Every year around Memorial Day I see an article about the 100 deadliest travel days of the year. Evidently there are more deadly traffic accidents between Memorial Day and Labor Day than any other 100-day period. In fact, there are almost twice as many accidents during the summer than any other season. When you consider that since weather is unlikely to be a factor in almost all of those accidents, that statistic seems even more grave. What is causing all those accidents? The spike has to be attributed to vacation travel. Since people traveling on vacation would otherwise likely be driving to work, it isn't necessarily the number of cars on the road. However, those cars are driving longer distances on unfamiliar roads. Those factors increase the probability of an accident. However, there are things you can do to decrease the likelihood of your car being involved in such an accident.
1. Don't drive while sleepy! About 15 years ago, I was driving to a campout with some friends. It was late afternoon and the warm sun was making me drowsy. I was about half an hour from my destination, and was going to push on until I got there; but when I suddenly realized that my eyes had drooped closed, I knew it was past time to pull over. I saw a rest stop ahead and was getting ready to pull in when I noticed a bunch of dust billowing up just to the side of the pull-off. As I got closer, the dust started to clear and I saw an SUV lying upside down a few yards off the road. The wheels were still turning and there was the body of a 10-year old girl lying about 30 yards behind the vehicle. I pulled over and jumped out to assess the situation. First I approached the girl, but she wasn't moving. One of my friends checked her pulse and couldn't find one. She wasn't breathing either and blood was oozing out of her mouth. While he checked on her, I ran over to the vehicle. Inside I found a man and his son strapped into their seats, hanging upside down. They were both conscious and didn't appear to have any major injuries. There wasn't any gasoline leaking, so I wasn't worried about an explosion. Other cars began pulling over to help, so I took on the responsibility of calling 911. After making that call, the man, who was still trapped inside the vehicle, asked me to call his wife. That was probably the hardest phone call of my life. A man was doing CPR on her daughter, but I was pretty sure she was already dead. In response to her queries, I informed her that her daughter was receiving CPR, but avoided telling her my speculations. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene about 10 minutes after I did and took over rescue operations, but I heard the man admit that he'd fallen asleep at the wheel. I was literally trembling as I listened to him, knowing that could have easily been me. That experience has taught me to never drive drowsy, no matter how close to my destination I am.
2. Always wear a seat belt! A second lesson I learned from that experience is to make sure my passengers are wearing their seat belts. I developed the habit of buckling up a long time ago, but occasionally I notice that my passengers sometimes need a reminder. The man and the boy in the SUV were both buckled in, and only suffered minor scrapes and bruises. The girl evidently wasn't wearing her seat belt. She was thrown from the car as it rolled, receiving mortal injuries. My grandmother didn't like wearing seat belts because she knew someone who survived an accident because he wasn't wearing a seat belt. However, that was a unique circumstance. The statistics prove that seat belts save lives; so buckle up! And make sure your passengers are buckled up too! For tips on making sure young children are strapped in properly, click here.
3. Avoid distracted driving! About 23 years ago, my wife and I bought our first car together - a white Ford Tempo. Two weeks after buying the car, we were stopped at a red light and were rear-ended by another vehicle. Evidently he was fiddling with the radio, trying to find a station he liked and didn't see that we were stopped until too late. Although new cars are tricked out with features that allow you to do such tasks without your eyes leaving the road, there are more accidents caused by distracted driving today than ever before. The biggest culprit is cell phones. If you get a text or call while driving, ignore it. Your friend doesn't need you to like his or her photo this very second. It will still be there once you arrive at your destination, and you can "like" it then. If you are expecting an important call, pull over. We live in a culture of multi-tasking, but studies show that most jobs done while multi-tasking are much less effective than when they are given our full attention. This is especially true when driving.
4. Friends don't let friends drive drunk! Every 52 minutes (on average) someone in the USA dies as a result of an accident caused by alcohol-impaired driving. That is unacceptable. Despite the number of programs and organizations dedicated to ending drunk driving, this epidemic continues to plague our nation. Remember that "buzzed driving" is drunk driving. Also, driving under the influence of prescription drugs is just as dangerous as drunk driving. If you or a friend has been drinking, don't drive. It isn't worth it.
5. Avoid aggressive driving! Aggressive driving leads to accidents. Driving habits such as speeding, tailgating, cutting off cars, not signaling while changing lanes and even getting angry at other drivers' actions not only lead to a higher number of accidents, they also turn routine accidents into deadly ones. Being courteous as you drive is not only polite, it's much safer. Getting stressed leads to bad decisions; so if someone cuts you off, don't yell or get mad. That won't get you to your destination any faster. Rather, be alert. Defensive driving is the best way to get you to your destination safely.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Spotlight: Los Angeles - Greystone Mansion
Spotlight: Greystone Mansion (aka. Doheny Mansion) was designed by Gordon Kaufman, and built in 1928 in the Tudor Revival style at a cost of more than $3 million. Each of the seven chimneys was designed by a different artist. The estate was a gift by oil magnate Edward Doheny to his son, Edward Doheny Jr. - "Ned." Among the 55 rooms, the mansion included servant's quarters, which accommodated a live-in staff of fifteen. The mansion boasts a Grand Hall with black and white inlaid marble. The ornate living room includes a balcony where musicians would perform for special events. The recreation wing was complete with a theater and a bowling alley. The grounds include beautiful gardens, fountains, kennels, tennis courts, a fire station, swimming pool and a greenhouse.
Ned, his wife Lucy, and their five children lived in the mansion moved into the mansion in 1928. Four months later, Ned died in a guest bedroom as part of a murder-suicide with his secretary Hugh Plunket. The details of the murder remain sketchy, but the official story states that Plunket killed Ned, then took his own life. After Ned's death, his wife re-married, and remained on the estate until 1954.
In 1965, the estate was purchased by the city of Beverly Hills and converted into a public park in 1971. It has appeared in hundreds of movies, TV shows, commercials and music videos, including: National Treasure II, Star Trek 2, all three Spiderman films, The Muppets, X-Men, Batman and Robin, The Bodyguard, The Witches of Eastwick, Ghostbusters II, There Will Be Blood (loosely based on the life of Edward Doheny) and many more.
Location: Greystone Mansion is located at 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA.
Cost: Admission to the grounds is free. Admission to special events may cost extra. Ranger-led tours are available on select dates for $15/person.
Time: The park is open from 10:00 am - 5 pm (Oct.-Mar.) and until 6:00 pm from April - September. Plan on spending about 1-2 hours walking the grounds.
Description: Today, the Greystone Mansion hosts a variety of seasonal cultural events for the city of Beverly Hills. These events are designed for a wide variety of audiences, including: Beverly Hills Flower & Garden Festival, Catskills West Summer Camp, Classics in the Courtyard, Concours d'Elegance, Greystone Tours, Music in the Mansion, Showcase House and The Annual Hollywood Ball.
Unless you are there for a special event, most visitors to the estate explore the grounds on their own. Rangers are often on hand and can answer questions you may have. Anyone can tour the grounds, but you can only tour the mansion for special events. Special two hour ranger led tours are available on select dates, but you must pre-register to join one.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Things You Should Know: - Every year, the mansion is used to perform the play The Manor, written by Kathrine Bates. The Manor is performed by Theatre 40 of Beverly Hills, and takes place in different rooms of the mansion. The audience is split into groups that view scenes in a different order. The plot is a fictionalized drama of the Doheny family, including their involvement in the Teapot Dome Scandal and Ned's murder.
- Greystone Mansion (both interior and exterior) is available to rent for special occasions. The Formal Gardens can comfortably accommodate 400 guests. The Courtyard can accommodate 200 guests. The Pool Area can accommodate 150 guests. The Terrace can accommodate 60 guests.
- The grounds are open seven days a week unless closed for holidays, filming, or special events; so check this site before you go.
- Parking in free.
- One of the chimneys has a red signal light. Because the mansion was so remote, they used it to signal the city if there was an emergency.
Nearby: Virginia Robinson Gardens, Franklin Canyon Park, The Getty Center, Hollywood Bowl
Ned, his wife Lucy, and their five children lived in the mansion moved into the mansion in 1928. Four months later, Ned died in a guest bedroom as part of a murder-suicide with his secretary Hugh Plunket. The details of the murder remain sketchy, but the official story states that Plunket killed Ned, then took his own life. After Ned's death, his wife re-married, and remained on the estate until 1954.
In 1965, the estate was purchased by the city of Beverly Hills and converted into a public park in 1971. It has appeared in hundreds of movies, TV shows, commercials and music videos, including: National Treasure II, Star Trek 2, all three Spiderman films, The Muppets, X-Men, Batman and Robin, The Bodyguard, The Witches of Eastwick, Ghostbusters II, There Will Be Blood (loosely based on the life of Edward Doheny) and many more.
Location: Greystone Mansion is located at 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA.
Cost: Admission to the grounds is free. Admission to special events may cost extra. Ranger-led tours are available on select dates for $15/person.
Time: The park is open from 10:00 am - 5 pm (Oct.-Mar.) and until 6:00 pm from April - September. Plan on spending about 1-2 hours walking the grounds.
Description: Today, the Greystone Mansion hosts a variety of seasonal cultural events for the city of Beverly Hills. These events are designed for a wide variety of audiences, including: Beverly Hills Flower & Garden Festival, Catskills West Summer Camp, Classics in the Courtyard, Concours d'Elegance, Greystone Tours, Music in the Mansion, Showcase House and The Annual Hollywood Ball.
Unless you are there for a special event, most visitors to the estate explore the grounds on their own. Rangers are often on hand and can answer questions you may have. Anyone can tour the grounds, but you can only tour the mansion for special events. Special two hour ranger led tours are available on select dates, but you must pre-register to join one.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Things You Should Know: - Every year, the mansion is used to perform the play The Manor, written by Kathrine Bates. The Manor is performed by Theatre 40 of Beverly Hills, and takes place in different rooms of the mansion. The audience is split into groups that view scenes in a different order. The plot is a fictionalized drama of the Doheny family, including their involvement in the Teapot Dome Scandal and Ned's murder.
- Greystone Mansion (both interior and exterior) is available to rent for special occasions. The Formal Gardens can comfortably accommodate 400 guests. The Courtyard can accommodate 200 guests. The Pool Area can accommodate 150 guests. The Terrace can accommodate 60 guests.
- The grounds are open seven days a week unless closed for holidays, filming, or special events; so check this site before you go.
- Parking in free.
- One of the chimneys has a red signal light. Because the mansion was so remote, they used it to signal the city if there was an emergency.
Nearby: Virginia Robinson Gardens, Franklin Canyon Park, The Getty Center, Hollywood Bowl
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Spotlight: Los Angeles - Getty Center
Spotlight: The Getty Center is a campus of the Getty Museum. After J. Paul Getty died in 1976, his entire estate was turned over to the Getty Trust. When the Getty Collection outgrew the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades (Getty's property), it was decided to open a new branch known as the Getty Center. A beautiful site was chosen among the Santa Monica Mountains, and Richard Meier was chosen as the architect tasked with designing it. The Center was built at a cost of $1.3 billion and opened to public in 1997.
The Center branch of the Museum features pre-20th Century European paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. The center also features a photograph collection from the Americas, Europe and Asia, dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to the indoor galleries, several gardens beautify the grounds surrounding the museums. The large Central Garden was designed by Robert Irwin.
Location: The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA, just west of the 405 Freeway.
Cost: Admission is free; Parking - $15; $10 after 3:00 pm
Time: Open Tues.-Friday & Sunday from 10:00-5:30; Saturday from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm.; Plan on spending anywhere between 2-5 hours.
Description: The museum's collection of European paintings, drawings and sculptures are on display in four main pavilions, arranged roughly by era and nationality. The North Pavilion displays the collections art from the early Renaissance era (prior to 1600). The East Pavilion primary features primarily 17th century Baroque art as well as sculptures and Italian decorative arts from 1600-1800. The South Pavilion displays 18th century paintings and the majority of the museum's European decorative arts.The West Pavilion displays sculpture and Italian decorative arts from the 1700's - 1900, including Neoclassical, Romantic, and Symbolist sculpture. It is also the home to the Center for Photographs, which are constantly being rotated in order to avoid permanent damage due to excessive exposure to light. Some of the more famous paintings include: Irises (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh, Arii Matamoe (1892) by Paul Gauguin, and Portrait of a Halberdier (1530) by Pontormo, as well as additional Van Goghs and some Monets.
The Getty Research Institute offers changing exhibits of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, artist's notebooks and other materials from the Museum's special collections.
The Exhibitions Pavilion displays from collections on loan from other museums around the world. When we were there, the special exhibit was the Cave Temples of Dunhuang, which included exact 1:1 replicas of 3 of the caves found along the Silk Road that were used by travelers along the route. Of the 1,000+ caves, about half of them had artifacts such as statues, paintings, scrolls, etc. The exhibit also included a 3-D movie on another cave, complete with detailed descriptions of the items found inside. It was spectacular.
Modern and contemporary sculptures are on display throughout the gardens. The 134,000 sq. foot Central Garden contains more than 500 varieties of plants used in the landscaping. It features a natural ravine and a beautiful tree-lined walkway which meander along streams, a waterfall a pool, and lush vegetation. Unfortunately, because of traffic, we didn't have time to explore them.
Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5), although the traffic to and from the Center gets -5 stars
Things You Should Know: - The Getty is closed on Mondays.
- A computer-operated tram takes you from street-level (one level up from the parking garage) up the hill to the museum. If you prefer to walk, there is a pedestrian sidewalk about 3/4 of a mile in length - but steep. It will take about 15 -20 minutes to walk it.
- To schedule a group tour of Research Institute exhibitions, please e-mail GRIconnect@getty.edu.
- The Getty Center has a companion facility known as The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades.
- Traffic getting to and from the Getty Center can be frustrating. Also, if the parking lot is full, you will be turned away and told to return at a later time.
- Not all artwork on display is PG.
Nearby: UCLA, Will Rogers State Historic Park, Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park, Rodeo Drive
The Center branch of the Museum features pre-20th Century European paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. The center also features a photograph collection from the Americas, Europe and Asia, dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to the indoor galleries, several gardens beautify the grounds surrounding the museums. The large Central Garden was designed by Robert Irwin.
Location: The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA, just west of the 405 Freeway.
Cost: Admission is free; Parking - $15; $10 after 3:00 pm
Time: Open Tues.-Friday & Sunday from 10:00-5:30; Saturday from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm.; Plan on spending anywhere between 2-5 hours.
Description: The museum's collection of European paintings, drawings and sculptures are on display in four main pavilions, arranged roughly by era and nationality. The North Pavilion displays the collections art from the early Renaissance era (prior to 1600). The East Pavilion primary features primarily 17th century Baroque art as well as sculptures and Italian decorative arts from 1600-1800. The South Pavilion displays 18th century paintings and the majority of the museum's European decorative arts.The West Pavilion displays sculpture and Italian decorative arts from the 1700's - 1900, including Neoclassical, Romantic, and Symbolist sculpture. It is also the home to the Center for Photographs, which are constantly being rotated in order to avoid permanent damage due to excessive exposure to light. Some of the more famous paintings include: Irises (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh, Arii Matamoe (1892) by Paul Gauguin, and Portrait of a Halberdier (1530) by Pontormo, as well as additional Van Goghs and some Monets.
The Getty Research Institute offers changing exhibits of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, artist's notebooks and other materials from the Museum's special collections.
The Exhibitions Pavilion displays from collections on loan from other museums around the world. When we were there, the special exhibit was the Cave Temples of Dunhuang, which included exact 1:1 replicas of 3 of the caves found along the Silk Road that were used by travelers along the route. Of the 1,000+ caves, about half of them had artifacts such as statues, paintings, scrolls, etc. The exhibit also included a 3-D movie on another cave, complete with detailed descriptions of the items found inside. It was spectacular.
Modern and contemporary sculptures are on display throughout the gardens. The 134,000 sq. foot Central Garden contains more than 500 varieties of plants used in the landscaping. It features a natural ravine and a beautiful tree-lined walkway which meander along streams, a waterfall a pool, and lush vegetation. Unfortunately, because of traffic, we didn't have time to explore them.
Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5), although the traffic to and from the Center gets -5 stars
Things You Should Know: - The Getty is closed on Mondays.
- A computer-operated tram takes you from street-level (one level up from the parking garage) up the hill to the museum. If you prefer to walk, there is a pedestrian sidewalk about 3/4 of a mile in length - but steep. It will take about 15 -20 minutes to walk it.
- To schedule a group tour of Research Institute exhibitions, please e-mail GRIconnect@getty.edu.
- The Getty Center has a companion facility known as The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades.
- Traffic getting to and from the Getty Center can be frustrating. Also, if the parking lot is full, you will be turned away and told to return at a later time.
- Not all artwork on display is PG.
Nearby: UCLA, Will Rogers State Historic Park, Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park, Rodeo Drive
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Spotlight:Southern California - Mount San Jacinto State Park
Spotlight: At 10,834 feet, Mt. San Jacinto is the second tallest peak in southern California. Although it towers more than 8,000 feet over the surrounding desert, it isn't as inaccessible as it may appear. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in nearby Palm Springs takes visitors from Valley Station (2,643 feet) to Mountain Station (8,516 feet). At Mountain Station, visitors can enjoy the State Park Visitor Center, a restaurant, gift shop, snack bar and bird's eye views of Palm Springs. Nearby Long Valley Ranger Station provides access to a picnic area with BBQ grills, a ski center, a self-guided nature trail, and the Desert View Trail. From here you can access wilderness area, with a permit, that will allow you to camp or hike the Pacific Crest Trail to the top of Mt. San Jacinto where you feel like you're on top of the world.
Location: Mount San Jacinto State Park is in Idyllwild, just west of Palm Springs. It is accessible via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Cost: Tram tickets are $29.95/adult; $16.95/child (3-12); and $23.95/senior (65+). Day-use wilderness permits are free. Overnight wilderness permits cost $5/person. Parking is $5/vehicle.
Time: Park office hours are from 10am-4pm (Monday-Friday) and 8am-4pm (Saturday & Sunday). If you just go for the tram ride, plan on spending between 1-4 hours. If you want to hike to the summit, it will take most of the day, or you can split it up over two days if you want to take your time.
Description: The tram ride from Valley Station to Mountain Station takes 12 1/2 minutes. The tram floor rotates giving everyone a rotating view of the valley and mountain. We were able to carry our loaded packs on the tram with us.
With our wilderness permits in hand, we hiked two miles to Round Valley where we camped for the night. The girls slept in a tent, while the guys slept under the stars, which were gorgeous.
In the morning, we donned our day packs and hiked the 3.3 miles to the summit. Along the way, we signed our names in the guest register of a 1930's cabin.
After spending about half an hour at the peak, we hiked back to our campsite, packed up our stuff and headed back to the valley on the tram.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Things You Should Know: - "To ensure the preservation of the natural environment and assure the visitor of a quality visitor experience, the Department of Parks and Recreation has instituted a Wilderness Permit system; everyone entering the wilderness area for the day or for camping must have a permit in their possession. Day use wilderness permits are free and are available at the State Park Headquarters in Idyllwild or at the Long Valley Ranger Station. Applications for overnight permits will be accepted up to 56 days (8 weeks) in advance; if you apply by mail, send your request in at least 10 days in advance. Sorry, no telephone or FAX requests can be accepted."
- Click here to access Wilderness Permit applications. Groups are limited to 15 people, and must have an adult. No dogs are allowed.
- If you are unaccustomed to high elevation, you may want to be prepared with medication to deal with possible high altitude sickness.
- The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. It runs about every 30 minutes.
- The temperature on the mountain can be as much as 40 degrees cooler than temperature on the valley floor, so be prepared with jackets or sweatshirts.
Nearby: Wet 'n' Wild Palm Springs water park, Sunnylands Center & Gardens, Desert Willow Golf Resort, Coachella Valley Preserve
Location: Mount San Jacinto State Park is in Idyllwild, just west of Palm Springs. It is accessible via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Cost: Tram tickets are $29.95/adult; $16.95/child (3-12); and $23.95/senior (65+). Day-use wilderness permits are free. Overnight wilderness permits cost $5/person. Parking is $5/vehicle.
Time: Park office hours are from 10am-4pm (Monday-Friday) and 8am-4pm (Saturday & Sunday). If you just go for the tram ride, plan on spending between 1-4 hours. If you want to hike to the summit, it will take most of the day, or you can split it up over two days if you want to take your time.
Description: The tram ride from Valley Station to Mountain Station takes 12 1/2 minutes. The tram floor rotates giving everyone a rotating view of the valley and mountain. We were able to carry our loaded packs on the tram with us.
With our wilderness permits in hand, we hiked two miles to Round Valley where we camped for the night. The girls slept in a tent, while the guys slept under the stars, which were gorgeous.
In the morning, we donned our day packs and hiked the 3.3 miles to the summit. Along the way, we signed our names in the guest register of a 1930's cabin.
After spending about half an hour at the peak, we hiked back to our campsite, packed up our stuff and headed back to the valley on the tram.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Things You Should Know: - "To ensure the preservation of the natural environment and assure the visitor of a quality visitor experience, the Department of Parks and Recreation has instituted a Wilderness Permit system; everyone entering the wilderness area for the day or for camping must have a permit in their possession. Day use wilderness permits are free and are available at the State Park Headquarters in Idyllwild or at the Long Valley Ranger Station. Applications for overnight permits will be accepted up to 56 days (8 weeks) in advance; if you apply by mail, send your request in at least 10 days in advance. Sorry, no telephone or FAX requests can be accepted."
- Click here to access Wilderness Permit applications. Groups are limited to 15 people, and must have an adult. No dogs are allowed.
- If you are unaccustomed to high elevation, you may want to be prepared with medication to deal with possible high altitude sickness.
- The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. It runs about every 30 minutes.
- The temperature on the mountain can be as much as 40 degrees cooler than temperature on the valley floor, so be prepared with jackets or sweatshirts.
Nearby: Wet 'n' Wild Palm Springs water park, Sunnylands Center & Gardens, Desert Willow Golf Resort, Coachella Valley Preserve
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