Who has been to the Watts Towers?

[Tramspotter]

The historic landmark is just minutes from my place and about the same from where I grew up. But I've never been. Driven past at 70MPH on the freway but never checked it out. I once caught the end of a Huell Howser "California's Gold" about them and have wanted to check em out ever since.

Does anyone else have a place that sounded interesting but you never made the trip?


:cool: Lets hitch a ride and explore, man :cool:

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I always wanted to check out Watts Towers but have never made the trip. It's about the only thing in Southern California that I haven't seen yet.

As far as stuff I haven't seen but would like to in California...

The Winchester House (Just seems like a trippy place)
Hearst Castle (I've passed it so many times on the way to Carmel/Monterey)
Yosemite National Park (Because I keep falling in love with pictures from there)
Sequoia National Park (see: Yosemite)
Route 66

If we go outside of California, but stay within the US, the list gets pretty long. If we go outside of the US it gets very long.

[Not Afraid]

I've been to Watt's Towers when I was a kid, but that was ages ago. I've been meaning to see it again for about 10 years now, but haven't made it up there.

I want to go to the Date Festival out in Indio. I used to go as a kid and loved the whole Arabian Nights theme and the camel races. I't probably incredibly un-swank, but I still really want to go.

I'm sure there's a TON of things I haven't done, although I've traveled around CA quite a bit. Sometimes, it's just the stuff I haven't done in ages that make me sentimental and desireous.

[€uroMeinke]

Closest I've gotten to the Watts Towers is riding the Blue Line, you can see them fairly well, but it's not a real visit.

Catalina used to be my missed Californai destination, but finally got there a few years ago.

Death Valley, is my new target destination - been close, but never actually there. Supposedly with the massive rains we had they're expecting a fantastic dessert bloom season this year - so maybe we'll make it there this year.

[blueerica]

OK -- I was teasing Steve about it earlier that "NO ONE will want to see the WATTS freaking Towers!!!"

I'm changing my thoughts on the matter. I kept telling him that maybe he & I could go on our own sometime, but maybe we should go together.. spend a little cash in the ghetto.

We should make a list like that.. All the things we want to do! California Swank!

Why should we be taking this for granted. I know I do all the time!!

When I first moved to California, nothing went to waste around me, and I wanted to see everything, and do everything, and experience it all... And I did... But after a while, that faded away. That lust for adventure just down the freeway left, and the jaded outlook on the monotonous living I've become accustomed to has become all too the norm. I mean.. I'm practically hearing, now, the negativity in my voice when Steve suggested a trip to Watts Towers... How could I? How could I have passed up the numerous state treasures around me?

[Morrigoon]

I've never seen em either. Perhaps a group outing is in order?

...Also never seen Hearst Castle...

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I thought of something else that always sounded fun but it sure as hell isn't swanky,
the Garlic Festival in Gilroy. What can I say, I loooove garlic. :)

[MerryPrankster]

*I've never been to Alcatraz. So close, yet so far. I've sailed close to it many times and gazed at it from across the water, but I've never made it over there. I even had tickets once, but it was pouring rain that day.

*I've always wanted to take the train to Sacramento or all the way up to Sparks, NV from the Bay Area. The route to Sparks goes through the sierras, I've heard it's very cool. I've been to Sac and NV many times, but it's the train adventure I'm after.

*The Awahnee Lodge in Yosememite, I've always wanted to stay there.

*Muir Woods Redwoods Naitional Park and Stinson Beach. These are places that I have been to many times. But, it's been years, and I need to go back.

*Death Valley. I have a friend that chaperones a week long trip to DV for high schoolers each year. They camp in the desert, hike, study the geology and ecology. The teachers have been doing this for years and are super knowedgable. I told my friend to add me to the list of volunteer chaperones.

*Treasure Island, I finally made it over there this past month to cater a wedding. It was a rainy, gloomy day. But the views of the city are beautiful. I want head back over with my husband, bikes in tow. It would be a very cool place to ride bikes and have a picnic lunch.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

*Treasure Island, I finally made it over there this past month to cater a wedding. It was a rainy, gloomy day. But the views of the city are beautiful. I want head back over with my husband, bikes in tow. It would be a very cool place to ride bikes and have a picnic lunch.

What is this "Treasure Island" you speak of? I'm only familiar with the one in Vegas. :)

[Not Afraid]

Well, I decided it was just not right that Chris had not visited Death Valley, so I'm taking him there as a delayed Birthday present. We're staying at the Furnace Creek Rance (not the Inn, unfortunantely) and going over President's Day weekend when the wild flowers should be in glorious bloom. I can't wait. The view of the Sierra's from 395 is always one of my favorite views on earth.

[MerryPrankster]

What is this "Treasure Island" you speak of? I'm only familiar with the one in Vegas. :)

Treasure Island is a manmade extention of Yerba Buena Island in the SF Bay. It is the island that ones passes through when traveling the span of the Bay Bridge.

Here's a site that provides some interesting information on SF's Treasure Island:

http://www.treasureislandmuseum.org/index.html

[MerryPrankster]

Well, I decided it was just not right that Chris had not visited Death Valley, so I'm taking him there as a delayed Birthday present. We're staying at the Furnace Creek Rance (not the Inn, unfortunantely) and going over President's Day weekend when the wild flowers should be in glorious bloom. I can't wait. The view of the Sierra's from 395 is always one of my favorite views on earth.

How veddy, veddy swanky cool! What an awesome B-day gift! :)

[blueerica]

Well, I decided it was just not right that Chris had not visited Death Valley, so I'm taking him there as a delayed Birthday present. We're staying at the Furnace Creek Rance (not the Inn, unfortunantely) and going over President's Day weekend when the wild flowers should be in glorious bloom. I can't wait. The view of the Sierra's from 395 is always one of my favorite views on earth.

How Wonderful!!

[Tramspotter]

Hmmm speaking of produce festivals, the carpenterea avacado festival hapens in october usualy close to my birthday. The local cheerleader squad makes the worlds biggest bowl of guacamole. stired with boat paddles.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Treasure Island is a manmade extention of Yerba Buena Island in the SF Bay. It is the island that ones passes through when traveling the span of the Bay Bridge.


Thanks for the info and the links! :)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Hmmm speaking of produce festivals, the carpenterea avacado festival hapens in october usualy close to my birthday. The local cheerleader squad makes the worlds biggest bowl of guacamole. stired with boat paddles.

Do they do this while wearing their cheerleading uniforms? I can think of a few posters that might alter their October schedules to squeeze in a road trip. :D

[blueerica]

Hahaha!

You know, I don't know if they do this in their actual uniforms... From what I remember seeing on TV, they were walking around the tub pretending to make it while pushing oars....

Probably not as exciting as some posters would imagine it to be...

[libraryvixen]

I've never been to Yosemite National park... never.
I wanna go.. but everytime I get the urge, it's always the wrong season.

Also, I need to revisit Muir Woods and Alcatraz. It's been ages since I've been there.

[Not Afraid]

There no wrong season for Yosemite! Well, maybe the middle of summer when everyone else is there, but, otherwise, it's pretty all year round.

My brother has lived about 10 minutes outside the park gates for 25+ years, so I end up there a lot. We were even married at the Awahnee.

[MickeyD]

Ewww!!! Carp girls!! (Carpinteria was my high school's bitter rival.) But where else can you get avocado ice cream?




I've always wanted to see the Winchester House. And Hearst Castle.

[blueerica]

Hmm...

I was having dreams last night that this perhaps belonged in the out on the town forum... But I'm reading more, and this is some fairly extensive travel we're talking about... It migrated into something a little more jet set...

Or maybe I just need coffee. :coffee:

[CoasterMatt]

The Gilroy Garlic Festival ROCKS - just don't take anybody silly enough to not eat garlic with you.

The Stinking Rose is my favorite garlic space aside from that...

[BarTopDancer]

Ewww!!! Carp girls!! (Carpinteria was my high school's bitter rival.) But where else can you get avocado ice cream?




I've always wanted to see the Winchester House. And Hearst Castle.

EWWWW avocado ice cream!!!!!!!!

And Deather I hope your school kicked that carpet store schools butt :p ;)

And I vaguely recall something about Hertz Castle and/or the Winchester House on that drive through nowhere. It's about a hang loose away.

I'm looking for some good weekend camping locations.

[Sheila]

Add me to the list of folks who've grown up in the area but have never been to the Watts Towers. I remember watching the television coverage of the riots in the 60s and have always had a negative feeling because of that. It's so time to get over those childhood fears and faulty memories... ;)

Both Winchester House and Hearst Castle are definite must-do's. They both have several kinds of tours you can take. The Winchester one only last an hour or so; the Hearst Castle tour lasts several hours. Plan on buying tickets ahead of time for Hearst Castle as it may sell out beforehand.

Plus one can stay overnight in Cambria, which is right next to San Simeon. The several times I've been there, I've stayed in a quaint motel on the beach and watched the seals play on the rocks, then had a gourmet dinner at one of the many fine restaurants there. Yum. :)

[blueerica]

I would like to take a trip up to Morro Bay. Go to San Simeon. 5-7 days should do...

Actually, I need to go places this summer. Places in California/Southwestern United States I've never been! I should set a number goal to this. Anyone care to help/join?

[BarTopDancer]

Plus one can stay overnight in Cambria, which is right next to San Simeon. The several times I've been there, I've stayed in a quaint motel on the beach and watched the seals play on the rocks, then had a gourmet dinner at one of the many fine restaurants there. Yum. :)

Thank you! I think I have my trip planned.