#Scenic drive from LA to Julian

[creativity-island]

Ride with me Los Angeles to Julian California! 🍎 🍏

Ride with me Los Angeles to Julian California! 🍎 🍏

[sandiegoautorentals]

San Diego Auto Rentals

Introduction :

San Diego, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and year-round sunshine, is a dream destination for many travelers. To fully immerse yourself in the city’s charm and explore its countless attractions, renting a car is the ideal choice. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to San Diego auto rentals, ensuring you have all the information you need for an unforgettable adventure.

Convenience and Freedom :

Renting a car in San Diego offers unparalleled convenience and freedom. Whether you’re arriving at the San Diego International Airport or exploring the city from your hotel, car rental agencies are readily available throughout the city. Having your own wheels allows you to tailor your itinerary to your preferences, granting you the flexibility to visit popular attractions like Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and the USS Midway Museum at your own pace.

Finding the Right Rental Company :

When choosing a car rental company in San Diego, it’s important to consider factors such as reputation, pricing, and available vehicle options. Major national chains like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise have branches in San Diego, providing reliable services. Additionally, local rental companies like Pacific Rent-A-Car and San Diego Auto Rentals offer competitive rates and personalized customer service. Online platforms such as Expedia, Kayak, and Rentalcars.com can help you compare prices and find the best deals. Be sure to read customer reviews and check for any hidden fees before making your reservation.

Requirements and Policies :

To rent a car in San Diego, you must meet certain requirements. Generally, renters must be at least 21 years old, although some companies may require drivers to be 25 years or older. International visitors will need a valid driver’s license from their home country along with an International Driving Permit (IDP) if their license is not in English. Rental companies may also request a credit card and a refundable security deposit. It’s crucial to understand the rental company’s policies regarding mileage restrictions, insurance coverage, and fuel refill requirements.

Exploring San Diego and Beyond :

With a rental car at your disposal, you can fully explore the diverse wonders of San Diego and its surrounding areas. Cruise along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to witness breathtaking ocean views, venture into the charming neighborhoods of La Jolla and Coronado, or take a day trip to the nearby attractions like the historic town of Julian or the stunning Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The possibilities are endless, and having your own vehicle allows you to make the most of your time in this beautiful region.

Conclusion :

Renting a car in San Diego opens up a world of possibilities for exploration and adventure in America’s Finest City.

[desertmountainapothecary]

The largest winter storm that’s hit the desert in years, including the first blizzard warning for San Diego county in history bore down on the San Diego Backcountry this week.  A ferocious mix of driving wind, torrential rain and blinding snow tested our resilience, and preparation separated those experiencing quirky backcountry inconvenience, from those facing hardship. Yes, preparation, the one attribute that can’t be mustered up in the face of adversity, only planned and executed in advance, is what will give us a fighting chance of getting through.  

Lastly, if you are in the San Diego or Southern California area and want to come up to the San Diego Backcountry mountains to play in the snow, please wait until after the blizzard passes and the roads are cleared.  These communities get snow every year, and people are saying they have never seen snow like this.  There may even be up to 3 or 4 feet in some areas, so especially on the north and eastern sides of the mountains, have no fear, it will be around for weeks, it’s so deep.  Please keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles, after all the only way in and out of towns like Julian & Santa Ysabel are through windy mountain roads, two lanes wide, with one switchback after another.  These mountain towns are so much fun to come up and enjoy, but it’s critical to remember that the residents who call it home are extremely vulnerable to not being able to get their basic needs met, either because of extreme weather, or extreme crowds of people coming up from the coast, often both.  

If you are stuck inside, (being safe and responsible) enjoy some of my favorite YouTube videos:

Coyote Canyon Overland Desert Adventure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQYPvqj2ouU

La Jolla, California & Blacks Beach Adventure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTUJuxhP49c

Visit South Carolina Lowcountry!  Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, & Charleston 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpC1MU4FMZY

Julian & Santa Ysabel - San Diego Backcountry Scenic Driving Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Z_o0S4Hpg

Take Care & All The Best,

Will

[byrdphotography]

Top 5 Best Places for Photography in San Diego

Are you a local just getting into photography? Or maybe a tourist or someone who’s new in town (John Mulaney voice)? Well, I take it your here to figure out some great spots to either take pictures or simply take in the sights, I’ll give you my favorite spots that I love going to! 

5. Windandsea/BirdRock

Becoming more and more known (to the distaste of surfers no doubt), the Windandsea and Birdrock portion of La Jolla offers plenty of little hidden gems to work with. Whether you’re on Belvedere St playing with the lines of palm trees or the rocky outcrops that scatter the beaches, you can change your scenery in a matter of minutes.  Spots to hit: Try going right of the beach for a little less crowded areas 

4. Santee

I found this spot when I was rock climbing and it turned out to be my favorite spot to get a non-beachy feel from San Diego! Located in east county, its usually either empty or scattered about with a few other climbers (9/10 times super nice people!). Where to take pics? Some rocks here actually are easy enough to walk up the back and get a GREAT view of the surrounding valleys and hills. Park in West Hills Park for easy and ample parking!

3.  Julian

HEY it’s still part of San Diego I swear. If you venture a little more than an hour east of Downtown San Diego and you’ll find drastically different scenery and peace from the hustle and bustle of the more populated areas of San Diego! My two favorite spots in/around Julian to shoot are the Sunrise Highway and Eagle Rock. With Sunrise Highway, its a two in one whammy of a location because you have this straightaway of a road that leads to a hill with trees (I suck at describing it just look at the dumb picture) but literally RIGHT NEXT TO IT is another expansive field surrounded by YOU GUESSED IT: some more rolling hills. Most of my couples/engagement shoots are taken here honestly. Just don’t let me catch you there man I WILL FIGHT YOU. Kidding (kinda).

2. Sunset Cliffs

The runner up to my favorite spot to shoot! This mile long stretch of coast is full of pockets of small cliff where you can easily isolate whatever you’re taking pictures of, while at the same time, busy enough that you’ll never catch it empty.  Aptly named as well, it’s probably my favorite spot to snag some great colors during golden hour/sunset. For some reason, 80% of the time sunsets here simply are AMAZING. If you catch partly cloudy skies, you’re in store for vibrant blues before golden hour in those skies, then an assortment of colors in the sky depending on the day. If you get tired of the ocean setting (which I doubt you will), chances are you can find some nice houses/VW Buses to try and change it up a bit. 

Torrey Pines Gliderport

THE CREME DE LE CREME. MY FAVORITE PART OF SAN DIEGO. Some of my favorite shoots, some of my favorite sights, and maybe the best view of coast San Diego has to give. There’s some metal chains here that really are for looks I swear. Scoot under them and grab a spot of cliff edge and enjoy the best backdrop EVER.  Parking here might look full all the time but for the most part its pretty easy to find a spot. The gliderport here offers one big main area left of the Cliff Hanger Cafe, but there’s many trails that branch off the area that head south along the cliffside, or down below to Blacks Beach.

Bonus: Glamis

Okay. Lets say you’ve seen enough of the beach and haven’t seen a proper desert yet. Then if you’re willing to drive a smaaaall three hour drive of scenic average landscape, you can be rewarded to some epic desert dunes. Depending on the time of year you go it’ll be either extremely hot or incredibly cold. No middle ground. But when golden hour comes around here, you cant beat the lighting. During that time here, I’ve noticed that whites turn an incredible and vibrant cream that I really can’t recreate anywhere else. My suggestion? Visit in November or March. You’ll get manageable temps mixed with partly cloudy skies (best lighting hands down).

[chasecampen]

Finding Fall Around Los Angeles

Photo by Getty Images. Article written by Elijah Chiland via LA Curbed.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Los Angeles has seasons....but autumn doesn’t pass by Southern California entirely, and if you look hard enough, there are places to find glimpses of fall colors in and around LA. Here are a dozen spots where you can admire the picturesque autumnal landscapes. 

1. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

This 86-acre garden in Claremont contains around 2,000 different plants native to California. It also happens to be a terrific place to see leaves of all colors during fall months. General admission is $8 per person.

2. Ice House Canyon

Photo via Jim’s Photos1 via Flickr

With snow in the winter and a small symphony of fall colors in autumn, the Ice House Canyon trail below Mount Baldy is one of the best places to explore all that each of Southern California's seasons have to offer.

3. LA County Arboretum

Photo by @laarboretum via Instagram

Ah, Los Angeles: where you can enjoy fall colors, peacocks, and the house from Fantasy Island all at the same time. The underrated LA County Arboretum has plenty of fall foliage and costs a bit less than the more well known Huntington Gardens nearby.

4. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Photo by Jordan Colley via Flickr

Speaking of which, while the Huntington Gardens in autumn might not pass for upstate New York, it's a great place to see plants and trees you might not associate with the fall months, but nonetheless come into their own throughout the season. These include blooming desert plants and ginkgo trees.

5. Ortega Highway

A drive across the scenic Ortega Highway that leads from the Palm Desert to San Juan Capistrano is a great place to see some fall foliage. As an added bonus, the road is reportedly haunted, making it an appealing Halloween destination as well.

6. Descanso Gardens

Photo by @descansogardens via Instagram

Located in La Cañada Flintridge, Descanso Gardens has plenty of flora to enjoy, including quite a few plants native to California. The gardens are open every day except Christmas between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is $9.

7. Julian

In Julian, you can find the best of both fall foliage and fall produce. Specifically, the town in northern San Diego County is known for its apples—and apple pie. And what's a cool autumnal day without some good old fashioned apple pie?

8. Lake Arrowhead

Getty Images

The San Bernardino Mountains are chock full of fall vistas, and there are plenty of hikes to explore and towns to visit for those seeking autumn leaves. If you like your fall colors with a tall lager, however, Lake Arrowhead's Oktoberfest is one of the biggest around.

9. Mount Wilson Observatory

Hike to the top or simply drive to the summit of Mount Wilson to see stunning views across Angeles National Forest, including sprinklings of yellow and ochre-colored leaves. Then grab a bite at the Cosmic Cafe or climb up to the telescope where Edwin Hubble made many of his most significant observations about the ever-expanding universe.

10. Idyllwild

The Riverside County town of Idyllwild and nearby Lake Hemet have some tremendous fall foliage, with cottonwoods that turn bright yellow as the summer season comes to an end. Stop by in late November for the town's annual Harvest Festival.

11. Malibu Creek State Park

Getty Images

This state park in the Santa Monica Mountains—populated with valley oak trees and sycamores offers plenty of seasonal color—particularly in tree-filled Tapia Park.

12. Oak Glen

Another destination known for its particularly delicious apples, Oak Glen—located east of San Bernardino—is a great place to see fall colors and do a bit of apple picking while you're at it. To really get in the fall spirit, hit up Snow-Line Orchard and Winery for mini cider donuts and Wilshire Apple Shed for cider.

[jonathanbelloblog]

First Drive: 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

JULIAN, California — The 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback has officially hatched. Why drive a big, old SUV when all you really need is a hot little hatch? Plus, it’s much easier to park and you can even get one with a spunky six-speed manual transmission that makes it more fun to drive.

We took new one with a stick to the beach and on a quick run up and down the beautiful Cuyamaca Mountains about an hour east of San Diego for the day.

The Corolla climbed the twisty mountain roads with relative ease as we worked the gearbox hard in a tasty run for the best slice of pie, which we found at the Julian Pie Company in scenic Julian. The Dutch Apple Crumble is delicious and highly recommended.

Under the hood, this variant of the 12th-gen Corolla packs a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine with 168 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT that simulates a 10-speed automatic.

It has three drive modes—sport, eco, and normal that turns the Multi-Information Display (MID) from red to blue. Aside from the color change, we found it hard to feel the differences between the driving modes.

The Corolla rides on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) C platform and entry SE models roll on standard silver 16-inch wheels and extra XSE trims get gray 18-inch ones.

It measures 169.9 x 69.9 x 57.1 inches (L x W x H), making it lower by 0.4-inches, wider by 0.6-inches, and shorter by 0.6-inches than its predecessor, the Corolla iM. Toyota also says that it has a longer wheelbase at 103.9 inches versus 102.4 inches and has wider front and rear tracks.

Up front, the 2019 Corolla hatch sports a rounded nose, Triple-J-shaped LED headlights, and a trapezoidal-shaped mesh grille that resembles a catfish’s mouth. Around back it gets a sporty and rounded rear with a lightweight resin hatch that’s made from a combo of Toyota Super Olefin Polymer and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. The back door is flanked by LED tail lamps and has a chrome diffuser below it.

Inside the snug cabin—Toyota likes to call its design philosophy “Sensuous Minimalism”—there’s decent legroom for the driver and a passenger up to 6’ tall. Rear seats are lacking in leg and shoulder room for adults, but there’s more than enough space for kids, teens, or pets.

Also, the rear doors don’t open very wide and it’s probably easier to load wider hauls through the small hatch. It’s not a vehicle to load band members or gear—think great city car for parking on the streets of Williamsburg or West Hollywood on a Friday night.

SE trim Corollas have a leather shift nob and matching steering wheel, single-zone automatic climate control, electronic parking brake, and electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering.

These Corollas also come with a 4.2-inch multi-information display in the gauge cluster and two front USB outlets, one of which is harder to find than Waldo. It is located under the instrument panel dash with an AUX port near the passenger’s left knee. The other one is found in the center console box.

Corolla XSEs get all of the above and leather/fabric heated front seats—eight-way power seats for the driver and a 7.0-inch gauge cluster display.

Inside, the cabin has plenty of sound-absorbing bits, adhesives, and fancy doo-dads, but there’s still lots of noise from below as you take it from the streets to the highway.

Standard equipment includes Entune 3.0 Audio with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that’s Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay friendly. You can opt for the eight-speaker JBL 800-watt system or go aftermarket and install your own that’s compatible with an Android.

@automobilemag #corolla

A post shared by Ed Tahaney (@edtahaney) on Apr 11, 2018 at 11:51pm PDT

Later in the day, we swapped out our manual for an CVT-equipped Corolla HSE. To be honest, it wasn’t as much fun to drive, but it was for creeping through through La Jolla during rush hour traffic on the way to the Point Loma Tide Pools and the Cabrillo National Monument.

Cabrillo is definitely worth a visit—and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to hike the trails and pay your respects at the nearby Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. The views of downtown San Diego, the Pacific Ocean, and Baja Mexico are also amazing.

The Corolla hatchback’s rear seats fold flat with a 60/40 split and there’s approximately 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row to mess with—but we only hauled ass and pie in it, so your hauling needs may vary significantly.

Standard tech goodies include Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which bundles a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, radar cruise control, road sign assist, and lane tracing assist.

Our favorite add-on is the parking hold button feature that’s available with the CVT models. It’s a first for the Corolla and also available in the recently tested Toyota Avalon.

When engaged, it automatically holds the brakes after a complete stop, allowing the driver to remove their foot from the brake pedal and immediately disengages once pressure is applied on the accelerator. Like pulling the e-brake on a manual transmission car, its handy for starting after stops on steep inclines.

The handsome 2019 Corolla Hatchback is available in seven flavors—Blizzard Pearl, Silver Metallic, Midnight Black, Galactic Aqua Mica, Scarlet, Oxide Bronze, and Blue Flame.

It goes on sale this summer and is expected to reach dealerships by mid-July. Official pricing will be announced closer to that date, but we estimate it will start just under $20,000 to stay competitive.

  2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Specifications ON SALE July PRICE $19,695 (est) ENGINE 2.0L DOHC 16-valve I-4/168 hp @ 6,600 rpm, 151 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual, CVT LAYOUT 4-door, 4.5-passenger, front-engine, FWD Hatch EPA MILEAGE N/A L x W x H 169.9 x 69.9 x 57.1 in WHEELBASE 103.9 in WEIGHT 3,060 lb 0-60 MPH 10 secs (est) TOP SPEED 110 mph (est)

  IFTTT

[chasecampen]

Finding Fall Around Los Angeles

Photos (Oak Glenn pictured above) courtesy of Don Graham, J. Maughn, and Instagram. Original article by Elijah Chiland.

It can be easy to forget that Southern California has seasons,,,if you look hard enough, there are plenty of places to find glimpses of fall in and around LA. Here are a dozen spots where you can admire the kind of picturesque autumnal landscape some crave this time of year. 

1. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

This 86-acre garden in Claremont contains around 2,000 different plants native to California. It also happens to be a terrific place to see leaves of all colors during fall months. General admission is $8 per person.

2. Ice House Canyon

With snow in the winter and a small symphony of fall colors in autumn, the Ice House Canyon trail below Mount Baldy is one of the best places to explore all that each of Southern California's seasons have to offer.

3. LA County Arboretum

Ah, Los Angeles: where you can enjoy fall colors, peacocks, and the house from Fantasy Island all at the same time. The underrated LA County Arboretum has plenty of fall foliage and costs a bit less than the more well known Huntington Gardens nearby.

4. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Speaking of which, while the Huntington Gardens in autumn might not pass for upstate New York, it's a great place to see plants and trees you might not associate with the fall months, but nonetheless come into their own throughout the season. These include blooming desert plants and ginkgo trees.

5. Ortega Highway

A drive across the scenic Ortega Highway that leads from the Palm Desert to San Juan Capistrano is a great place to see some fall foliage. As an added bonus, the road is reportedly haunted, making it an appealing Halloween destination as well.

6. Descanso Gardens

Located in La Cañada Flintridge, Descanso Gardens has plenty of flora to enjoy, including quite a few plants native to California. The gardens are open every day except Christmas between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is $9.

7. Julian

In Julian, you can find the best of both fall foliage and fall produce. Specifically, the town in northern San Diego County is known for its apples—and apple pie. And what's a cool autumnal day without some good old fashioned apple pie?

8. Lake Arrowhead

The San Bernardino Mountains are chock full of fall vistas, and there are plenty of hikes to explore and towns to visit for those seeking autumn leaves. If you like your fall colors with a tall lager, however, Lake Arrowhead's Oktoberfest is one of the biggest around.

9. Mount Wilson Observatory

Hike to the top or simply drive to the summit of Mount Wilson to see stunning views across Angeles National Forest, including plenty of yellow and ochre-colored leaves. Then grab a bite at the Cosmic Cafe or climb up to the telescope where Edwin Hubble made many of his most significant observations about the ever-expanding universe.

10. Idyllwild

The Riverside County town of Idyllwild and nearby Lake Hemet have some tremendous fall foliage, with cottonwoods that turn bright yellow as the summer season comes to an end. Stop by in late November for the town's annual Harvest Festival.

11. Malibu Creek State Park

This state park in the Santa Monica Mountains offers plenty of seasonal color—particularly in tree-filled Tapia Park.

12. Oak Glen

Another destination known for its particularly delicious apples, Oak Glen—located east of San Bernardino—is a great place to see fall colors and do a bit of apple picking while you're at it.