California Surfing History

When you think of California hobbies, the first one that probably comes to mind is surfing! Have you ever wondered what the history of California surfing is? Like how people thought to get up on boards and "ride" waves to shore was a good idea? We looked into it and wanted to give a quick snapshot of this amazing sport and long-standing California hobby. Flickr - Rian Castillo

Back In The Day

Looking back - and we mean way back - to 1885, we find the beginnings of a sport Californians love. We can't take the credit for the creation of surfing though, that goes to three Hawaiian princes who were visiting Santa Cruz and took the first Californian surf adventure on boards made of California redwood. After that, many Hawaiians visited the California coast in search of the perfect wave. In the 1930s, people who enjoyed surfing started to form surf clubs. It was during this time that Tom Blake, one of the first surfers in Malibu, created the Hollow Surfboard allowing additional agility in its lighter design. Flickr - Ryan Vaarsi

Hang Ten, Dude

After a break caused by WWII, surfing came back in full force with the introduction of foam and fiberglass boards. In 1959, the movie Gidget was released. It focused on young Californian's and "cool" surf dudes in their own cultural element - the beach. Though not seen as a particularly accurate representation by the surfing community itself, it did give rise to the popularity of surfing. That same year Huntington Beach held the first West Coast Surfing Championship. Flickr - Rachel Patterson

Competition or Hobie

It wasn't until 1980 that the competition side of surfing really took off when California entered into the World Pro Tour. To this day, all along the California coast, surfing competitions take place in addition to hobbyists who come out to enjoy the waves. Flickr - Mike Baird

Surfs Up

To some, surfing is more than a sport though, it's a lifestyle that takes dedication. A typical morning on the beach could look similar to the photo below. Flickr - Richard Johnstone Surfers aren't turned off by foggy mornings or cooler temperatures. Their love for the sport goes beyond simple comforts. Instead, you will find many dedicated surfers out at the break of dawn riding the waves in wetsuits designed to cut some of the chill, but not all. Flickr - Wonderlane No matter what, surfing takes dedication - even when things don't go the way you planned. Flickr - Mike Baird But still, even cute little dogs like this like to surf ;) Flickr - Nathan Rupert The surfing community is a diverse one, but definitely a laid back one as well, which fits perfectly with the relaxed mindset of California. When you're out there on the waves, there's nothing else to worry about but the next wave...and maybe what's for lunch.

Do you surf? Why do you love it? Let us know in the comments below.

  Sources: Surfingcal.com, Cover Photo: Flickr - Jonas Witt

May 5th may be a Monday, but that doesn't have to stop you from celebrating Cinco de Mayo in style this year!  

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo

Flickr - --Mark--

The History of Cinco de Mayo

The mistake most people make regarding Cinco de Mayo is to think that it is a celebration for Mexico's independence. In fact, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory (over the French) of the Battle of Puebla which happened on - you guessed it - May 5 in 1862. Crazy to think we're still celebrating a battle won over 150 years ago! Flickr - San Diego City College So, why do we still celebrate it? That fact remains to be seen because, in most of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrations aren't typical. Here in America (especially California) we don't need a good reason for a party though, so celebrate on!

Throw A Traditional Party

Decorations

Like this colorful street in Mexico, a great way to get your Cinco de Mayo celebration off the ground is with some authentic (or close enough) flags. You can find them at local party supply stores or you can make your own. This is a great activity to get your children in on by having them cut out snowflake-like designs on rectangular pieces of paper. Flickr - Alan

Drinks & Food

Really, what is a good party with out the food? This is a great time to get a little fancy by trying out new recipes or, if you aren't a fan of cooking, to cater through your favorite Mexican restaurant. Suggested traditional Mexican foods and drinks for Cinco de Mayo are:

• Tamales
• Chiles Rellenos
• Mole Sauce
• Authentic Mexican tortillas
• Home made chips
• Home made Pico de gallo
• Margaritas
• Horchata

Find more recipes here. Flickr - Debora is Lola

Activities & Gifts

When throwing a great party, having games planned in advance (even if you don't end up playing them) can make the difference between a boring party and something your friends will be talking about for the next six months. Try your local party supply store or check out Amazon for some great gift ideas that you can send your guests home with to remember your memorable and stylish Cinco de Mayo celebration. Flickr - Darla Dietz Toss up a piñata - the kids (and let's be honest, the adults too) will love it! Flickr-giveawayboy Get the family together and visit a traditional Mexican celebration. Check your local news website for celebrations near you. Flickr - Bisayan lady

 The Sounds of Cinco de Mayo

Last, but definitely not least, the music of the event must be traditional. For some of you who like to spare no expense, that means hiring your very own mariachi band! For the rest of us, that means picking the right Pandora station to set the mood. Either way, you better be blaring the rhythmic guitar and blaring trumpet sound that mariachi bands are best known for! Flickr - oklanica

Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? If so, let us know in the comments below what you do to make it special!

  Source: WikiHow, About.com, Cover Photo: Flickr - --Mark--

Do you love watching movies? Take a look below at the movie and location lists and plan a vacation (or day trip) to these amazing locations. Bring a camera and may the adventure begin.

By The Movie

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Riding on the coattails of Marvels Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is often shot on location in Southern California in places like Culver City, near Chinatown in L.A., Thousand Oaks, and Malibu. Check out this great site for a list of locations and maps. From schmoesknow

Psych

Though most of this hilarious detective show was filmed in Vancouver B.C. some of the beach scenes were shot in Santa Maria, Ca.  Check out this article about the filming and location. From crimespreemag

TRON

Where the past meets the present. The original TRON and the newer (2010) version used the same building, Flynn's located on the corner of Culver/Washington Blvd and Watseka Ave. You can visit it today! From Seeing-Stars

Inception

This mind-bending movie may be far from being understood, but it's not too far to visit if you live in Los Angeles! Take a trip to 727 Wilshire Blvd to see where this was filmed: From Seeing-Stars Or visit the Creative Artists Agency located in Century City, Los Angeles where some of the film was shot. From Elektrodaily

Mrs. Doubtfire

And oldie, but a goodie. This classic movie featuring Robin Williams was filmed in San Francisco. From Live For Films

X-Men: The Last Stand

Another San Francisco view in this action thriller. From Marvel Films

The Princess Diaries

Portions of this movie were filmed in front of the Doheny Mansion located in Chester Place, Los Angeles. Boy has Anne Hathaway grown up! From FanPop **Find an extensive list of movie locations in California here.

Location Location Location

The Biltmore

The scene for movies like Rocky II, Beverly Hills Cop, Wedding Crashers, Ghostbusters and more, the Biltmore is the perfect backdrop for cinematic beauty. Flickr-Roger

Chinatown

There is always some type of action taking place in Chinatown. The same is true for many movies shot in this sweet location, like Lethal Weapon 4, Rush Hour. Flickr - Michael Locke

Griffith Observatory

From episodes of MacGuyver to movies like Rebel Without A Cause and The Terminator, the Griffith Observatory is popular for movie locations. It's also a fantastic place to visit, so 'kill two birds with one stone' by visiting this amazing location. Flickr - Corey Dorsey

Santa Monica Pier

Popular not only for films that have been shot here, but for the fun atmosphere and theme park located on the pier, Santa Monica has the perfect vibe for movies. Some features you may recognize are Forrest Gump, Beverly Hills Cop III, The Sting. Flickr - Beau Rogers

Union Station

Union Station is the place to go! The fun, hustle and bustle atmosphere adds to charm and you're sure to recognize it from movies like Pearl Harbor, Speed, Star Trek: First Contact, and The Italian Job among others. From E.A. Creative Photography

Vasquez Rocks

These are more than just rock formations, they are iconic in film history! You may recognize them from movies like Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, The Flintstones (movie), The Scorpion King, and Short Circuit. They are also a very popular place to hike and for photographers to do fun sessions at. Check out the park, you won't regret it. Trust us, it rocks ;) Flickr-Jim     Sources: Seeing Stars, Go California, Movie Locations Cover Photo: Flickr - When I Was A Bird

The food has to be good, and the atmosphere is definitely important, but sometimes a killer view can make or break your eating experience. We're going to take a look at some cool rooftop restaurants in Central and Southern California that have the most incredible views imaginable! If you're planning a date night these are definitely the places to consider taking that special someone.

Only The Best Rooftop Restaurants

 San Francisco

El Techo de Linda - Fabulous rooftop dining that boasts "Latin American Street Food". A must for amazing food with an fabulous view! From El Tech website The Cheesecake Factory [off of Union Square] - Sure, there are Cheesecake Factory restaurants all over California, but what makes this one special you may ask? Well the view of course! Enjoy Cheesecake Factory favorites with an incredible rooftop view. From Mike In Singapore Blog Top of the Mark - Though on the more expensive side, the view alone may be worth it! The Top of the Mark is a fantastic place to enjoy good food and a stunning rooftop view that will take your breath away. From Lifesabento.blogspot via GlobalTravel.com Jones - New. Hip. Manhattan-esque. It's the place to be in San Francisco. Flickr- Mark H. Anbinder

Los Angeles

High Lounge at Hotel Erwin - Located in Venice Beach, this rooftop restaurant and lounge has a stunning view that cannot be found anywhere else in Venice. From highvenice.co Perch - As their website boasts, Perch is a "French inspired rooftop bistro". There's no better place to find a birds-eye-view than resting in this perch! Take flight and enjoy this incredible view ;) From Perch LA The Roof - The Roof on Wilshire has it all: breakfast, brunch, lunch, a sunset menu, dinner, and desserts. With poolside service and a view like this, what more could you ask for? From The Roof Elevate Lounge - Elevate is your perfect night-on-the-town experience with room for dancing, modern music, and an atmosphere that cannot be beat. From Elevate

Orange County

Club 33 - Ok, ok, so this is a bit of a stretch, but it is an amazing restaurant with an incredible view...of Disneyland! If you're lucky enough to know the right people, you could find yourself enjoying the view onto New Orleans square in the heart of Disneyland. Flickr-Gregg L Cooper The Deck - Situated in beautiful Laguna Beach, The Deck offers ocean side dining at its finest. From Pacific Edge Hotel Nirvana Grille - Come to eat and relax and peace may follow at the Nirvana Grille with its soothing ocean view and elegant interior. From Laguna Beach Foodies Vivo Bar - Enjoy the sunset with a drink in hand seated in one of these plush lounge chairs at the Vivo Bar located on the fourth flour of the Double Tree by Hilton at the Doheny Beach in Dana Point. They offer extend happy hours during the summer! From Double Tree

San Diego

RoofTop600 at Andaz - Cassy and trendy, the RoofTop 600 is the place to be in San Diego. It may not be easy to get into, but it's worth trying just for the killer view alone! From Chemistry PR Bertrand at Mister A's - They claim to be the "Top restaurant in San Diego" and to have the "best dining with a view". With command of the San Diego skyline and an exceptional staff, they may just be right! From San Diego Essential Guide Cannonball - Live music, sushi, and an oceanfront view to die for. The Cannonball needs to be next on your list for rooftop restaurants. From WaveHouse San Diego JSix - Claiming "Honest Food & Drink" JSix has an honestly amazing view to match. They recently underwent a renovation so make sure to check out their new design with the same classic view. From Puccini Group

We know this isn't a complete list. Did we miss your favorite rooftop spot? Let us know in the comments below!

  Source: Rooftop Restaurants Cover Photo: Flickr-Prayitnomore

When things get shaking here in California the biggest question you need to ask is: Is your home earthquake-ready? We'd like to provide some great tips and procedures to help in earthquake proofing your California home. Flicker - J J Those of us down in Southern California have recently been experiencing a little earth-moving fun, and though the small quakes hardly do much damage [see a funny video of an overreaction here] there is the potential that larger quakes could follow. The best way to live without worry is to live prepared.

Earthquake Proofing Your Home

Structure

It's no fun thinking that you may need to have your house or building inspected, but when it comes to the structure you live in, being up to code an prepared is 100% worth it. Some key areas that will need to be assessed are your homes foundation, anchoring (where the walls are secured to the foundation), walls, main lines for gas, water, and electricity, as well as your water heater (source: SFGate.com). We recommend checking out the CA.gov Seismic Safety Commission website for more helpful information that is specific to California. Flickr - Jens H.

The Small Stuff

We're always told not to sweat the small stuff, but in this case, paying attention to the little details in your home could save you a lot of trouble should you experience an earthquake. Here is a list of items to consider securing to the wall:

• Bookcases
• Televisions
• Top-heavy or tall furniture (armories, entertainment centers, dressers)
• Refrigerators and other large kitchen appliances

Flickr - Jeremy Levine Here is a list of items you should consider moving or altering:

• Large or heavy items placed on top shelves (move to lower shelves)
• Adding latches to kitchen cabinet drawers
• Heavy or large wall art above beds (move away from bed)

When you can single out these potential issue areas, a few quick fixes will mean a world of difference should things start to shake.

Earthquake Kit

Being prepared goes past evaluating your home or living space. When you've got a handy earthquake kit ready, you can rest easy knowing that you're prepared no matter what. These items could come in handy in other situations as well so it's a win-win. Flickr - Kristian Niemi Suggested Earthquake Proofing Kit items:

• Water - Store a pack of water bottles (recommended 3 day supply) and calculate a ration of four quarts per person per day at minimum.
• Food - In this case, canned goods are a great way to go (don't forget the can opener!). You should also consider snacks and calorie-heavy foods such as peanut butter, granola, oatmeal, protein bars, nuts, and whole-grain crackers.
• Medicine - Have a backup supply of any necessary medicines just in case.
• First Aid Kit
• Additional clothing
• Blankets
• Flashlights & batteries (consider investing in a phone battery charger for emergency calls or to check the earthquake app for information)
• Simple tools (wrench to turn off gas etc.)
• Fire extinguisher
• Essential documents stored in a safe

TotallyUnprepared.com recommends purchasing a large trashcan with a waterproof lid to store all of your earthquake proofing items in. Check out their site for additional information on making your own kit. Flickr - Joe Burke We hope these tips help you to feel confident and secure that, no matter what happens, you can be assure you're earthquake proofing is complete. Living worry free in California is always the way to go!

Sources: Earthquake Safety & Survival and How Stuff Works Cover Photo from Flickr by Paree