California : The Integratron
From its stunning sandy beaches to its luscious green wine regions, boasting the best wine in the country, the Golden State attracts millions of eager visitors each year, keen to behold its many attractions.
But, alongside Universal Studios, Magic Mountain and the Hollywood sign, the state holds some well kept secrets. From the weird to the wonderful, the freaky to the fantastic; whether you want to search for aliens or get married, just think California and you won’t be disappointed!
If you want to delve into the weird and wonderful while enjoying your time in California, just two short hours outside of Los Angeles lies Palm Springs. Famous for its golf hot spots, sensuous spas and idyllic honeymoons, it also harbours one of the best weird must-sees in the state.
Only a short 20 minute drive up the hill takes you to a nearby desert area, Landers. Located on a magnetic vortex, is a dome shaped building built by George Van Tassel, The Integratron was originally a rejuvenation centre and time machine. The building has not only communicated with Extra Terrestrials, but apparently harbours a magic magnetic energy that leaves visitors stunned! If you want to truly experience the building’s magical energy then head for the Meteor Shower Parties which are sure to leave you buzzing!
California’s vineyards not only produce some of the best wines in the world, but you can also have a wedding with a difference in their midst. Why not surround yourselves with beautiful Merlot and Pinot Noir vines as you say “I do”? A wedding at Gundlach Bundschu Winery has a luscious landscape as its backdrop and the romantic Cave Barrel Room for the most perfect private and intimate setting.
If you’ve got a thrill-seeking streak, you can experience the famous wine country at 120 mph! From the Russian River to Lake Sonoma, you can plummet over some of the most beautiful landscape from more than two miles up on your skydiving adventure before landing near the Alexander Valley Vineyards.
Lake Shasta is the home to some spectacular caves, formed over 250 million years ago. Nowadays, you are able to hop on a catamaran and cruise over the crystal waters to reach them. You can continue your journey up into the hills, spying several of the animals that reside on the pristine mountains such as bald eagles, mountain lions and black bears. Once there, you can enjoy a picnic while the children get involved sluicing for gemstones and fossils. Who knows what they’ll find?
Forget party in the park, if you want to do California with a twist, then it’s all about Monopoly in the Park, and the world’s largest at that! Head to San Jose in California, and in the grounds of a spacious outdoor park, a gigantic 930 square foot Monopoly board with a pair of monster-sized dice awaits. To join in the fun, gamers wear the Monopoly pieces as headgear and move around the board after launching the oversized dice into the air. This game is great fun for families and, if parents get worn out, the park is the perfect place to unwind with a glass of California’s finest wine.
If, after Monopoly, you still haven’t had your toy fix, head to Chico in California for the Yo-Yo Museum. Not only are 80 years of yo-yos on display, but you can admire the world’s largest yo-yo weighing an impressive 256 pounds! That doesn’t sound like it is easy to play with!
If you want to enjoy California’s sunny beach scene with a twist, Huntington Beach is the place for you! Not only is the beach sensationally sandy, but it is the World Record holder for the most riders on one surfboard.
The Golden Coast successfully managed 40 riders on one giant board in 2005, and it had to be hoisted into the sea by crane! A great event to head to in the summer is the US Open Surfing Championships, so if you’re a budding surfer, see if you can rival that record!
Pasadena harbours a dark secret, waiting to be discovered. Built across a canyon linking the San Gabriel Mountains to the Los Angeles River, is the infamous Colorado Street Bridge. The monument is shrouded in mystery, as since 1913, it has been the location of numerous suicides. The admirable structure is now rumoured to be haunted, and visitors speak of a feeling of eeriness when passing over it.
In the North Hills, a 15 foot topiary poodle stands on Plummer Street and Hayvenhurst Avenue, created by resident Brian Welch. Named ‘Ivy Poodle’ the pooch is a true crowd pleaser and even wears a red ribbon collar to celebrate.
Watts Towers in Los Angeles is a centre of art with a difference. Consisting of 17 different and diverse towers, the steel structures are adorned with mosaics made from any materials that were available to the artist, Simon Rodia, at the time. He had no access to any machinery, and so the towers were created using his own ingenuity and simple tools (including a washer’s belt and buckle!)
So these are the top 10 things to do in alternative California! And after your days of exploring everything the state has to offer, remember to unwind with a delicious glass of California wine, to ensure a truly Californian experience!
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