TRAVELPHOTOBOX

The Battleship USS Iowa is the West Coast’s only battleship museum at the San Pedro waterfront, California . This huge battleship is a naval museum that honors and illustrates the contributions of the USS Iowa and its crew at important moments in American history. Built in 1940, the Iowa was an important part of the Navy fleet for five decades. The battleship, nicknamed “The Big Stick,” saw action for four decades in World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Cold War. The ship was decommissioned in 1990 and then served as a training and reserve vessel until arriving in Los Angeles in 2012. Visitors follow a single route that passes through a wardroom, the vessels upper decks and the captain’s quarters.

Crystal Lake is the only natural lake in the San Gabriel Mountains , in northern Los Angeles County. The lake is settled in a bowl below the granite crags surrounding Mount Hawkins . Severe  drought  in California has nearly dried out Crystal Lake. Only snow and spring rain feds it and it has no other artificial means of being replenished. It is open year round. 🐟 Following a good rainy season, the lake may be stocked with fish, typically rainbow trout .

South Mount Hawkins is a 7,783 foot mountain peak in the San Gabriel Mountains , contained within the Angeles National Forest . The mountain was named for Nellie Hawkins , a popular waitress at a local cafe in the early 20th century. This route starts at the  Crystal Lake Recreation Area .  The Crystal Lake basin is flanked on three sides by towering mountains forming a giant horseshoe. From the trailhead, the Windy Gap Trail ascends and you will shortly encounter a road crossing ( Crystal Lake Road ). Pick up the marked trail on the other side. The path is well-designed and easy to follow. Soon you will find again the Crystal Lake Road . This intersection marks the start of our loop. Now we leave the Windy Gap Trail and continue along the zigzagging Crystal Lake Road that takes to the top of South Mount Hawkins . It has one of the finest views of the peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains .  ⚠  There are washouts along the way and it is strewn with r...

The Allison Gulch Falls  is a hidden place in the San Gabriel Mountains , near Los Angeles . Most people go to the Bridge to Nowhere , but they do not know the existence of this beautiful waterfall . The main reason is that there is no marked path. The route begins at the East Fork Parking Lot . Keep in mind that this is a popular spot. It is best to arrive early if you want to park here. The trail is mostly gradual and follows the West Fork of the San Gabriel River . Some sections of the trail require crossing the riverbed. 📌 Remnants of the partially built East Fork Road are still visible in some sections of the trail. San Gabriel River After walk about three miles, you will arrive at Allison Gulch . It's the next major tributary after Laurel Gulch.  Allison Gulch plunges steeply from mighty Iron Mountain before merging with the East Fork San Gabriel River .  Now, we leave the main road and go up along Allison Gulch . There is no trail...

We recently returned from a weekend hiking trip in the  Angeles National Forest . We camped for twoo nights in   Coldbrook campground . Is a 20-site campground, first-come first-serve, for $12 per night. Fire rings, picnic tables, toilets and drinking water are provided.  Coldbrook campground  it is open all year. We camp with our  Quechua ARPENAZ 4 family tent . It's easy mounting if there are two of you, a bit more difficult if just one person doing all the job. Certainly strong and waterproof . This tent is very comfy with a spacious sleeping area and a good size porch for sitting in. We find the Arpenaz is a great size for two but three people would probably be fine if you don't take too much stuff. In the next video you will see how we set up this tent:

The Ocean Trails Ecological Reserve is part of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve . There are 54-acre park just waiting to be explored! We follow a trail through the shoreline to Abalone Cove . The trailhead is located at W 25th St Rd . Different paths take you to the edge of the cliff, connecting with Catalina Trail . It is a pathway adjacent to Trump National Golf Course  along the cliff side with various paths also leading down to the rocky shore below. After reaching the end of the beach you will see a dirt road that takes you up the hillside, this is Dudleya Trail . Trailhead Now, the  Catalina Trail continues until it reaches Rancho Palos Verdes Beach . It is an approximately a mile and a half of rocky and sandy beach located beneath Trump National Golf Course . Continue walking north to a private beach at Portuguese Bend Beach Club . ❗ Anyone can walk the beach in front of the club. Just stay back from the private facilities.  ...

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is an approximately 1,300 acre coastal estuary in the city of Huntington Beach , California. A three-mile trail system offers outdoor activity and immersion in nature. There are two entrances, each with parking and portable restrooms. An interpretive center operated by the Bolsa Chica Conservancy is located by the north parking lot. In World War II, a portion of the wetlands was used by troops to watch for enemy attacks. The facility is now a protected wetland. A large part of reserve is also one of the most biodiverse regions in California . Habitats include mudflats, coastal dunes, seabird nesting islands and freshwater marsh. More than 200 avian species have been identified at Bolsa Chica so it offers great bird photography opportunities all year long. In fact, more than 75% of bird species that live in California have been spotted in these wetlands. We could see birds such as herons , ducks , hummingbirds , seagulls , pelic...

The Space Shuttle is the only winged manned spacecraft to have achieved orbit and land, and the only reusable space vehicle that has ever made multiple flights into orbit. The Space Shuttle Endeavour was the fifth and final orbiter to be built. On October 30, 2012, the California Science Center became the permanent home of the Endeavour . General admission to the California Science Center is free to the public but visiting the Endeavour requires a ticket, which only costs $2. The Endeavour exhibit shows the story of the American space exploration program. You may stay in the exhibition as long as you like. The museum displays the shuttle horizontally while it builds the Air and Space Center. When that center opens, the shuttle will be on display in its vertical launch position, as though it’s ready for take-off.