Hooters,
Today is National Find A Rainbow Day! Take some time to study the sky and look for a rainbow 🌈.
How to Observe Today:
-Find a rainbow or use a garden hose or a prism to make one
-Create a rainbow as part of a science project
-Craft a rainbow by painting, coloring, or anything creative
-Have fun doing either !
**The origin of this holiday is still being researched
Source: National Day Calendar
“I’m African American, Im African, I’m black as the moon.”
-Kendrick Lamar
Out of all of the places I’ve explored in Southern California, Red Rock Canyon State Park is probably one of my favorites. The park is located in Cantil, CA, and can often be mistaken for the Red Rock National Conservation Area in Nevada. Although they have similar canyons, they are two different parks. Luckily, I’ve been to both, so I’ll make another post on Nevada soon!
The canyons and cliffs at the State Park are just mindblowing and beautiful. The shapes and colors vary and are beyond unique. Since I’m a “daredevil,” I love climbing the rocks and admiring the marvelous views from a high elevation. The only thing I dislike is taking pictures because they do absolutely no justice. You have to be there to understand this experience because it is an experience.
Based on my visits, the trails there are pretty much like walking trails. I’m sure there are challenging routes, but my sister is scared of heights, so I never bothered researching. Honestly, hiking the area is okay, but I’m more interested in the various small caves and unique canyons. When I hike, besides seeking peacefulness, I’m always looking for cool things to take photos of, so it isn’t unlikely for me to go off-trail.
One cool thing about the park is you’re able to camp, so I’ll for sure be doing that when the weather warms again. I’ve visited the park about three times, and each experience was different due to exploring various areas. Even though I have been multiple times, I’ve never explored the entire park, but that is a goal. A dull moment seems almost impossible when revisiting, and that is what I love about the area.
Since I’m terrified of bees, that is probably my only complaint. In my opinion, the place is pretty much infested with them. If I’ve seen more than two, that equals infested to me. Haha! Being stung by a bee is something I’ve never experienced and not something I’d want to feel. I’ll never forget being on the edge of a cliff, and what do you know? A buzzing bee near my face- yes, I almost panicked and was done after that!
Besides the bees, Red Rock Canyon State Park is a remarkable piece of art and nature to see if you’re adventurous. Because it is a desert area, I highly suggest taking plenty of water because it does get scorching hot there (even in November). There are numerous picnic areas and restrooms, which are always clean, so that’s a plus. I have not encountered any snakes, but I’m sure, they’re there!
Located in Downtown Los Angeles, you can visit this uniquely designed museum and all of the creative art displayed by talented artists. The Broad is a beautiful place for those who love contemporary art like me and quite impressive. When my sister and I visited, we almost could not enter due to the museum hosting an exclusive exhibition that required tickets. Fortunately, we knew nothing about the reservation list giving us access to explore the “Free Admission” floor of art. I’m assuming the difference between the two areas; the exclusive exhibitions are specifically theme-based and last for a seasonal period. While the top floor is distinctively randomized and free of a theme. Either way, if you’re ever in the area and love dope pieces of art- check it out.
Southern California is such a beautiful area to examine. From the sunny beaches to the Joshua tree and jackrabbit filled deserts. The peaceful mountains to the remarkable canyons, and everything else. All of its nature is simply breathtaking, and I absolutely love it. Since I live an outrageous amount of miles away from my employer, I have the pleasure of taking several scenic routes. My two main ways of travel are driving through the mountains of Angeles National Forest or hitting the busy freeway. Today, I prefer the mountains, but when I first moved to California almost two years ago, I always took the highway because I felt it was the “safer” of the two.
During the day while driving, I love admiring this treasure. Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park was formed in Santa Clarita and approximately 30-40 minutes north of Los Angeles. The first time I passed by, I did not imagine it being an actual park; I only assumed it was another sensational scenic view. After months of commuting to work, I finally decided it was time to visit and explore these massive and phenomenal rocks. My first visit to the park was quite exciting and, for sure, an expedition. I felt like Dora the Explorer during this hike because there were so many things to explore.
When arriving at the park, there’s an information board with a few neat facts. The only points I’m going to mention are the movies filmed in the park. Yes, movies! Some popular ones include The Flintstones, Wild Wild West, Holes, Over The Hedge, and Planet of the Apes. Of course, the board also included warnings of wild animals such as bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and snakes. I was not thrilled about that, but hey, that’s what comes with the hiking lifestyle; I have to accept the scary possibilities. Luckily, my sister and I were able to complete the hike without being attacked- haha, successful!
The overall trip throughout the area was delicate but complicated to begin. Even with using the AllTrails app, it was a challenge to find the start of the trail. I will admit that it is relatively easy to get lost within the rocks. There’s isn’t a super clear pathway throughout the entire park, so I’m thankful for my hiking app. Since I’m kind of a thrill-seeker, I found excitement in climbing some of the rocks to get better views, so that was astonishing. One thing that amazed me was the horse trail and how steep it was. All I could envision was a horse plunging down the hill. Plus, I was looking forward to seeing a horse but no luck- there was nothing but enormous piles of horse manure.
Exploring this area was the first time I discovered actual cactus. Growing up on the East Coast spotting cactus is nonexistent, so I was super stoked about those findings. I’ve always loved the plant and dreamed of seeing the larger ones in person, but unfortunately, these weren’t large. They were little mini baby cactus, but I was still happy with seeing them. Recently I tried to grow some, and it was an epic fail. I may try again soon, so we’ll see how that goes!
For sure, if you’re ever in SoCal and would like to experience this stunning park, go for it because my photos do absolutely no justice! However, I highly suggest going during the beginning of fall or spring because it was freezing during winter and scorching hot during mid-spring. Be sure to bring plenty of water because I don’t doubt the possibilities of getting lost without the proper guidance app or an actual map for those who are “old school.” Wearing sunscreen and a hat would also be ideal due to there being little to no shady areas. I hope at least one of my readers will be able to visit this beauty so I can hear all about it! Please don’t hurt yourself trying to take an epic photo climbing on the rocks, but please, “Live a Little” while doing so.
Today we live in a “selfie queen” era. When you see a large variety of your followers’ photos on social media, nine times out of ten, they were taken in selfie-mode. For sure, most of my portraits are because I’m a camera freak and I love capturing memorable moments. When taking selfies you can see exactly what you’re capturing- the lighting, those “popping” angles, if anything is between your teeth, your hair sticking up, and much more. Pretty sure that’s why most prefer selfie-mode.
The Museum of Selfies can be found in the Hollywood tourist area of Los Angeles, California. It is also where the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located. I knew immediately I was going to love this place before I could visit. My sister and I went on a great day because there wasn’t much traffic inside of the museum. Minimum traffic equals extra time to capture the perfect selfie. Haha! We were able to freely explore the museum without other visitors rushing us. Overall, the entire museum is a fun-filled, creative, and cool place, plus it is suitable for all ages to enjoy. My favorite part was the pool filled with emoji balls. It reminded me that I’m still a big kid at heart, and I’m not ashamed to admit that.
Long story short, if you’re ever in Los Angeles and you love taking selfies, add this museum to your itinerary. Be sure to go selfie crazy!
The love I have for art is indescribable. I will experience a near-death experience to snap a picture of anything pertaining to art. Luckily, seeing this remarkable gem while driving to Las Vegas for the first time last year didn’t cause an accident but possibly close. Months prior, I actually saw partial areas of the rocks in the background of someone’s photo on Instagram, but I didn’t pay attention to where they were located. I just thought they were cute and cool.
The rocks are located literally in the middle of nowhere (Mojave desert) right off of major highway I-15. Since moving to California I have visited the exhibit a total of three times and each time has been better than before! How can something so simple be so intriguing? I’m always impressed with simple artwork that speaks volumes. If you’re ever in Las Vegas visiting the strip, it’s only about a twenty-minute drive and you won’t regret it. I would recommend going first thing in the morning due to the excessive heat, and to avoid a crowd of visitors. It is definitely one of my top choices of art and a super dope place to take stunning pictures. Thank me later!
With so many trails to explore in SoCal, I try to hike a new location each time. There are a few I would revisit, but why when I have various options to choose from? It’s such a great feeling to be able to view the mountains or parks from multiple angles and heights. Not only that, it’s intriguing how each site gives me a different unique experience. Nature is amazing, and I adore all of its offerings because it never gets boring, and it’s fun to explore and learn.
Devil’s Punchbowl Loop Trail is a one-mile trail located in Pearblossom, California. Just before the state shut down all trails due to Covid-19, my sister, brother-in-law, and I were able to explore this adventurous park. It was our last hike before everything closed, and I’m glad we were able to do so. We honestly were not expecting the park to be packed, but it was. From my previous hikes, I knew there weren’t many people out due to the cold. This situation was different, and I assume it was because they didn’t have anything else to do. The parks and beaches were slammed with so many families out and about causing the closures.
The start of the trail was pretty interesting, there was a sign-in box for visitors to write their names and where they were from. I hadn’t experienced that and thought it was cool to see everyone coming from so many different states (possibly even countries). The hike in itself was a breeze but definitely a work out towards the end- going uphill almost killed me! The massive rocks were amazing to see- the next time I go I’m going to climb them. My favorite part of the hike was towards the end when we discovered a soothing creek at the bottom of the trail. There’s something about the sound of a creek that I absolutely love! I guess it’s because creeks give me a sense of relaxation, peace, and serenity- causing my heart to smile.
I highly recommend visiting this park if you’re ever in the area because it isn’t too bad of a hike. I use an app called All Trails (I’ll talk about it soon in another post), and it classifies the trail as easy, even though it seemed longer due to all of the turns. If you are afraid of heights, there are a few steep areas but nothing too bizarre- then again, I’m not scared of heights so you may think otherwise. Some may think many areas are dangerous, but I’m a daredevil so I like taking a little risk at times. Since we went with snow still on the mountains and freezing cool, there weren’t many annoying bugs out. I’m sure there’s plenty during the hotter months. I can assure you all I will be visiting this beautiful scenery again and staying for lunch to really enjoy the peacefulness!
Hiking alone is probably something most wouldn’t dare consider. The good thing is, I’m not most and I actually prefer to hike solo. My family for sure doesn’t agree with those choices but hey, I choose to not live my life in fear. Hiking gives me a sense of happiness and peace so going alone is best. So yes, I hike alone most of the time.
Lately, since the weather has been warming either I’ve been terrified of running into a rattlesnake or thanks to this particular trail- BEARS! Plus, due to Covid19, California keeps shutting down trails so I haven’t been able to explore too many new trails.
Monrovia Canyon Park is located in Monrovia, California. The waterfall can be found deep in the park making it an “out and back” trip. Before this journey I was pumped and excited. I went early in the morning before work thinking it was going to be refreshing. As I’m preparing myself in the parking lot, I notice a huge bear statue and that to me was a red flag. I’m well aware wild animals happen to be throughout all or most of the trails I hike. Seeing a bear was not something I was prepared to encounter especially being by myself. I honestly did not get concerned until I headed towards the start of the trail and a warning sign read, “ATTENTION, YOU ARE ENTERING BEAR HABITAT.” Ha!
It took everything for me continue and I had no choice because I had to get to work on time, and I didn’t drive all that way to just leave! Luckily, I did not see any bears, rattlesnakes, or mountain lions and I felt more comfortable seeing other women walking alone. I stopped one Asian woman to ask her about bears and she said, “Oh honey, it’s no scary! You’ll be fine, I’m here everyday”. Okay, that was relieving and I was able to enjoy the remainder of my trip with no worries. I did see a cave but I kept it pushing as fast as I could!
When I successfully made it to the waterfall the short expedition was well worth it. The waterfall was so beautiful and I was able to relax alone on a boulder for a few minutes to admire the scenery. Although I was able to capture a lot of amazing photos my favorite part was walking alongside the stream and listening to the peacefulness of nature. I had to stop a few times to take videos of the soundscapes for memories. I will definitely be returning to the park (especially now that I have a new iPhone with a much better camera).
Enjoy the journey!
Visiting and exploring New Mexico was pretty interesting. My aunt took me all over the whole city of Alamogordo and it had a lot of nice places to see. White Sands National Monument (before they switched it to Park) was probably one my favorite places to visit. I referred to it as, “The Beach With No Water” because that is literally what it reminded me of. There was nothing but cool waves of sand dunes throughout the entire park. Entering the park I was not sure what to expect but the deeper we drove, the less vegetation and I felt like we were somewhere in the Middle East- just no camels or the excessive heat. No, I’ve never been but I assume that’s how it would be based on pictures and movies.
Overall the park is a, “must-see” so add it to your bucket-lists because my description, pictures, and videos, give no justice!
*A small fact, the sand isn’t our ordinary “sand”, it is actually a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate called gypsum. You could always research elsewhere to find out more information- I stick to the basics.
