Just some pictures of the bright lights in the big city….
Anyone who knows me knows that I love churches and missions.
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is a National Historic Landmark. The Mission was founded in 1798 and is located in Oceanside, California.
San Luis Rey is known as the “King of the Missions” as it is the largest of the 21 California Missions.
I visited San Luis Rey awhile back and these are some of the pictures I shot. The photos of Jesus and Mary are actual gravemarkers in the Mission’s cemetary.
There is an annual powwow every year which is always a great event.
Some Links:
San Luis Rey Mission: www.sanluisrey.org
Valley of Fire State Park… who knew something so beautiful was a mere 50 miles from all the neon and madness of Las Vegas!?!?
You can reach it from Hwy 15 (via Route 169) or you can go east of Henderson, around Lake Mead and through the park back to the 15. The latter route is beautiful in it’s own right and will take longer to complete. Bring lots of water… it is HOT & DRY.
The red sandstone formations are one of the reasons the park is named Valley of Fire. Petrified wood and Indian petroglyphs are located throughout the park. Dedicated in 1935, Valley of Fire is the oldest and largest state park in Nevada.
The park charges about $6 entrance fee. No lodging or services but you can camp for an additional fee.
Some Links:
Valley of Fire: http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm
Rimrock Ranch is one of the coolest places I have visited.
The ranch is outside of Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree, California a few miles from Pioneertown with four rustic cabins, an airstream and a modern cement/glass desert friendly structure with two bedrooms and a kitchen (aka the Hatch House).
The ranch has a firepit, a “cowboy plunge” and a platform for stargazing or sunbathing.
Jim is one of the nicest people you will ever meet AND if you are lucky… you’ll hear him (and maybe a few friends) singing while playing the instruments in the photo below.
Some Links:
Rim Rock Ranch Cabins: www.rimrockranchcabins.com
“Hatch House”: www.lloyd-russell.com/projects/
