By Jean Strauber, Travel Editor
As I promised, here are more suggestions of things to do over Carmegeddon Weekend Part II.
VISIT LOS ENCINO STATE PARK
When was the last time you visited Los Encino Park located in Encino? This historic landmark is open from Wednesday through Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is free. Unfortunately due to the reduced staff, free guided tours are only available by appointment or during some special event. However the Garnier Building and the newly De la Ossa Adobe are available for self-guided tours during regular park hours. And, best of all, the ducks and geese that populate the spring are always ready to welcome you and your family. The folks at the Los Encinos State Park request that you purchase the duck food (25¢) and not bread that you might bring from home, because ducks and geese can’t properly digest the highly refined grains that we people eat. Los Encino State Park is located at 16756 Moorpark Street. You can park either on Moorpark and enter the rear gate or on Ventura Boulevard and enter through the Ventura Boulevard gate.
SANTA BARBARA CAR FREE GETAWAY
Mary Byrd, manager of the Santa Barbara Car Free Project, has stated, “We invite Los Angeles area residents and visitors to use the freeway closure and traffic as a chance to ‘Think Outside the Car.’ Take the train to Santa Barbara and avoid ‘Carmageddon’ entirely at the end of September, or plan to take a car free vacation in Santa Barbara in the future. Travel green and save some green.” Throughout 2012, the Santa Barbara Car Free Project invites visitors to save 20 percent on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin services and you can also save up to 50 percent at more than 65 hotels, activities and restaurants with “Cool Car Free Discounts.” And, you can visit three top Santa Barbara Attractions without a car.
Here’s how: 1) To Stearns Wharf: You can walk, bike or take the 50-cent MTD Waterfront/Downtown electric shuttle. it stops at the foot of the wharf at the Dolphin Fountain. 2) Mission Santa Barbara. You can walk or bike (mostly uphill) through beautiful residential neighborhoods or if it would be me, I’d take the MTD Bus Line 22. It stops opposite the Mission on Laguna Street. Fare is 41.75 each way; 85 cents for seniors; children under 45 inches ride free. 3) The Santa Barbara County Courthouse (one block from State Street): You can walk, bike or take the MTD Bus Line 22 wshich stops on the Anapamu Street side. Or take the 50-cent MTD Downtown Electric shuttle to the corner of State and Anapamu and walk east one block. The MTD Electric Shuttle has two routes to serve the public: Downtown (State Street) and the Waterfront (Cabrillo Boulevard). Cost is 50 cents per ride, children under 45 inches ride free. There is a free transfer available between the two shuttle routes. Both do run frequently. I Bike Santa Barbara is also offering $20 off per rider on biking tours of wine country; free admission at more than 10 area museums on September 29 including the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Santa Barbara Maritime Museum; the SOL Food Festival celebration of local organic food on September 29th. For complete information on Carmageddon II savings offers, the 2012 “Cool Car Free Discounts” offer and hundreds of more car free options-visit www. SantaBarbaraCarFree.org. •
AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO
Just one of the programs at the Los Angeles Zoo is the Zoo’s Animals and You Programs. These are 15- minute animal close-ups that take place at stations in the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo at 10:45 am, 11:45 am and 12:45 pm. Animals you might see at the Animals & You Stations include the African Desert Hedgehog, Shingleback Skink, Inland Bearded Dragon and Colombian Rainbow Boa. The Los Angeles Zoo is located at the junction of the 134 and 5 Freeways in Griffith Park. For hours and admission fees go to lazoo.org.
SOUTH COAST WINERY HARVEST FESTIVAL
The South Coast Winery Resort & Spa welcomes one and all to their South Coast Winery Harvest Festival and to experience the “First Crush” with the 8th Annual Blessing of the Wines on Sunday, September 23. In keeping with the old world tradition, the South Coast Winery’s harvest festival family day will begin with a Blessing of the Wines officiated by Father Santos Ortega, of St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church in Temecula. The Blessing is followed by barbequed foods, tethered hot-air balloon rides, horse-drawn hayrides, dancing and entertainment (provided by Roman Holiday), and of course, grape stomping contests, face painting and more. Cost for the South Coast Winery’s Harvest Festival is $55 per person ages 12+, $50 wine club members and $15 for children under the age of 12. The South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is located at 34843 Rancho Claifornia Road, in the heart of Temecula’s Wine Country.
For more information please call (951) 587-9463, Ext. 7210 or go to store.wineresort.com/cart/cat/Event-Tickets.aspx. Cost for South Coast Winery’s Harvest Festival is just $55 per person/$50 wineclub members/$15 children under age 12. For more information, please call 951-587-9463 Ext. 7210 or visit wineresort.com.