Archive - Park Journey

Published on

December 12, 2013
The Getty Villa - Part 2

The Getty
This is part 2 of our trip to the Getty Villa for our 18th Anniversary. if you missed Part 1 you can see the pictures here.
As I mentioned in Part 1 of the update, we were both completely amazed at how much we loved the Getty Villa. We had heard it was great, we've visited the regular Getty but something about the intimate nature of the Villa really stood out to us. Not only is the artwork beautiful but as we showed in Part 1 of our update, the setting is just as amazing.

As you walk the "Path to the Museum" you can pick up a map in a variety of different languages. These maps have great descriptions of the Exhibitions, Gardens and Galleries.

The main entrance to the Getty Villa

We started with the upstairs exhibits. Unfortunately one of the Changing Exhibitions was closed as The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: A New Beginning had just closed the day prior to our visit. A new exhibit (Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections) will be opening in April. Another excuse to visit again. =)

Our first exhibit was for the Neolithic and Bronze Age Arts.

There are lots of pictures to share, be sure to click on the individual pictures in the various galleries below to see all the Villa has to offer.

In between the individual galleries there are some amazing displays of sculptures and gravestones.

This is apparently a Bear. We didn't see it.

The Gravestone of Pollis

A very interesting Sarcophagus

The Gravestone of Philoxenos and Philoumene

The Athletes and Competition Exhibit

This next two Exhibits will interest quite a few of you I'm sure

Men in Antiquity

The exhibit features some incredible busts.

The Head of Emperor Augustus

The Head of Emperor Caligula

Head of a Balding Man. Perhaps one of my Ancestors? =)

Unfortunately no pictures were allowed in the Tiberius Exhibition but it was fantastic. We really enjoyed reading the timeline and seeing all of the artifacts.

So nobody feels left out, there was also a Women in Antiquity exhibit .

The Greco-Roman Egypt exhibit features the Mummy of Herakleides

Back on the Ground Floor, most of the exhibits feature some pretty amazing statues.

This was probably my favorite room of the entire Villa.

As you approach the central statue of Hygieia-Aphrodite you are surrounded by Muses on either side.

That's going to wrap it up for Part 2 of the update. This is by no means all there is to see at the Getty Villa. We certainly don't want to spoil everything or you'd have nothing left to experience on your own. But trust us, it's worth the journey.

For more information on the Getty Villa you can visit their website.

Tickets are free but the Villa itself requires reservations. Parking is $15 per car.

We will have another update next Monday for the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park, some work is being done on the Pier prior to next Spring. We will also have an update from the Reagan Library's new Spy Exhibit and their Christmas Tree exhibit sometime next week.

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If you have any comments, please share them below.
Published on

December 10, 2013

The Getty Villa - Part 1

The Getty

This year my wife and I celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary at the Getty Villa. We had been wanting to get out to the Villa for a few years and were finally able to. The Villa is absolutely breathtaking.
Situated just off PCH in the Santa Monica Mountains you feel like you are much further away from PCH than a few hundred yards.
There is so much to see that this update is going to have to be done in two parts. The first part we'll look at the outside portions of the Villa, the beautiful gardens and fountains.

Upon parking at the Getty Villa you have to head up and down a few elevators (or lots of stairs) to get to the main entrance. The way the Villa is set up makes great use of the setting in the Santa Monica Mountains while not disturbing too much of the natural beauty in the area.

As you walk up to the main entrance to the Villa you are treated to some fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. It was an absolutely beautiful day thanks to the recent rain and wind.

There are many plaques and signs throughout the grounds. This one features the names of the Getty Trustees and the project team that worked on the reopening of the Villa in 2006.

As you approach the main Villa you are treated to a great view of the Amphitheater and the main building.

The main entrance to the Getty Villa.

We'll head inside the building later this week, but today we are going to concentrate on the amazing grounds surrounding the Villa itself.

The Mediterranean setting of the gardens really blends seamlessly with the Roman exhibits inside the Villa.

More great views of the ocean and the Villa's main drive which simulates the ancient streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Even the Parking Structure is authentically Roman. =)

The only statue in the Villa visitors are allowed to touch.

We of course had to have a little bit of fun with it.

The Outer Peristyle (or Formal Gardens) had to be my favorite garden at the Villa. Not only does it offer a great view of the Villa itself but it really does seem like something directly out of the Roman Empire.

Some great Bronze Replicas of statues and busts are found throughout the garden.

The description of this one was simply "deer".

Heading into the Inner Peristyle.

Some of the busts and statues have some creepy eyes that like to follow you around. It would be interesting to see these late at night.

The East Garden features a replica of an ancient fountain in the House of the Large Fountain at Pompeii.

Later this week we'll have Part 2 of our update featuring the great exhibits inside the Villa itself, including:

For more information on the Getty Villa you can visit their website.

Tickets are free but the Villa itself requires reservations. Parking is $15 per car.

If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter.

If you have any comments, please share them below.
Published on

November 19, 2013

Press Release - Knott's announces Calico Mine Ride and Camp Snoopy enhancements for 2014

2014 Attractions Calico Mine Ride Camp Snoopy Cedar Fair Knott's Berry Farm

Today Knott's Berry Farm announced their 2014 park enhancements.
In what was probably the worst kept secret in the fan community, an upgrade to the Calico Mine Ride (similar to the makeover the Timber Mountain Log Ride received this year) is coming in Spring 2014. If this makeover is anywhere close to the makeover the Log Ride received fans are in for a treat.
The other enhancements are coming to Camp Snoopy as a way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the land the Knott family built in 1983.

These enhancements continue the move towards a more "family" park that Knott's has been taking over the last few years. If you haven't visited Knott's in awhile please take the time to do so. The park has really done a great job with Ghost Town and Family Ride enhancements.

BUENA PARK, Calif., Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Knott's Berry Farm is proud to announce two major projects for 2014 that continue reinvestment in the park's rich history and heritage. Camp Snoopy celebrates its 30th Anniversary with the revitalization of the entire land of High Sierra fun. The classic Calico Mine Ride, Knott's first major attraction and theme park industry icon, will undergo an all-encompassing refurbishment complete with new state-of-the-art animatronic figures and enhanced scenery. Camp Snoopy's area beautification and the revitalized Calico Mine Ride are slated to open early summer of 2014.

"Camp Snoopy and Calico Mine Ride have delighted guests for decades and are classics that families come back time and again to experience together," said Raffi Kaprelyan, Knott's Berry Farm's vice president and general manager. "The revitalization of these areas will once again demonstrate our commitment to Knott's heritage and will preserve these experiences for a new generation of guests to enjoy."

Camp Snoopy, home of the beloved PEANUTS Gang, has welcomed the young and the young at heart since its grand opening on July 1, 1983. In honor of the land's 30th anniversary, the High Sierra mountains camp theming will be enhanced throughout. Thirty years ago the five-acre nature wonderlandwas created by the Knott family to be a carefree place where nature, adventure and imagination come to life, and in 2014 it will undergo a number of exciting updates including new rides and restoration of the entire area with the original inspiration in mind.

Additionally in 2014, Knott's beloved Calico Mine Ride will undergo complete refurbishment.

The Calico Mine Ride, Knott's first major ride, opened in Ghost Town in November 1960 and was quickly recognized as one of the world's most immersive "dark rides." The beloved attraction designed by industry pioneer-Bud Hurlbut, carries riders aboard ore cars, on a realistic adventure through dimly lit tunnels of a working gold mine. The winding journey takes passengers to underground lakes, waterfalls, caverns filled with thousands of mysterious formations, chambers filled with steaming, bubbling pots and geysers. At several points in the trip, riders find themselves along the rim of a sixty five foot deep and ninety foot wide scene filled with dozens of animated miners trying to strike it rich.

The Calico Mine Train attraction stands 7 stories tall. Every year over 1 million guests take part in the eight minute journey. The mountain required over 275 tons of steel to complete and was the first attraction with a "hidden" themed queue that snakes upward to the loading station, out of sight of onlookers. The design preserves the impressive forced perspective of the mountain range, based on the sites in the authentic ghost town at Calico inCalifornia's Mojave Desert.

In January 2014 the attraction will close for a comprehensive restoration by Knott's Berry Farm's design and production team. The project will be another partnership with Garner Holt Productions, Inc., (GHP) the team that brought award winning new enhancements to the Timber Mountain Log Ride in 2013 withlifelike animatronics and stunning show scenes.

"It is our company's top priority to preserve and enhance the original story of a working gold mine deep in the heart of the Old West," said Garner Holt, GHP's founder and president. "The Calico Mine Ride will be filled with lifelike sounds and motion, while maintaining the uniquely authentic feel of the attraction as designed by Knott's and industry legend Bud Hurlbut." The renovation of the iconic attraction includes the addition of over 50 new state-of-the-art animatronic figures, all new audio and theme lighting system, and special effects that will capture the imagination of would-be miners as they journey deep into the winding caverns of the attraction.

In 1954, Knott's Berry Farm founder, Walter Knott, delivered an open letter to his employees in which he wrote "You know, we never fully enjoy the things we have until we share them with those we love." Next summer, Knott's invites the world to come back to Camp Snoopy and Ghost Town to enjoy these new adventures together.

For more information on Knott's Berry Farm including admission, park hours and events visit www.knotts.com or download the Knott's Berry Farm app for your smart phone.

About Knott's Berry Farm and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company:

Knott's Berry Farm is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FUN." In addition to Knott's Berry Farm, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, three water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.

Below are some pictures of what the Calico Mine Ride looks like today.

Can't wait to see the newly refurbished Mine Ride in 2014!!!!

Be sure to like our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter!!! Please share!!!

Gregg
Published on

November 14, 2013
Typhoon Haiyan Relief - How you can help
I had the privilege to go to the Philippines a few years ago on a business trip. The people in my class were terrific and they treated me like family which helped since I was so far away from my own family.
Over the weeks I was there I got a taste of their tremendous culture, their loving personalities and just how much they all clearly cared for each other. I mean, would you ever go camping for a weekend with your co-workers? In the Philippines, this is not an uncommon thing.

So today, I want to share some of the ways you can help with Typhoon relief as well as share a few pictures from my trip to the Philippines.

Thankfully, those who I've spoken with in Manila have been spared most of the damage of the Typhoon but they all have family and friends who have been tremendously impacted by Haiyan. There are so many ways we can help, every little bit helps.

The easiest way to help is directly to the Red Cross
If you have iTunes (who doesn't) you can also donate directly from the iTunes store
Facebook has set up a donation banner that makes it simple to click and donate
For those of us in Southern California, if you "like" the SoCal Edison Facebook page they will donate $5 per person (up to $5,000)
You can also donate directly to PeDRO (Philippine Disaster Relief Organization)
Lastly, LA Kings fans, if you donate $100 through the Kings Care Foundation you can get 2 tickets to the November 19 or November 21 game. Click here to donate.

I know that the people of the Philippines would appreciate anything you can donate.

Manila

Some pictures from around Manila during my visit.
One of the most unique things about Manila is that everything is attached to a mall. Whether it was our office building, our hotel or the theme park I visited. The Mall would usually take up the first 2-3 floors and then the lobby of whatever building you were visiting would be above that.

As you can see in the picture to the left, our hotel/apartment sits on top of a mall that contained restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe and CPK, a grocery store where we would get our food and phone cards to call home as well as retail establishments you would see in any mall in the U.S..

Click on the pictures below to see full sized versions.

Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago was a highlight of one of my "free days" in the city. Sitting just on the waterfront of Manila Bay it displays much of the Spanish influence that is certainly a huge part of the Filipino culture.

Click on the pictures below to see full sized versions.

Star City

One of the more interesting places I visited on my trip was to Star City, a small amusement park near the bay. It is an indoor/outdoor park and as you'll see from some of the pictures below, respecting "intellectual property" isn't something high on the list of this particular amusement park. It did however make for a truly memorable visit.

Click on the pictures below to see full sized versions.

One of the more "unique" attractions was the Peter Pan walk-through. if you've ridden the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland, this is pretty much a scene-by-scene walk-through of the attraction complete with London flyover while walking on a cat walk.

Click on the pictures below to see full sized versions.

Lastly, these are some pictures of my students. To them I was known as "Lolo Gregg", which if you know anything about Philippine culture is a term of endearment. These were my "kids" for my time out there. Hard working people who desperately need our help right now.

And yes, before you ask, that's me singing and playing guitar (badly) on our last night of class.

Click on the pictures below to see full sized versions.

So if there is anything you can do, please help. I know there have been a lot of stories this week about the need for help but I hope my personal story about the people who actually need our help right now will help just a little bit.

Gregg
Published on

November 7, 2013

Press Release - NEW ATTRACTION COMING TO AQUATICA™, SEAWORLD’S WATERPARK

2014 Attractions

* All Images Courtesy of Sea World San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO (Nov. 7, 2013) – Beginning May 2014, Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, will
introduce a 13,500 square feet aviary containing about 300 birds representing more than 50
species. The newest attraction will be one of the park’s serene offerings, giving guests the
chance to float, wade or walk among hundreds of tropical birds. Some of the birds are
considered threatened or endangered and our aviary will help in conservation efforts.

The aviary and new pools will be located on the Loggerhead Beach area of Aquatica,
creating a new “waterfront beach” for our guests to enjoy. Guest will be able to access the
aviary by floating along Loggerhead Lane river, walking through Loggerhead Beach or wading in
a new pool with a grotto-style waterfall. Guests will have the opportunity to hand feed birds as
SeaWorld aviculturists and educators will be on hand to teach guests about these amazing
animals. When Aquatica waterpark closes for the season, SeaWorld guests will be able to access
the aviary.

Aquatica San Antonio is a waterpark only SeaWorld could create, blending up-close
animal experiences with thrilling rides and family entertainment. The park offers experiences
from the serene, like 42,000 square feet of white sandy beaches, to the extreme, including a
“zero-gravity” wall on Walhalla Wave. For more details, visit SeaWorld.com.
Published on

November 4, 2013

November 4, 2013 - Post Fright Fest park update

Six Flags Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Six Flags Magic Mountain

This past weekend I headed up to Magic Mountain with my son for a few hours. They were having Passholder ERT (Exclusive Ride Time) on Full Throttle so we figured we could get a few rides in prior to the park opening.
If you have yet to get your 2014 Gold Pass, it's an amazing deal. The current sale ended yesterday (11/3) but I anticipate there will be another deal announced in the next few days. I'll keep you updated.

It was an absolutely beautiful day to be out at the park. Despite there being a Cheerleading competition we were able to get in a few rides and didn't wait too long for anything.
We got to enter the park about 30 minutes early thanks to the Passholder ERT on Full Throttle.

The entry fountain, not a cloud in the sky. I think November is my favorite time in Southern California. Certainly is the iconic Magic Mountain shot.

Once in the park we headed straight for Full Throttle. Apparently some of the Cheerleading people got in early to register but they were unable to get on any rides until 10:30. This meant we had to show our pass each time we wanted to ride Full Throttle.
This was the line we had to wait in for our first ride. Our second ride had no line. Not bad.

Still hoping that additional improvements are coming to the station during the Off-season. No indication of anything being done yet though.

The ride sure is photogenic though.

Superman Plaza is always a great place for some Full Throttle action shots.

The park has done a pretty good job removing Fright Fest decorations. The only thing we saw was the facade for Willoughby's. They really should leave this up all year, it certainly looks better than the blank wall that's usually there.

Nothing left at Black Widow.

Heading down the hill, Apocalypse is back to running 2 trains. It was a little smoother than when we rode in September but not much (we were also sitting in the front row).

Jet Stream is still having a delayed opening. Makes more sense in November than it does in July and August.

The old Food Location near Colossus is still empty. I've heard a few rumors about what could be coming to this spot. Hopefully before Spring Break next year?

Colossus is back to running forward although the backwards trains are still on the transfer track. I'm guessing they will remain since the ride will be running backwards (along with Batman: The Ride) next spring.

Heading into High Sierra Territory I noticed that the sign looked new. Not sure if this is recent but it looked great.

Still no indication where the new kiddie coaster is going to go, but my good buddy Kurt (The Coaster Guy) suggested that this spot between Road Runner Express and the Whislestop Train would be the most likely spot. After seeing the spot I agree, it would easily fit here.
Makes you wonder if they will once again flip the entrance for Clown Coaster/Wile E Coyote/Goliath Jr/Percy's Railway/Magic Flyer so all three entrances would be close to each other.

UPDATE: Just received confirmation from the park that the tree is being removed this week. The spray paint pictured below is from the company removing the tree.

Not sure at this point what will be replacing the tree but there is an un-used seating area nearby. Could this be where the new kiddie coaster is going?

The spray paint below is from the company that will be removing the tree.

A quick look at the Cheerleaders who invaded the park. Be sure to keep up with the parks events page to see when big groups are likely to be at the park.

On the way out I took a few more shots of Full Throttle. The entrance area with the sign and "Full Throttle" video looks great.

The newly renovated restrooms between the parks are open and they look great. Hopefully the renovating of restrooms will continue after it slowed down the last couple of years.

Doesn't look like any work has begun on the Bonzai Pipeline slides that are due to open at Hurricane Harbor next year.

And lastly, the banners heading to the park are now promoting the Season Pass sale and new attractions for 2014.

That's going to wrap it up for this update. I'm not anticipating too much activity going on at the park for the next couple of months.

I'm still working on the permanent site which should be launching sometime in the next month or so but in the meantime you can click on the Facebook and Twitter pages I've created. The name of the new site will be Park Journey and I'm hoping it will be more than just a "construction update" site but will share things beyond Theme Parks.

Also hoping to get out to the Reagan Library to check out their new "Spy Exhibit" in the next few weeks.

Please comment and share this update if you enjoyed it.

Gregg

The Getty Villa - Part 2

The Getty Villa - Part 1

Press Release - Knott's announces Calico Mine Ride and Camp Snoopy enhancements for 2014

Typhoon Haiyan Relief - How you can help

Press Release - NEW ATTRACTION COMING TO AQUATICA™, SEAWORLD’S WATERPARK

November 4, 2013 - Post Fright Fest park update