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Blackhawk Museum (Danville, Ca.)

Address: 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Danville, California 94506

Ken Behring and Don Williams which formed a partnership founded the Blackhawk Automotive Museum and first created it in August 1988. The Blackhawk Museum is created to provide the public with access to a wide variety of automotive collections from classic, vintage cars to the new exotic race cars to provide enjoyment and educational enrichment. The Museum is open Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the admission fees are $15 for adults, $10 for students, Seniors 65 and over, Military Vets, and it is free for children under 6 and active military.

It took us about 45 minutes to an hour drive from San Francisco via I-80, CA-24 East, and 680 North. The City of Danville is very nice, quiet and a lot of rich or famous celebrities and athletes live in the community. We parked on the side of the Museum with at least 20-30 parking spaces available but have other parking areas around the Museum. The Blackhawk Museum comprises of 5 galleries which are the Classic Cars Collection, World of Nature, Into China, Art of Africa, and the Spirit of the Old West. Most of them are on the 1st floor except the Spirit of the Old West which is located on the 3rd floor.

The first gallery that we went to was the “Classic Car Collections” where I saw the famous 1967 Fastback Mustang named “Eleanor” from the movie “Gone in 60 seconds”. Some were rare collectibles such as the 1937 Lavish Copper Kettle Rolls Royce Phantom III Sedanca DeVille, 2016 Ferrari F12fdf with 770 horsepower, and the famous 1963 Ford Thunderbird “Italian” concept. But my favorite was the wide array of a gleaming, exotic, flashy sports car such as the 2017 Lamborghini “Centenario” 770 hp, 2014 Ferrari “LaFerrari” and many more.

Secondly, we visited the “Art of Africa” gallery where we saw a lot of unique arts created by Sub-Saharan Africa indigenous people that lived on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. Some of the artifacts that we saw include 3D works human images, paintings, musical instruments, weapons, ceremonial African masks, and many more.

Thirdly, we visited the “Into China” gallery which included a variety of arts of Chinese history and culture. It features exceptional reproductions and fine arts from China such as The Imperial Dragon Throne, detailed scale model of the Forbidden City, Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors, Wood Carvings of Chinese masters, traditional Yak bone carvings and a collection of ceramic vases, and many more.

Fourthly, we visited the “World of Nature” gallery which is cool and reminded me of the Rain Forrest Cafe due to its three-dimensional animal sounds in the background. My daughter loved and was impressed with this gallery due to its neon colors and background animal sounds. It has more than 600 species on display and they all look real with great craftsmanship. My favorite animals were the Rhinoceros which actually moves and the lions of Savannah.

Lastly, we visited the “Spirit of the Old West” gallery which is composed of old west collections from the mid-1700 through the early 1900s. We saw a lot of artifacts such as native American tools and weaponry, rare and unique firearms, artifacts of native American life, canoes, and a large-scale model of the old west. The one that caught my eye was the cool old western stagecoach and the large Bison display located in the front of the entrance.

Overall it was a fun, educational, unique museum that offers different historical galleries that are good for all ages. We came out learning a few historical facts especially my daughter where she can share her knowledge with her classmates at school.

Tips: Come in early before 10 a.m. to avoid large crowds and try to start off with the Car Collections gallery which for me is the main highlight of the museum. Take a picture of the cascading water fountain and the huge elephant in front of the museum. Try the local Beep’s Burger which is located near the water fountain. We ordered the famous 1/4 lb hamburger and the thick chicken sandwich with garlic and curly fries. The 1/4 lb hamburger was savory and the chicken sandwich was thick. There are other restaurants and stores available in the area.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Blackhawk Museum after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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OstrichLand USA(Santa Barbara County)

Address: 610 East Hwy 246, Solvang Ca. 93463

In 1990, Ostrichland USA was created by a South African couple and was later sold. It is like a ranch or zoo with 100 plus ostriches and emus that you can feed or watch them roam freely around large enclosures. Ostrichland USA is about 2 miles away from the town of Solvang and is busy on weekends. It was also used in an episode of the Simpsons. Emu is the 2nd largest bird native to Australia with 3 toes and has a speed of up to 30 mph. While Ostrich is the largest bird native to Africa with 2 toes and has a speed of up to 40 mph. They are both fascinating, funny-looking, and scary birds but magnificent to watch.

It took us about 5 hours (290 miles) drive from San Francisco to Ostrichland via US 101 South, CA-246 East, East Hwy 246 in Buelton. We enjoyed our relaxing drive as there are a few places to stop and enjoy the scenery. We parked our car on a large dirt road parking area which is free. The entrance fee is $7 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under, and $1 for a bowl of food/pellets to feed the birds. It is also open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also have a small gift shop with unique items in front of the ranch to buy souvenirs.

We were surprised as we saw a lot of humungous emus and ostriches roaming around freely within their enclosures and entertaining all the visitors. We finally found a spot with fewer people and birds. It was our first experience and we were a little bit scared to get closer to the birds. The feed bowl has a longer handle to prevent your fingers from getting pecked. The emus and ostriches pecked hard and fast on the bowl with pellets that made an annoying sound. We even saw a few people that had their bowls fell on the ground due to the birds pecking. It was very entertaining, amusing, fun watching and feeding the large birds. The place also has a wall decor or display where you can take pictures. They even have bunnies onsite to keep the little kids busy and entertain.

Overall it is a good place to stop over and feed the ostriches and emus while on your way to Solvang and the wine trails. It’s an unforgettable unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience to closely feed the large birds and watch them roam around freely in their enclosures.

Tips: Be careful as the birds (ostrich/emu) can be aggressive and they do bite so watch your fingers and the young kids. You can all take turns feeding the ostriches with just one bowl of pellets. Free parking on the dirt road. No shade or benches are available by the ranch so bring water or a hat during sunny days. A great place to visit is the town of Solvang which is about 2 miles from the Ostrichland and a small waterfall called Nojoqui.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Ostrichland USA after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Tenaya Lake (Yosemite National Park)

Address: Tioga Pass Road Yosemite National Park Ca. 95389

Tenaya Lake is located in Yosemite’s high country region between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows with an elevation of 8,150 feet. It is a high sierra lake surrounded by granite domes, forests, and vast wilderness. Tenaya Lake is the largest lake in Yosemite’s high country. Tenaya lake is also referred to as “Jewel of the High Country”. It is about an hour and 17 minutes and 49 miles drive from Yosemite Valley to Tenaya Lake via Tioga Pass Road. Tenaya Lake is a popular spot for kayaking, sunbathing, swimming, and boating.

Our drive from Yosemite Valley to Tenaya lake is very scenic, with lots of winding roads and switchbacks but well worth the effort. We pulled over to some of the Vista Points and took some amazing pictures of the gorgeous views. We also stopped over at a few places such as Tuolumne Grove Trailhead to use the public restroom, Tenaya Lake picnic area, Olmstead Point, Lembert Dome, and Tuolumne Meadows. Our stopover at Olmstead Point with an amazing view was one of the highlights of our trip to Tenaya lake. We first pulled over at the Tenaya lake picnic area and stayed there for an hour to eat and relax. This area is slightly rocky with a different view or angle of the lake and the granite domes. After eating we then drove for about 10 minutes and parked on the side of the road at the Tenaya lake beach area close to Murphy Creek Trailhead. There’s also a parking lot and public restroom available by the Trailhead. From the parking area, we carried all our snacks, foldable chairs, drinks, and picnic blanket to the beach area. We all played in the clear, refreshing, cold water which we later got acclimated to the coldness. A few people were swimming in the water, brought their own paddleboards, inflatable kayaks, smaller boats, and explored the amazing Tenaya Lake. We were amazed by the crystal clear water of the Lake with a backdrop of the huge granite domes surrounding the lake. There were a few trailheads to choose from around the area and it’s also the base camp for the hike to Cloud’s Rest which is about a 6-8 hours hike.

Overall, it’s a very big lake with clear, cold, and refreshing water surrounded by picturesque granite domes. We would definitely come back again and stay overnight in the future. It is a great place for the entire family to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Tips: Don’t forget to fill up with gas at the Chevron in Crane Flat which is the only gas station going to the Lake. They have ample parking and public restrooms available on site for visitors near the trailhead. The water is refreshing and cold so try to bring water shoes to protect you from rocks. Go there early to find parking and don’t leave food or drinks out in the open to prevent wildlife from eating your food. The west bank is spectacular while the east bank has a nice beach and picnic areas. Don’t forget to stop by at Olmstead Point which is before Tenaya Lake coming from the Valley. Watch out for bears that may be around the area.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Tenaya lake after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Yosemite Falls (lower level)

Address: Yosemite Village, CA 95389 (near Yosemite Valley Lodge)

The Yosemite Falls is the most popular and most visited falls at Yosemite National Park. It is formed by creeks tumbling into the Yosemite Valley into the Merced River down below. The water comes from the snow that is above 6,000 feet during winter, creating a reservoir of water. Yosemite Falls is 2,435 feet from the top to the base and the highest falls at Yosemite National Park. The Yosemite Falls is composed of three waterfalls or drops which are the top, middle and bottom falls. The waterfall is at its peak flow in May and the water flowing through the falls usually stops in late summer and fall.

We drove for about 5 hours from San Francisco via US-140 El Portal to Yosemite National Park entrance. We stayed for two days at Yosemite Valley Lodge which is inside the park and about a 10-15 minutes walk to the base of Yosemite Falls. There were a lot of visual signs leading to the upper and lower falls. There is a public restroom available onsite and a shuttle bus stop #6 situated in front of the park. But the Yosemite National Park shuttle bus is currently not in service due to Covid-19 safety restrictions. There were a lot of people wearing masks but it is challenging to practice social distancing due to a large crowd.

When we arrived at the entrance we immediately took a picture of the beautiful Yosemite Falls with the three waterfalls or drops which are visible from a far. When we got to the base or viewing point area of the Yosemite Falls we were mesmerized by the Majestic beauty and the very loud roar from the waterfalls. The view area was crowded with lots of people wearing masks, posing, and taking pictures but it was very challenging to practice social distancing due to large crowds. We took a family picture on the bridge with the Yosemite Falls as our background. Some people were considerate, taking turns in taking a picture.

After the bridge, we merged to the left and proceeded towards the base of the waterfalls to get a closer look and feel the water mist from the bottom of the falls. We had to go through a lot of huge, wet, and slippery granite rocks. We were just wearing regular running shoes which made us slipped through some rocks. We forgot to change into our hiking boots which is highly recommended when going through the slippery rocks to prevent slips and falls. As we got closer to the falls we heard the deafening loud noise from the falls, saw a beautiful rainbow, and was soaked from the water mist coming from the waterfalls. We took lots of pictures and videos closer to the Majestic and beautiful Yosemite Falls.

Overall it was a great experience for us to experience again. It is my daughter’s first experience of visiting Yosemite Falls with all the waterfalls flowing. We also saw a lot of people with their smaller/younger kids on a stroller as the trail is paved and easy.

Tips: Ensure that you pack lots of bottled water to stay hydrated, wear hiking shoes especially when you want to get closer to the bottom of the falls to prevent slips and falls. Wear a waterproof jacket to minimize getting soak and to keep you warm as the weather is unpredictable. Bring a sanitizer to clean your hands after holding on to the slippery rocks, and a small cloth to wipe yourself from the strong mist. Always remember safety first and don’t do anything unsafe or beyond your comfort level. We even pack a first aid kit just in case of an emergency.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Yosemite Falls (lower falls) after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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The Tides Wharf and Restaurant (Bodega Bay)

Address: 835 Coast Highway 1 Bodega Bay, Ca. 94923

In the early 1960’s the Tides Wharf and Restaurant were made famous by the popular Alfred Hitchcock’s classic movie “The Birds”. The restaurant was used as a backdrop in one of the scenes from the movie. It’s one of the popular restaurants on the Sonoma Coast with an amazing view of Bodega Bay. It’s situated a few steps away from the Inn at the Tides. And it is also famous for its seafood, fish market, and gift shop. It’s a great place to stop for fresh seafood when driving up the coast. The Tides Restaurant is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from San Francisco via US-101 North ( 85 miles) and is open 7 days a week from 8 am-8 pm. Breakfast is served from 8 am-11 am, lunch from 11 am-4 pm, and dinner from 4-8 pm.

Our drive to The Tides Wharf and Restaurant was very fun, scenic, and had a few winding roads. The view of the beautiful Bodega Bay during our travel was well worth the drive. We even stopped by at the famous St. Therese Church and the Potter Schoolhouse from the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock’s horror movie “The Birds”. We arrived at the restaurant around 9 a.m. and parked in front of the restaurant. There were a lot of parking spaces available but can get crowded during weekends or lunchtime. The weather was beautiful and sunny but later became windier in the afternoon.

The restaurant wasn’t too busy since we got there early at 9 am. We were seated inside since the outdoor tables are not available until 11 am. There were 3 of us at our party which includes 1 kid and 2 adults. We ordered fried calamari as appetizer for $8.95, hot crab sandwich for $26.50, 1/2 pound Bodega Bay Burger for $12.95, Filet of Petrale Sole for $26.00. And for dessert we ordered the cheesecake, apple pie with ice cream and lemon meringue. The hot crab sandwich is a grilled open face with jack cheese and tomato grilled while the deluxe burger came with sourdough bread and sautĂ©ed onions. The Filet of Petrale Sole is pan fried with lemon butter. All the foods that we ordered were good and delicious especially the dessert.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun brunch experience at the Tides Wharf and Restaurant especially on a sunny day overlooking the beautiful Bodega Bay. It’s a great quick stop spot with good quality food and a great view on your way to the Sonoma Coast.

Tips: There was ample parking in the morning but it gets busy during lunch and dinner. Bring a sweater or jacket as the weather can change quickly to cold and windy since the restaurant is located on the bay. The outdoor tables are usually busy especially during lunchtime and people are waiting for them to become available. We also ordered some crab sandwich to take home from the Fish Market inside the restaurant. They also have a giftshop available onsite and a small Cafe if there is a long line (wait time) at the restaurant. There were a few covered or shaded outdoor tables available near the Cafe for customers. It’s a great place to eat and watch the sunset.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Tides Wharf and Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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McWay Falls(Big Sur)

Address: Highway 1 Julia Pfeiffer State Park Big Sur, Ca. 93920

Mc Way Falls is the most photographed falls in California and is picturesque during sunset. It’s an 80-foot tall waterfall that flows year-round from the McWay Creek located on the coast of Big Sur. It’s one of the tidefalls in California and the only other one is Alamere Falls in Marin. The Cove to the waterfalls is not accessible on foot due to hazardous steep rock on its descent. In 1961, the McWay Falls was designated a park reserve and was donated to the government.

It took us about 3 hours (153 miles) drive from San Francisco to get to McWay Falls via US 101 South, SR 156, and Hwy 1. The drive was very beautiful, scenic, winding, and relaxing once we got to hwy 1 which is also called Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). We arrived at McWay Falls around 10:30 am and found out that Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park parking lot was already full. We were lucky to find an open parking spot along Hwy 1 and saved us $10 for the parking fee. You can either pay $10 to park inside the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which has easier access to the McWay Falls trail or park along hwy 1 and walk down towards the trail which is a little bit dangerous or safety issue.

From the Ranger Station or entrance, there was a public restroom on site, and across it was a stair that leads to the Mc Way Falls trail. The wide dirt trail to the McWay Falls is about 0.6 miles (out and back) from the State Park parking lot and it took us about a 15 minutes walk. From the stairs, we passed through a short tunnel beneath highway 1 and made a right turn that led us to the waterfalls viewpoint or overlook. There was also a fenced area that is off-limits to visitors due to safety concerns. (soil erosions)

There were a lot of tourists/people at the viewpoint area and we all took turns for a photo opportunity. The view of the waterfall is mesmerizing with the crystal clear blue-green color of the water overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Be careful and watch your step when in the area for safety. The McWay Falls is a good place to see or a quick stop when you are driving through the Big Sur area.

Tips: When parking on hwy 1 watch out for oncoming cars as you don’t have enough space on the side of the road and try to park your car properly or correct orientation. It’s easy to get side-swiped when getting out of your car or walking on the side of the road. McWay Falls is after Partington Cove if you are coming from the North. The $10 parking fee for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is also good for the other parks along Big Sur. Partington Cove is also a good place to visit while in the area.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about McWay Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Swanton Berry Farm (Davenport, Ca)

Address: 25 Swanton Drive Davenport, Ca. 95017

Founded in 1983 by Jim Cochran, Swanton Berry Farm became the first certified organic strawberry farm in California. Rented 4 acres of land, bought an old tractor, planted and cultivated 4 acres of strawberries. Swanton Berry Farm also became the first organic farm to sign a contract with the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO in 1998. They support and take great care of their fruits, produce, and loyal farmworkers. The organic farm is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

It took us about an hour drive from Daly City and it’s 56 miles via CA-1 South Cabrillo Highway North. Our drive to the ranch was very scenic and relaxing on Hwy-1 towards Santa Cruz. The Swanton Berry Farm is before Highway 1 Davenport Beach and it’s a good stopover on your way to Santa Cruz, California. It has easy access on and off from the freeway and we parked on a large gravel and dirt parking area. The organic farm ranch also has a porta-potty available for customers located in front of the farmhouse by the parking area. My daughter and wife enjoyed the clean outdoor picnic tables on a grassy area that overlooks the beach across the road.

We were surprised to see a wide variety of organic jams inside the farmhouse such as organic pies, fruit jams, lemonade, merchandise, organic corn, and many more. They also sell drinks such as strawberry lemonade for $5. We bought a slice of blueberry pie for $7, strawberry cheesecake for $7, three jars of their organic jams (strawberry, rhubarb, and Olallieberry for $13 each. There were also fresh strawberries on a basket that sells for $6 each, organic sweet corn 2 for $3, strawberry and tayberry truffles for $3 each, strawberry cheesecake for $7 per slice. The pies were not too sweet but delicious with a good crust that is not too flaky or buttery. There is no seating available inside the farmhouse but has outdoor picnic tables that are ideal for a countryside picnic experience. My daughter loved the fact that the picnic tables were situated near the strawberry field where you pick them yourself. We didn’t get to do the u-pick strawberries experience since it was closed for the season. (off-season). And it’s a self-pay, honor system where you calculate the total costs, place the money inside the cash register, and get your change. We were lucky enough that there was a helpful worker that assisted us with our purchase since there was a long line of customers.

Tips: Try to get there earlier on weekends due to large crowds and wear your masks when going inside the farmhouse. You can also visit the Pie Ranch, Shark Fin Cove, and the small town of Davenport. Pie Ranch also has a variety of freshly baked organic pies that they sell. Don’t forget to stop by at all the beautiful beaches along Highway 1 coast.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Swanton Berry Farm after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.