ATV Tours Revisit Plumas County's Past
Who said history has to be boring? Explore! Sierra Touring Company in Portola is working hard to debunk that myth by offering guided ATV tours to some of Plumas County's historical sites. The tour begins with a visit to the ranch museum, full of tools and memoriabilia that show what farming, logging, ranching and living were like for the early settlers of th Sierra Valley. After visiting the museum, guests hop on an ATV for a two- to three-hour ride along 1,750 acres of secluded land to see history as it happened. The tour follows the route of the steam train that brought groceries and supplies to the area, and drives past a large Maidu Indian griding rock on the Feather River. After the exciting and informative tour, it's back to the museum, where a delicious BBQ tri-tip meal awaits. Tours are offered Thrusday thru Saturday, departing at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Contact: Ken Smith, Explore! Sierra Touring Company, (530) 832-5450, www.exploresierra.com (06/09)

Living Waters Recreation Offers Additional Services
Living Waters Recreation now has more to offer than ever before. In addition to the rafting adventures it specializes in, it also features a number of other outdoor activities that are sure to be fun for the whole family. Have you ever wanted to go gold panning but you weren’t sure where to go or how to do it? Let Living Waters be your guide! The company also features guided fly fishing; local history, waterfalls and Alpine Lakes tours; star parties; and bird watching. With reasonable prices and a variety of activities to choose from, Living Waters Recreation offers something for everyone. Contact: Tom Harris, Living Waters Recreation, 1-800-994-RAFT, (530) 926-5446, raft@snowcrest.net, www.livingwatersrec.com.

Asti Winery Once Again Open to the Public
Asti Winery dates back to the early 1880s, when Andrea Sbarboro, an Italian immigrant and San Francisco banker, moved to Sonoma County and formed a winemaking community named Asti after the region in northern Italy. Sbarboro’s Italian Swiss Agricultural Colony was responsible for creating status for California wine when the wines won 10 gold medals in international competition in 1905. The winery survived both the Great Depression and Prohibition. At one time, the Asti Winery was the second-most visited tourism attraction in California, with Disneyland holding first place. In May, Cellar No. 8 at Asti reopened to the public for the first time in more than 20 years. For its place in the history of California, the site is a designated California Historical Landmark. The name Cellar No. 8 comes from the designated cellar, where red wine barrels were aged in the late 1800s. The grounds are beautiful and bucolic, with a large grassy picnic area surrounded by vineyards and a view of mountains in the distance. Once again, visitors can enjoy the lovely setting while tasting zinfandel, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc wines made by renowned winemaker Paul Rydquist. The tasting room is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. contact: Cellar 8, (866) 557-4970, cn8info@cellarno8.com, www.cellarno8.com.

Historic House Museums of the Mendocino Coast
To celebrate its centennial, the Mendocino Study Club, a nonprofit civic organization, has launched a project to promote the five historic House Museums of the Mendocino Coast: the Kelley House, Ford House, Guest House and Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Lightkeepers House. Four of the five House Museums are unique from other museums in that they are all located in the homes of local historic families. The fifth house is a lighthouse that provided a roof over the heads of many lightkeepers during stormy nights when they were on duty. Contact: Amy Luce, Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce, (707) 961-6303, chamber4@mcn.org, www.mendocinocoast.com.

Angel Island U.S. Immigration Station Restored
After years and millions of dollars in renovation, the historic United States Immigration Station on Angel Island State Park in San Francisco Bay has been reopened for public visits. The center was the West coast equivalent to Ellis Island in New York harbor, processing immigrants arriving after journeying across the Pacific Ocean. Some 90 different nationalities entered the U.S. through Angel Island from 1910 and 1940, including Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German, Punjabi and others. During World War II, the center housed prisoners of war. The structures at Angel Island were destined for destruction, when a state park ranger found Chinese calligraphy and other writings carved into barrack walls. The writing included poignant poetry of the immigrants' experiences and illuminated a sad period in U.S. immigration. New interpretive placards and displays, as well as artifacts representing the clothing and personal effects of immigrants who passed through the station, tell the story. Contact: USIS, (415) 435-5537, www.angelisland.com (06/09)

Castello di Amorosa Offers Tours and Tastings
Castello di Amorosa Winery is nestled in the western hills on 171 acres, just minutes south of the Napa Valley town of Calistoga. After several decades of personal adventures visiting and studying medieval castles and wineries throughout Italy and Europe, Dario Sattui, a successful 4th-generation Italian-American winemaker and entrepreneur, began building Castello di Amorosa in 1994, nearly 15 years ago, culminating in a 30-year dream and endeavor. Over this marathon building project, the Castello evolved to include over 121,000 square feet, including 107 rooms (95 of which are devoted to winemaking and wine storage); an enormous Great Hall with two-story replica of Tuscan frescoes painted by Italian artists and a 500-year-old fireplace; 8,000 tons of hand-chiseled stones; eight levels (four aboveground and four below); a drawbridge, dungeon and torture chamber, and medieval church; and arguably the single most impressive wine barrel room in the U.S., with ancient Roman cross-vaulted ceilings. Castello di Amarosa is open for tours daily by appointment only. Tours are one hour and 45 minutes and cost $25 Monday through Friday and $30 on weekends. Visitors can visit the tasting room daily without an appointment. www.castellodiamorosa.com.

“Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future” Comes to The Tech Museum of Innovation
The world premiere of the largest, most comprehensive exhibit of the innovative art, science and engineering works of Leonardo da Vinci and his contemporaries comes to The Tech Museum of Innovation this fall for only 99 days. “Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future” will be at The Tech Museum September 27, 2008, to January 4, 2009, and this is the exhibition’s only U.S. appearance. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how this genius of the Renaissance has influenced and inspired much of the technology we use today. Get an exciting and educational glimpse into the mind of one of the world's most innovative thinkers. “Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future” combines more than200 artifacts including life-size working models, hands-on interactive machines and displays, multimedia presentations and priceless works of art from the school of Leonardo. There will also be hands-on design challenges in the museum's galleries based on Leonardo's engineering, scientific and art principles. The exhibit also features over 100 life-size and scale working models based on conceptual drawings and designs by Leonardo and his contemporaries, painstakingly recreated by artisans using tools and materials common in Leonardo's time. “Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future” is produced in collaboration with The Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy. (408) 294-TECH, www.thetech.org.

Odin's Temple of the Tiger Opens at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has created Odin's Temple of the Tiger, an exciting new exhibit that showcases the park's 11 tigers including Odin, the internationally acclaimed white Bengal tiger, and two recently acquired tiger cubs. Odin's Temple of the Tiger is housed int he former Jungle Theater, redesigned to create a more expansive area for the cats with improved arena seating to enhance guest observation. This exciting new attraction demonstrates tigers' natural behaviors and highlight their affinity for water and agility on land. Contact: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, (707) 653-6722, www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom (06/09)

"Play it by Ear" at the Bay Area Discovery Museum - The Bay Area Discovery Museum, a nationally recognized, hands-on children's museum dedicated to childhood creativity, located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, announced the encoure installation of "Play it by Ear," a traveling exhibition featuring whimsical creations from San Francisco Bay Area sound artists. Within the exhibition, families are able to tinker and play with original works of contemporary sound art, including a keyboard that activates dancing Slinkys, a giant music box that lets children create the melody, and a soundscape where children hear their movement. "Play it by Ear" engages families in the creative process by linkin them with artists and inventors, as well as by providing an area to make their own sound art objects. (415) 339-3900, contact@badm.org, www.baykidsmuseum.org (06/09)

Gold Cliff Mine Adventure
Step back in time as you explore the historic Gold Cliff Mine located in Angels Camp. The Gold Cliff Adventure Trip is a truly unique experience, combining challenging exploration with Gold Rush era history and folklore. The expedition begins with a brief surface tour that includes historical information about the mine and discussions about the many structures that once stood on the property. From there the group goes below ground, where knowledgeable guides navigate visitors through the mine’s deeper passages and chambers. The route includes steep diagonal hiking, climbing and crawling using knotted hand-lines on a 45- to 50-degree slope, and negotiating loose rubble. The total distance traveled is approximately 1 mile and includes exploration of two large chambers; rafting across a flooded 100-foot deep mine stope; and the possibility of seeing bats, millipedes and other creatures. After returning to the surface, groups continue on to the 200-ton stamp mill and to a second mine location. Using hand lines to descend, adventurers make their way into the shaft where the actual entrance is revealed. This smaller mine contains a seasonal lake of clear water and beautiful examples of calcite formations including flowstone, ribbons and soda straws. These trips are by prepaid reservation only. Contact: Underground Adventures, (209) 736-2708, info@caverntours.com, www.caverntours.com.

Fairfield’s Suisun Valley Celebrates Three New Tasting Rooms
Three additional tasting rooms have joined Wooden Valley and Ledgewood Creek wineries: the new Vezér Family Vineyard has their tasting room at Mankas Corner as well as their 2nd winery just down the road on Suisun Valley road the Blue Victorian Vineyards. The Vezér Family Vineyard is a private Suisun Valley estate best known for its award-winning Petite Sirah and Zinfandel wines as well as their unique white wine the Verdelho. Vezér's Mankas location has beautiful gardens that hosts a number of events during the warmer months, including their Summer Concert Series and Thursday Movie Nights on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each the month. The grounds provide a perfect setting for enjoying a glass of wine accompanied with a light meal available at their adjoining Barista Cafe & Deli. The Blue Victorian Vineyards is scheduled to open September 2008. This label will feature great quality wines that are pleasing to the palette but also a little easier on the wallet.  Both tasting rooms are open seven days a week. Also new to the valley, the Suisun Valley Wine Cooperative tasting room features the wines of five local growers: Bask, Blacksmith, King Andrews, Winterhawk,and Sunset. These small-production family wineries produce, on average, 1,000 to 1,500 cases of wine per year. Open Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., the tasting room is staffed by the winemakers and offers an intimate experience. Contact: (877) 793-7386, www.CaliforniaFairfield.com

"Carried with Courage: Historic Flags fromt eh Capitol" Collection - The California State Capitol is home to a remarkable collection of nearly 50 flags dating from the Civil War, Spanish American War and World War I. This new exhibit will now be displayed in the Museum Library Exhibit Room of the Capitol. Originally kept in the Adjutant General's Office, the flag collection was later displayed in the State Capitol rotunda. Since 1928, the flag collection has undergone extensive conserved Civil War flags from the Capital Historic Flag Collection. Some of these flags were flown on display on the parade ground, while others have accompanied Californians into battle. Many of the flags to exhibited have never before been seen by the public. This exhibit is a unique opportunity, offering the public a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view this remarkable collection. Also on display through May 2010 in the Attorney General Exhibit Room is "Our Union Forever: California's Role in the Civil War." This exhibit explores California's political, financial, and military support of Abraham Lincoln and the preservation of the Union. It also honors the extraordinary efforts of the thousands of California citizens who supported and sacrificed for the Union ina variety of ways. (916) 324-0333, capitol@parks.ca.gov, www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov (06/09)

New Golf Academy at Old Greenwood
Golf enthusiasts of all levels can master their game at the new Golf Academy at Old Greenwood in Truckee. Be prepared for some top-end coaching as the academy’s director of instruction, Keith Lyford, has been named one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers. Using a four-camera system, golf students can have their swing evaluated on split-screen TVs. Instruction is provided on Old Greenwood’s Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole course surrounded by towering conifers and views of the nearby Carson Range and Pacific Crest. Academy enrollment is open to the public. (530) 550-2670, www.oldgreenwood.com

US 395 Roadside Heritage CD-Rom
Mono County is featured in the second edition of 395 Roadside Heritage, audio tours of the Eastern Sierra. The new free CD-ROM (available at visitor information centers in Inyo and Mono Counties) includes stories of the natural and cultural hisotry of areas along U.S. 395 in Mono County, with interviews of scientists and knowledgeable locals on a variety of subjects including animal migration, mining and mules, ski history, historic ranching, and farming. Developed in cooperation with the Eastern Sierra Institute for Collaborative Education and the Roadside Heritage partners at Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley and University of Nevada, Reno Academy for the Environment Locally, the project melds science, history and information of visitor interest in describing the fascinating environment and cultural history of the Eastern Sierra. The first edition of 395 Roadside Heritage (still offered for free) focused upon Inyo County, just south of Mono County and the two CDs complete an audio driving tour of this fascinating region of California. The CDs are available at area visitor centers and free downloads may be obtained online at www.roadsideheritage.org. (916) 933-8860 www.monocounty.org

New Wine Map for Ventura County
With a unified goal of getting Ventura County “on the map,” several local wineries from Oxnard to Ojai have joined forces to produce the first-ever Ventura County Wine Trail Map. A benefit for visitors and locals alike, the map features seven local wineries, including Oxnard’s Herzog Wine Cellars, all clustered around a pictorial map of the area, as well as a listing of local restaurants, hotels, shuttle companies and wine-centric events. The map was designed as a full-service tool for tourists, highlighting some of the best the county has to offer. Visitors can plan an entire trip in the area, complete with a shuttle-led wine tasting trip, hotel stay and dining suggestions. (805) 385-7545, info@visitoxnard.com, www.visitoxnard.com.

New San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum Now Open
Located in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo, the new San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore, investigate and create through a variety of interactive exhibit environments. The first floor houses the M Store, and is the future home of an active volcano. The second floor honors the Museum’s former roots through Zoomtown, a kid-sized town that incorporates several landmarks familiar to Central Coast residents. Visitors can play pretend at the Diner, Fire Station, Medical Office, Bank, Trolley, Performance Stage and Farmer’s Market. Also located on the second floor is a 17-foot climbing structure that invites children to climb and get a glimpse of the world above the treetops. Jellybean Junction, on the third floor of the Museum, caters to children 4 and under with a reading nook, messy play table and an interactive, life-size BRIO™ train engine. Several exhibits have been created in collaboration with students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Center for Exhibit Design, including a giant 15-foot tall sunflower that teaches children about solar energy; a three-part water system (Archimedes screw, water wheel and prospector’s sluice) that encourages investigation of the properties of water; and a miniature volcano that encourages future filmmakers to create claymation films of an exploding volcano. General admission is $8 (children under 2 are free). Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and select Monday holidays. (805) 545-5874, www.slokids.org.

Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours Expands to Paso Robles
After 10 years of offering the premier wine tasting experience in Santa Barbara's wine country, Cloud Climbers has finally expanded to Paso Robles. Cloud Climbers is the only Jeep tour company on the central coast. Its unique Back-Country Wine Tour celebrates the beauty and amazing wines of Paso Robles - traveling over back-country roads and through vineyards from tasting room to tasting room. Small groups of four to seven people per custom Jeep combined with personable and professional guides and extensive winery affiliations allow for an intimate and customized wine tasting experience. Enjoy spectacular scenery, four unique wineries for complimentary tastings, and a picnic lunch. (805) 646-3200, sybil@ccjeeps.com, www.ccjeeps.com (06/09)

Condor Base Camp Constructed
Clock the comeback of the California condor at Ventana Wildlife Society's newly constructed condor base camp. With a wingspan of nearly 10 feet, North America's largest land bird, and one of the largest flying birds in the world, is truly a magnificent sight to see. Enthusiasts can overnight at the rustic rearing/release facility set 2,800 ft. above the Pacific in Big Sur, and participate in tracking and feeding these giants of the sky. Happy hour includes watching the birds fly in to roost as the sun sets, followed by a hike to the feeding grounds. On the endangered species list since 1967, the California condor now thrives on Big Sur's rugged coastline and at Pinnacles National Monument in Soledad. Since 1998, Ventana Wildlife Society has re-established 42 condors to the wild. Other options include day trips to base camp and two-hour tracking tours led by a wildlife biologist using specialized equipment to monitor nesting, feeding and fying habits. (831) 455-9415, www.ventanaws.org (06/09)

Venice Beach Walking Tours
Venice Beach Walking Tours has been created to uncover the hidden stories and salty past of an enchanting artists’ community that is still thriving today. The 1.5-mile tour will provide visitors with a two to three-hour insider’s walking tour of famous Ocean Front Walk. The tours will take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. Other sites along the tour route include the Venice Pavilion, street performances, murals, Muscle Beach and the Venice Drum Circle. Whether you are a tourist, new to Venice Beach or a local who yearns to know more about this exceptional artistic community, this is the tour for you. (310) 396-1585, www.venicebeachwalkingtours.com.

Route 66 Theme of 18th Edition of Celebrated Palm Springs Stage Production
Beginning October 28 and playing through May 17, 2009, the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies will “travel” Route 66 via music, dance and comedy in its all-new show, “Get Your Kicks!” Joining the Follies Man and his Legendary Line of Long-Legged Lovelies and Dapper Dans this season are three world-renown guest stars: hit songstress Freda Payne performing her top-selling “Band of Gold” (season opening October 28 through December 31); “Muriel Cigar Girl” Susan Anton, who gained stardom in film, Las Vegas showrooms and the Broadway musical stage (January 7 through March 7, 2009 and May 13-17, 2009); and multi-talented John Davidson, who starred in Broadway’s “State Fair” and hosted such hit TV shows as “That’s Incredible” and “Hollywood Squares” (March 10 through May 9, 2009). The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies has been seen by nearly three million patrons, and celebrates the music and dance of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, with a cast ranging in age from 56 to 85 years “young.” (760) 327-0225, info@psfollies.com, www.psfollies.com.

Free List of Palm Springs “Sinatra Sites”
Almost 10 years have passed since May 14, 1998, the day the world lost the incomparable Frank Sinatra. But what many do not realize is that Sinatra called the Palm Springs area “home” for nearly 50 years. To honor his memory, fans can now obtain a free, detailed list of the Top 10 Sinatra Sites in the desert. Sites include Twin Palms Estate, where Sinatra shared the 1947 mid-century modern jewel with actress Ava Gardner; the Compound, which includes a main house, movie theatre, five guest houses, swimming pools and art studio; Frank Sinatra Drive, which stretches 8 miles, east to west; Melvyn’s,  Riccio’s and Lord Fletcher’s, three of Sinatra’s favorite hangouts; Sinatra’s Star, which is located on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in downtown Palm Springs; the Riviera Resort, where Sinatra organized big charity shows with Jerry Lewis and Bing Crosby; and Desert Memorial Park, the final resting place of Ol’ Blue Eyes. Best buddy Jilly Rizzo is close by. Contact: Mark Graves, Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities CVA, (760) 969-1330, mgraves@palmspringsusa.com, www.palmspringsusa.com.

Citizens Business Bank Arena Opening Fall 2008
Citizens Business Bank Arena will be a state-of-the-art facility that will host basketball, ice hockey and a variety of other sporting competitions; concerts, family shows, special events and community activities; as well as private events. The venue will be the biggest and most modern arena within the Inland Empire. The facility, owed by the City of Ontario, is managed by AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. Upcoming events at the arena include the Lakers vs. Supersonics on October 24 and the Ontario Reign vs. Wranglers on October 25. Media contact: Sue Oxarart, AEG Facilities, (909) 484-2009, soxarart@cbbankarena.com. Public contact: Citizens Business Bank Arena, (909) 484-2020, www.cbbankarena.com.

The New Children’s Museum Opens in San Diego
The New Children’s Museum, which opened this summer, is a dynamic destination in downtown San Diego – a contemporary art museum for kids and families. The Museum features innovative artworks that kids can touch, climb or move; messy, hands-on art making opportunities; and a variety of art-based classes and camps. With an organic café, unique retail shop, abundant seating, quiet space for parents and infants, and an outdoor park, the Museum provides a comfortable and fun environment for families to enjoy together. The New Children's Museum opening exhibition, titled “childsplay,”advances the Museum's pioneering legacy of commissioning established and emerging artists to create work that engages children. The exhibition includes work from 19 artists, six of whom are from Mexico, continuing the Museum's ongoing commitment to function as a bi-national institution. (619) 233-8792, www.thinkplaycreate.org.

"The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey" Opens at the San Diego Zoo
Highlighting animals of the past, present and future, the $44-million, seven-acre habitat features Asian elephants, California condors, sloths, snakes and rodents, as well as life-size replicas of animal species that dotted the Southern California landscape more than 12,000 years ago. A herd of eight elephants roam a 7.5-acre exhibit that includes a 137,000-gallon pool genthle rolling hills and the Conrad Prebys Elephant Management Facility, where visitors can see keepers and veterinarians at work with the animals, as well as tour the facility for educational and interactive experiences. Additional highlights of "Elephant Odyssey" include a tar pit replication, fossil dig, children's play area, tunneled walkway through a heard of elephants and much more. (619) 231-1515, customerservice@sandiegozoo.org, www.sandiegozoo.org (06/09)