The Merry-Go-Round that Inspired Disneyland

February 2, 2015, 12 Comments

Over the weekend Patrick and I went to the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. Now, normally I’m not one to go to a place just to ride a carousel, but the particular one has a very special meaning. Built in 1926, the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round is often described as the place where Walt Disney first thought up…

Calico Ghost Town

January 6, 2015, 6 Comments

This weekend’s trip to Vegas was my first visit since the late 90s, and my first time driving there. Not to mention it was Patrick’s first ever visit to America’s playground. On our way we made some stops, including the ghost town of Calico. Founded in 1881, Calico’s mines produced millions in silver, before silver dropped in price, and it…

Pioneertown: The Town Built by Celluloid Cowboys

December 18, 2014, 7 Comments

During our stay at Hicksville we visited a place that could only exist in California, Pioneertown. I had visited in Pioneertown back in March (though did not blog about it) with my dad, who grew up with heavy doses of the western TV shows in the 50s, which is all how Pioneertown began. Western stars…

Mission San Juan Bautista

August 24, 2014, 12 Comments

UPDATE: It is important to remember that while California Missions have been hailed as places of peace, they also have deep and complicated histories, including slavery, violence, and forced religious conversion. After securing our apartment and spending time in Disneyland, we headed back north, stopping at Mission San Juan Bautista. I had visited this mission back…

California’s First Mission – Mission San Diego de Alicalá

July 20, 2014, 2 Comments

UPDATE: It is important to remember that while California Missions have been hailed as places of peace, they also have deep and complicated histories, including slavery, violence, and forced religious conversion. Having visited 99% of the shops I wanted to go to, my fourth full day in San Diego was spent exploring the city on…

Hotel Del Coronado

July 16, 2014, 6 Comments

Yesterday Carla of Tiny Angry Crafter and I ran around to various vintage shops and also stopped by one of San Diego area’s most iconic landmarks, the Hotel Del Coronado. Opening in 1888, the hotel became a hot spot for US presidents and in the 1920s, for the Hollywood elite. When World War II broke out…

Old Town San Diego

July 14, 2014, 5 Comments

Greetings from San Diego! Today I got together with the doll that is Carla of Tiny Angry Crafter and we visited some of the antique shops in the Ocean Beach area (where I bought one little item) before visiting Old Town San Diego. And let me just say, it was incredibly charming. I felt like…

Fernandina Beach

May 30, 2014, 6 Comments

Today a bunch of the significant others, including myself, went on a river cruise through the marshes between Florida and Georgia in the area around Fernandina Beach. I was hoping we’d catch a glimpse at an alligator, but, alas, that did not happen. Although we did see dolphins (sadly, I wasn’t able to capture anything…

St. Augustine

May 28, 2014, 3 Comments

Greetings from Florida! Patrick has a work conference here in Florida, and this conference is unique in that it encourages attendees to bring their significant others and children! They also offer outings for significant others, one of which included a visit to St. Augustine. Before you ask, we will not be going to Walt Disney…

Sutter’s Mill

March 8, 2014, 6 Comments

Oops! Kind of forgot to mention I’m off gallivanting in California! Usually I do a little “I’m off! Might blog, might not!” type post, but things quickly spiraled as I attempted to wrap up a great number of things before heading south. This trip is a little different. While the main catalyst for this trip…

Atomic Redhead

Historic Locations

The Merry-Go-Round that Inspired Disneyland

Calico Ghost Town

Pioneertown: The Town Built by Celluloid Cowboys

Mission San Juan Bautista

California’s First Mission – Mission San Diego de Alicalá

Hotel Del Coronado

Old Town San Diego

Fernandina Beach

St. Augustine

Sutter’s Mill