matt Brown and Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison. Given that was nearly 100 years ago, the mystery will probably never be solved conclusively, but it’s fun to banter about.”danapointtimes.com by Dana Point Times
“Popular activities include swimming, skin and scuba diving, and body surfing. Hazardous and rip conditions are evident in all directions. This beach is steep and has a shore break under all conditions. The crack around the north point is always a potential hazard and should never be entered or approached too closely.” lagunabeachcity.net
Just in time for summer vacation. Discover what the locals enjoy. What’s it like to live here?
Life doesn’t get any better than in the famous beach towns and resort neighborhoods – Malibu, Santa Monica, along the South Bay boardwalk. Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Coronado.
“To kick off spring the proper way, we’ve rounded up a few spots that would make William Willett (to whom we owe this clock-changing tradition) proud. When you’ve sampled all of these, you can start working through our exhaustive guide to San Diego’s very best happy hours, for any time of year.” sandiegomagazine.com/ The outdoor digs at Topside. CHASE SCHEINBAUM | Photo: Justin McChesney-Wachs
40 top things to do in San Diego
San Diego attractions and locations
“You will never run out of fun things to do in San Diego, there’s always a fun event, concert or activity and with so many San Diego attractions it’s really hard to choose. So just to get you started if you’re visiting San Diego soon, check out these 40 top things to do in San Diego and you just might enjoy doing some of these activities and places to visit in the city.” http://travelphotodiscovery.com/ by Noel.
“Sand replenishment began Tuesday at Cardiff State Beach as part of the San Elijo Lagoon restoration project.Improved water quality, greater wildlife diversity, more public recreational trails and a greater resilience to environmental change are among the long-term goals of the restoration, which has been planned for decades.” Phil Diehl. sandiegouniontribune.com/ (Union-Tribune file photo by Eduardo Contreras)”
If Trump Wants to Drill for Oil in San Diego Waters, He’ll Have to Get Through His Navy
“The Trump administration has proposed opening California’s coast to oil drilling. An oil basin near Oceanside could be particularly valuable, but the military says drilling there would disrupt its operations. California politicians and environmentalists have long worried about oil spills — because they’ve seen them before. A 1969 spill in Santa Barbara blackened dozens of miles of coastline, killed thousands of birds and devastated local tourism and fishing. But the armed forces have worries of their own. Offshore drilling could flummox training and operations and, in turn, endanger national security.” voiceofsandiego.org Ry Rivard Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
Dana Point. Doheny Blues Festival is returning with a new lineup and a new location
“Singer and songwriter Beth Hart will perform at the 21st annual Doheny Blues Festival on May 20 at Sea Terrace Community Park in Dana Point. Founded in 1998, the festival has played host in years past to blues legends Bo Diddley, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker and rock pioneers Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The festival was forced to move this year after the California parks department notified organizers in November that they’d have to find a new venue after two decades at Doheny State Beach.” http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot BRADY MACDONALD (Photo by Studio-E Elena Garm)
Dana Point. Rhythm and Resin: The Waves, and the Beat, Roll on for Danny and Damian Brawner
“Since 1952, Dana Point’s Danny Brawner has been crafting and fine-tuning Southern California culture through his craftsmanship and his music in ways the masses often don’t take time to appreciate. Locals may have to read the back of an album carefully, or ask a local shaper who did the all-important, life-sustaining glasswork on that new surfboard. It may not even be recorded in some cases, but a little research will quickly reveal the Brawner name is deeply woven into the fabric of South Orange County culture.” http://www.sanclementetimes.com/ Daniel Ritz, By Staff
San Onofre’s Nuclear Waste Storage Tanks Already Breaking
“For now though, the waste is still headed to San Onofre, busted bolts and all. All 3.6 million pounds of it. Just a few months into Southern California Edison’s very controversial plan to relocate spent nuclear fuel to holding tanks on the beach at San Onofre, crews are finding the holding tanks aren’t working properly. “We warned them that this was going to happen, and nobody listened to us,” Donna Gilmore of SanOnofreSafety.org told the LA Times. “Now they are trying to tell us: ‘Everything is OK. Don’t worry.’ This is insane. Edison has proven they can’t keep us safe.” www.surfer.com/ JUSTIN HOUSMAN Photo: Ellis
“Morey is related to the founders of the Detroit-based Dodge Brothers automobile company. The Morey’s moved to Laguna, California, when Tom was eight. There, he learned to bodysurf on his father’s back. Tom, who loved music almost as much as the ocean, called his invention the Morey Boogie after the boogie blues tempo. Boogie was a type of jazz music that was popular before World War II. As Tom put it: “Boogie swung, and it had a wiggle and a jiggle to it… it was perfect.” www.surfertoday.com Seamus McGoldrick Morey Archive
Laguna Beach. Women’s Surf Team Wins State Championship
“Laguna Beach High School’s women’s shortboard team won the crown as team champion at the Scholastic Surf Series high school state championship. MVP went to freshman Tess Booth, who besides competing in shortboard, also competed in one longboard heat as well.” www.lagunabeachindy.com By : Guest Contributor MVP Tess Booth in action.
Newport Beach. Newport Harbor ‘is not a port’: Coastal Commission votes to oppose city’s goal of a port master plan
“The California Coastal Commission voted 9-3 on Thursday to oppose legislation necessary to amend the California Coastal Act to establish Newport Harbor, pictured, as a port. The commission voted 9-3, with members Erik Howell, Ryan Sundberg and Roberto Uranga dissenting, to oppose Assembly Bill 1196, which would amend the California Coastal Act to establish Newport Beach as a port — a status it needs before it can seek a port master plan. It would join Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hueneme and San Diego, all deepwater industrial ports.” http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot · By Hillary Davis (File Photo)
Newport Beach. New Film ‘Surfing To Cope’ Details Brianna Cope’s Surfing Through Adversity
“Cope’s trials and tribulations as a blossoming surf star on the world stage is documented in the short film entitled “Surfing To Cope,” which premieres Monday evening at the Newport Beach Film Festival. And she has done all that while dealing with a birth defect. Brianna’s left hand is under-developed, and to cope with everything that comes along with that Cope found the ocean as a great equalizer early on in her life. She has dedicated everything since to the ocean and accomplishing her goals. “The ocean is the one place I wasn’t self-conscience,” Cope told ASN. “I feel so happy and free when I’m surfing. There is no judgement or imperfections, it’s all about the ocean and its beauty.” www.adventuresportsnetwork.com/ Ryan Brower
Newport BeachFilm Festival
“The Newport Beach Film Festival seeks to bring to Orange County the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world. Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program as well as providing a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the Festival focuses on showcasing a diverse collection of both studio and independent films.” newportbeachfilmfest.com/events/
“The other morning, I was surfing the north side of the pier in Huntington Beach. The waves were about waist high, the wind was cross shore, and I was not surfing well. After blowing my first wave of the day, I got inside my head with some negative thoughts, which often has a way of ruining my session. I’d clearly dropped in on him and surfed (almost) the entire wave blissfully unaware. Damn, I felt like a moron. I’ve surfed for 20 years and just like the rest of us, I’ll occasionally drop in on people by accident. Occasionally, they drop in on me. Sometimes I get a little mad inside when they do. But I try to practice kindness and have a positive outlook. This guy I’d just dropped in on did a great job of the latter. I paddled back out and apologized. “No worries, brother,” he said. “I was trying to synchronize with your turns.” He laughed and paddled off. I laughed.” www.theinertia.com Simon Short Instagram
“The best match of the Huntington Beach Open was Friday’s championship bracket showdown between two-time Olympic medalist April Ross and new partner Alix Klineman and a Canadian pair that’s ranked second in the world. Ross, considered by many to be the best individual player in the sport, is as rambunctious as ever. She split with Kerri Walsh Jennings after winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and spent late last season mulling a decision on a partner for a run at the 2020 Olympics.” BOB KEISSER | www.pe.com/ (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Long Beach.If CSULB’s Prospector Pete had a true story, this would be it
“Prospector Pete was civil, even loving, to everyone, respecting the Golden Rule as much as the Gold Rush. He made his wealth quickly and easily and shared it with the vaunted Swiss generosity, building schools for Mexican, Chinese and indigenous boys and girls.” www.presstelegram.com TIM GROBATY (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova, Press-Telegram /SCNG)
Long Beach. Modica’s
“We are located on the ground floor of the Historic Cooper Arms building in downtown Long Beach, California. At modica’s, every dish is created using only the finest and freshest ingredients. We have created a marinara sauce to die for! With your choice of pasta you get delicious baked bread that is made daily and a fresh mesclun salad topped with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.” http://www.visitlongbeach.com
Malibu. This Gorgeous Malibu Beach House Is Your Dream Summer Retreat
“Immerse yourself in the epitome of beachfront luxury at this sprawling modern villa situated on the golden sands of Broad Beach in Malibu, California. Planning a California getaway that you never want to forget? Where you choose to stay plays an important role in your vacation memories. This stunning beach house in Malibu is the ideal luxury rental if you’re traveling with a group. A family reunion or friends trip, perhaps? The property is available to book on TripAdvisor.” www.tripadvisor.com
Malibu. A Taste of SoCal’s Finest Lifestyle Awaits at This $75,000-Per-Month Malibu Estate
“With the ocean in your backyard, this dreamy home is the perfect beachfront escape. With summer right around the corner, it’s time to figure out where to go on vacation this year. And while road trips to national parks have an undeniable allure, it’s equally tempting to stay put all summer long. Designed as the ultimate oceanfront escape, 24683 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif., can be rented for $75,000 a month—which means you can unpack your swim trunks and enjoy the blissful beachfront abode for as long as your heart desires.” http://robbreport.com/ Juliana Distefano
Ventura. Shopping in Ventura CA | Malls, Outlets & Boutiques
“Ventura offers eclectic, locally owned shops where you can find items you won’t see anywhere else. A variety of these shops lines the streets of Ventura, featuring clothing boutiques, antique stores, home and garden shops, art galleries, gift stores and other specialty shops. Starting in downtown Ventura, just steps away from the beachfront promenade, a walk through Main Street is like no other. Right away, countless storefronts will grab your attention.” visitventuraca.com
Ventura. What $900,000 buys in three Ventura County neighborhoods. There’s even a beach house.
“Here’s a look at what about $900,000 buys in the Ventura County cities of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Ventura.VENTURA: This two-bedroom cottage, built in the 1950s and since updated, is a stone’s throw from San Buenaventura State Beach.” http://www.latimes.com Neal J. Leitereg (Realtor.com)
Channel Islands: California’s Majestic National Park You Didn’t Know About
“Remote yet accessible, this archipelago stretches north along the coast from LA, and the Channel Islands National Park comprises the five northernmost islands. Just hours from the city, the National Park sees less than 20,000 overnight campers a year and is the perfect spot to escape the crowds, especially mid-week.The closest islands are visible from the coast, but a deep channel separates them from the mainland. This allowed wildlife to develop in isolation until humans arrived and there are 145 endemic or unique species in the archipelago including the diminutive island fox.” https://awol.junkee.com Alexis Buxton-Collins Image: Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands. Bald eagle chicks hatch on California’s Channel Islands
“Channel Islands National Park says the two chicks hatched 14 hours apart on Santa Cruz Island, and a third egg chick was expected Friday. The hatchings are a sign of progress in restoration of the species to the island chain where the birds disappeared in the 1960s due to the effects of DDT and other human activities.” https://www.sfgate.com
To a degree, you haven’t witnessed our city until you’ve seen all its nature’s beauty.
Bruce Brown. Endless Summer.
While stationed in Hawaii, he’d spent much of his time surfing and shooting home movies of friends riding waves. With his service complete and being back in Orange County, he cut a crude, 90-minute “surf movie” together.
Highlights and Headlines: January 2018
New offshore oil drilling proposed off California coast by Trump administration. The Trump administration on Thursday proposed allowing new offshore oil drilling in most of America’s coastal areas, including northern, southern and central California areas like Big Sur. By PAUL ROGERS | progers@bayareanewsgroup.com
Huntington Beach. ExxonMobil Alleges It Is Victim of Vast California Climate Change ‘Conspiracy’. Surfers ride waves in front of an oil rig off Huntington Beach on July 31, 2015. (Credit: Mark Ralston / AFP / Getty Images)
Laguna Beach. Uncertainty Clouds Hotel Laguna. The last guests of the historic Hotel Laguna turned in their room keys and its longtime operator turned over the property last week to the landlord, but much else about the iconic downtown property remains uncertain. Photo by Mitch Ridder.
Newport Beach. Newport’s iconic Crab Cooker to close and rebuild because of 3-year-old foundation damage. “The Crab Cooker, which has been at 2200 Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach since 1951, will be closed for about a year starting in 2018 while it is rebuilt on the same site. (File Photo)”
Bruce Brown. Endless Summer.
South Orange County. In Remembrance: Bruce Brown, Maker of ‘The Endless Summer,’ Passes Away at 80. “In 1958, Bruce Brown landed in Dana Point after a stint in the Navy. While stationed in Hawaii, he’d spent much of his time surfing and shooting home movies of friends riding waves. With his service complete and being back in Orange County, he cut a crude, 90-minute “surf movie” together. Resident surfboard baron Dale Velzy let Brown show the movie in his shop in San Clemente for 25 cents a head.” By Jake Howard
San Diego. 10 San Diego Trails to Get You Outside in 2018. To a degree, you haven’t witnessed our city until you’ve seen all its nature’s beauty. From the highest point in county to the La Jolla Tide Pools and peeks at the Pacific from above your handlebars, there’s no shortage of ways to get outside in the New Year. Go on, now—take a hike! San Diego Magazine
Long Beach. Long Beach Airport to start daily service to Hawaii in June. The historic terminal at Long Beach Airport. Hawaiian Airlines will begin operating nonstop daily flights between Long Beach and Honolulu. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
South Bay. Redondo Beach. Seaside Lagoon. “This isn’t your typical swimming pool. Seaside Lagoon is a saltwater lagoon steps away from the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can swim under lifeguard supervision, and there’s also water slides, a playground, beach volleyball and picnic areas.” Photograph: Courtesy Seaside Lagoon
Ventura County. California Fire Map Update: Thomas Fire Is Second Largest in State History. As the blaze grows, it is on track to surpass the record-holding 2003 Cedar Fire, which killed 15 people and destroyed 273,246 acres in southern San Diego. The Thomas Fire earned the second-largest wildfire designation on Tuesday by surpassing the 2012 Rush Fire, which burned 271,911 acres. This California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara’s Biltmore turns 90 with photo show and custom-made wines. “Santa Barbara’s Biltmore marks 90 years this year. Longtime photographer Hal Boucher shot a photo of Rosalind Russell, left, Jack Lemmon and his wife, Felicia, at the resort in 1963. (Hal Boucher)”
Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo CA. The 10 Happiest Cities in the U.S., According to New Research. “Perhaps unsurprisingly, almost 30 percent of the places are in California. There’s really something to be said for near-constant sunshine. Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) is real, and has a dramatic impact on happiness levels for an entire season of the year. And when you’re sad almost every day, it’s hard to rate your life well, or feel natural joy.” Inc Magazine
Half Moon Bay. Weather changes push back Mavericks surf contest. Throughout the past week, there was excitement over a west-northwest swell that would bring the largest Mavericks surf of the season. That is now a matter of conjecture, and the once-promising weather forecasts have changed. SF Gate · By Bruce Jenkins
San Francisco. Turning blue to ring in the new with frigid Jan. 1 Ocean Beach plunge. Three hundred people showed up at the foot of Taraval Street for the annual Plunge at Ocean Beach on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Photo: Steve Rubenstein/ The Chronicle
Marin County. Historic fire truck finds new home with Marin History Museum. “This 1935 fire engine is being donated to the Marin History Museum, which is temporarily donating the truck to the Marin County Fire Department, after being transported from Sonoma, Calif. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)”
Sonoma County. Devastated by wildfire, a California city weighs rebuilding amid a housing crunch. “Jeff Okrepkie stands by the lot where his house stood in the Coffey Park area of Santa Rosa, Calif. After losing his home in the wildfires last fall, Okrepkie has organized a neighborhood group to help those like him who want to rebuild. (Preston Gannaway/For The Washington Post)”
Mendocino County. Luxury Mendocino Hotel | Heritage House Resort | CA. The Heritage House Resort is a destination you simply must experience for yourself. While our property has undergone a dramatic change over the past five years, transforming from a romantic seaside inn to a contemporary and luxurious boutique hotel, our commitment to the perfect guest experience remains.
Humboldt County. Trinidad. Majestic. Part of the auto wreck scene in The Majestic was shot at College Cove Beach on 19 March 2001. Wikipedia.
“Newport Beach is a picture-perfect place to visit any time of year for its stunning coastline, dramatic yacht-dotted harbor and aesthetically inclined locals.”
“Here’s Johnny’s” Malibu Mansion
Wineries across both Napa and Sonoma are open and pouring their best vintages – except Signorello Estate, which burned to the ground on the Silverado Trail in Napa during the October fires.
Who are Millbillies? When did Brett Harte move to Arcata? What makes Carlsbad a “walkable town” and Newport Beach a “shop ’til you drop” destination? How much is Johnny Carson’s Malibu mansion on the market for? And where did Hollywood celebrities “from Clark Gable to Renée Zellwegger” hang out when they were, well, not in Hollywood?
Find out answers to these burning questions (with apologies to Sonoma and Napa valley residents and wineries) with this month’s Baker’s Dozen.
San Diego. ‘Floating’ concrete house wins top architecture award. “The (awards) jury felt the project was an excellent example of great architecture that is also carbon neutral and energy neutral,” the five-member selection panel said. “The simple clean lines of the architecture reminded the jury of the quality work of (modernist architect Rudolph) Schindler.” Called “The Cresta,” the three-story house sits on a 5,000-square-foot lot, a fraction of the size of nearby sites, Segal said in his nomination form. (Film by Jeff Durkin, Architecture by Jonathan & Matthew Segal. (Courtesy of Bread Truck Films)
Walking Wine Tour
North County.Carlsbad is a lovely ocean-side community just north of San Diego, and directly adjacent to the aptly named town of Oceanside. It offers year-around amazing weather, scenic beaches, dozens of quaint restaurants, and two wineries. Carlsbad is a very walkable town, at least for tourists like us, so we parked our car when we arrived and pretty much walked everywhere we wanted to go! https://winetastingbliss.com/2017/10/wine-carlsbad/#
Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach
Orange County Beach Towns. “Newport Beach is a picture-perfect place to visit any time of year for its stunning coastline, dramatic yacht-dotted harbor and aesthetically inclined locals. And now—thanks to a tasteful, modern-day reincarnation of a vintage favorite—this Orange County haunt is also a sensational place to shop ‘til you drop. Lido Marina Village (3434 Via Lido, Newport Beach) was first developed in 1971, originally conceived as a small and charming pedestrian- friendly shopping center. It was only last year that private equity investment firm” Hauteliving.com
Long Beach Development Plans
Naples to Palos Verdes Peninsula. Long Beach. “The 1,500 square-foot area is roughly bounded by Seventh Street, Marine Stadium and Orange County. It includes single and multifamily residential neighborhoods and several large shopping centers, such as Marina Pacifica, the Marketplace and Marina Shores.” Long Beach Press-Telegram
“Here’s Johnny’s” Malibu Mansion
South Bay. Malibu. “For the first time in a decade, the lifelong home of comedy legend Johnny Carson has hit the market. Listed by Coldwell Banker, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom Malibu residence can be your new home away from home for a cool $81.5 million dollars.” JUSTLUXE: LUXURY NEWS AND REVIEWS
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Ventura County. Ojai. “But for those in the know, a historic property 35 miles south of Santa Barbara is the perfect spot for a pleasing respite. Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California, has long been the go-to vacation spot for the Hollywood elite, from Clark Gable to Renée Zellwegger.” PURSUITIST
Avalon on Santa Catalina Island
Islands along the Pacific Coast. Catalina Island. A modern estate perched on a hillside in Avalon has sold for $4.6 million, making it the most expensive home sold on Santa Catalina Island since 2013. Built in 2007, the red-hued home is a confluence of contemporary and Balinese style. Los Angeles Times
Santa Barbara. CONSTANTIA is an estate of unparalleled quality located in the heart of Montecito. Juxtaposed between the mountains and the sea, this Cape Dutch Colonial masterpiece harkens back to a more elegant time, but with the conveniences of a 21st Century home. Hauteresidence.com
A rancher’s cows relax at the new La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve in La Honda, California,
La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve.Huge new Bay Area open space preserve opens to public. For the past 175 years, it’s been a Mexican land grant, a dairy farm, a hideout for members of Jesse James’ outlaw gang, an oil field, a redwood logging mill, a cattle ranch and a retreat for heirs to the Weyerhaeuser lumber and Folgers coffee fortunes. The Mercury News.
From bread bowls to Karl the Fog to our indisputable holy object, the Golden Gate Bridge, scroll through the above gallery for a list of things San Franciscans consider sacred. SF Gate
Mill Valley. “An informal Millbilly gathering on a Friday night at the Depot Plaza. From left, Gary Scheuenstuhl, a local drummer and owner of Mill Valley Music; Jesse Lee Kincaid, a local guitarist; and Eric Meade of Fairfax. Says Scheuenstuhl: “The ’60s and ’70s were the golden era here. A lot of my high school friends had to leave.” (Photo by Mary Ann Hogan)” Marin Independent Journal
Sonoma and Napa Wine Country. Wineries across both Napa and Sonoma are open and pouring their best vintages – except Signorello Estate, which burned to the ground on the Silverado Trail in Napa during the October fires, and a few others that suffered damage. But the classics are still at the top of their games, with favorites like the award-winning Shafer Vineyards (whose Relentless 2008 bottling took home the world’s number one wine prize from Wine Spectator in 2012) unscathed and taking reservations for during-the-week tastings. http://ncwineguys.com/
Bret Harte in North Coast Region
Arcata. “(Bret) Harte moved to California in 1853, later working there in a number of capacities, including miner, teacher, messenger, and journalist. He spent part of his life in the northern California coastal town of Union (now Arcata). The 1860 massacre of between 80 and 200 Wiyots at the village of Tuluwat was well documented historically and was reported in San Francisco and New York by Harte. When serving as assistant editor for the Northern Californian.” Wikipedia
So, shh. Don’t tell them I told you. Here’s what you missed along the South Coast Region. They’re in no hurry to encourage you to return to their local playgrounds.
From Point Loma in San Diego to Carlsbad in North County
Here’s a handful of beaches that don’t get the credit — or the crowds — that they deserve.
While you’re busy with back-to-school schedules and work routines, locals celebrate open parking spots on narrow beach streets. They celebrate bright gorgeous sunsets which illuminate Catalina Island on a darkening horizon.
So, shh. Don’t tell them I told you about what you missed along the South Coast Region. They’re in no hurry to encourage you to return to their local playgrounds.
Top Ten After Labor Day Stories
1. Part seven of our Seattle to San Diego excursion sets off from Santa Monica and makes a lazy path along some of Southern California’s most memorable stops before ending up in idyllic Laguna Beach. From the historic grandeur of the Queen Mary to surf-loving stretches of Huntington Beach, from Newport Beach’s seafood palaces to the alluring cottages of Crystal Cove, it’s a sunlit sojourn. Coastal Living.
From San Diego to Ventura Beach Towns
2. “The gray whale, who was between 15 to 18 feet long, was spotted in Dana PointHarbor. It swam into a shallow children’s area called Baby Beach and circled a pier.” Daily Mail.
This aerial photo provided by DolphinSafari.com
“Luckily for San Diegans, with a little effort, you can almost always find a mellow surf spot that isn’t overrun with 12-year-old surfing prodigies and semi-professionals without day jobs. Here’s a handful of beaches that don’t get the credit — or the crowds — that they deserve. Thrillist.
From Point Loma in San Diego to Carlsbad in North County
Carlsbad– Terramar
South Carlsbad – Ponto
Cardiff-by-the-Sea – George’s
Del Mar – 8th Street
North Pacific Beach – Tourmaline (Old Man’s)
Ocean Beach – Pescadero (aka Pesky)
Point Loma – Garbage, Sunset Cliffs
4. Hundreds of local surfers and ocean lovers made a symbolic pollution awareness statement when they fought through choppy waves like warriors and paddled all the way around the Ocean Beach Pier. San Diego Union Tribune
Pollution Awareness in Ocean Beach.
5. “The Lido Bridge is a popular place for kids to jump into the water in Newport Beach and authorities are trying to make the danger apparent to the public. Los Angeles Times (File Photo)”
Look Before You Don’t Leap in Lido.
6. “U.S. News recently published an article on the “Top 6 Experiences in Southern California” and we are proud to say that each (and more!) is found in Ventura, a laid-back beach town. Ventura has fantastic weather year-round, earning it descriptions like “the land of eternal spring.” Whether you want to surf, paddle-board, kayak, jet ski, catch a professional surfing tournament or take a surf lesson from a professional surfer, we have it all.” Visit Ventura
Visit Ventura
7. An Airstream perched above Malibu, California is available for rent starting at $500 per night. All photos via Airbnb. Curbed.
Malibu Dreaming
8. Newport Beach. “The Balboa Peninsula institution, which opened in 1977, played a slideshow of pictures from the 1980s through the 2000s. Many guests were couples who met at the bar.” Daily Pilot.
50 Years at Malarky’s
9.“The yacht Stimulus is docked on Balboa Island. A man who stole it in 2014 was arrest on suspicion of trying to steal it again on Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Newport Beach. (Photo by Sam Gangwer, Orange County Register/SCNG)”
(Courtesy of Craig Brewer)
10.Newport Beach. The program would last 1 to 2 years. The buoys are equipped with software that detects sharks larger than six feet and beams a signal to lifeguards so they can investigate or close a beach when one is spotted.
Beware. Beach Closings.
The software can tell the difference between a shark, seal, and dolphin, says Aussie surfer Ian Cairns, who lives in Orange County and is a representative for the company. “You have a virtual barrier that simply enables sharks to be detected and within seconds the lifeguards are notified about an incursion,” he says.
“The sharks are now getting bigger. They may be able to tolerate slightly cooler conditions. The bigger they get, the less likely they are to migrate…”
Beware. Beach Closings.
“24th annual Civil War reenactment goes forward in Huntington Beach. Despite increased tensions around the country surrounding Confederate monuments.”
1. Big Sur –Central Coast: Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties.
“Every day, the isolated stretch of Big Sur loses $300,000 in revenues, according to Kirk Gafill, manager of the world-famous restaurant Nepenthe. San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties could face a $554 million loss in revenue due to closures, according to a recent study by Visit California, which promotes tourism. The economic impact could ripple out further, if visitors cancel summer plans to the Golden State. “Santa Cruz Sentinel
2. Sharks – South Coast Region: Capistrano, Dana Point. Oceanside. Central Coast Region: Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara. Peninsula Region: Half Moon Bay.
“Sharks are thriving in Southern California but dying in San Francisco Bay. In Southern California, great white sharks have begun to arrive after spending the winter off Baja California. Recently, one of the sharks bit a chunk out of a mother’s leg as she swam off San Onofre State Beach.
Shark bite victim. “A doctor said the victim was “remarkably calm” through the ordeal, adding her strong physical condition was a major factor in her survival. Korcsmaros is an aerobics and fitness trainer in Corona del Mar and a mother of three — aged 16, 22, and 24. Korcsmaros had multiple tooth marks on her right side, extending from her shoulder in a semicircular pattern to her lower pelvis. She also had lacerations on her right arm, an open chest wound and multiple rib fractures and had lost about a liter of blood, doctors said.” Los Angeles Times
Beware. Beach Closings.
“Lifeguard crews who had been searching by boat and helicopter for shark activity in the water off Newport Beach reopened the state beach. Lifeguards had reopened the beach between the Balboa Pier and the Wedge.”Los Angeles Times
Dana Point. San Cemente.““The best evidence I have is that the last two winters none of those animals have migrated south to Baja but one — a 2-year-old, 8-foot shark,” Lowe told patch.com. “That, we attribute to El Nino because the water [temperature] never got below 60 degrees. “The sharks are now getting bigger. They may be able to tolerate slightly cooler conditions. The bigger they get, the less likely they are to migrate… ” patch.com
“Surfers are back at it again off Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz, just one day after a shark attack near Steamer Lane. Over on Santa Cruz Main Beach, locals and tourists sat on blankets and chairs enjoying Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk free movies on the beach.” KSBW
Santa Barbara County. We were in waist-deep, blue-green surf at Padaro Beach, the sweet little stretch of paradise you can see from Highway 101 at Santa Claus Lane. It was late morning on Sunday, a gray, cool day, with surprisingly warm water. Los Angeles Times.
Half Moon Bay. A tape measure shows the spread of teeth marks in Pat Conroy’s kayak. HM Review.
3. Best and Worst Beaches. South Coast Region. Central Coast Region. San Diego, San Clemente and Santa Cruz.
Fabulous Fun at the Hotel del Coronado
“Coronado Beach dropped from No. 7 last year to No. 9 this year. The website describes the beach fronting the Hotel del Coronado as the “toast of Southern California; it is a veritable oasis by the sea …” Dr. Beach.
“The San Clemente Pier came in No. 2 on Heal the Bay’s annual top 10 Beach Bummer List. Shark sightings have closed stretches of the beach recently, but swimmers should also worry about bacteria levels.” (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Santa Cruz. In 2017, only the third most contaminated. In October, the city-created Cowell Beach Working Group released data that recent steps to address the issue, believed to be caused by animal waste, had reduced bacteria counts by about 50 percent.
4. Mavericks. Peninsula Region. Usually a winter story. In May contest crashes.
The End of The Big Surf Competition?
“Mavericks Invitational board member Brian Overfelt itemized that claim. He said it includes $1.25 million left unpaid per an intellectual property agreement with Cartel, $450,000 in remuneration for his work and that of contest founder Jeff Clark and his wife Cassandra, $360,000 in sponsorships lined up before Cartel allegedly scuttled them, and $85,000 or 10 percent of the gross revenues made by Cartel on the Mavericks name.” HMB Review.
“In August a 95-page “motion to sell” submitted to the court on Wednesday, the former surf contest organizers detailed their wishes to turn over the reins to the World Surf League. HMB” Revew.
“The ruling, filed Wednesday, doesn’t settle the tangle of litigation over public entry to the sweeping crescent south of Half Moon Bay. But it does affirm a lower court decision that billionaire Vinod Khosla has to unlock the gate to Martins Beach Road while the legal fight continues.” LA Times.
Access Denied. Granted. Still Not Open.
“The controversy over Martins Beach began in 2010, when Khosla closed a gate at the top of a private road that provides the only access to the cove from Highway 1. The previous owners, the Deeney family, had allowed the public to visit the beach for decades — advertising the spot with a billboard and operating a store and restrooms — in exchange for a modest parking fee.” Mercury News.
“The family that sold Martin’s Beach had, for almost a century, allowed surfers, fishing enthusiasts and others to reach the sand on foot or by car via an access road. Eventually the family provided public restrooms, a parking lot and a general store. Khosla posted “do not enter” signs, hired security and shut the gate.” LA Times.
6.US Open in Huntington Beach – South Coast Region
“Thousands will crowd the shoreline Saturday through Aug. 6 for the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, as they did here in 2015.” (File photo | Daily Pilot)
Surf City’s Open
“Huntington Beach´s Brett Simpson surfs the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, site of the U.S. Open of Surfing on July 29-Aug. 6. Simpson, who won the contest in 2009 and 2010, will try to become the first three-time winner since Rob Machado won it in 1995, 2001 and 2006.” (Courtesy of Brian Bott) LA Times
7. Jack O’Neal – Central Coast: Santa Cruz, Pleasure Point
Jack O’Neill Windsurfs in Santa Cruz.
“Jack O’Neill windsurfs off Santa Cruz August 5, 1982. Inventor of the wetsuit and surfing world icon, O’Neill died at his Pleasure Point home Friday.” (Dan Coyro — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)
“On Sunday, thousands gathered at Pleasure Point, both in the water and on the cliffs, to remember surfing legend Jack O’Neill.” (William Scherer — Contributed) Santa Cruz Sentinel
8. 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love
“50th anniversary of the Summer of Love this year, it’s time to chill, man. Here are places in San Francisco and the Bay Area to celebrate the Summer of Love:” LA Times
“1960s art is all over Haight-Ashbury, ground zero for the Summer of Love. This mural, of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, is seen on a Wild SF Walking Tour.” LA Times
50th Anniversary of that Lovin’ Feeling.
“Perhaps no art form more exemplifies San Francisco’s Summer of Love than the music of the era. It led an explosion of culture and expression in the balmy summer months of 1967, and a counterculture revolution swept through the city by the bay. Tens of thousands of young folks swarmed to the Haight-Ashbury and Golden Gate Park, and they brought with them the sounds of change.” SFTravel.
9. Monterey Pop 50th Anniversary. Central Coast. Monterey. Debut of Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix, Joplin and Garcia.
At the 1967 festival, the lineup spanned the sweet folk-rock of Simon & Garfunkel and the Mamas & the Papas, the scorching R&B of Redding, the fiery blues-rock of Joplin and her San Francisco-based band Big Brother & the Holding Company, the blue-eyed soul of Johnny Rivers and the exotic ragas of Shankar. LA Times.
10. Confederate Celebrations Where the North and South Compete. North Coast Region: Duncans Mills. South Coast Region: Huntington Beach
Civil War West Coast Style
24th annual Civil War reenactment goes forward in Huntington Beach. Despite increased tensions around the country surrounding Confederate monuments.
Duncans Mills Northern California’s largest civil war reenactment and one of the largest reenactments west of the Mississippi!