This impressive sculpture garden is the last major international work by the French artist Niki de Saint Phalle and consists of a maze entryway and nine large-scale sculptures enclosed within a circular “snake wall”. The garden is located within Kit Carson Park in Escondido and is generally open one Saturday per month from 9 AM-noon. A recent article in the New Yorker recounted her life and showcased her Tarot Garden in Tuscany.
Links: QCMC New Yorker article
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, takes passengers two and a half miles up Chino Canyon to the wilderness area of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. You board the tram at 2,643 feet and disembark ten minutes later at 8,516 feet. At the top are two restaurants, observation decks, museum, a theater, gift shop and 50+ miles of hiking trails.
Links: PST Mt. San Jacinto SP
The Pines to Palms Scenic Byway is the portion of Hwy 74 from Mountain Center to Palm Desert. This pic was taken just south of the turnoff for Lake Hemet.
The two-story recessed vestibule entrance to the Eastern Columbia Building in downtown Los Angeles provides a spectacular example of Art Deco design. This pic shows the beautiful blue and gold terra cotta sunburst that is directly over the entrance doors.
There is an osprey nest on Shelter Island in San Diego and one can often see osprey on the nest or on nearby poles. On this day, an osprey had caught dinner and was chowing down. The nest is located in the roundabout at the far western end of the island.
Links: Shelter Island Seal
This pic shows Lake Morena, which is south of I8 about 45 miles east of San Diego, at 4% of capacity due to the continuing drought in California. This pic was taken in 2014 and the lake is now (May 2016) only 2.8% full!
San Francisco skyline at night including the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower.
Links: Bay Bridge Transamerica Pyramid
At Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (located between La Jolla and Del Mar) you can hike up on top through maritime chaparral and coastal sage scrub, then head through other-worldly eroded terrain down to a beautiful beach. In this pic, the large rock just to the right of the cliff is known as “Flat Rock”.
Links: more info previous related post
Font’s Point was named for Father Pedro Font, official chaplain and diarist on Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza’s expeditions of 1775-76, who described the scene as “the sweepings of the earth”. This viewpoint of the Borrego Badlands is located east of Borrego Springs, about 4 miles south of the S22.
Links: DesertUSA
Lower Yosemite Fall is the final 320-foot-drop portion of Yosemite Falls, North America’s tallest waterfall (total height of 2,425 feet). An easy 1 mile loop trail leads to the bottom of the fall with gorgeous views along the way. Begin your hike at the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead (shuttle stop #6).
Links: NPS previous related post
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