I love roadside attractions. They seem to be a bit of a dying breed so when I hear about a good one, I make sure to schedule in a pitstop to our road trip itinerary. Several months back, I was watching California’s Gold (I have a slight obsession with ultra enthusiastic public television icon Huell Howser) and became infatuated with a place called Desert View Tower. Desert View Tower is located off Interstate 8, near the tiny town of Jacumba which is not far from the Mexican border in the eastern reaches of San Diego County. Built in the 1920′s by Bert Vaughn who owned the town of Jacumba, this four-story, cut-stone structure sits 3,000 feet above sea levels with sweeping views of the desert beyond. Before the advent of the highway system, the trek to the Pacific Coast was very difficult coming from the desert so Vaughn built the tower to honor those early pioneers who made the journey.
Fast forward nearly ninety years later and enter a tower filled with random relics of an eclectic past. After coughing up $2.00 to explore climb the tower, visitors are greeted by tanks filled with turtles and fish, framed photos of random landscapes hanging on the walls with price tagged affixed, and the occasional sleeping dog on a ratty couch. Stop to enjoy the player piano and little bits of history sprinkled throughout the journey up the staircase to the lookout point. Its a strange time capsule of mementos passed down by past owners of this unusual spot out in the middle of nowhere. The view from the top is quite scenic with a boulder strewn mountainous landscape occupying the foreground and a desert stretching out to Mexico beyond.
While the tower is certainly quirky and fun, kids will have an even better time exploring the giant boulders nearby. Sure, the rocks are great for climbing but the real attraction are the boulders carved into all sorts of animals and designs by a quirky folk artist named W.T. Ratcliffe in the 1930′s. Ratcliffe hung around Desert View Tower for several years, hand carving designs into the rocks and then leaving one day, never to be heard of again. Explorers will find a snake, bison, lizard, alligator, and even an Indian Chief carved into the granite, all making for a whimsical display. Spend ten minutes or an hour as you climb, weave through, and discover what this unusual pile of rocks offers to its visitors.
Desert View Tower may not be in its prime but it is still a roadside attraction worth stopping to see. The owners are friendly, as are their entourage of dogs and cats that call the tower home, and those crazy carved rocks are just aching to be climbed.
Find the details on visiting the tower on trekaroo »
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Welcome to 
Anybody who has spent time in San Diego’s Balboa Park knows it is one our nation’s great urban parks. Besides housing the world famous San Diego Zoo, it is also home to 18 different museums, sporting complexes, hiking trails, playgrounds, restaurants, and an outdoor concert venue. A family could vacation in San Diego, never leave the park, and still have an amazing time.
Every year for past 33 years, Balboa Park has hosted San Diego’s largest free community festival, December Nights. This year’s festivities take place Friday, December 3, 5:00-10:00pm and Saturday, December 4, noon-10:00 p.m. From 5:00 to 9:00PM on both nights, participating museums open their doors to the public free of charge. Crafts, food, and entertainment from around the globe can be found in the Cascades Holiday Marketplace. Music, crafts, dance and other holiday traditions from more than 30 countries can be found during the International Cottage Christmas Festival portion of December Nights. The Palisades Midway is transformed into family central with kid friendly experiences and family entertainment. The only problem with December Nights is trying to fit it all in!
Image by Richard Benton
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
This contest is now closed. Congrats to Linda, lucky number 13! Enjoy your weekend at the Embassy Suites!
One of the greatest things about vacationing in Southern California is that there is never a bad season to visit. The winters are mild and an 80 degree beach day in January is almost inevitable. The deserts come alive with flashy wild flowers in the spring and the summers are mild and idyllic along the coast. Fall is one of my favorite seasons in the Southland because the crowds are long gone but the weather is perfect for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Because Southern California is such a popular vacation spot, it came as no surprise to me to find out there were 18 different Embassy Suites locations in the region. With hotels in such diverse locals as La Jolla, La Quinta, and LA, its easy to find an Embassy Suites to call home base while your family enjoys sunny Socal.
Embassy Suites has always been one of my favorite hotel chains for families. First of all, the suite-style rooms gives families space to spread out and parents the opportunity to stay up and relax after putting the little ones to bed. Second, they are gorgeous. I love stepping out of my room and into the large open air atriums. It makes me feel like I am truly on vacation. Third, are the complimentary cooked to order breakfasts. I am not talking about pastries and orange juice- this is a real breakfast. My favorite is the omelette bar. Just tell the chef what ingredients you want with your eggs and he will build a tasty, customized breakfast. Finally, let’s not forget the Manager’s Reception every evening. Kids can enjoy juice and a light snack while the adults relax with a cocktail. What’s not to love about that?
If all this isn’t enough to make you want to hop in the car and head to a Southern California Embassy Suites Hotel than maybe this deal will do the trick. From now until January 8, 2011, all AAA members who make their reservations using the rate code: AA3 will enjoy the “Kids Eat Free” deal. Why stop at breakfast when your kids can enjoy free meals at lunch and dinner as well? So whether you spend the day exploring Old Town Pasadena, hanging out with Mickey Mouse, or on a jeep tour of the desert, make sure you get back to the hotel for dinner!
And now for….
The Steal: Win a Weekend Stay at Any One of the 18 Southern California Embassy Suites
Number of Winners: 1 winner
Prize: Two nights at one of the eighteen Embassy Suites located in Southern California
How to enter:
Visit the Embassy Suites Southern California website and tell us which hotel you would like to stay in if you win!
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to leave a separate comment for each one. This is how we keep track of extra entries.
- Fan Embassy Suites Southern California on Facebook..
- Write a review on Trekaroo and post a link to it in the comments (include your Trekaroo username) 5 ENTRIES PER REVIEW!
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only
Deadline to enter: Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 11:59PM PST
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
When families think of great destinations to view fall foliage, California is not typically the first state that comes to mind. More often than not, people head to the eastern half of the country to witness New England’s dramatic color, or The Great Smokey Mountains ablaze with reds, oranges, and browns. Lucky for us west coasters, there are still plenty of great places to experience autumn’s splendor without hopping a plane and battling the “leafer” crowds. Here are a few of my favorite spots for seeing fall color in the Golden State.
Photo courtesy wunderground.com
There are few places in California more beautiful than the Eastern Sierra in the fall. Quaking aspens flanking the lake seem to glow as the sunlight penetrates their leaves. There is just something about the granite covered mountainside reflecting in the lake with fiery trees highlighting the foreground that keeps drawing people back to June Lake year after year. Come early in the season before the snowfall begins and the area around the lake loses its flashiness and takes on its winter coat.
Read more about where to stay and what to do while visiting the Eastern Sierra with Kids.
Seeing the fall colors in Napa Valley is an experience unto itself. Wineries are just finished celebrating “the crush” and the night air is distinctively crisp. In between stops at wineries (yes, there are plenty of family friendly wineries out there), be sure to walk a trail or two in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. The big leafed maple are gorgeous and sound so wonderful crunching underfoot.
Read about all the activities and lodging suggestions in Wine Country with kids on Trekaroo.
Photo courtesy nps.gov
Yosemite is like the prom queen. She never had a bad hair day and always looks picture perfect. No matter what the season is, Yosemite never stops short of wowing whoever graces her presence. While many of the trees in the park are evergreen, there are still maples, oaks, and dogwoods to spice up the scenery come mid-October. The fall weather makes for nice mid-afternoon strolls on the parks hiking trails.
Read all about family friendly lodging and activities in Yosemite.
Photo courtesy flickr user goldenstatephoto
Yes, there really is fall color in San Diego County! At 4,000 feet in elevation, palm trees and sandy beaches give way to mountain air, apple orchards, and some wonderful opportunities for leaf peeping. This historic mining town is a great place for Southern California natives to get a taste of fall without having to hop on a plane. Grab a cup of hot apple cider and enjoy the view before heading back on down the mountain and into the land of endless summers.
California’s capital is filled with more than high rises and legislature. It is also a city with over 110,000 city-owned trees (and many more privately owned), which makes for quite a vibrant spectacle come fall. When I lived in Sacramento, I absolutely loved taking the bridge over the river and gazing down at the beautiful trees below. My kids loved jumping in piles of leaves in city parks and searching for the biggest maple leaves bigger than their tiny faces. If you can pick any season to visit the City of Trees, make it the autumn.
Read all about where to go and where to stay while in Sacramento with kids.
Samuel P Taylor State Park in Marin County
15 miles west of San Rafael, the Bay Area crowds are non-existent and coastal redwoods intermingle with oaks and firs to create a lovely fall spectacle come late October. Samuel P Taylor State Park is a great place to hike, bike, and enjoy the golds and browns popping against the evergreens. Pt Reyes National Seashore is just down the road and an especially nice place to take in the sunset this time of year.
Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Northern and Central California
Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Southern California
Interested in visiting the North Bay? Then be sure to check out all of our suggestions for family friendly lodging and activities in the Bay Area.
Still looking for more fall fun in California? Than be sure to check out Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Northern California and Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Southern California.
More on Fall Foliage:
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Utah
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Texas
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Tennessee
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in New England
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in North Carolina
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
This contest is now closed. Congrats to commenter number 280, Annette E. for winning!!!! We hope you enjoy your prize. For those of you who didn’t win but still are dreaming of a weekend at the Hyatt, be sure to check out their Sunshine on Sale package, listed below.
When people ask me for my favorite family friendly vacation destination on the West Coast, my answer is always the same- San Diego. With its Mediterranean climate, stunning beaches, and endless activities, its nearly impossible to have anything less than a great vacation in this Southern California beach town
Though much of the country has experienced record breaking heat and humidity this summer, San Diego has hardly seen a day above 90. Now, with fall fast approaching, many people across the nation will be turning in their tank tops and shorts for parkas and scarves. Not in sunny San Diego! Fall brings the California Coast some of its best weather and gives visitors the chance to keep those shorts from being packed away for just a little bit longer. The summer crowds may be long gone, but warm days spent lounging by the pool or splashing at the beach are far from fading.
This past spring, my family and I were lucky enough to be guests of the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina in San Diego. I immediately fell in love with the tropical but contemporary decor, bay front location, and amazing pool area. Not to mention the fine but still family friendly dining at the Hyatt’s own Red Marlin restaurant, the on site children’s programs, the watercraft rentals, and the spa. Oh the spa. Suddenly my recommendations for families to make San Diego their vacation destination were followed by the suggestion of making the Hyatt their home base during their stay. You can read my entire review of the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina here.
Another great thing about the Hyatt’s bay front location is that the resort is within walking distance of SeaWorld. This marine park has great animal exhibits, shows, and even water rides which are perfect for cooling off on a warm autumn day. Be sure to check out Blue Horizons, SeaWorld’s new show. It has a dolphin show meets Cirque du Soleil feel and is very entertaining.
If are interested in taking your family on a sunny San Diego autumn getaway, be sure to check out the Hyatt Mission Bay Spa and Marina’s Sunshine on Sale package . From September 7th through the end of the year, book two nights at the Hyatt MB and you will receive a third night at the resort for free! What a great way to extend the weekend and soak up few extra rays before winter chill back home sets in.
And now for…
The Steal: Win a Weekend Stay at the Hyatt Mission Bay and Tickets to Sea World
Number of Winners: 1 winner
Prize: Two nights at the Hyatt Mission Bay in San Diego, CA and four (4) one day passes to Sea World San Diego
Visit the Hyatt Mission Bay Spa and Marina website and tell us what hotel amenities or activities you are most looking forward to enjoying if you win.
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to leave a separate comment for each one. This is how we keep track of extra entries.
- Fan Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina on Facebook.
- Fan the Red Marlin restaurant on Facebook.
- Fan the Blue Marble Spa on Facebook.
- Follow the Blue Marble Spa on Twitter.
- Write a review on Trekaroo and post a link to it in the comments (include your Trekaroo username) one entry per review
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only
Deadline to enter: Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 11:59PM PST
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
Disclosure: My family received a complimentary stay at the Hyatt Mission Bay. I received no other compensation besides the stay and dinner and the Hyatt didn’t state any requirements that I express any particular point of view. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
