California has finally allowed the theme parks to re-open after COVID-19 as of April 1st, and no, that isn’t an April Fools joke. That means that Six Flags Magic Mountain gets to open again! We have been paying our monthly membership fee for over a year now without having access to the park, other than a couple drive-through events that they have put on for the holidays. So, needless to say, we were excited to get back to the roller coasters so we made a reservation for Sunday, April 4th. This blog will tell you what it was like to be back in the park after the pandemic.

From the white sand beaches of Cancun and turquoise waters of Cozumel to the exclusive resorts of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is popular among Americans for a tropical getaway.  One place that is more often overlooked is La Paz.  Situated just 100 miles north from the tip of Baja Sur California, La Paz has beautiful beaches, tropical waters and way less tourists that the other hotspots.  The landscape is mountainous and filled with red rocks.  It is as if Arizona were moved to the beach. 

The year was 1920 and the world looked very different than it does today - and at the same time it was eerily familiar. World War I had just taken 100,000 lives and the flu pandemic another 650,000 but it was the beginning of a new decade. The decade that would popularize art deco and become known as the roaring twenties. In September of 1920, my grandfather, my dad’s dad was born. In September of 2020, we would celebrate his 100th birthday!

Drone pilots in Los Angeles have a lot of options for beautiful locations to capture some really amazing scenery. The pier in Redondo Beach is one of those great spots, especially in the golden hour light just before sunset.

San Diego has always been one of our regular locations to fly for the $100 hamburger but COVID-19 has put a damper on that. Since San Diego opened their restaurants for outdoor dining before Los Angeles, it was time to get back to Phil’s for some long overdue BBQ. I know that I have probably said this a million times but general aviation flying in southern California is hard to beat.

The Echo Mountain hike in Los Angeles is one of the most rewarding historical hikes that you can do in the area. It is supposed to be a wide, relatively easy but mildly strenuous uphill hike that takes you from the top of Altadena to the ruins of a mountaintop resort.

I love hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains! And now, after hiking to Eagle Rock from Topanga State Park, I can't believe that it has taken me so long to hike it. It is a hike that is doable for almost anyone as it is 4.5 miles on a roundtrip loop and only about 800 feet in elevation gain. Once at the rock, there is so much to explore, even some hidden caves that are a perfect place to relax and have a picnic.

An afternoon on the Palos Verdes peninsula is not a bad way to spend some time – spending it at the Point Vicente Lighthouse is even better! A friend recently got a new drone so we made our way out there to test it out and get some aerial footage of the dramatic cliff-lined coastline. I have driven this section of Palos Verdes many times and it never gets old. If you haven’t been out to PV (Palos Verdes or Pointe Vicente) in a while, make some time and go.

There is no question that Laguna Beach has some of the best beaches in California. However, there is one hidden beach that lies between Crescent Bay and Shaws Cove that just may take the top spot and have me re-think my list of favorite beaches in Laguna. Twin Points has everything you could ever want in a perfect beach – tide pools, crystal-clear water and even a tide-filled soaking pool. Although it is not private, if you catch it at the right time, it can feel like you have your own private piece of paradise.

I never knew I had an addiction to deserted, incredibly straight roads through nothingness until I drove through the high desert of California.

The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes lie in the heart of Death Valley National Park. The harshness of the desert valley is briefly interrupted by the soft sands that make up Mesquite Flat.

Despite the vast amounts of light pollution in Los Angeles, it is possible to photograph the NEOWISE comet as it passes over southern California this year. This comet only comes around once every 6,766 years so make sure to catch it while you can.

The City of Avalon saved the 4th of July! Despite all of the restrictions from the pandemic, our trip to Catalina for Independence Day was an amazing experience!

The last time that I used the over under dome port for the GoPro was with my old Hero 3+ Black on in St. Kitts a couple years ago. There was also some good shots of Amanda on the paddle board in Lake Tahoe with the same GoPro. However, one of my favorite photos that I have taken with the dome port was in Thailand.

I had the unique opportunity for an interesting scuba dive recently - but not by choice. I did a one-tank dive at the rock pools at Malibu Creek State Park. I will explain more about that in a bit.

The Embassy Suites by Hilton in Deerfield Beach is a great place to relax and spend a few days at the beach. It is close enough to all of the excitement to still partake in that south Florida life if you choose. It is also just far enough to allow you to just relax by the pool if that is what you are looking for.