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The yo-yo can trace its origins back thousands of years to China, but it's truly an American icon, having first taken the country by storm in the 1930's, and again in the sixties and seventies. And while the yo-yo's popularity rises and falls with the times (sorry), there's one place it's always in fashion: the National Yo-Yo Museum. This quirky museum in downtown Chico, California boasts the world's largest public display of yo-yos, which is saying a lot. Come and see displays relating to the history of the yo-yo, an amazing range of yo-yos throughout the ages, and even the world's largest working yo-yo, the Big-Yo (pictured), which weighs in at a whopping 256 pounds. I'd like to see the yo-yo master who can "walk the dog" with that one. Museum admission is free, and tours are given every day that talk about the pioneers and superstars of this fascinating pastime. The museum is also the site of the National Yo-Yo Contest every October, when participants from around the world gather to show off their skills in five different divisions. If you're thinking about entering, you'd better start training now, because these guys and gals can do some amazing things with yo-yos. Guests at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel with a fondness for these tiny toys might enjoy a visit to this truly unique destination.
Recently in California Category
Have Your Ups and Downs at the National Yo-Yo Museum
Thursday August 28, 2008
MoreStarwood Insider - Lucy Williams - Hunt for the Roaming Gnome
Friday July 25, 2008
Lucy Williams is an Orlando-based writer for Starwood Vacation Ownership and thelobby.com's expert on the subject.
The Travelocity Roaming Gnome is on another adventure, and this time he has been seen at several different Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts. When you stay at one of these resorts in 2008, you can go on a Roaming Gnome scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes. Roaming Gnomes will be hidden in secret spots around the resorts. Participants will receive a clue sheet with hints as to where they are hiding. Once you complete your clue sheet, you can redeem it for a prize at the resort. You will also be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a five-day, four-night resort stay, plus two airline tickets worth up to $750 each. The contest began on May 1 and will continue through the end of 2008. The grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the year.
Participating Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts are: Sheraton Vistana Villages and Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando, Florida; The Westin St. John Resort & Villas in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands; The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas in Maui, Hawai'i; The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas in Kaua'i, Hawai'i; The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Villas in Rancho Mirage, California; Sheraton Desert Oasis and The Westin Kierland Villas in Scottsdale, Arizona; Sheraton Mountain Vista in Avon, Colorado; Sheraton Broadway Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Vistana's Beach Club in Jensen Beach, Florida.
San Diego's Comic-Con
Friday July 25, 2008
If you're in San Diego this weekend and you're even a tiny bit interested in comic books and science fiction, you've got to make your way to the San Diego Convention Center, because Comic-Con 2008 is taking the city by storm. Laugh if you will, but comics and their related pursuits are big business, and the San Diego comic convention is the largest of its kind in the world, welcoming 125,000 attendees during its four-day run. Founded in 1970 as a venue for comic collectors to swap books and make connections, today Comic-Con has booths and exhibits related to animation, Japanese anime and manga, video games, toys, collectibles and even some daily monsters (see video). Seminars and workshops featuring comic artists and graphic designers will be held throughout the long weekend, along with film screenings, awards ceremonies, and the Masquerade costume contest. This year's roster of speakers include Max Brooks, renowned zombie expert and son of entertainer Mel Brooks. With words of wisdom from the author of the Zombie Survival Guide, it's sure to be an unforgettable event. Comic-Con is just minutes from several Starwood properties, including the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, the W San Diego, and the U.S. Grant, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
Nautical Adventures in Dana Point, California
Monday June 9, 2008
The town of Dana Point, California is named after legendary 19th century seafarer and author Richard Henry Dana, Jr., whose book Two Years Before the Mast captivated readers with its descriptions of action, adventure, and hard labor on the high seas. Today, visitors to this charming Pacific coast town can connect with its maritime history in a number of ways at the Dana Point Ocean Institute. The Institute is more than just an aquarium with a few exhibits on plankton, it's an immersive learning environment with activities both on land and on the water that teach visitors about the natural creatures that populate the nearby harbor and ocean. During the week, the center is restricted to student groups, but on weekends, its hands-on marine science exhibits and environmental education and maritime history programs are open to the public. And after you've seen the facility, you can hit the high seas on one of the center's three research vessels. The R/V Sea Explorer has all the latest high-tech oceanographic equipment, and the topsail schooner Spirit of Dana Point is perfect for at-sea programs, for those afternoons of dolphin sightings. But you'll definitely want to catch a ride on the Pilgrim, a replica of Dana's ship that takes groups out on sailing journeys. The Institute is just seven minutes away from the luxurious St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - Celebrate Culver City
Friday May 2, 2008May has arrived, which in Los Angeles, marks the beginning of summer. The sunny days make the streets come alive with bikers and skaters, while the oceans are busy with surfers; sidewalk tables are rammed and already daily sunblock is a necessity. Everyone is predicting what's hot for the season. One thing I know is certain: the summer of 2008 is going to have Culver City written all over it. In the past decade, a number of daring bars, restaurants and art galleries opened in this once sleepy neighborhood nestled between Downtown LA and Santa Monica, previously known as a suburban enclave and home of the original MGM Studios, now Sony Pictures. A traveler's trip to downtown Culver City often meant either a pilgrimage to the Museum of Jurassic Technology, the legendary ephemera museum, or a quick jaunt to admire the facade used for Tara in Gone with the Wind. One thing was guaranteed. Parking was never a problem. But something clicked with the revitalization of Culver Boulevard's small promenade a few years back and the remodeling of the nearby Helms Bakery. As time has gone on, more and more restaurants, stores and galleries have opened and they have become conceptually the most daring in the city. Culver City's downtown area, just a short drive from the Four Points by Sheraton Westside, is an essential destination.
Since the beginning of the year, the neighborhood has experienced two major additions: the opening of the green gourmet restaurant Akasha and the concept shop/gallery/future eaterie Royal T, both outstanding contributions to a neighborhood buzzing with the hot restaurant of the year, Jason and MIho Travi's Fraiche. Akasha is the first bakery/bar/restaurant of chef Akasha Richmond and is a lovely take on local, organic comfort food in a painstaking environmentally conscious atmosphere. Every detail in the restaurant has taken being green in mind, from the reconstruction of the old space to the waiter's uniforms. While tables may be getting difficult to come by, the generously sized bar makes for a sophisticated setting with large lamps keeping the space unusually private. Their humorously named house cocktails all seem to possess some anti-oxidant ingredients, but while tasty, it's the food, including a La Quercia prosciutto pizza with arugula, dark figs and blue cheese that is most worth adopting. One must also appreciate the subtle addition of a screen above the bar looping the film, The Wizard of Oz, shot just up the road long ago.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - The Goin & Lentz Food Tour
Friday May 2, 2008
Suzanne Goin and her husband David Lentz are LA restaurant royalty. Between the two of them, the couple is involved in three of the city's top restaurants: Lucques, A.O.C. and The Hungry Cat. And when the SLS at Beverly Hills opens later this summer, you'll be well situated to try all three.
At Lucques you'll find a laid-back luxury that earned it Best Restaurant honors from Los Angeles Magazine. You'll find French and Mediterranean dishes that delight, in a setting that accommodates both celebs and special occasion diners. And just because it's chic doesn't mean it's unaffordable: the Sunday Supper prix fixe is only $40 per person, and all but guaranteed to fill you up.
A.O.C. also made LA Mag's list at #28. It takes two trends — the wine bar and the tapas bar — and merges them beautifully, with phenomenal small plates and a wine list to match.
Last but not least, The Hungry Cat is a hotspot for seafood, with a focus on fresh and seasonal catches (this is one of the few places on the West Coast where you'll find stone crab claws fresh from Florida). The stylish, casual space includes a long raw bar offering up several varieties of fresh oysters, as well as a cocktail bar that knows how to mix a proper drink. Their list of specialties changes with the seasons just like the fish, I suggest you check out the blood orange negroni, while our editor Carly simply swears by their greyhound proper with candied grapefruit.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - Fun and Fitness on the South Bay Bicycle Trail
Thursday May 1, 2008
Plenty of people see the beach as a place to relax, kick back on a blanket, and take in the sun. Not me. I get restless if I sit around for too long, which is why I find Los Angeles to be such a perfect beach destination. Of LA's many excellent beaches, Santa Monica stands out as a favorite for active types thanks to its wonderful bike path. The South Bay Bicycle trail is the perfect way to enjoy the very best of the beach, stretching 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in the north to Torrance County Beach in the south. The trail is perhaps best approached from Santa Monica State Beach, which has bike rental shops where you can pick up a mountain bike, beach cruiser, or even a cushy recumbent bike, which allows you to sit back and enjoy the scenery as you cruise along the seashore.
Then, where you go depends on what you're into. Head up to Malibu to see the natural beauty of the California coastline and some of the more expensive homes in the country, or roll on down to Venice Beach, the eclectic inspiration for everyone from Tony Alva of Dogtown and Z-Boys fame to the Big Lebowski to scores of magicians, mimes, singers, dancers, jugglers and our editor, Carly. Stop for a snack at the many outdoor cafes (ed. note, the lemonade at Hot Dog on a Stick next to the Santa Monica Pier is worth the stop) or continue chugging along all the way to Marina del Rey. Wherever you wind up, you'll be getting a great workout, taking in some California sunshine (don't forget the sunblock), and experiencing the entire range of beach eye candy. The Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica Hotel is located four blocks above the Santa Monica shoreline, just steps from your two-wheeled California adventure.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - A Day at the Getty Villa
Thursday May 1, 2008In 79 AD, the Villa dei Papiri, a superb residence bursting with exquisite frescoes and lush gardens, overlooking the Bay of Naples, was buried by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In the 1960s, the oil investor J. Paul Getty, decided to construct a replica of the abode, not to live in, but to provide the perfect museum for his vast collection of art and antiquities. Getty died in 1976, and never saw the finished product, but today, the magnificent structure rising from a narrow canyon on the Pacific Coastal Highway in Malibu, is the only museum devoted to Greek, Roman, and Etrurian art and antiquities in the nation.
The Getty Villa is a wonderful place to spend a day roaming the marble laden galleries and gardens and feel like a Roman aristocrat. Organized by theme, the 1,200 artifacts that can be displayed within the 48,000 square feet of gallery space at any one time, are arranged into sections like "Stories of the Trojan War," "Gods and Goddesses," and "Dionysos and the Theater." Visitors, who enjoy free admission, but must secure a timed ticket in advance, traverse easily between indoor and outdoor areas, making their way eventually to the villa's lovely cafe, one of the many education programs that occur throughout the year, or even to the villa's outdoor theater where they can take in a Greek play. When the day of ancient exploration comes to an end, find your way back to the conveniences of modern civilization at the W Los Angeles - Westwood, an urban sanctuary, just ten miles away.
Starpick the W San Francisco
Wednesday April 9, 2008There's simply no bad time for a trip to San Francisco. No matter what the weather decides to do, the city has a warmth and dynamism that makes every visit exciting and memorable. So if you feel like spending some quality time in San Francisco in the very near future, click on over to the Starpicks site. The W San Francisco is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends, so it won't take too much green to find yourself in the "City by the Bay." The W San Francisco is located in the trendy SoMa (South of Market) neighborhood, just steps from some of the city's greatest attractions. Start your day with a stroll through nearby Union Square, with its many shops and galleries, and then enjoy some Far East cuisine for lunch in Chinatown. A springtime afternoon is perfect for a visit to Fisherman's Wharf or Ghirardelli Square, but if you're looking for something a bit more offbeat, check out the Exploratorium. This quirky museum dedicated to "science, art, and human perception" is located in the Palace of Fine Arts, and features interactive exhibits ranging from the Tactile Dome and the Mind Collection to the off-site Wave Organ, a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty in the bay. It's out of this world. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list often to find the destination that's right for you.
Searching For John Steinbeck In California
Monday March 31, 2008The seaside town of Monterey, California has a lot more going for it than a picturesque location by the Pacific Ocean. It happens to figure prominently in the work of one of the most talented American authors of the 20th century. John Steinbeck wrote lovingly about Monterey in such books as "Cannery Row," "Tortilla Flat," and the often-overlooked nonfiction classic "The Log from the Sea of Cortez." Over the past half century, Monterey has become a literary destination for fans of the prolific author who did so much to chronicle the American experience. There are sites of interest to Steinbeck fans all over town, from Fisherman's Wharf and Tortilla Flat to the actual Cannery Row that inspired the 1945 novel of the same name. Walking tour itineraries are available so you don't miss a thing, and you'll no doubt find a nice restaurant to enjoy a fresh seafood lunch along the way. If you've still got time after a day in Monterey, drive up to Salinas, California for a visit to the John Steinbeck Center. Located in the heart of Steinbeck country (he was born in Salinas), the center has interactive, multi-sensory exhibits that bring his work to life. Perhaps you'll even meet some Steinbeck fans! The Sheraton Sunnyvale Hotel is eighty miles from Monterey and seventy miles from Salinas.
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