A 74 foot long lunch counter stretches into the distance with mint and white barstools. A large colorful mural of Black people seated at a lunch counter hangs above.

Revisiting America’s Last Woolworth’s Luncheonette

January 14, 2026, 3 Comments

While many may blow by the small town of Bakersfield en route to Los Angeles, it is well worth the stop for a variety of reasons, but perhaps its star attraction is that it is home to the last operating Woolworth’s lunch counter. Woolworth’s first opened in Bakersfield in 1911, but by the 1930s they…

View of the parlor, with a mustard colored sofa and several chairs, as well as portraits hanging above the sofa.

Step Back In Time at the Stagecoach Inn Museum

November 22, 2023, 1 Comment

Like many small towns surrounding Los Angeles, the sleepy area of Conejo Valley experienced a post-war boom, and by 1964 some of its older structures were in danger of being demolished. One such building was the Stagecoach Inn. The Stagecoach Inn was constructed in 1876 and opened as the Grand Union Hotel. After the original…

A Night at the Neon Museum on Film

July 5, 2023, Leave a Comment on A Night at the Neon Museum on Film

A Note from Janey: Today I’m handing the blogging reins to Patrick. He was so excited about both the opportunity to shoot night photos at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, and with his end products! Enjoy! As Janey mentioned in her post about our return to the Las Vegas Neon Museum I spent most…

A large neon sign features fire made of neon and script reading "The Flame" below backlit plastic reads "Prime Rib Breakfast Lunch Dinner" and in small blue neon reads 24 HRS"

Revisiting the Las Vegas Neon Museum

June 19, 2023, 3 Comments

Back in 2017 Patrick and I visited the Las Vegas Neon Museum, and had an absolute blast, taking both their daytime and nighttime tours. Recently they added a “Photo Walk” option, which is a time for photographers to have respectful free-reign (no touching of the signs!) of the boneyard, and since Patrick has gotten more…

Myself, with my back to the camera, the back of my sweater visible which reads "The Twilight Zone" and in the background the elements from the opening sequence.

Putting Around the Twilight Zone

June 16, 2023, 1 Comment

The Twilight Zone ranks among one of the best television shows of all time, and one of my favorites. So when I heard there was an entire mini golf course dedicated to the show, I knew we had to go! Located in the basement of the Horseshoe, fans of the show and lovers of mini…

Myself standing outside of the museum next to a pair of large golden arches, wearing a Bill Elliot racing tee, and brown and yellow shorts.

The Delightfully Bizarre Unofficial McDonald’s Museum

September 7, 2022, 4 Comments

Before McDonald’s was the global icon it is today, it was a humble barbecue joint in San Bernardino run by two brothers from New Hampshire. While their first location is no longer standing, it lives on at the First Original McDonald’s Museum, also known as the Unofficial McDonald’s Museum. Here no item is too small,…

Myself, wearing a red elf had, and mint green dress with red and white stripe accents, and a peppermint candy necklace, standing in front of a red door that features decor mixing the Fourth of July and Christmas.

Christmas in July at Santa’s Village

July 28, 2022, 4 Comments

My dad has many fond memories of Southern California in the 1950s and 60s, especially of its various amusement parks. One such was a theme park a little further out from the greater Los Angeles area than say Disneyland. Roughly 80 miles east of LA, nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains sits Santa’s Village, a…

Myself, standing in front of the Calico bottle house.

Calico Ghost Town: From Silver Boom Town to Tourist Trap

April 20, 2022, 2 Comments

Between the glittering searchlights of Hollywood and the buzzing neon of Las Vegas sits the Mojave Desert, desolate, but with colorful rolling hills. Tucked into one of the hills just north of the fabled Route 66 sits the town of Calico, once a bustling silver mining town that has since turned into a tourist attraction.…

Overall view of the lunch counter. The counter runs along the left side, sweeping across the back. Black and white checkered floor allows for table seating with red formica topped tables and red and chrome chairs. A red stripe runs across the wall with red neon above. Framed Coca-Cola ads line the upper, cream portion of the wall, a large circular Coca-Cola sign sits on the back wall.

Inside the Last Operating Woolworth’s Lunch Counter

September 21, 2021, 1 Comment

November 2 2021 Update: According to an October 30 article from the Bakersfield newspaper, the Five & Dime Antique Mall shutters on November 6, but the lunch counter will try to stay open until the full remodel needs to take place, which could be as early as January 2022. “The lunch counter is staying open…

Myself, wearing a white halter top with red polka dots, and red shorts, holding a red and white In-N-Out cup, standing in front of the replica of the first In-N-Out.

A Visit to the First In-N-Out…Well Sort Of.

August 11, 2021, 4 Comments

When it comes to California history, there is certainly a lot. One aspect of California history that has become a staple of American life is fast food. Yes, one could argue that fast food started right here in Southern California, and while not typically viewed as “important” history, fast food is certainly a cultural phenomenon…

Atomic Redhead

unique destinations

Revisiting America’s Last Woolworth’s Luncheonette

Step Back In Time at the Stagecoach Inn Museum

A Night at the Neon Museum on Film

Revisiting the Las Vegas Neon Museum

Putting Around the Twilight Zone

The Delightfully Bizarre Unofficial McDonald’s Museum

Christmas in July at Santa’s Village

Calico Ghost Town: From Silver Boom Town to Tourist Trap

Inside the Last Operating Woolworth’s Lunch Counter

A Visit to the First In-N-Out…Well Sort Of.