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Lars'
Travel Trip Tips
Panorama View of Joshua
Tree Nat'l Park, Nov 2001
Crystal Cove, North of
Laguna
Pictures of Ubehebe Crater in
the February recommendations; Monte Alban, Oaxaca in the December section.
Click on thumbnails for larger view.
My Calendar Recommendations
January
COZUMEL:
Much nicer than Cancun with a lot more variety of beaches. I've been there
many times in January, and I usually flew from Houston or New Orleans. For
a cheap hotel, try Hotel Yoli, if you can find it. It is in the center of
town and costs a small fraction of what the other hotels cost. If your cab
driver from the airport takes you there, you can probably get a room, especially
if you arrive not on a Friday. If they are full, there are a lot of other
hotels in town, and someone can recommend an alternative for you. You must
speak enough Spanish to be able to request a room and pay for it.
Cozumel
Net
February
Ubehebe
Crater, Death Val Park
DEATH VAL
NATIONAL PARK: If you go for the full moon, you might see Kev and me
there. Go to their website for accommodation info. We sometimes camp
at Furnace Creek, but we may stay at Stovepipe Wells next time. We swam in
the pool at a motel there last time--there is a nominal fee to use the pool for
the day--we went in the afternoon and returned in the evening on the same
ticket.
Ubehebe
Crater, from other side
National
Park Service Death Val
Death
Val Com
March
TEXAS:
This is really the only time we like to go back to Texas, although
it does matter to a small extent where in the state you go.
The weather is probably best in El Paso and Big Bend, and it stays
pleasant there through April. We went to Austin 2001 in April,
and it was already too hot! Be sure to bring your passport--I
was considered a foreigner because I have a California drivers'
license. Also, do not drive through Texas with California
license plate, especially in Fort Bend, or you will be stopped and
fined. In 2005,
we went to Mexico.
Texas
Travel
Texas
Tourist Info
Texas
Highways
Texas
Fun
Texas
Monthly
Texas
escape
April
ANZA
BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK: In a wet year, the wildflowers are spectacular.
The campground at Agua Caliente has a mineral pool, and there is a swimming pool
at the grounds, but it is always full of screaming brats. Nearby, you can
take a moonlight hike, if you are there for a full moon, and you won't need a
flashlight, which is disorienting to me anyway.
Borrega
Desert Park
Anza-Borrego Highway
Anza
Borrego State Park
the anza Borrego foundation
government
Park
Deserty
region
info
slot
one
canyon
sin nombre
May
PALM
SPRINGS/NEW YORK: I haven't made up my mind about this one yet. I
don't go to New York much any more, but I think this is the best time to go.
Palm
Springs Com
Palm
Springs Org
City
of Palm Springs
NYC
World Web
Travel
New York
New
York Hostels
June
MEXICO
CITY: You might not think of going to Mexico in the summer,
but in June, the rains clear the air in Mexico City, and make for
prettier skies. However, the new government has made changes in
the traffic, requiring natural gas buses and made many streets one-way
so that the air is cleaner anyway. I was last there in a February,
and it was beautiful! The
museums are not to be missed. Also visit Templar
Mayor downtown. Take an umbrella in June and expect afternoon
showers every day, even though it may be clear in the morning.
Clouds may form around 3:00 p.m. and rain from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
I like rain!
Mexico
DF
Mexico
City
July
SEQUOIA NATIONAL
FOREST/KINGS CANYON: A less crowded alternative to Yosemite.
The forest is stunning, and so are the canyons, but leave your acrophobia
behind.
Beach
Bros Trip to Sequoia 2005
National
Park Service
Sequoia
National Park
National
Parks - Sequoia
August
Festival of the Chariots, Venice
Beach, CA
VANCOUVER,
B.C., CANADA: Vancouver is always beautiful to me, but the long summer
days in early August can't be beat. Sunsets last about an hour, and can be
watched from a number of pleasant beaches. North of the city are beautiful
canyons with suspensions bridges. The creeks really don't have enough
water for swimming more than a couple of feet, but you can get wet and cool off.
Try to stay in the West End, but you'll need reservations a year in advance at
this time of year.
Granville
Island
Walk
Vancouver
Vancouver
Pride Info
Sunset
Junction Street Fair, Silver Lake, Los Angeles
Lars'
Pictures of Sunset Junction, 2003
African Expo, Los Angeles,
2003
African
Expo, Los Angeles, 2005
Bad
Boys' Pool Party
September
SAN
FRANCISCO: Many of the street fairs that used to occur in August or
earlier in the summer have changed their dates to September because this is the
only month when the weather is reasonable enough to stay outside without having
to dress for Arctic chill. If you are a polar bear, you can go there other
months. I moved away from San Francisco because of the cold summers and
wet winters.
San
Francisco Guide
San
Francisco Com
Lars'
Pictures of San Francisco and Big Sur 2003
Abbot
Kinney Street Fair, Venice, CA
October
MALIBU/LAGUNA
BEACH/CALIFORNIA RIVIERA: Coastal California is particularly
nice in October, and it is not as crowded. I think October
is nice almost anywhere, however, and so it was hard to pick a place.
Malibu
CA
Laguna
Beach
Laguna
Beach Info
Laguna
Beach Net
November
GUANAJUATO,
MEXICO: Most people go there in October to see the music festival, but it
actually extends now into November. You can sign up with a music student
from the University of Guanajuato, and he will serenade you and the rest of the
group that he gathers while giving you an evening tour of the city. Don't
go to the mummy museum, unless you have necrophiliac tendencies.
Mexico
Connect
December
Monte
Alban, Oaxaca, Mexico
OAXACA,
MEXICO: Some of the most beautiful ruins are in this state. You can
take the overnight train from Mexico City and arrive at 7:00 a.m., which is the
perfect time to look for a cheap hotel. I used to visit during the times
they were having guerilla warfare, and the hotels were especially cheap then.
I didn't realize the warfare was going on until one year I went, and all the
soldiers that had been standing on every street corner with bayonets were gone.
When I asked what had happened to the soldiers they used to have, I was told
that the guerilla warfare was over. Hotel prices then went way up, but
were still affordable. The markets are the best in Mexico.
Oaxaca
Gob
Oaxaca
Travel
Oaxaca
Index
Oaxaca
Archaeology
Monte
Alban
Monte
Alban Oaxaca
Yagul
and Tlalixtoc, 2002
Venice
Canals, with lights
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