Some Wednesday Waves

To sit in silence at the shore,

watch the waves and hear the surf,

is to appreciate the very breath and heartbeat

of the Earth 

 

Doe Zantamata

 

 

Something for Everyone in San Diego

 It seems every time I visit San Diego, I find something new. 

From picturesque beaches, to historical landmarks, there is something for everyone in this magnificent city.

 

 

In the mood for some shopping and people watching?? Take a walk in the "Heart of San Diego", the Gaslight District.

 

 

 Visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park to experience the city's Mexican-American Heritage. Good food, wonderful shopping and historical museums can all be found here.

 

 

 

 

 Want experience some of San Diego's gardens and culture? Take a stroll in Balboa Park. From a Japanese Garden to the city's Museum of Natural History, one could spend a week visiting this park alone!!

 

 

 

The Navy, Marines and Coast Guard all have bases in San Diego. This made it a great place for the USS Midway to retire. You can tour the Midway(for a modest fee of course) everyday of the week.

 

 

 

After touring the ship, grab a cold drink and go back in time as you admire the Kissing Sailor Statue and right behind it you can find the wonderful Bob Hope Memorial.

 

 

 What ever else you may do while visiting San Diego, make sure to visit one of the many beaches. Bring your dog to one of the friendly dog beaches, or get sand in your toes at one of the quieter beaches in La Jolla. The San Diego coastline has so much to offer and has some of the best beaches on the West Coast.

There you have it, San Diego has so much to offer for so many making it a wonderful California destination(and one of my favorites)!

 

 

 

 

Mahalo, Maui

 

Memories of tropical breezes, colorful sunrises. Experiencing sunny beaches in the morning and chilly mountain breezes in the afternoon.  These are things I remember most about Maui, Hawaii. I have been blessed to travel to so many wonderful destinations over the years. Our trip to Maui was one where literally, if you didn't like the temperature or weather, you could just drive to the other side of the island and experience a different climate!

 

 

The tropical rain that falls on the Northeast side of the island helps fuel the abundant waterfalls and beautiful flora.

 

 

The Hana Highway covers most of this area, even with the spotty showers, I have to say this was my favorite part of the island!

Visit my "H"ana Highway Post

 

 

 

 

Interior Maui also has its share of beauty. Iao Valley State Park showcases green mountain peaks with numerous streams running through the valleys.

 

 

 

 The beaches on the Southern side of the island beaches sparkle and are ideal for a morning of snorkeling.

 

 

 

While the Northwest beaches are excellent for sitting and washing waves crashing against the rocky terrain.

 

 

 

 Sitting on top of it all is Haleakala National Park. At 10,000 feet above sea level, Haleakala boasts beautiful sunrises (if you are willing to rise very, very early). We opted for an afternoon drive up the mountain to escape the heat of the day. The temperatures drop

 quickly and the vegetation thins as you make the drive up the ever twisting mountain road leading to the park.

 

 

 

What a different view you see as you reach Haleakala Crater.  It almost as if you are transported to Mars or the Moon. Gone is the thick tropical vegetation, not to mention the warm tropical air. It is replaced by lava, ash and scrub, not to mention the temperatures fall about 30 degrees. Traveling up to Haleakala National Park is almost like visiting an island within an island.

 

 Mahalo, Maui, for showing us your magical climates and magnificent scenery. From the rainy to the sunny, the sunrises to the sunsets, you are one of the most magical places we have visited.

 

 

 

Lighthouse Love

As mentioned earlier in our alphabet soup, I am a big fan of Covered Bridges...and it maybe said, I am a bit in love (aka obsessed?) with lighthouses.  If we are driving along any body of water(lake, ocean, river...big puddle),  my eyes will be scanning the water's edge for lighthouses.  Today, I have gathered a few of my favorites lighthouses to share.

 

 

 Needless to say, living on the Pacific Coastline makes it a bunch easier to find lighthouses close by. The Battery Point Lighthouse(above) located in Crescent City, is located about an hour north.

 

 

 

This makes it one of my most photographed lighthouses. First lit on December 10, 1856, the Battery Point Lighthouse has been through everything from Rogue waves, to the 1964 Tsunami which battered the area. Although it is now privately lit, Battery Point Lighthouse still aids navigation today.
 

 

 

 

 Haceta Head is located along the winding coastline of Oregon and is my favorite Pacific Coast Lighthouse to date. Nestled into the side of a cliff overlooking the water, it gives access to both wonderful views from the lighthouse and lovely views of the lighthouse from designated vistas.  Imagine the work that went into its construction.

 

 

 

 

 As you might expect, due to the remote area, construction of the Lighthouse was a challenge. Breaking ground in February 1892, lumber was procured from local mills while the white masonry and cement came from San Francisco, and the rock was brought in from a quarry in Oregon City. Throw in a landslide that halted work on the lighthouse and then a delay on the lens delivery from New York. The Haceta Head Lighthouse didn't see its first lighting until March 1894. All the delays aside, the wait was worth it as the Haceta Head Lighthouse is a beautiful sight to see.

 

 

 

 Further up the coast just north of Newport, Oregon is another of my favorites, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Yaquina Head was formerly known as Cape Foulweather because of the frequent storms in the area. How fitting that this stormy lighthouse also has a reputation for being haunted.

 

 

 There are a few different ghost stories associated with Yaquina Head Lighthouse. One tale has a workman falling in between the double brick wall (built for insulation) who could not be rescued. Another story has a lighthouse keeper dying after falling in the lighthouse tower. 

Although neither story can be proven, I bet that on a stormy night in the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, both stories would succeed in frightening me!

 

 

 

I could go on and on(and on and on) about the lighthouses I love and have visited or just seen from a distance(like the Cape Arago Lighthouse above). Thanks for stopping by and sharing these few favorites.

 

 Are you also a fan of these towers of beauty? If so, do you have a favorite?

 

Information Gathered from Lighthouse Friends