|| California expeditions, Frame 100 - 125

 101. Anacapa Channel Islands National Park

• https://californiathroughmylens.com/anacapa-channel-islands-national-park
• National park

102. Santa Rosa Ecological Reserve

• National monument status, spring time has wild flowers
• 1 hour drive into central south area
• https://californiathroughmylens.com/santa-rosa-plateau-vernal-pools-wildflowers-adobes/

103. Irvine Great Park Balloon and Sunday Farmers Market (9/12/2021)

• Great Park lot 3 has the closest parking with the balloon and carousel just right by; lot 6 is also ok with just a bit of walk along the soccer practice fields
• Free, sponsored by FivePoints, sign the waiver online on that day, stand in line after the check point; the the balloon holds about 10 people for one ride; vertical cable holds the balloon vertically launched up and down
• Sunday farmers market has about 10 vendors, all mexicans, not a lot of everything

104. California Science Center (10/16/2021)

• https://californiasciencecenter.org/visit/directions-parking-transportation, $15 parking plus timed entry reservation service fee; one hour, center of LA
• 2 hours trip seeing endeavor space shuttle and the rose garden
• 30min to the eastern Chinese shopping community

105. Whitewater canyon/preserve (9/18/2021)

• 9160 Whitewater canyon Rd; 1.5hrs from Irvine and 2 hours back; 5 to 55 to 91 to 60 to 10 then 5 miles into the canyon road
• 3 ponds and 2 trails; the ponds have beautiful running waters. The one trail going between the driveway and the parking lot, short and a bit rocky
• The 2nd is on the other side of the parking lot, 3.5 miles of a loop of the canyon view, 280 miles to Mexico and 2500 miles to Canada; no shades at all, and inland hot
• The parking lot has high winds and big shades and one restroom.  The park is open from 8 to 5pm.

106. Lake Gregory (6/18/2021)

• Lake Arrowhead direction, 1 hour 17 minutes
• $6 parking fee in the regional park; adult $10 and senior $6; lake is all fened up; lake seems to be small neighborhood size, also not a lot o f shades; on the Lake Rd, there is parking available at the goodwill store, but there is no access to the lake if you don't pay
• Trail is easy 2.3 miles around the lake, but didn't go
• Heart rock trail is close by

107. Buck Gully Trailhead (4/3/2021)

• 4 miles, 400ft elevation, easy trail, close to newport, wetland reserve; 23 minutes via culver road
• Parking - Street Parking on Poppy Ave, or Newport community center, or Cannon watch park, not too popular of a trail
• Partially shaded, these are the hills valleys in the midst of residential areas, not a lot to see.  They connect with San Joaquin and Bobcat trails; overall trails are one-way, 10000 steps, 1.5 hours
• About 20 minutes to drive to the Tokyo Central

108. Amir's garden at the Griffith Park (7/3/2021)

• https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/amirs-garden-griffith-park/; 1 hour and 12 minutes
• Trailhead address: Mineral Wells Road & Griffith Park Drive, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA 90027
• Trail is rated as moderate difficulty, it's sharp incline in two places on very sandy roads, abandoned 
• Griffith park is huge, lots of parking space but mostly already occupied by 8am, long trails all along the main roads with golf courses and such, mostly can do flat straight walks if needed; zoo and museum are close with plenty of parking

109. Rowland heights trail (3/27/2021)

• 14600 Orange Grove Ave, Hacienda heights; 3 parking slots close to the gate and many more in the road ahead of it; neighborhood also offers many parking opportunities
• Deep ascent and descent, needing hiking sticks, 2 hours on the coyote trail in the loop, no shade, and very slippery, 12000 steps on the day
• 40 minutes drive, 15 minutes to the Hsi Lai Temple, 15 minutes to the rowland heights shopping centers

110. Aliso Summit hiking trail (4/10/2021, 2/5/2022)

• 405 exit 90 then drive 5 miles on Aliso highway, turn into highland drive then to ridgeway
• 25minutes drive to Aliso highways, two street parking choices, one at ridgeway and the other at pacific island
• The trail is along the hill ridge where mansions stand and beautiful culturing of wild flowers, about 4 miles round ways; turn right on pacific island to the monarch summit senior center for top of the world of the laguna canyons; 13000 steps in two hours, enjoyable walks but there have been some elevations
• Beautiful scenes overlooking the valleys and Laguna beach peeks in between

111. Eucalyptus trail (5/16/2021, best on Sundays)

• Nice and easy chino hills, 41 minutes drive from home on I5, 57N, 60E then 4 miles on chino hills parkway, free parking set at chino hills community park parking
• Get on trail into the inclines, it's rated as moderate but is manageable with walking sticks; the 2nd half of the road is all flat on paved roads
• Passing horses, sheep, cow, many farms, baseball fields and horse camps
• Then drive 5 minuts to 2948 Thai temple and sunday open market.  Not paved parking, first get tokens then get order, arriving 1015am, ordering 1030am, 1140am getting food at the one-man stand stir fried drunken noodle, also get coconut krom and barbecue chicken skewer.  It's good if there are no other things to do on Sundays

112. Reagan Presidential Library (10/22/2022)

• 1.5 hour drive in the early morning, another 30min past the Getty Museum on 405
• 2 hour drive back in the early afternoon, drive 118E to 210E to 5
• 2 hours walk inside the library and museum exhibition, airforce one, helicopter, on a ranch hill with a large piece of raw / sandy land
• Impressive accomplishment and communicator
• This is the last of a new place that I visit in the California state

113. Wayfarers chapel and Abalone Cove Shoreline park (11/6/2021)

• 1 hour drive to the two places, about opposite the coastway drive, very close to the point vicente lighthouse; chapel was occupied with wedding and didn't allow general guests to go in on this Saturday
• Abalone Cove shoreline park requires parking fee of $6+; not necessary.  There are three free 30min time limited free parking slots just outside of the park entrance, also the chapel has ton of parking space, just need to cross the driveway (one-lane on each way)
• On way to Gardena and Torrance for some good japanese market shopping and food

114. Julian town, in Aug-Oct, U-pick apple, wine tasting (9/4/2021)

• San Diego direction along the meandering CA 78 and CA 79.  I got motion sickness on these dangerous roads
• https://www.daytrippen.com/julian-day-trip/
• Downtown (3 / 4 blocks), old buildings; farm and orchard may have activities to see; vintage market place has things to sell, old mining company, lots of beer and eating places; all trails are moderate difficulties
• Julian pie company, excellent pie.  Main post is in the San Yatz area
• Wynola Flats Produce (a store with high priced organic honey, produce etc)
• From the Julian pie company heading home, miss the old millie way road into the san Pasquel valley road, pass the san Diego safari zoo, then make a left turn at the san Pasquel road to get back to the I15 north into CA 78 west again.  The Mexican stand at the crossroad of San Pasquel valley and San Pasquel road is very good, very cheap.  Tomato one 4lbs bag for $4 and a big mellon for $2.  The stand is called Roadrunner Organics / Hernandez Family Produce

115. Hicks Canyon Trail (2/15/2021)

• 13min drive on culver for 4 miles then turn left into viewpoint road.  On the left, it is the Hicks community park (free parking), drive on to the dead end, it is the entrance to the Hicks canyon and then Peters canyon trail
• Going NB on the Peters canyon trail, one hour to the starting point of the Peters trail head in the Peters regional park
• Going SB on the Peters canyon trail, long and at some point will end at Jamboree
• The side closest to the gated housing community has trees for shades in the morning hours

116. Tustin Citrus Ranch Park (2/21/2021)

• Ran into this little community park in between the hicks canyon trail and the peter's canyon trail
• A few lines of the citrus lemon grove trees, small hill into a gazebo to overlook the mountain views of the tustin city
• Free parking, lots of places; along the Portola and Jamboree

117. Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) (10/29/2022)

• Newly opened on 10/8/2022
• Park at the front of the Watergrill in the SCP (one light before the crossing bridge), cross the busy Bristol road, then walk in the familiar roads, passing a bridal store, a salon, a restaurant, coming to the Art of the something road, then turn left, walk into to get into the glass door
• A small museum, and most exhibitions are on the 1st floor, abstract, very new; 2nd floor has the mezzanine has a special theme; book store is worth visiting
• At the top floor, there are views of the entire airstreams connecting the floors in layers with views across the entire building inside and out
• 45min in total

118. Cedar Grove Park (2/28/2021)

• 15min drive, get past the Portola road, turn right
• Closest community park to the Peters canyon, about 20 parking slots, right in front of the Tustin city irrigation monument
• Drive further on to the Peters Canyon road, street parking to get onto the trail

119. Top of the world Laguna Canyons (4/10/2021)

• Multiple trails leading up to the top of the Laguna canyons
• At the top roundabout, there is a parking lot and street parking seems manageable.  Then it's just 5-10 minutes walk up to the top
• Heavily trafficked trails, some may be moderate with steep elevations and declines 

120. Newport coastal peak park (5/8/2021)

• After the Mariner's Church farmers market, drive on turn left back onto culver then immediately turn left again into turtle ridge, again turn left into newport coast road for 2 miles then drive left into Ridge Park road, in the high end newport residential area
• Park at the Ridge park roadside and hike into the crystal cove state park, take the pacific ridge then no name ridge then trickoton then red then the bommer trail to round up the loop
• There are many trails, most are moderate and hard trails.  The above will take 2 hours.  There are many sharp elevations and descents, better to bring in the walking sticks

121. Idyllwild (11/15/2021)

• About 2 hours one way, visited Lake Fulmor, Idyllwild Garden, Ernie Maxwell trails on a Friday; many parking places require the national forest day use pass or fee required at the nature center
• 243 road has 30 miles of meandering high mountain roads, many turns and twists; should need a good lunch break before coming back driving on road
• The town at the north circle place has many coffee and restaurant places, lunch time is nice at the red kettle; parking is easy or park at the library and fairway market.  Overall a very easy, slow going place to kill a day for; signals are spotty all the time except for when in town
• Ernie Maxwell trail, scenic, but cold, walked around 5000 steps and don't know where it leads to, and how far, turned back after seeing the two peaks with the big trunk laying horizontal
• There was a korean gazebo that I missed on the way to the town; also a big trail with roadside parking that I need to do research; lots of small and good looking inn place

122. Temecula and Wilson Creek Winery (10/30/2021)

• 1hr to 1.5hr drive to the old town then another 20min on the ranch california way to get into the 40 wineries; low altitude, not hilly and relatively more urban
• Temecula old town has free garage parking right beside the civic center or at the parking lot in front of the civic center.  Saturday there is a farmers market, there are empenadas and ceviche and tamales
• Had empenadas at Havana Kitchen, and 1909 is the most crowded restaurant place; old buildings, contemporary eating places, good vibe
• Winery is very crowded, bought one card for one person $25 for wine tasting.  Next time can buy a bottle with ice chill on the lawn; nice vineyard, small walking grounds, can eat the grapes.  Most wines cost $25 for a bottle
• Favorite from the wine tasting, is the almond white, then mascova, then the sparking wines (tried rose and watermelon)

123. Arroyo Pescadero Trail, Colima Rd at the Hacienda Hills (9/5/2021)

• Off the highway then 5 miles on the Colima Rd, make a U-turn after the Murphy Ranch Rd, there are about 15 parking slots; otherwise can park into the heritage parking lot then cross the road; it's not legal to cross but I have seen people doing it
• 2 miles loop on the main loop, then another 0.5 miles on the deer loop
• Relatively flat but some elevations, mostly without shades; overall a good routine
• But it is not close to the Monterey park, have to get on to multiple highways before arriving at the alices kitchen

124. Santa Barbara (6/12/2021, 7/3/2022)

• Chromatic Gate, 137 miles, street parking close to the east beach in the neighborhood; somewhat underwhelming
• Old mission, open at 930am on Fridays and Saturdays, 11am on Sundays; adults $15 and seniors $13 https://www.santabarbaramission.org/; rose garden was all free, very beautiful place
• Santa Barbara courthouse and sunken house, lot 6 or lot 7, parking first 75min free then $1.50 per hour after; impressive architecture, but the buildings were not opening up for public access
• Downtown map and parking guide Map https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=41765
• Hendrys beach, Arroyo Burro Beach County (not not visited) Park https://www.santabarbara.com/activities/beaches/santa-barbara/hendrys-beach/, park may need $10 fee
• Shoreline park, 801 or 1357 1377 Shoreline Dr Parking Lot (lots of walking); this was just an ok place to visit, all fenced up along the walkaway
• Sterns Wharf (tourist place); drive in to the wooden board walk, first 75min was free but it was hard to find parking.  There was nearby parking, first hour $2; overall strategy should be to purchase 2 hours and drive around the various parking lots along the beach area
• La Super-Rica Taqueria for mexican food takeout, order number 16 special, number 1 and 3 are un-marinated beef and pork, all excellent food; arrive at 11am and there were already 10 people waiting in line; street parking, mindful that it the concrete curbside is quite high and could be scratching the edge of the car
• https://passionpassport.com/day-trip-guide-santa-barbara/
• On the way back, it was a gruesome 4 hours drive due to traffic congestion.  Stopped by the Tokyo Central Gardena, a good strategy to destress and potentially get some food and drink.  It was two miles on 91E
• 7/3/2022 - Hendry Beach, very busy but free parking lot on the Cliff Dr.  Can also park in the street at the corner that says not an outlet.  The beach is like a dog beach, tiny, has a boathouse restaurant on site
• 7/3/2022 - Leadbetter Beach, close to the shoreline beach.  Park at the La Marina road on the street for free.  Its a larger beach but kinda ordine, very pretty beach color

125. Descanso Gardens (6/19/2021)

• 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011 https://www.descansogardens.org/summer/
• A little over an hour drive, close to Pasadena LA area
• Timed advance ticket purchase required, adult $15 and senior $11; opens at 9am
• Yummy Kitchen, Man Chan Cuisine, GW market in Rosemead, Yung Ho Cafe (soy bean drink and baozi), ended up going to Delicious Food Corner at San Gabriel (good place)
• Max 2 hours of visit, impressive rose garden and everything else is small, petite, hill top garden is steep and dirt road up; Japanese garden is very tiny, overall a good place for children and for the elderly