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Hogan Trading is the place to spend the heat of the day in Moab, UT. After your morning hike and before your afternoon rafting the Colorado River, you could easily spend a couple of lovely hours in...
Hogan Trading is the place to spend the heat of the day in Moab, UT. After your morning hike and before your afternoon rafting the Colorado River, you could easily spend a couple of lovely hours in this incredible store. The difference between this store and Native American Arts & Crafts stores in Moab and across the Southwest (I have been in many of them) is one of quality and taste. There are many beautiful stores with top-notch merchandise; but Hogan Trading is a cut above. The collection is extensive, ranging from stunning sandstone tables to painted gourd vases to magnificent traditional and contemporary Navajo, Hopi and Zuni jewelry. Home furnishings include gorgeous dining room tables and chairs, dishware, lamps, wall art, beautiful Navajo woven rugs, blankets and bedding and many, many decorative items. This place cannot be beat for selection and uniqueness and quality. The prices are remarkably fair as well, and the staff is helpful and friendly. They also ship anywhere if you don't want to travel with your purchases. www.hogantrading.com
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Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. There is a magnificent canyon with strange rock formations called "hoodoos," and stunning views across the Grand...
Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. There is a magnificent canyon with strange rock formations called "hoodoos," and stunning views across the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, where you can see for over 100 miles into Arizona and New Mexico. The main activity here aside from gawking at the incredible views is hiking, and there are many trails for hikers of different levels of experience throughout the park. There are also trail rides on horse or mule down into the Bryce "amphitheatre." I stayed at Bryce Canyon Lodge, which is the only lodging inside the park, and which is located about 100 yards from the edge of canyon between "Sunrise" and "Sunset" points. Since the view of the canyon from there is a bit east-southeast, it's really more of a sunrise view. I did go out and watch the sun rise and it was jaw-droppingly beautiful as the subtly changing light played off the strange formations. There is a main lodge building with 70 or so rooms, and 40 cabins containing 2 rooms each. I stayed in a cabin, which was lovely with high beamed ceilings, a gas fireplace, full bath and extra sink in the closet area. The exterior was classic rustic log cabin and was really cool, and there was a porch with log bench which was visited often by adorable chipmunks. As with all National Park lodges, you have to make reservations up to a year in advance (but call anytime as they do have cancellations). There is a dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner that is okay, but not great. There is a nice curio shop, and a nearby "general store" with campers supplies (there is a campground in the park for tents and RV's).
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65 million-year-old dinosaurs are very cool, but 10,000 year-old saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths and giant sloths are giving them a run for their money at the remarkable and unique La Brea Tar...
65 million-year-old dinosaurs are very cool, but 10,000 year-old saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths and giant sloths are giving them a run for their money at the remarkable and unique La Brea Tar Pits. The collection of bubbling asphalt pits were the scene during the last four Ice Ages (40,000 to 10,000 years ages) of countless animals being entrapped in the sticky goo. Usually, an herbivore would wander in, sink down and get caught, and its struggle to escape would attract the attention of every predator in the area. Often these predators would get caught while trying to feast on the stuck prey. The Tar Pits are one of the world’s most famous fossil finds, possessing the largest and most diverse collection of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world. There are really fun exhibits like a simulation of trying to pull your stuck hoof out of the tar, and you can watch researchers cleaning some of the one million bones recovered from excavations of the pits over the last century. But truly the most fun thing to do is to walk around the parking lot and the rest of the grounds surrounding the museum and discover new tar pits bubbling up everywhere. Try it and you'll see what I mean. www.tarpits.org
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Without having stayed anywhere else in Moab, I state confidently that Red Cliffs Lodge is THE place to stay in Moab. A fourteen mile scenic drive out of town along the Colorado River, as it's name...
Without having stayed anywhere else in Moab, I state confidently that Red Cliffs Lodge is THE place to stay in Moab. A fourteen mile scenic drive out of town along the Colorado River, as it's name implies, the lodge sits at the base of towering red cliffs that appear lit by flame at sunrise and sunset. The lodge is lovely--rooms are spacious and comfortably furnished with kitchenettes, fireplaces and decks that overlook the river's rapids. There is a good restaurant with gorgeous views of the river and cliffs, a movie museum detailing films that have been shot locally, including on the Red Cliffs property, and the Castle Creek Winery, Utah's largest. There is a daily wine tasting in the hotel and the wines are quite good. Red Cliffs calls itself "Moab's Adventure Center," and they're not kidding. They offer horseback riding, mountain biking, white water rafting, hiking, and convenient access to the nearby national parks (Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park). There is also an exercise room, laundry facility, pool and spa. I hiked on one of their trails, which was about a two-mile (one-way) 1200 foot ascent. It gave a spectacular view up and down the Colorado, and into nearby Castle Valley, the center for grape-growing for Utah's wine industry. Highly recommended. I hope to stay there again as soon as I can get back to Moab. For travellers who need to stay connected, they offer in-room DSL for a small fee.
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Goulding's is quite a unique place--it's the only lodging in stunning Monument Valley just north of the Arizona border in Utah, inside the Navajo Nation. You've seen Monument Valley in countless...
Goulding's is quite a unique place--it's the only lodging in stunning Monument Valley just north of the Arizona border in Utah, inside the Navajo Nation. You've seen Monument Valley in countless John Ford/John Wayne westerns, and memorably in Thelma & Louise, but you really can't appreciate its impressive vistas until you visit. The Navajo Tribal Park with a rough dirt road through some of the most beautiful monuments is four miles down the road. Every room at Gouldings has a magnificent view of these very buttes, and is positioned ideally to see the sun rise over the monuments, which leaves one speechless as they are magnificently silhouetted in the backlight. Goulding's was established as a trading post in the 1920's, and that accounts for its continued presence in Navajoland. There is a casual restaurant (really the only one for 25 miles--nearest town is Kayenta) with the same great views as the hotel, a very nice but pricey trading post store with Navajo crafts and Monument Valley apparel, a theatre with a film about Monument Valley, a small museum, including history of filmmaking in the area, as well as a gas station, convenience store, laundromat, car wash, campground, medical clinic and tiny airport. This place is truly full service, and has to be since there is nothing more than a few houses in the desert for the next 25 miles. Hint: is your interested in Navajo crafts, browse the shop, but then check out the roadside stands throughout the Valley (most are on Hwy 163 right near Gouldings). There is more choice, better prices (and the ability to bargain), and you will very likely be buying directly from the artist who crafted the item, or someone in their family. A great place to visit! Room rates vary widely by season.
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I've lived in Los Angeles fifteen years, but only just went to the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for the first time in May 2005. I went two consecutive nights to see Bruce Springsteen in...
I've lived in Los Angeles fifteen years, but only just went to the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for the first time in May 2005. I went two consecutive nights to see Bruce Springsteen in concert--solo and acoustic--and I was really blown away by the magnificent sound and the magnificent theatre. I have never heard such pitch perfect rich sound as at the Pantages, where Bruce used more than half a dozen different guitars with subtly different sounds, as well as a piano and harmonica. All sounded spectacular and the space was so intimate you felt like you were in Bruce's living room, only the sound was better than in a living room. The theatre is very very beautiful, and since the shows started quite late I was able to explore. I sat up in the mezzanine for the first show and in the middle of the floor for the second, and the seats were comfortable, the views of the stage excellent and the sound perfect both nights. I am definitely checking out their schedule to see what of interest is happening there, as I would certainly like to see more concerts and perhaps plays there in the near future.
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Magnificent spacious rooms are perfectly, thoughtfully appointed with luxurious furnishings and every amenity you can think of--and many you never thought of but sure are glad the people who run...
Magnificent spacious rooms are perfectly, thoughtfully appointed with luxurious furnishings and every amenity you can think of--and many you never thought of but sure are glad the people who run the Adobe Village Graham Inn did. Okay, it's par for the course to have a steam iron and board in a hotel room these days, but there was also a container of fragrant wrinkle releaser that worked like gangbusters--the perfect added touch. A magazine rack with brand new issues was considerately placed in the bathroom. But this place goes way beyond that. Rooms have incredible views, fireplaces, balconies. Mountain bikes are available for your adventure pleasure, right next to the lovely pool by which you can relax in a Sharper Image deluxe massage chair. Breakfast was incredibly delicious (I believe they sell a book of their recipes), and there are warm cookies, cold salads and other goodies served throughout the day. There is a lovely gift shop with shirts, mugs, robes, etc. And there is the expert staff who were able to give me and my family an outline of how to spend a day in town most enjoyably. Their recommendations for eating, shopping and sightseeing were spot on and we had a great time. It's pricey but worth it. Check out their website to get even more detail and photos of this beautiful place.
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Ocean Star
Category:
Restaurants
145 N. Atlantic Blvd.
Monterey Park, California 91754
(626) /30-82128
The San Gabriel Valley has a huge and growing population of Chinese-Americans, many first generation and recent immigrants included. One result of this is that it has become a haven for...
The San Gabriel Valley has a huge and growing population of Chinese-Americans, many first generation and recent immigrants included. One result of this is that it has become a haven for outstanding, authentic, inexpensive Chinese food. Monterey Park is at the center of this foodie's delight, and Ocean Star is one of the busiest, best-known of the large, Hong Kong banquet hall restaurants. Through lunchtime, it's a dim sum palace--serving a seemingly infinite number of different types of dumplings and other treats. I could not keep track of all the sublime food being served so I just gave up and enjoyed the ride. Most of the clientele are local residents, as are the staff who do not speak much English. It was easier to just try a dish than get an explanation of what it was, which was okay since it was all delicious. For dinner the place is a seafood lovers paradise with lobster, crab and shrimp dishes abounding, and even more exotic fare like conch soup. There are a large number of excellent restaurants in the Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel area, and Ocean Star is one of the best. For dim sum, if you arrive after noon, you may wait for up to an hour. Better to get there before 11:30am.
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Twin Dragon has been in the same location for 40 years, and definitely has the traditional decor, booths and atmosphere to go along with that fact. Their menu is also fairly traditional, but they...
Twin Dragon has been in the same location for 40 years, and definitely has the traditional decor, booths and atmosphere to go along with that fact. Their menu is also fairly traditional, but they do traditional well. Don't miss the Spare Ribs, the Chicken with Mushrooms, the Twin Dragon Phoenix and the Mandarin Three Flavors. Noodle dishes are also excellent. Their food does very well as takeout or delivery, and definitely makes great leftovers.
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Phillip Gall's is located in beautiful horse country of Lexington, KY. It has an extensive collection of outdoor and travel clothing, including every kind of thermal layer, fleece liner and outer...
Phillip Gall's is located in beautiful horse country of Lexington, KY. It has an extensive collection of outdoor and travel clothing, including every kind of thermal layer, fleece liner and outer shell you could imagine, for nearly any condition. It has a pretty complete selection of gear for watersports like rafting and kayaking and a complete ski store. I was impressed at the selection of jackets--there was so much choice from brands like Columbia, North Face and Mountain Hardware, in a truly impressive array of sizes. Good selection of outdoor accessories like microlights, compasses, knives, etc. They were running an excellent sale when I was there and I got a great deal on a polartec jacket. On the Columbia two-piece liner/shell jacket I also bought, their price was better than anything I could find during an extensive search of the internet for the same jacket.
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