New Virtual Tour of Hearst Castle

What has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest private zoo?

The answer lies near San Simeon, California: Hearst Castle, built by newspaper publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. In its heyday, an invitation to visit the estate was a big thing. Today anyone can visit the place and take a grand tour of the opulence that big money could build. Actually, there are several different tours of the place, now managed by the State of California.

You might wonder though, if you really want to spend the time--and money--on taking one of the tours. After all, the least expensive visit will set you back $20 per adult ticket. Now California State Parks, the managing agency for castle tours, offers a "virtual tour" on the official website that gives you a free taste of what you'll see if you cough up the big bucks. Visit the site at www.hearstcastle.com.

photo: reih on flickr.com

"Giant Rock" That Nearly Crushed RV a Cosmic Attraction

Said to be perhaps the world's tallest freestanding rock, "Giant Rock" near Landers, California has an interesting history. At over seven stories tall, it is indeed one huge chunk of granite. Over the years it's been a meeting point for Native Americans, UFOlogists, dirt bikers, and RVers looking for a spot to boondock.

Originally a "one piece" affair, in February 2000 a huge chunk of Giant Rock sloughed off, nearly smashing an RV parked nearby. "Mystery" surrounds the reason for the breakage--some say Mother Earth was lodging a complaint, others suggest that a bonfire set under the rock may have contributed to the breakage.

Want to see it for yourself? Find your way to California Highway 247 out of Yucca Valley. Be prepared for a STEEP upgrade. North of Landers watch for the hard to read sign to Linn Road, and travel east on Linn Road until the pavement ends. Travel 1.5 miles on dirt to the fork in the road, and take the right fork another 1.6 miles over "Whoops!" type dirt road (highly exagerated washboard road) to the rock.

California's Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

There's just a fascination with lighthouses. Stationed on a wind-swept bluff, overlooking an infinity of open ocean, carrying out their assignment decade after decade. One such "light station" as they are now referred to (loses a lot of the romance if you ask us), is just north of Mendocino, California at Point Cabrillo.

The Point Cabrillo light has stood its solitary position for over 100 years. It has seen shipwrecks, survived the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and been "home" to countless light keepers and their families. Now California State Parks folks have cooked up a celebration commemorating the work of the lighthouse and its keepers. The most notable events are the Partnership Celebration on June 6th and the historic relighting of the Point Cabrillo Light on June 10th. These are two of the events which will provide visitors and guests with a rare opportunity to share a historical time with friends and family, while learning more about the legacy of Point Cabrillo.

“This is history in the making,” said Director Ruth Coleman of California State Parks. “It is only made possible by the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers and private donations from our partners that have been restoring and maintaining this incredible light station.”

“There are hundreds of stories to be told, here,” said Ron Eich, president, Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association (PCLK). “We are very proud of the docents, families and interpreters who will share these stories with our visitors during this centennial celebration.”

For more information, phone the PCLK at (707) 937-6123.

Take the River Train near Sacramento, California

Enjoy dinner, brunch or lunch aboard the Sacramento RiverTrain. This new train features a sparkling gold exterior reflecting the area’s Gold Rush heritage and 1,000-feet of blue waves that are a tribute to the Sacramento River along the train’s route. The train passes over the 8,000-foot-long Fremont Trestle, one of the largest trestles in the Western United States. While you roll along, enjoy a great combination of scenery, food and entertainment. The dining cars have a relaxed "tommy bahama" style and the club car features live music on weekend RiverTrain dinner parties. The open-air cars are popular during Saturday train robberies and Sunday champagne brunches.

Beer and wine are available in the club car or at the open-air patio bar. Seasonal and special event trips are offered throughout the year. Located 15 minutes from Sacramento, the train boards in Woodland, California. The 32-mile trip lasts about three hours. They are offered every week of the year.

The reservation office is open until 8pm every day. Call (800) 866-1690 for reservations: Monday—Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

The KOA in West Sacramento is about a half-hour away.

Lighthouse chasers enjoy new mystery

Lots of RVers have "must visit" lists. All the national parks. Historic battle fields. Lighthouses.

If you're a lighthouse fan, here's a site you shouldn't miss, and now it comes with a mystery. First, the lighthouse: Just a half hour south of San Francisco is the little coastal burg of Montara, home of around 3,000 souls. Sitting on scenic Highway 1, Montara also claims fame from the Point Montara lighthouse. Still an operating light, its lightkeeping staff quarters now serve as a hostel where guests can stay on and absorb the aura of the sea.

What's the mystery? Recently historians say they've found proof that the lighthouse at Montara isn't a native. Huh? According to a story in "Lighthouse Digest," the light was originally installed a bit aways: Actually built to shed light at Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Sometime later, locals on the east coast thought the light had simply been taken down or destroyed. But according to the historians, apparently the original Wellfleet light was somehow transported from the east coast to the west coast, and eventually settled in at Point Montara.

To visit the light, travel California Highway 1 to Montara. A half-mile south of town a sign indicates the way up a dirt road to the light. The grounds are open daily for visitors to explore. And to figure out just how they got this lighthouse across the country.

pre-tweaked photo: Darin Barry on flickr.com