A Visit to Angel Island, San Francisco's Ellis Island

With immigration in the news, it felt like a timely visit when we took the ferry to San Francisco's Angel Island a few weeks ago. Unlike Ellis Island, which is celebrated for its role in processing thousands of Europeans to America, the story of Angel Island is much more dark. As we know, the U.S. did not welcome immigrants from the Far East with open arms -- far from it. Instead, because of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, immigrants who found themselves being processed at Angel Island were stuck there for many months -- sometimes years -- in tight quarters and rough prison-like conditions.





We toured the Angel Island Immigration Station and saw, up close, the poetry that many people had carved in the walls of their barracks.









A National Historic Landmark, the station was renovated by the California State Parks and reopened in 2009.











Also on Angel Island are the abandoned buildings of Fort McDowell, an Army base that operated there until the end of World War II. Most buildings that remain have been hollowed out, although a chapel is still intact, and another building has been turned into a museum.



We reached Angel Island via a ferry from Tiburon. Bikes are welcome, and the island is a great place to hike, watch deer (introduced long ago to the island) and other wildlife, and catch a great view of the San Francisco bay.

Spring Break Idea: Spend a Few Days in Pismo Beach

The kids are getting a week off sometime this month... what to do? Last year we took a drive up the coast to Pismo Beach, which is not all that crowded this time of year and boasts reasonably priced hotels right off the water (and, handily, right off the 101). Pismo Beach is also a quick drive to San Luis Obispo, and close to many nearby Central Coast wineries. For a scenic drive, take the 154 highway north of Santa Barbara, which brings you through the countryside and Lake Cachuma. From there, you can hit Santa Ynez, Solvang and Los Olivos, and then stop by Los Alamos back on the 101 on the way north.

A few pics from our visit last year:

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: Terranea

Located just minutes from Los Angeles, the new Terranea resort was built in 2009 but already feels like a natural part of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The resort is located on land inhabited by the Marineland sea life park from 1954 to 1987, but it took another 20 years to finally get everything in place to build the resort.

The location is pretty stunning, including a pretty clear view of Catalina island. Add that to the blue waters and the hillside above, and there are moments where you can imagine being in Hawai'i. (Well, except for the slightly chilly winds that sometimes come in via the Pacific. Bring a jacket for early mornings or late nights.)

The 582-room Terranea, built on 102 acres, includes a collection of residential bungalows, casitas and villas. The resort also features a 9-hole par 3 golf course, the Spa at Terranea, three ocean view pools and a collection of eight restaurants, bars, cafés and lounges.

Terranea plays down the Marineland aspect of the site -- perhaps because it's still such a sore subject for the area, as locals and Angelenos to this day are upset over how the park was abruptly shut down by new owners (who then shipped off beloved killer whales Corky and Orky to their signature Sea World in San Diego). Instead, Terranea embraces the area's history as a popular site for Hollywood productions -- most notably, the long-running Lloyd Bridges series "Sea Hunt." The resort's ocean front eatery Nelson's is named after Bridges' character, Mike Nelson, and is decorated with images from the show.

We spent four days there last month, and as you saw from our posts last week, made it a mini-vacation -- exploring the nearby sites but never leaving the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The kids would have been happy spending all day, every day, at the pool, which includes a major water slide, a splash zone and two hot tubs. (The pool is slightly heated, because it does get chilly at times there on the coast.) If you're looking for a getaway without actually spending the money to fly somewhere, Terranea is a pretty good substitute.

Some pics:











PREVIOUSLY ON FRANKLIN AVENUE:

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: View from the Coast

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: The Point Fermin Lighthouse

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: Point Vicente and Marineland Memories

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: The Wayfarers Chapel

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: View from the Coast

Palos Verdes Peninsula was inhabited for thousands of years by the Tongva-Gabrieliño Native Americans and later visited by Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo in 1542. In modern times, the peninsula is home to the cities of Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. The hill that makes up the peninsula makes for stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the sprawling Los Angeles metropolis.

As we continue our look at our "staycation" in Palos Verdes, here are some pics of the view from above.








View of Catalina Island in the distance


Malaga Cove Shopping center (late 1920s)


King Neptune Fountain which is a copy of a famous statue in Bologna, Italy that was presented as a gift to the City of Palos Verdes Estates

Vacation on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: Point Vicente and Marineland Memories

Nearly 25 years after Marineland was unceremoniously shut down by its new owners (who also happened to own San Diego's Sea World, and were looking to eliminate a competitor and take its killer whales -- read the 1987 Los Angeles Times piece here), Rancho Palos Verdes still mourns the loss of its signature attraction.

The Terranea resort, which opened in 2009, finally brought the old Marineland site back to life, after 20 years of neglect. But thousands of Angelenos still remember the sea life park -- opened in 1954, a year before Disneyland. And that's why the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, which is primarily focused on illustrating the peninsula's unique environment, has found much success with an exhibit dedicated toward Marineland.

The exhibit includes plenty of old Marineland memorabilia -- such as one of the killer whale statues that sat outside the park. (By the way, check out some old Marineland ads and videos from a Retro Friday post we did last February here.)

Located next to the Point Vicente lighthouse (built in 1926), the Point Vicente Interpretive Center is also a great location to do a bit of whale watching. Details:

The almost 10,000 square foot newly expanded Interpretive Center, re-opened on July 15, 2006, features exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Peninsula, with a special emphasis on the Pacific gray whale. This premier whale watch site provides spectacular opportunities to view the annual migration of the Pacific gray whale, from December through April.

Point Vicente Interpretive Center
31501 Palos Verdes Drive West
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 377-5370

Some pics from the center's Marineland exhibit, as well as the nearby lighthouse: