Zip Lines

I heard on the news the other day that Southern California now has its first zip line. Zip lines are popular tourist attractions in Costa Rica, Hawaii and various exotic locations, and now we can zip line in Big Bear.

A zip line basically allows you to "fly"through an area, usually a forest, at tree top altituldes. If you're afraid of heights, this probably isnt' the right activity for you, but if you're the adventurous type, it is definitely something worth considering.

Not sure what the zip lines are like in Big Bear, but if you can't get to Costa Rica or Hawaii, zip lining through Big Bear is a good alternative.
For more info, visit: http://flyingbearziplines.com/

Outdoor Summer Events

Throughout the summer, various cities offer fun & free outdoor activities open to the public. Below, you'll find a few.

In Century City, at the mall, outdoor movie screenings take place every Wednesday at 8pm, starting June 3rd and running through the month of August. Movies include Ghostbusters, Top Gun, and My Fair Lady. For more information, visit: http://westfield.com/centurycity/news/FreeMoviesontheTerraceAllSummer.html

At the Santa Monica Pier, the Twilight Dance Series begins July 2nd and runs through September 3rd. The concerts start at 7pm and end at 10pm. There are various artists that will perform throughout the summer. For more information, visit: http://www.santamonicapier.org/fun.html#1

In Culver City, on Thursday nights from July 9th to September 3rd, the public is invited to attend the 15th Annual Culver City Music Festival. The performances will take place in the City Hall Courtyard and will feature a wide range of artists. Fore more information, visit: http://www.culvercity.org/articles/articles.asp?id=390&sec=arts

At The Grove, you can free all-time family favorite movies under the stars. Bring a blanket (no chairs, please) and enjoy the evening. Thursdays at 8pm, July 2 through August 27. http://www.thegrovela.com/calendar.php

At The Grove, visitors can also enjoy free musical entertainment at The Grove every Friday from 3-6pm; Saturday from 3-6pm and 7-10pm; and Sunday from 3pm-6pm. http://www.thegrovela.com/calendar.php

Sunset Ranch

If you're up for a local adventure, you may want to consider horseback riding at Sunset Ranch in Hollywood. They offer various public and private tours ranging from roughly $60 to $85 per person. A few years ago, I was part of a private tour, which departed Sunset ranch in the early evening, went over the hill into Burbank for dinner at Poquito Mas and then back to the stables.

The tour was about 4 hours and lots of fun, as we were all rookies and had the added thrill of a storm on the way back from dinner. It can get a little nerve wracking at times, particularly when the horses get to close to the edge of the trails, but nothing to worry about...they don't want to fall any more than you do! I highly recommend bringing some friends along for the adventure.

For more information, visit: http://www.sunsetranchhollywood.com/

More Winetasting

I've already written about winetasting in Malibu. If you have more time, however, you may want to consider driving out to Santa Ynez, Los Olivos or Temecula. All offer a nice selection of wineries and a fun day of winetasting. I personally prefer Santa Ynez/Los Olivos, but Temecula is closer, so they each score points.

For either location, you can chose to explore on your own or purchase a tour package from a local operator. If you don't have a designated driver, perhaps you should consider the latter option. Tours start out at about $50 - $60+/per person.

For more information visit, the websites listed below:

Santa Ynez/Los Olivos

http://www.santaynezvalleyvisit.com/

http://www.santabarbara.com/winecountry/

http://www.losolivosca.com/

http://www.experience-wine-country.com/los-olivos-ca.html

Temecula

http://www.temeculawines.org/

http://www.winetastingintemecula.com/