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Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Headless statues, a cross bow and dentures?
Posted by Larimer Associates on 11:00 AM
Over at SDCoastKeeper, Michelle Yount took note of some of the weirdest things she found washed up on the beach on Coastal Cleanup Day. I think my favorite is probably the waterbed…
What’s the strangest thing you ever found washed up on a beach?
As my first year helping coordinate Coastal Cleanup Day, I have heard a lot of stories about some of the interesting items found during the cleanup. In previous years they have found everything from a port-a-potty to a fencing sword, so I was looking forward to what ‘memorabilia’ this day brought.
Here is a list of some of the most noteworthy:
Beach Umbrella- Oceanside Harbor
Bag of Marijuana- Swamis Beach
Cross bow- University Channel, La Mesa
Drum set- Otay Valley Regional Park
Hindu figure- San Elijo State Beach
Two headless statues- La Jolla Shores
Dentures- Santa Clara Point, Mission Bay
Pepper spray- Dixon Lake, Escondido
Waterbed- Manzanita Canyon, City Heights
Military badge- Belmont Park
Hood of car- Carmel Mountain Preserve
Set of retainers- Lake Wolford
Pregnancy kit- Dog Beach, Ocean Beach
Spare ribs (initially thought to be human)- Carlsbad State Beach
1971 ID card- Border Field State Park
Telephone pole- Buena Creek, Vista
Mr. Potato Head- Eugene Canyon, Normal Heights
And ironically, The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers- Maple Canyon, Park West
Thursday, April 5, 2012
10 Most Interesting Places for Children in California
Posted by Larimer Associates on 2:00 PM
What would you add to this list? Legoland? Something else?
Disneyland Resort
Based in Anaheim, California, the iconic Disneyland Resort (disneyland.disney.go.com), features close to 90 rides and attractions spread out across two theme parks: Disneyland and California Adventure. The bustling Downtown Disney serves as the resort's outdoor entertainment complex, complete with more than 15 restaurants, 20-plus shops and a movie theater.
SeaWorld San Diego
Perched along the shores of San Diego's Mission Bay, SeaWorld San Diego (seaworldparks.com) is a marine animal park with a variety of attractions, including shark, turtle and penguin exhibits. The park also includes shows highlighting sea lions, whales and dolphins, as well as rides that include roller coasters and motion simulators.
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo (sandiegozoo.org) lies inside the sprawling downtown-based Balboa Park. The renowned zoo plays host to more than 4,000 animals and 800 species, including giant pandas, Asian elephants and koalas. The park also offers a 35-minute guided bus tour across the zoo's 100 acres.
Santa Monica Pier
The historic Santa Monica Pier (santamonicapier.org) dates back to 1909. The pier features a 1922 carousel, street performers, and more than 10 restaurants and food vendors. Visitors may ride bikes and fish on the pier as well. The on-site Pacific Park includes 10-plus rides, including a roller coaster and 130-foot-tall Ferris wheel.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Located on the famed Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium (montereybayaquarium.org) offers a host of different marine life, including a 28-foot-tall kelp forest exhibit with leopard sharks and wolf-eels. The aquarium also includes a two-story sea otter exhibit, complete with daily feedings. Additional exhibits highlight Giant Pacific octopuses, penguins and 15 species of seahorses.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Originating in 1865, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk (beachboardwalk.com) features vintage rides that include the 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster and a 1911 carousel. Additional rides include a swinging pirate ship, haunted castle and a 125-foot-tall freefall ride. Food vendors offer samplings of corn dogs, caramel apples and deep-fried cheesecake.
Pier 39
Located along the San Francisco Bay, bustling Pier 39 (pier39.com) offers nearly 30 eateries, including ice cream, pizza and pretzel shops. The pier also plays host to street performers and an aquarium. On-site booths provide bike rentals, boat rides and Alcatraz tours. Hundreds of sea lions have called the pier home since 1990.
USS Midway Museum
USS Midway (midway.org), a 1945 aircraft carrier, lies in the San Diego Bay. The floating museum features 60 exhibits, including interactive exhibits and short films. The ship also features 25 restored aircraft, including those flown in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Three flight simulators also sit on board.
Children’s Discovery Museum
San Jose's Children’s Discovery Museum (cdm.org) features exhibits on a variety of topics, including mammoths, waterways and gardens. The museum offers an art gallery highlighting children's artwork, two performance spaces, a cafe and ample outdoor space for picnics. Visitors can reserve the museum for private parties as well.
Skunk Train
The Skunk Train (skunktrain.com) travels between the Northern California towns of Fort Bragg and Willits aboard restored early 20th century diesel trains. A one-way journey runs along the Noyo River and through redwood forests for 40 miles. The train features themed rides as well, such as the Easter Egg Express, which includes egg hunts, food and games.
Read more http://traveltips.usatoday.com/10-interesting-places-children-california-102443.html
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Cedar Creek Falls Reopens Today
Posted by Larimer Associates on 2:40 PM
FYI...
The U.S. Forest Service will reopen this weekend one of two entrances to a set of trails that leads to Cedar Creek Falls, an area in Ramona that has been closed since a 16-year-old El Cajon boy died after falling from a cliff near the popular swimming hole in July.
The eastern trail, near Julian off Eagle Peak Road, will reopen Sunday with some new regulations: jumping from the 80-foot-tall cliff into the water below, an activity that was wildly popular last summer before the trail closed, is prohibited. Cleveland National Forest officials said in a news release Wednesday that law enforcement agencies will be on site to enforce other rules, such as an alcohol ban that has always been in place but was not closely enforced before the trail closed last year.
The western trail, which begins in a residential area of the San Diego Country Estates neighborhood, will remain closed while the Forest Services prepares a plan to manage traffic in that area. Officials said they will decide whether to reopen the western trail this summer.
Residents of the neighborhood complained about excessive traffic on their residential streets because of the trail last summer. Their objections to the trailhead’s placement became even louder when Joe Meram, 16, fell from the edge of an 80-foot cliff while hiking with his family July 6.
Neighbors said then that they could have predicted a death since visitors regularly showed up ill-equipped to hike the trail that leads to the natural swimming hole fed by a waterfall deep in the foothills of the backcountry.
Cleveland National Forest officials urged hikers in a news release this week to be aware of the difficulty of the eastern trail, which is seven miles round trip.
U.S. Forest Service officials had floated the idea of requiring hiking permits for the trail last year. Permits, however, are not required at this time, according to a statement from the agency.
Read more at UTSanDiego.com.
The eastern trail, near Julian off Eagle Peak Road, will reopen Sunday with some new regulations: jumping from the 80-foot-tall cliff into the water below, an activity that was wildly popular last summer before the trail closed, is prohibited. Cleveland National Forest officials said in a news release Wednesday that law enforcement agencies will be on site to enforce other rules, such as an alcohol ban that has always been in place but was not closely enforced before the trail closed last year.
The western trail, which begins in a residential area of the San Diego Country Estates neighborhood, will remain closed while the Forest Services prepares a plan to manage traffic in that area. Officials said they will decide whether to reopen the western trail this summer.
Residents of the neighborhood complained about excessive traffic on their residential streets because of the trail last summer. Their objections to the trailhead’s placement became even louder when Joe Meram, 16, fell from the edge of an 80-foot cliff while hiking with his family July 6.
Neighbors said then that they could have predicted a death since visitors regularly showed up ill-equipped to hike the trail that leads to the natural swimming hole fed by a waterfall deep in the foothills of the backcountry.
Cleveland National Forest officials urged hikers in a news release this week to be aware of the difficulty of the eastern trail, which is seven miles round trip.
U.S. Forest Service officials had floated the idea of requiring hiking permits for the trail last year. Permits, however, are not required at this time, according to a statement from the agency.
Read more at UTSanDiego.com.
