Interesting Places to Visit When in Los Angeles to San Diego|Custom Topographic Art

Things to See From Los Angeles to San Diego

Among all the road trips ever taken around California, one of the more notable ones is the trip from Los Angeles to San Diego This two, to two and a half hour trip can go many ways, often taking Route 5 so you get to see the ocean view, especially if you’re going LA to SD.

Here are some highlights and stopovers you can take to fully enjoy this lovely ocean-side drive.

The Richard Nixon Library & Museum

Located in 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, a bit away from the highway, lies this magnificent museum. They host live shows and tours, perfect for kids, history enthusiasts, and those who want to soak in as much of North America’s history in a short span of time.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Going here, in 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, will inject you with a huge dose of art and culture. A sight to see even for people who aren’t inclined or aren’t as enthusiastic about art. At the very least, it’s a treat for the eyes as various museums display a mix of modern and rural art of both eastern and western roots, some of them deep, intense and meaningful, others colorful, simple and meant for you to look at and smile. There are live plays, film showings and their fair share of restaurants when you get hungry.

Hollywood

No tourist should leave California without stepping in the place where the magic happens. Take a tour in one or two movie studios, especially the special effects theme parks at Universal Studios and the Warner Bros. Studios. At the very least take a walk in the Walk of Fame.

That's during the day. At night, the place becomes even more alive with restaurants opening up and there's also the Sunset Strip Clubs for those looking for a more risque flavor to their evening.

Carlsbad Flower Fields

Located in 5704 Paseo Del Norte, this place has 50 acres of vast, unforgiving, unadulterated, flowers. The best times to go to this place is during Spring, to see the blooming phase of nearly all the flowers. There is an entrance fee for going there, and you can host parties, gatherings, and weddings in this majestic place.

Or, at the very least drive through the highway. Driving with the expansive flower fields by your side is a relaxing experience on its own.

San Diego Zoo

Voted as the top zoo in America in 2015, San Diego Zoo felt the praise and the pressure to improve. It houses more than two thousand animals, scoring over 500 species and subspecies. The entire zoo attempts to recreate a rainforest environment, using open-air, cageless exhibits. This is also one of the zoos that officially breed Giant Pandas and if you're lucky enough to see them you'd understand why they are among the most popular animals in the world.

They currently have renovations going on, so expect a few areas to be closed off, but as soon as they open, you’ll have a zoo experience unique to San Diego, and perhaps to the rest of the country.

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Maui: A History of Conflict|Amazing Gift Ideas Here

You might know Maui as one of Hawaii’s cultural heroes. In their various lore, he is depicted as both a man and a god, or both. In the Island of Maui, though, the story was less colorful, but in no way was it less culturally important.

The Discovery

The land was named after a Polynesian navigator discovered the islands. In some versions of the oral legend, he named the island after his son. Eventually, the Polynesians came to inhabit the land and are the first settlers. These group of people were the ones responsible for keeping the culture alive, establishing language, economy, religion and the Kapu system, which governed the lives of all its inhabitants.

Around the year 1400, the royal families in Maui split the island into three territories. There was a bit of animosity between the territories, but it was eventually solved when one of the daughters of one territory married the king of another. This brought peace to the island for decades to come, until…

The First Foreign Explorers

It was Captain James Cook who first saw the islands of Maui. It happened on November 26, 1778, but he couldn’t land his ship because the surf was too high and it could have compromised his ship. The second person to see Maui and the first person to land on it was French Admiral Jean-Francois de Galaup, who landed on La Perouse Bay on May 29, 1786

All was well until Simon Metcalf, an American trader, happened upon Maui. A group of island denizens stole his small boat and killed one of Metcalf's guards (Though some say it's just one man, named Kaopuiki). This angered him greatly and led a retaliation against the people of Maui, by attacking Olowalu, a peaceful trading sight in Maui where Kaopuiki was from.

The retaliation killed nearly a hundred innocent Hawaiians, some of them children, and injuring more than a hundred more. The massacre was aptly named Kalolopahu, which mean “spilled brains.”

Sometime later, Metcalf's son arrived in Maui in their ship. The people of Olowalu remembered, and subsequently massacred the entire crew, except for Isaac Davis and John Young. These two men were imprisoned by Chief Kameʻeiamoku, then was sold to the rising ruler of the islands, King Kamehameha I. This clever king had the two young men teach him how to operate the ships and use the artillery. It wasn't long after King Kamehameha I defeated Prince Kalanikupule of Wailuku and ruled the island under one banner.

In 1819, he died and his wife, Queen Ka’ahumanu with their son, ruled the island. It was the queen that challenged the rules and norms of the island, ushering the start of the “Kapu” system degradation.

The First Foreign Religion

In 1821, Dr. Holman arrived on the shores of Maui where he built a house in Lahaina. There, he taught about religion to the locals, before leaving for Honolulu. In 1823, Queen Ka'ahumanu invited a few missionaries to spread their teachings in Lahaina. The missionaries, Reverend William Richards and Charles Stewart led the mission. These two missionaries later became advisors to the kings of Hawaii.

The missionaries effect wasn't much about religion as it is education. They taught reading and writing and helped Hawaiians create their first 12 letter alphabet. They built schools and a printing press. Soon enough, Queen Ke'opuilani and Queen Kaʻahumanu became the first people to be converted to Christianity.

By the 1830s, more and more missionaries came and by 1870, 13 churches stood bright and solemn around the lands of Maui.

Conflict of Interest

As more Hawaiians were converted, more people were becoming against sexual promiscuity and drunkenness, which was generally a part of the kingdom's culture. In 1837, King Kamehameha III banned the practice of Catholicism and banned missionaries from setting foot on the island.

Yet soon after, with much demand, the king gave in to the French Government’s order to practice religious freedom, letting them back in, and allowing missionaries to teach, but with the notion that the denizens are allowed not to follow, as per the rules of the religious freedom.

There are more tales to be told in the rich history of Maui, and this small snippet of their past was paved through conflict, a catalyst for change.

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Fun Things to do in Huntington Beach|Topographic Wood Art Perfect for Your Home

What to do in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach can be found around Orange County in Southern California. It's known for its expansively long beaches, white sands and excellent surfing waves due to the land's orientation with the ocean current. Among all the qualities Huntington beach has, it's waves are top-notch, giving Orange County the nickname, "Surf City."

There are a lot of things you can do around Huntington Beach. So much that you may need to book a place for more than a week to enjoy them. So, what are the things you can do in Surf City?

Huntington Dog Beach Hangouts

Located on Pacific Coast Highway, between the ends of the 9th street and 7th street is the famous Dog Beach. It's basically an area where beachgoers with their canine buddies go to enjoy. It's perfect for people with dogs or people who love to go people and animal watching.

Clustered here are all manner of small shops made for both man and dog, with is good in case you want to give your buddy a treat but you forgot it in the house. However, this is not a place to go if you want to enjoy a nice quiet time on the beach. This is an active, fun place for dogs, where they are allowed to go unleashed, play in the sand, and establish connections with others of their kind. Expect what you'd normally expect in areas with lots of dogs. If you're bringing your dog, always pick up after them, and it's generally advised not to go barefoot in the sand.

They are open from 6 AM to 10 PM, open every day, even during holidays.

Huntington Beach State Park Activities

There are other beaches along the long coastline, but this one is among the most popular among the denizens of Orange County. This is where you can go to do every recreation you can do along the shore. The sands are perfect for making firepits, the waves are tame enough yet vigorous enough that you’ll really feel the seashore experience. From here you can watch the surfers ride the waves this beach is famous for, and be among them.

It's located at 21601 Pacific Coast Highway, which opens and closes at 9 AM to 5 PM respectively. Expect a lot of people closer to the weekend and during holidays.

Whale Watching Tours

It’s one thing to see them in media, another to see them in real. There are several kinds of whale watching tours available, from those that pick you up from select hotels and drive around the beaches for that perfect spot, to boat tours that get you in the closest watching distance. Seeing them breach from the water and slam back to the ocean is simply awe-inspiring.

The tours also include a visit to the museums, where you can get snippets and tastes of Orange County’s rich history. The pit stops between the trips land you to Main Street, where you can enjoy the many restaurants that line the sidewalks. Some of them have seafood so fresh, they were caught just this morning.

Surfing the Gnarly Waves

This isn't called Surf City just because of a song. The waves break at the beach and the bottom of it is forgiving sand, making it ideal for beginners. You don't have to swim that far from the shore to get rideable waves, making it both safer and efficient.

One thing to note is that the waves break pretty quickly, but at least wiping out closer to the shallow sands is better.

If you are interested in learning how to surf, there are multiple surfing schools all around Huntington Beach. They are easy to spot, as you would see aspiring surfers train on the beach with their coaches.

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Amazing Stories About Malibu|Wood Art for Every Boater in Your Life

The Stories Behind Malibu

The city of Malibu is known for its beaches and beautiful sceneries. All over the city, signs boast about Malibu’s “21 miles of scenic beauty.” It’s home to many Hollywood movie stars and other influential people.

But before being a tourist destination and home to celebrities, Malibu was home to Chumash Native Americans. They called the territory as “Humaliwo” which meant “the surf sounds loudly.” The name Malibu is loosely derived from this name.

In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo reached Malibu Lagoon while searching for fresh water. But it was only until 1770 that the Spanish influence colonized the area. They extended their missions to Malibu in an attempt to convert the Chumash people to Christianity.

In 1802, the Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit was given as a land grant. The ranch reached parts of Malibu. In 1804, the Rancho Topanga Malibu was first given to José Bartolomé Tapia by the Spanish Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga.

After the Mexican-American War, California was surrendered to the United States. However, in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, it stated that the land grants would still be honored even after the cession. In 1848, Tapia’s widow sold the ranch to Leon Victor Prudhomme, her grandson-in-law. Prudhomme filed a claim for the ranch, but his claim was rejected. Instead, he sold the land to Matthew Keller in 1857. After Keller’s death, it was sold to Fredrick Hastings Rindge in 1891.

Fredrick Rindge protected the land from both individual and governmental influences for years. Rindge even hired guards to evict all trespassers. He won a court case to keep the Southern Pacific railroad line from building tracks within his property, leading him to build his own. Even roads rarely entered their lands until 1929. But Rindge died in 1905, leaving his wife, May Rindge, to continue protecting their lands.

In 1926, May Rindge founded the Malibu Potteries tile factory to raise funds in order to avoid selling their property. However, a fire destroyed the factory in 1931. She attempted to reopen the factory but was held back by the Great Depression.

Malibu was opened for development in 1926. The state of California built the Pacific Coast Highway after winning a case against May Rindge. At this point, May Rindge was forced to begin selling parts of her property. The Pacific Coast Highway served as the primary route through Malibu even today.

In 1929, the Malibu Colony became the first residential area in Malibu. Even with the developments in her land, May Rindge only opened the lands for select celebrities to build their vacation homes. She allowed permanent residence to celebrities during the 1930s. In 1991, most of the ranch was already incorporated as a city for local officials to control the area.

Since May Rindge’s decision to open the lands to celebrities, the Malibu Colony today is a gated community with multimillion-dollar homes. The Colony provides residents magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and beaches along its shores. Today, it continues to be homes to celebrities and influential people.

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Know the History Behind California's Largest Cities| Collectible Custom Wood Art For Your Home

Story behind California’s Largest Cities

The two largest and busiest cities in California are Los Angeles and San Diego. Both cities are acclaimed in their own rights. But with great cities come rich histories. Let’s dive into how Los Angeles and San Diego became the great cities that we know today.

Los Angeles: The City of Angels

Before celebrities and the movie industry flocked to Los Angeles, also known as L.A., it was the home to its first known settlers, the Tongva and Chumash tribes. A Portuguese explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, discovered the southern area of California while on an official military expedition for the Spanish Empire in 1542. On August 2, 1769, Gaspar de Portolà and Juan Crespi discovered the site of Los Angeles.

The Spanish era of Los Angeles contributed to its Roman Catholicism. This period built the first mission and communities that were devoted to the religion. In fact, the name Los Angeles came from the name of its original Spanish community “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula”. This translates to “Town of Our Lady, The Queen of Angels of the River Porciúncula”.

In 1821, New Spain separated from the Spanish Empire. With this, the community moved on to be a part of Mexico. However, the Mexican influence lasted only until the end of the Mexican-American War.

The Americans won over battles and took control from the Californios, the descendants of Spanish ancestry that ruled over the area. Their victory led to the signing of the Treaty of Cahuenga on January 13, 1847, which surrendered the territory to the United States.

Under the Americans’ rule, oil was discovered in the city in 1892. This led to the state’s success in being the country’s largest oil producer. This success attracted more residents to the city of Los Angeles.

In 1910, Hollywood, which was then a separate neighborhood, merged into Los Angeles via vote. The film industry had already been booming during this merge. The merge focused the world’s film industry within Los Angeles, which resulted in the star-studded city we know today.

San Diego: The Birthplace of California

When the Europeans first discovered the state, they set foot on the San Diego Bay. This is the reason why San Diego is known as the birthplace of California.

The first inhabitants of San Diego were the Kumeyaay Native American people. It was discovered by Portuguese born explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. After landing 1542, he named the area “San Miguel” and claimed it for the Spanish Empire. In 1602,

Sebastián Vizcaíno arrived on the flagship San Diego to map the California coast. His flagship later became the namesake of the city of San Diego. Despite his successful expedition, however, the Spanish did not colonize the land yet.

It was in May 1769 when Gaspar de Portolà founded Fort Presidio of San Diego near the San Diego River, making it the first European settlement of the state. Later that year, Franciscan friars founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá which drew in more people into Alta California.

When Mexico separated from Spain in 1821, San Diego became part of the Mexican territory. Here, they attempted to extend their power over the coastal territory of Alta California. But it was conquered by the United States during the Mexican-American war. The signing of the Treaty of Cahuenga in 1847 surrendered San Diego to the United States.

At this time, the town of San Diego was at the foot of Presidio Hill. Since it was several miles from the water, there were several attempts to move the town. In 1850, William Heath Davis proposed the constructions near the Bay shore to create New San Diego. In 1867, Alonzo Horton moved to the bayside area. He encouraged the move due to the convenience of being near water for shipping. Several residents and businesses agreed and thus created “New Town.” New Town became the center of economy of the city while the original settlement became what is known as Old Town today.

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Exciting Days in Lake Tahoe|3D Nautical Wood Art for the Boater in your Life!

Exciting Days in Lake Tahoe

Cradled between two of the most wondrous cities in the world, there’s a lot to do within and along the shores of Lake Tahoe. Known for its pristine waters and having mountain ranges along its horizon, Lake Tahoe deserves to be a popular tourist destination.

Settling in the middle of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States. At its deepest point, it’s depth reaches 1,645 feet. That’s deeper than 200 swimming pools stacked on top of each other! It also has a surface area of 191 square miles, giving room for plenty of water activity.

Things to do in Lake Tahoe

Water, sand, mountains, and cities. Lake Tahoe is busy all year round in providing the best time for its visitors. Whether it’s sunny in summer or freezing in winter, Lake Tahoe has something to offer. But if you’re not in the mood to wrestle with other tourists, there are fewer people in Lake Tahoe during spring and fall.

Here are some of the activities and attractions that you can enjoy in Lake Tahoe.

Picnic at the Park

Enjoy a picnic with your family or let the kids run in the many parks along Lake Tahoe. The area around the lake is filled with state and county parks that boasts nature’s beauty while giving you a great view of the lake. The parks along Lake Tahoe are not only the perfect backdrop for your new group photos, they offer exciting activities for both kids and adults. Many of the parks offer playground and bike trails for the kids while the adults can go hiking. You can even spend the night to camp near the lake, enjoying the view under the stars.

Water Adventure

Fishing, kayaking, sailboat, water skiing, or a simple swim on the lakes. Gather your friends and enjoy the plenty of watersports that Lake Tahoe has to offer. There are beaches along the shores of Lake Tahoe where you can just sit back and enjoy the sun. Or if a whole new world is what you’re looking for, you can check out the Emerald Bay State Underwater Park. You can have your adventure, around, on the surface, and under the waters of Lake Tahoe!

Winter Wonders

Going to the lake during winter? More activities await even when the sun is hiding behind the clouds! Winter sports are popular in the areas around Lake Tahoe when everything is covered in snow. Lake Tahoe is surrounded by mountain ranges that offer plenty of activities. You can go snowboarding, skiing, or even just enjoy a hot cocoa from the restaurants and cafes surrounding the lake.

City Life

Coffee shops, restaurants, bars, shopping centers, Lake Tahoe has them all. With the lake being a popular tourist destination, there’s plenty of things to buy, food to eat, and drinks to share with friends. Imagine doing all these while basking in the magnificent view of Lake Tahoe and the mountains on its horizon.

Winter, spring, summer or fall, there’s plenty to do in Lake Tahoe. Whatever kind of vacation or adventure you’re looking for, Lake Tahoe is a great place to visit.

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History of Huntington Beach|Collectible Wood Art

The Roots of Huntington Beach

Known throughout the country as Surf City, Huntington beach has a rich history behind it, all commemorated in the museums all around the city. Like all cities, their history started with starting a replenishable source of economy, and being near the shores, it wasn’t long before a small settlement exploded into a full blown city.

The First Owner

In 1784, the first person to officially own the land under Huntington beach was a Spanish soldier named Manuel Nietos, who named the 300,000 acres of land, “Rancho Los Nietos” or simply, The Nietos Ranch. Here he raised cattle, horses and farmed barley. The economy practically started with him selling the barley to other emerging ranches.

The Oldest Residence

Among the first people who settled in Huntington beach, before it was called that, was William Newland and his wife, Mary Newland. In 1898 they built a small but functional Queen Anne-style house. With their sweat and effort, they turned 500 acres of swamp lands into croplands, growing beets, peppers and lima beans. Their house is considered to be the oldest residence in Orange County.

The Incarnations

Huntington Beach had many names before it became Huntington beach. The first name was called Shell Beach, during the times of the first settlers such as the Newlands. Eventually, in 1901, they built the first resort, big enough to rival Atlantic City. Subsequently, they changed the name from Shell Beach to Pacific City, to match the rivalry.

The Name That Stuck

In 1904, the first pier opened, creating opportunities for travel, exports and imports. In the sake of transportation, the community of Pacific City changed the name to Huntington Beach, in order to gain favor and secure the Red Car lines. The Red Car lines, also known as the Pacific Electric, is a mass transit system composed of electrically powered vehicles running on train tracks.

This fast tracked the development of the now named Huntington Beach as it was incorporated in 1919, but the city was about to take an interesting turn.

Oil in the Sands

The biggest economic boom came when the city discovered oil in their own lands in 1920. The population boomed to nearly four times in less than a month due to it. What truly surprised some people is that previously, an encyclopedia company sold land at Huntington Beach for a fairly low price. Little did the lucky land owners knew that there would be oil around those parts.

Overnight, the oil wells sprang up like daisies. They went on springing up until the 1950s where a movement was made to rid the oil rigs to make way for housing developments for new incoming citizens. The economic boom kept on going well into the 1970s, with housing projects being approved here and there.

Eventually, existing oil derricks had to be concealed, all for the sake of improving the beach’s image.

Surf City

While the city made one economic turn after another, surfers were abroad. In 1914, Duke Kahanamoku, a Hawaiian Olympic swimmer, introduced surfing to Huntington Beach. This Big Kahuna began popularizing the sport by using his connections in Hollywood to publicize it.

Soon enough, surfing became popular, further boosted by Huntington Beach’s great natural waves that break close to the beaches. In 1956, the first surfboard shop was opened and it paved the way for other surfers and surfboard shops to open.

In 1963, Jan and Dean, an American Rock Duo who, recorded the classic tune, “Surf City.” This, along with the city’s pioneers in surfing, gave Huntington Beach it’s nickname, “Surf City.”

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