A blue and red roof tops off a stone wall with a carved wood sign that reads "Jenny Rose Restaurant" In the distance a large neon heart frames a sign that also reads "Jenny Rose Restaurant"

The Deserted Jenny Rose Restaurant of Yermo

April 22, 2022, 4 Comments

En route to Calico Ghost Town you pass by the Jenny Rose Restaurant. With its massive neon heart sign, it certainly catches the eye, whether you’re on Ghost Town Road or on Interstate 15. But don’t expect to grab a bite to eat here, as a burger hasn’t be served here for sometime, and the…

Myself standing in front of one of the islands.

Long Beach’s Strange Offshore Oil Wells are Hiding in Plain Sight

March 22, 2022, 3 Comments

About a quarter mile off of the sandy shores of Long Beach sit four rather alluring islands, some of which feature futuristic looking curved walls and tall towers. Upon first glance they appear to be condos or part of a resort, but the truth is much, much less glamorous, as they in fact are oil…

Myself standing in front of massive mural featuring a train, bridge, broken down car, and Spike, the cartoon beagle brother to Snoopy.

A Visit to Needles, Home to Spike and the Remains of a Grand Train Depot

March 15, 2022, 3 Comments

Before Interstate 40 arrived through the southwest, there was Route 66, and before that the railroad. And if you traveled any of them to California, Needles was that first city to welcome you to the Golden State. The connection to Route 66 makes Needles proud of its history, but there is much more, much of…

The tops of some of the trees, which include an antique phone, "Enter Only" sign, and chair.

The Weird and Wonderful Glass Forest of Bottle Tree Ranch

February 23, 2022, 3 Comments

In my Amboy Crater post, I mentioned Patrick and I are intermittently traveling the full stretch (or as much of it that is accessible) of Route 66 through California, with the eventual plan to do a lengthly blog post sharing the unique sights from the Arizona border to the sunny shores of Santa Monica. However,…

The 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 as seen in On Her Majesty's Secret Service and driving by Diana Rigg's character. The red car features black details on the hood, including the silver head of a cougar in the center.

A Revisit to the Petersen Automotive Museum

February 16, 2022, 2 Comments

Last week my dad was in town, mainly so we could attend a NASCAR race at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (while a historic location and event, it won’t be featured on the blog, but you can see a few snaps on Instagram), however we also went to Disneyland and visited a few museums, including the…

Myself walking along the rim of the crater.

A Hike into an Ancient Volcano along Route 66

February 2, 2022, 2 Comments

The legendary Route 66 often conjures imagery of neon signs for diners, a plethora of tourist traps, and gas stations. Something that perhaps doesn’t spring to mind is a volcano. But in fact there is a volcano right off of the famed Mother Road, and you can hike into it. The town of Amboy is…

A red painted building sits behind overgrown bushes. A large sign out front reads "Gene Valla's Blue Gum Luncheon-Dinners." A neon martini glass tops the large sign.

Photo Essay: Americana Through the Eyes of a 16 Year Old

January 26, 2022, 8 Comments

Recently Patrick and I went did a massive clean out and reorganization of our garage. Part of it involved me sifting through boxes of photos. Yes, real, glossy, shot on film type of photos. Growing up in the infancy of digital photography means my early memories were captured on film, and I learned the ropes…

Myself, standing in front of a massive mural of hanging meats and wedges of cheese. Large gothic red letters reads "Alpine Market."

The Unique Old World Charm of Alpine Village

December 9, 2021, 3 Comments

Just five miles east of the sandy shores and fishing piers of Redondo Beach sits a small Germanesque village that looks as if it should be dusted with snow and the Alps peeking above it. This slice of Germany is Torrance’s Alpine Village, a small shopping center and restaurant that opened in 1968. Alpine Village…

Myself standing in the apple orchard of Stone Pantry, wearing a white tee featuring graphics of a green witch and town, orange text reads "I met the ghost of Oakhaven (and Survived)" and a pair of blue jeans.

Apple Picking in Oak Glen

October 26, 2021, 1 Comment

Tucked up in the hills of California’s inland empire is the quaint town of Oak Glen. With less than 500 residents, it’s a relatively sleepy little town until autumn arrives, when this country haven is overrun with out-of-towners, including myself. Why? It’s the Southern California hot spot for that beloved fall activity of apple picking. Within…

Screencap reading "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" with additional text reading "Filming Locations"

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood Filming Locations

August 25, 2021, 3 Comments

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood has quickly become one of my all time favorite movies. Quinten Tanatino’s love letter to late 1960s LA is full of wonderful details and used many beloved SoCal institutions, including a number that are accessible to the film buff! While many of the locations in the film, they “play themselves”…