Angled view of Cold Spring Tavern, a single story ramshackle log cabin building with ivy growing around it.

Stagecoach Stop Turned Biker Haven: Cold Spring Tavern

March 11, 2026, Leave a Comment on Stagecoach Stop Turned Biker Haven: Cold Spring Tavern

Up a winding road, tucked into the Los Padres National Forest is one of California’s oldest places to stop for a bite to eat, Cold Spring Tavern. Long before cars and motorcycles traversed these twisting roads, stagecoaches did, with Cold Spring Tavern feeding wary passengers during the 1860s. Almost 100 years, and various owners later,…

Myself standing inside a mine cart outside the museum.

The Way It Was Museum

May 25, 2023, Leave a Comment on The Way It Was Museum

For a town of less than 1,000 people, there is still much to see and do in Virginia City, but perhaps the best bang for your buck is The Way It Was Museum, which for a mere $4 (at the time of our visit) you can gaze upon a variety of artifacts focusing with the…

Angled view of some of the buildings of Virginia City, which include mostly two story buildings of wood facades in the "old west" style of square fronts.

A Stroll through Historic Virginia City

May 23, 2023, 1 Comment

Recently Patrick and I went on a road trip to visit my mom in Idaho, and anyone who knows me knows I love a road trip. While the route was somewhat familiar, as we had done it before, we made a few fresh stops, including spending some time in Virginia City. Virginia City is similar…

Sheep graze on the lawn of the White House

Gifted Donkeys, Raccoons, and Other Bizarre Pets of the White House

November 11, 2020, 2 Comments

With the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States, the White House will once again have pets scampering about its grounds. The Bidens have two German shepherds, Major and Champ, and Biden even made their dogs part of his campaign, including this Instagram video. Headlines recently boasted that Major would be the…

Catherine ducks under the cover of her camera to take my portrait. .

Meet Catherine Segura, the Young Woman Who is Keeping Tintype Photography Alive

July 17, 2019, 3 Comments

When you walk into Old Town San Diego, you instantly feel like you’re transported to the past. And if you’re lucky enough to be there on a weekend, then you can have a truly unique and transporting experience by visiting Catherine and her father, Clement, who do tintype portraits on the porch of the Cosmopolitan.…

The Whaley House, a small, but stately looking home made of brick featuring a white column porch.

Gallows, Ghosts, and Paved Over Graves: A Visit to San Diego’s Whaley House

July 15, 2019, Leave a Comment on Gallows, Ghosts, and Paved Over Graves: A Visit to San Diego’s Whaley House

On a September day in 1852 James “Yankee Jim” Robinson was taken from an adobe jail to the gallows. Standing upon a wagon, a noose was placed around his neck. When the order was given, the wagon driver pulled away, and Yankee Jim reportedly kept his feet on the wagon as long as possible, but…

Myself standing in front of the blacksmith shop, where a giant prickly pear cactus resides, wearing a black dress with silver trim.

How One Book Saved Old Town San Diego

July 11, 2019, 6 Comments

After checking in to the Cosmopolitan, we explored Old Town for a bit, going in and out of the various museums and shops this unique state park has to offer. Old Town San Diego State Park is made up of a variety of authentic buildings from the 19th century and early 20th century, along with…

Myself standing on the outer balcony of the hotel, wearing a black dress with silver trim. A massive white sign reads "Cosmopolitan Hotel" in black letters.

San Diego’s Historic Cosmopolitan Hotel

July 9, 2019, 2 Comments

Each July the company Patrick works for hosts a massive conference in San Diego. Sometimes Patrick attends, sometimes he doesn’t. But this year he did, and like most of his conferences, I tag along to enjoy the sights of the city. This year we chose to stay in one of California’s oldest hotels, The Cosmopolitan,…