mY suMmeR vActi0n

I spent about 3-4 hours on a "What I did on summer vacation" post which somehow got deleted – here's a quick redo with far less links, but if you travel the I-5 corridor very often you might want to check these places out..

What did you all do on vacation this year (or are going to do)? Here's some of my vacation which brings to view a couple of recommendations and questions.

Recommendation: Bennett's Honey Farm

http://bennetthoney.com/default.aspx

Bennett's Honey Farm near Fillmore is a small blue building North of LA, West of I-5 (15 miles?) and on Highway 126. It's pretty easy to find since they have huge signs for it on the highway (126).

Going through the front door puts you in a small room with all the honey and bee themed stuff this place sells. They have books, stuffed animals, candles, beeswax beauty supplies, and (of course) honey. In the middle of the room, there is a container of wooden sticks and tasting jars to sample the honey. The "Canadian red Clover" is to die for. Best honey and most reasonably priced you’ll find. Don’t miss this if you like honey. I bought 5 gallons last year.

Question: I-5 & Fink Road and the 20-foot high fence.

What in thunderation is a 20 foot high fence doing in the middle of nowhere. I’ve been going to LA for about the last 15 years and always see this fence, you can’t miss it. Every fence from here (Portland) to San Diego is 4–5 feet except this one. It’s barren out here way north of Fresno, there is nothing here and If you were dying of thirst they’d give you a stick of gum (think Dune).

Recommendation: The Olive Pit

http://www.olivepit.com/

There are several olive tasting places near Corning. I’ve tried a few and Olive Pit is the best.

You can’t miss this, it’s literally a block from I-5 with signs posted. Even if you don’t want to buy any olives you can taste to your hearts content. Usually about 15 flavors to try with about 30 more behind the glass they will gladly open at your request. Yikes, I spent 262.72 here this year, jalapeno stuffed, almond stuffed, garlic stuffed and tons more.

Question: Le dejeuner, 1873 by Claude Monet

This print was hanging in my hotel room.

I’ve seen this painting (print) before. What in the world is the "black monkey/court jester" looking thing, hanging from what looks like something out of The abyss??? I’ve googled this to pieces.

Portland Bedge restaurant recommends:

Right before vacation there was a restaurant post on the main page. I was packing at the time of the post, but here’s what I could get for easy cut and paste for those who would like a more printer friendly version.

These are all from the main page except for a couple pizza joints which I threw in ‘cause they looked interesting, and I know you all like pizza.

You’re good (sort of) and imma let you finish Apizza Scholls, but Pizza Factory in Shasta Lake has the best pizza of all time…of all time.

4432 Shasta Dam Blvd
Shasta Lake, CA 96019-9418
(530) 275-4455

 map

Shasta Lake borders the North end of Redding CA. A must stop if you like pizza. Drop in on a Thursday night for karaoke.

Last but not least: The Tarzana Inn.

I stayed 10 days in this quaint little Hotel in Tarzana CA (wait a sec if you follow the link and several shots of the place will rotate in). Lots of nice shrubbery around a small pool. Call ahead and ask for a poolside room. Goes for over $100 a night but they gave it to me for $89.

The owner is nice and lends his books. He likes adventures. If you can’t finish it, you can just take it home with you, free of charge. I’m finishing the Clive/Dirk Cussler's novel Artic Drift right now at home.