California
California is a very large state with so many points of interest. We have previously visited a few times, but there was so much we still wanted to see.
Ultimately, we focused on visiting the Reagan and Nixon Presidential Libraries and Joshua Tree National Park, all of which were in fairly close proximity. Therefore, we obtained a rental car from Alamo and I booked hotel rooms in four cities: Simi Valley, Yorba Linda, Twentynine Palms, and Palm Springs. Obviously, this was not our typical camping trip!
Things We Considered
Our Pup
Because we were flying to California, we had to find a place that we were comfortable leaving our pup. She had a small inflamed cyst on her leg and so we ultimately chose to board her at her vet where they could administer her daily medication for it. Our vet took very good care of her.
A Rental Car
It has been several years since we have used a rental car and are now older. However, we wanted to be sure there was no issue with our age. Also, to maximize our time in the area, we wanted to pick up at one airport and drop off at another. We confirmed Alamo met our needs and the entire process went without a hitch. So we flew into Burbank and flew out of Palm Springs. One thing regarding all rental cars at Burbank Airport, it is quite a hike to get to them.
Simi Valley
Our first stop was Simi Valley, a medium-sized city about twenty-five miles from the Burbank Airport. The tech industry really took off in the city and it still is a major part of its industry today. It was very clean and the area we were in was a bit upscale. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, just a few miles from the Reagan Library.
The Reagan Library
The Reagan Library is the major attraction in Simi Valley. We have visited many presidential libraries and this was the most memorable. One outstanding aspect of it is the amazing view. It sits on a hill overlooking a breathtakingly beautiful valley. The site itself is tastefully manicured.
Nancy’s rose garden artfully captures that gorgeous view and features a statue of her sitting on a bench.
A common feature of presidential libraries is a replica of what the Oval Office looked like during its administration. This one was attractive with a replica of the Resolute desk that had to be raised to accommodate Reagan’s long legs.
Relations with the Soviet Union were strained during the Reagan presidency and he had four summits with Mikhail Gorbachev. A significant exhibit was dedicated to those meetings. Reagan’s efforts led to an arms control agreement and, ultimately, a thawing of the Cold War.
Air Force One is the major feature at the library. This particular plane served Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. It was such a cool thing to be able to go inside.
The plane has private quarters for the president and First Lady, conference and dining areas, and areas assigned to senior staff and the press. Reagan’s favored jellybeans were also on display. It was cool to see, but everything was very dated.
The command center was surely state-of-the-art during the time the plane was commissioned, but it looks antiquated by today’s standards.
Reagan Library In Conclusion
I’m so happy we could be there on such a beautiful day. The library was interesting and well worth the visit. Most importantly, it was wonderful to be able to step into Air Force One and take in all its history. Reagan’s presidency was in my adulthood, so I was familiar with it. However, I learned some things about his personal history. He came from humble beginnings and was a very hard worker. Reagan developed his ability to connect with people as a sportscaster and his leadership through his work in the Screen Actors Guild. I was happy to learn that he was a defender of equality and was very much against racial intolerance.
Strathearn Historical Park
There were a couple of free hours in the afternoon, so we visited nearby Strathearn Historic Park. It has buildings and memorabilia from Simi Valley’s early history. Admission is free and it was a pleasant way to spend the rest of the afternoon.
Yorba Linda
Our second stop, Yorba Linda, is a suburban city that is approximately 35 miles from Los Angeles. It was also my favorite overall stop on this trip. The city was friendly and charming. Our favorite hotel on the trip was its Ayers Suites and our best meals were also there. The restaurants were Supatras Thai Bistro and Blue Agave; both were excellent. Additionally, we had the best ice cream at Rich Farm.
The Nixon Library
The Nixon Library is the main draw to Yorba Linda. It serves also as a venue for concerts and weddings. We were there on a Saturday morning and a wedding was taking place.
Rare for a presidential library, President Nixon and his wife, Pat, are buried on the premises. It is in a beautiful setting with the Rose Garden and and outdoor amphitheater. Not too shabby for a final resting place!
Nixon’s birthplace was on the property in the house below. His father actually constructed the house from a kit.
The living room in the house includes a piano. Nixon played several instruments including piano, violin, clarinet, saxophone, and accordion.
The following is a listing of the things Nixon accomplished on the domestic front. Some of these were surprising to me, in a good way. He was a complex man.
In a break with tradition, Nixon used the Wilson desk, typically used by the Vice President. Nixon actually spent eight years as Eisenhower’s V.P. There was a reproduction of how the Oval Office was during the Nixon administration.
Lastly, the scandal that occurred at the beginning of his second term was an exhibit. I liked that it was not something that was ignored.
Twentynine Palms, California
Twentynine Palms was our third stop on our California trip. It is known as the Gateway to Joshua Tree National Park because it is close to the north entrance and headquarters. The Marine Corp Air Ground Center is also a major contributor to the town’s economy. The base is the largest by size in the U.S. at 1,102 square miles. Recent troops that were sent to California were deployed from there.
The city is in the Mojave Desert and is high desert at just under 2,000 feet. During June, the humidity is around 22%. Our time there really caused issues with my sinuses and a sore throat because the environment is quite harsh.
The city has many murals, including the one below dedicated to the Desert Storm Homecoming.
Joshua Tree
Our favorite restaurant, Joshua Tree Saloon, was actually in nearby Joshua Tree, which is another small city near the National Park. The food was very good and the decor was quite eclectic.
Joshua Tree National Park
The National Park was very lovely in a desolate way. We went very early in the morning because the afternoons get so hot. It was a pleasant high 70s while we were there, but the afternoons rose to the low 90s during our visit.
The famous Joshua Trees are in the photo below. The Mormons named them that because they reminded them of Joshua raising his hands in prayer.
The beautiful desert has a variety of plants.
There were many rock formations, but this shot by my husband is my favorite.
Keys View is at the high point in the park at an elevation of over 5,000 feet. The famous San Andreas Fault lies along the bottom of the cliff. The view was stunning!
We saw lots of lizards and a couple of coyotes. There were also many kinds of birds.
We went back to the park at sunset. The area is known for especially dark skies because of its remoteness. While stargazing, we had a scare when a rather large coyote was walking just across the street from where we were parked. We hightailed it to the car and pretty much stayed there!
Palm Springs
Stop number four was just to get us near the airport to fly home. It was not our first time there, but my older eyes really appreciated the beauty of the surrounding mountains. They are so close!
We had lunch downtown and then just walked a little in the area. I love how the mountains are so upfront and personal! I also found how they trim the Palm Trees to be interesting.
Our last hotel was the Hampton Inn. It was very nice, reasonably priced and close to the airport. Just look at that view!
California, In Conclusion
We try to take one big trip a year and this was it for us. We returned home to a total knee replacement for my husband, so this was a last bit of fun for awhile. I’m so glad we got to have this time in California! Check out our big trip last year on a Viking longboat, First Viking Cruise.
