SLEEK 'N MEAN: Ever gone to another city, for work or a wedding or just your basic vacation, and spent a few hours driving a car that wasn't your own? Yep, we probably all have at some point. What make and model was it? Do you remember? Was it a 2013 Corvette Z06? Or a 2014 Camaro Z1? In short, was it sleek, a little tough-looking, and pure muscle-car vroom? Probably not. But things change up on this motor matter in Las Vegas (as things change on practically every matter in Las Vegas). Nope, you can't go to the counter at the airport and pick up the newest make of muscle car -- or we don't think you can as of yet -- but you can get a lift over to World Class Driving on Dean Martin Boulevard and spend some quality time behind the wheel of a Corvette.

AND A CAMARO AND A... Shelby and a Dodge Challenger. The driving experience company just introduced muscle cars to its line-up of auto outings last month. How it works is this: You go out for a guided tour through Red Rock Canyon -- yep, those roads are mighty pigtail-y around those parts -- and enjoy being at the controls of a Shelby GT500 or other newer muscle car. You can go one step further and book four cars for your driving day, taking in a larger feel of the fleet. Packages start at $299 per person, while the four-car experience -- that's got "XL" in its name, of course -- kicks off at $399.

VEGAS AND VROOM: Oh, dear LV. You and your desire to put people in offbeat seats, be they in a muscle car, in front of a slot machine, at the front row of an extreme magic show, or at the controls of a bulldozer. Wait. You totally know you can operate a bulldozer in Las Vegas, too? If it is a machine, and it goes, look to Sin City for the key to the ignition. It is probably there.

DESERT SUMMER: There are those places that are forever bragging about their moderate temperatures and ability to stay in a ten-degree range. Yep, we said "bragging," because the people engaging in the chest-puffery do not control the weather, unless they're onto something we don't know about. But we also aren't sure if moderate temps are brag-worthy; yep, things stay consistent, but the experience of a place never varies. Then you have the desert, where a December night can feel positively frosty and a July afternoon can deliver a dry-heat to out-dry-heat any of the dry-heat that cities like Phoenix cling to, with pride. In short? The desert is always different and its beauty does change depending on what the thermometer reads. Us? We love a good desert summer, where everything feels dramatic and that moment right when the sun goes down -- think 7:50, 7:51ish -- is pure perfection. 

EVENING MAGIC: At Korakia Pensione, in Palm Springs, that's about the time when the famous lights and atmospheric lanterns start to light up, providing a whole bunch of mood for the desert summer night. The pools, help, of course, as do the Mediterranean, Tangiers rooms and suites, spaces that are at once austere and elegant. Oh, and something else that helps in the summertime? A notable deal.

SUMMER RATES: Rooms start at $129, studios are $179. Good stuff, and suites? They're $229. And here's something very desert: Korakia keeps limited open dates in the summer, like some historic properties do. Meaning you can book for a Friday and Saturday in July and August, but only those days of the week. Picture it now: A hot day in the city, a hotter day in the desert. Then evening. Then a cool pool. Lanterns and low lights and dusk-sweet conversations.

DELICIOUSNESS, WRAPPED UP: What's that one dish that it is impossible for you not to rhapsodize over at length? We're talking the foodstuff that you can eat pretty much every day for a month. You wouldn't, no, but put to the challenge, perhaps, you think you could do it. We'd guess that, for many people who love savory classics that come accompanied by some greens, some deliciously cool topping, and a soft pita, that once-a-day-for-a-month meal would have to be the gyro. There are several reasons the gyro might be one of the world's best dishes, but here are the ones we favor. 1) You can walk while eating it, or do anything, practically, which can't be said about many yummy things (we're not talking to you, pizza; you qualify here). 2. Tzatziki. Right? Need we say anything else? Tzatziki makes everything zippier. 3) The lettuce/tomato element, which lends some crunch and tartness. And 4) a perfect pita, a pillowy pita, a pita that is more chewy than hard. And 5)? You'll always find a really classic gyro at one of our state's most classic Greek Festivals, the Orange County Greek Festival.

DATES, DETAILS, AND DISHES: The party will opa! over three days in Anaheim: Friday, May 17, Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19. Food will be a main centerpiece, of course, and beyond the gyros we'd go for ouzo -- that's the anise-y liquor, mmm -- loukoumades, which is a pastry dessert, and a souvlaki (gotta go souvlaki). Dancing and vendor booths round out the weekend. Oh, and admission? That's three bucks, but be sure to stow some cash for all of the edibles. You're starting with the gyros, right? We'll see you there.

SWEET HEAT: If the desert resorts were to have a serious paramour, and it had to be one of the months of the year, it would of course be February. That's the high season for visitors to Palm Springs and the surrounding cities, in part because of major events like Modernism Week and in part because temperatures can hover in the 70s, and even 80s, while snow falls in many parts of the country. Prices at many a hotel can reflect this busy time of year, meaning that regional locals turn to their summer calendars for a desert trip. Summer is actually many a SoCaler's favorite time in the desert -- we're raising our hand and joining that group -- because the wintertime hubbub has settled down but the pleasures are still plentiful. More than that, prices on rooms go down in many quarters, so there are Deals, capital D, to be had.

ONE WE'RE LOOKING AT... Is Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Palm Desert. It just underwent a full-scale renovation, meaning that everything is looking spiffier: The resort plaza and spa have been updated and the suites have been refreshed. This would all seemingly add up to extra dollar signs at check-out but summer prices in the desert tell a different story. Meaning? Guests can nab rooms for $99 a night.

HOW THIS WORKS: You'll need to book by May 20 for a July, August, or September stay. Go early August, we say, when things get truly toasty 'round those parts. Then you can make for Splashtopia -- that's big with the little tykes -- or the Azure Pool, which is reserved just for grown-ups. Yep, it'll be warm, but that's what big hats, SPF lotion, and retreats to a cool room are for. So three cheers for a desert summer. Yep, we know that February is the famous month, but we'll take a local's August any year.

A WORD OF ADVICE: If you're ever considering getting into a cute contest with anything in this world just don't go up against a koala. Because regardless of how cute any of us are, or any other living creature is, one simply can't compete with the furry beast that is snub of nose and large of ear and snoozy of disposition. We'd never tell anyone "quit before you try" over anything, but we have to take a stand on this one. Exhibit A? Kirra, pictured above, the newest joey at the San Diego Zoo. She got her name -- it is Aboriginal for "leaf" -- when some 4,000 koala buffs voted online. Gaze into Kirra's eyes, enamored, furry-obsessed humans. Do you want to be in a cute-off with her or any other koala? None of us are raising our hands on this one, and wisely so.

BUT WE WILL RAISE OUR HANDS... to see her in person. Or, um, in koala? A big date is ahead for Kirra and all of the zoo's famous eucalyptus-craving marsupials, when the Conrad Presbys Australian Outback debuts at the animal park on Friday, May 24. The koalas will now be neighbors with kookaburras and cockatoos and wombats and other creatures that hail from Down Under. One of the centerpieces of the area is the Queenslander House, which will provide eye-level decks from which to observe the koalas napping in the trees. (Spoiler alert: Koalas do love their naps.) It's an innovative idea, and one you don't see at too many zoos. How many times have you looked up into trees, rather than straight on, to try and spy a koala?

Just over a half dozen marsupials will call the Australian Outback area home, and about two dozen birds. Can't wait for Memorial Day Weekend? You can watch Koala Cam right now. Does anyone see little Kirra?

DAY IN THE COUNTRY: If we're ever made President of Field Trips -- we see this as some sort of national office, duly appointed by important people who know that getting out of the classroom and into the field can be highly educational -- we know what policy we'd scrutinize first. It's the whole concept that visits to farms and ranches only happen once for a schoolkid, often around the first or second grade, and then never again. How can this be? We won't knock any field trip a city kid takes, but getting out into the country and learning about agriculture and animals and where our food comes from and where practically our everything comes from is essential knowledge. If you're already a farm kid, you know, but this single-field-trip deal is not enough. That's why we're major endorsers of field-tripping as adults to all of the places you wish you'd gone as a student: bee-keeps and dairies and, yep, places dedicated solely to beasties. There's one in Ojai that is especially awww-enducing and it is open to visitors. Bet you can guess who lives there from the name: El Paca Pastures. And El Paca Pastures just happens to have the perfect field-trippy day just ahead: The Shearing Festival.

HAIRCUT TIME: Yep, that's how the people of the ranch describe it, and it is apt. The resident alpacas, all of whom are cutely monikered, are due for their springtime visit to the barber. We're recommending this because a) Ojai b) educational c) alpacas and d) if you or your kidlets have never seen something sheared, in person, it is interesting, and a fine conversation starter about where clothing comes from. Date's Sunday, May 26, cost is five bucks, dogs are not allowed (plus you don't want your pup to get an accidental shave, right?). More educational field trips, we say, and over a person's whole life, not just the first few years.

MID-MAY DECISIONS: When one sees the graduation greeting cards line the shelves, and one starts to receive invitations to Memorial Day barbecues, and one feels the approach of summer, one needs to make a decision: Will there be one more snow moment to this season or not? If so, and one would like to ski one final time, at least regionally, before next November or December, one must act come Mid-May. Slopes are doing the shuttering thing, though some will push the bye-bye date with a few creative twists. For creative twist numero uno, look no further than Mammoth Mountain, which is touting a Ski-Bike-Golf Challenge over Memorial Day Weekend, the final weekend that the slopes'll be open at the Sierra resort.

YEP, YOU REALLY CAN.. go skiing, do some pedaling, and swing a club, all in a matter of hours. There might be a perfect window for all in the late autumn, but the Memorial Day deal is solid: pay ninety bucks, get unlimited skiing and biking, nab nine holes of golf, and enjoy a lodging deal, too. It's part of the West Coast Invitational, so you'll receive an invite to the invitational's reception. We like it because it is an offbeat threesome. Sure, you can swim and bike and run, and that is totally amazing (and difficult). But skiing is almost never part of a trio that also includes common summertime pursuits.

MOUNTAIN SUMMER: And the mountain doesn't shutter come the warmer weather. Mammoth has stuff to do of the hiking, biking sort. The gondola also runs people up the hill for picnics and lunch. That sounds pretty summertime chillaxy to us. Yep, we just broke out "chillaxy," but easier/breezier days are nearly here. It fits.

QUIRKY CANINE CONTEST: One could truthfully say that the internet is one giant morass of "awww"-inducing photos. You only need to click on three or four different links before you come across some animal playing a guitar or snoozing -- this is practically fact, right? -- and then the "awww"-ing begins. But few real-world, offline events can give the internet a run for its "awww"-some abilities like the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. Covered by every known form of media from practically every part of the planet, the Sonoma-Marin Fair event has catapulted to mega fame. It isn't hard to figure out why: People love dogs, and if those dogs happen to, um, have a certain distinct look? Our hearts grow three sizes, much like the Grinch. And while most of us just see pictures of the competition, some humorous hound lovers make the jump and actually enter. You can, too: Entries remain open for the Friday, June 21 happening, which happens to be the 25th year of the canine contest.

THE DOGLY DEAL: There's an entry form to fill out, and you'll need to submit a picture, and there's some vaccination stuff to consider as well before making for Petaluma. Top prize? One thousand, five hundred dollars, plus a trophy. And worldwide acclaim and affection for your sweet pet.

PREVIOUS WINNERS: If you follow the World's Ugliest Dog, you can see patterns. Hairless dogs show well, as do pups showing a certain snaggle-o-sity in their teeth region. But beauty, or non-beauty, is in the ocular region of the person looking at the pup, so whether you consider your hound a possible front-runner is up to you. And if you don't have a dog to enter? You can vote for the pup that is the, um, most charming, to your heart, soon. That will soon kick off, so watch the Ugliest Dog HQ for details.

SUPPING IN SEPTEMBER: Sunset magazine has been synonymous with Western living for decades, but for many years the readers had to put its recipes and suggestions into practice on their own. Then the Menlo Park publication began to step out of its food-filled, patio-lined pages, hosting events that boasted a certain Sunsetian flair. One of the premiere happenings, an annual favorite that's now a staple of early autumn? Savor the Central Coast. The three-day gathering is very much about delicious dishes, and local wines, and visits of the area's landmarks (think Hearst Castle and other pretty destinations). It has become popular, for sure, meaning that events do sell out (like the opening night at the San Simeon castle). The time to purchase a ticket is well ahead of late September, and the organizers of the Savor have gone one better: They've put weekend passes on sale through the end of May.

REALLY ON SALE: A weekend main event pass is typically $150, but if you purchase it through Friday, May 31, you can nab it for $100. Nope, a special code isn't needed, that's just the price Savor has set. Wine tastings, food tastings, farm-to-table haps, and more goodies are included in the weekend main event pass. At any rate, if you do want to attend the Sept. 29-31 weekend, you should move on your ticket soon.

BECAUSE.. The schedule is a draw. There are more hands-on activities and demos, and adventure tours are now two days, instead of one. A new Pismo Beach event -- it's cocktail-based -- will be a Friday night thing, too. And picturesque Santa Margarita Ranch outside San Luis Obispo is still a main hub for all of the celeb chefs and winemakers. Plus the fans of Sunset, of course. It's nice to live beyond the pages of the magazine for a few early fall days.

THE MOVING IMAGE: The reasons that the Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach's hold-still-and-pose-like-a-painting summer extravaganza, is known around the world are plentiful. Maybe it was being lovingly satirized in "Arrested Development" (the Bluths, an Orange County family, would of course participate). Maybe it is because the long-running stage spectacular is, well, spectacular, in a more silent, quiet sense, as compared to 99.9% of all other performance genres. People get painted to fit into artworks, or to be the artwork, and then they keep very still and very quiet. See? That's charming. And it's unique, at least fairly so in these modern times (people have been paying homage, via poses, to paintings and sculptures for centuries). So knowing all of this, and being aware that actors have been remaining still on the Pageant stage since the mid-'30s, it can surprise one to learn what the 2013 theme is to be: The Big Picture. As in movies. As in moving movies. Has the Pageant entered a new chapter?

THE STILLNESS REIGNS SUPREME: Fear not, tradition mavens. The Pageant's film tribute will be dedicated to the "classic art that inspired legendary filmmakers." This means those quintessential "living pictures" will remain still, while summoning the spirit of Thomas Gainsborough (an artist loved by director Stanley Kubrick) and recreating work by Jean-Leon Gerome, a favorite of Ridley Scott. It's always interesting for cinephiles to see the art their star helmer loved, but to see it recreated in a rather filmic way, with human beings, right before the eyes, is positively cinematic in scope. Plus, think of all the Hollywood people who've loved and lived in Laguna Beach over the years. It's a great fit, we think, for a tradition that keeps the parts people love while breaking things out a little, too, in offbeat and fresh ways. The Pageant of the Masters runs from Sunday, July 7 through Saturday, Aug. 31.

OVER THE MOUNTAINS: Technology advances and delivery times shorten and windows of opportunity grow and the future is embraced, but there are still places that open and close depending on the time of year and the state of the weather. The Tioga Road, or Highway 120, is the snowy subject of one of our state's most famous winter closures. The twisty, beautiful road that runs over the high Sierra has annual opening and closing date that very much depends on snowpack, as well as other factors. This means that crews usually get it clearly by May or June; then it puts up the "do not enter" signs again come November or December. Without it, people in, say, Mammoth, who'd like to get to Fresno, have to find routes around the mountains. With it, when it is open, day-trippers and hikers and campers visit Cathedral Lake and Tuolumne Meadow and bask in some Yosemite National Park back country exploration.

AND HERE COMES THE OPENING... That date is tentatively set for Saturday, May 18.

WHAT TO DO: There are several stop-off points for the leisurely driver toodling between the valley and Lee Vining, which is where the Tioga runs into Highway 395 at its eastern edge. And we do emphasize leisurely. Plan a couple of hours for your drive. There are some stay-over places, too, like White Wolf Lodge, but spots do fill up quickly.

AT EITHER END: If you're into making a day of it, we start at Groveland in the morning (maybe after a haunted night at the historic Groveland Hotel) and end the day at mysterious, tufa-filled Mono Lake near Lee Vining. You gotta have dinner at the Whoa Nellie Deli, too, one of the the state's, and maybe the country's, best gas station restaurants.

BEYOND THE RIDES: If you were to ask a hundred regular Disneyland Resort visitors about their favorite part of the parks, you'd probably get a few dozen attraction-based answers, at least twenty responses involving food, and then one really random, charming entry, like the third tombstone to the left in the Haunted Mansion's graveyard. But many people have a love for something that is everywhere in the park, all around. It's an element, though, that plays a quieter background role among the twinkly lights and thrill coasters. We're talking about the landscaping, the trees and the shrubs and, yep, the giant floral Mickey Mouse that greets visitors when they first walk in the front gate at Disneyland. That Mickey is one of the most noticeable parts of the landscaping scene, but think of all the many, many verdant things that line every attraction, and how each tree is themed to each land (fir trees around Frontier Land, ferns around Adventure Land). If this is indeed an area you adore, there's a tour for you, nature lover: Cultivating the Magic.

THREE TIMES WEEKLY: There's a tour on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday mornings -- 9 a.m. on the weekends, 10 a.m. on the weekday -- and it covers a wide swath of the park's plant scene. "Select attraction experiences" are part of the walk, and what is visited can change, so let's call this a fluid tour. No surprise there, since nature itself, the star of the walk, is ever-changing. You'll hear about the 260 acres of citrus groves that once covered the area, and how the team of crack horticulturists determines what goes where and why. There are literally millions of leaves and petals around the park, so this is a monumental job, but highly rewarding, too, we expect. Just try and picture Disneyland devoid of its trees and flowers. It completely changes, right? It's a fantasy built on outlandishness, yes, but nature is its earthy base. 

The Cultivating the Magic Tour is $49. Oh, and you leave with not only a souvenir pin -- very DL -- but a seed packet as well.

THE NEXT CENTURY: So, say you had your 100th birthday party a couple of years back, your big centennial, the whole fabulous whoop-di-doo. What to do after that? Do you go with something quiet for your 101st, or 102nd, something low-key, or do you invite thousands of people to costume up, come back, and do it all over again? Obviously the latter, if you're Bay to Breakers. It isn't often that a venerable sporting event, one that has oodles of historic moments and athletic accomplishments to spare, is also known as one of the most outlandish and free-spirited happenings on the running calendar. But not every venerable sporting event can be in San Francisco. The run, which hoofs it over 12 kilometers from the Embarcadero to the Pacific, is famous for a few things. For some serious hills (yep, there are hills in San Francisco, spoiler alert). For people who move their feet really fast over a dozen consecutive kilometers (top athletes are regulars). But mostly? For the costumes, the hairstyles, and the desire to rock the race in a memorable, highly photographable way.

DATES AND DETAILS: The 102nd Bay to Breakers is set to run on Sunday, May 19. Registration is open to runners and walkers both; get on it by May 16. You are certainly welcome to participate in traditional running gear, shorts and a tank, but if you decide to dress up, eye the costume contests ahead of time. We're sweet on Most Creative Group, if only because it can be hard to wrangle more than one person at a time. (This collective won for showing as the gang from Clue.)

ZANY, SWEATY, HEART-POUNDING: Is Bay to Breakers a patriarch of all of the other zany races now afoot? The runs where color dyes are thrown your way? The glow-in-the-dark jogs? We're absolutely eager to give some credit. So the next time you're in a run where you have to eat a cupcake at every mile marker, give a thought to San Francisco, which has been pairing weirdness and fitness for many a decade.

THE OUTLANDISH DECADE: When people were donning acid wash jeans and Day-Glo leg warmers and stretchy bracelets back in the middle of the 1980s, were they secretly thinking to themselves "one day someone will be donning this stuff, for a laugh, to go to a costume party." Probably not, right? But then we never think that during the time we're in. The fact is that something we're all wearing this very instant could be a common costume accessory in twenty or thirty years time. The famous "Flashdance" sweatshirt, the one that hangs off Jennifer Beals' shoulder, was the epitome of chic when the dance-drama debuted in 1983, but today such a sweater is, well, immediate shorthand for 1983. Bet you'll see a few of those sweatshirts out, as well as the heavily moussed hair and pegged jeans, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts throughout the middle of May. "Flashdance -- The Musical" is playing, and the center is throwing an '80s bash before each performance.

"MANIAC" POSE AND MORE: The highlight of the bash will likely be the photo area, where theater goers can do the film's most oft-repeated pose (picture a chair and a lot of water). Rather than H2O, though, the water will be streamers, insuring that you don't have to sit in a soggy skirt for the whole evening. Music, games, and other '80s-style ephemera will rule the pre-show. Got your sweatshirt with the cut-out neckline? Make for Costa Mesa before the show dances away on Sunday, May 19.

MAXIMIZING THE MOMENT: If ever there was a city that knows how to take something that's only happening over a few hours and run with it in a rather glorious and big-hearted fashion, it is Santa Barbara. Look to the royal visit of a few years past: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were set to visit for a polo match, but the multi-week run-up to that day, on the part of Santa Barbara, was grand. (Remember the charming video brimming with all the things the royals would like about the American Riviera?) Now the Central Coast stunner is showing all other places everywhere how it is done when a high-profile happening is due. The Amgen Bike Tour will arrive in the city on Wednesday, May 15 and push off again on Thursday, May 16, and both the pretty city and the surrounding communities are ready.

VERY READY: Let's start with the batch of good hotel deals that various properties have going. First off all, they extend beyond that one night of the Amgen ride, so that's sweet. Second? There is variety, from a wine emphasis for one to discounted rates for others. The list reveals that the majority of hotels and inns are jumping into the Amgen welcome, so, again: Santa Barbara is on this.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT STAYING OVERNIGHT... There are still ways to enjoy ride-viewing around Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. A free and very informal viewing party near Los Olivos is set to happen along the route on Thursday, May 16, and a ticketed finish line viewing party on Wednesday, May 15 will have a Taste of Santa Barbara element. In short? The city is ready for its riders and all the fans. Even if you don't go, you have to be inspired by a place that knows how to make a few hours extra out-sized, which is in the Amgen spirit. (It is, after all, called "America's Greatest Race.")

SUMMER TRIPS: It's long about May, when the school year begins to wrap up and calendars are pulled out that summertime weekends are planned. A family has a few choices if they want to save money: Stick closer to home, make it a briefer jaunt, and go old-school. Yep, new-school diversions, you can be budget-conscious, too, but there's nothing quite like visiting an attraction that one's parents, and even grandparents, enjoyed in their youth for saving a few dollars. And, not only that, but there's nothing like having a swell time. (Yeah, we rocked a "swell" there, but then we're talking about old-fashioned diversions.)

THE SWELLEST TIME? Well, that's up for debate, but if you're a kid, and you've grown up in NorCal in the last half century, and you've ever been to the redwoods, then a visit to the Trees of Mystery sticks with you. It's like the redwoods with a heavy dollop of fantasy and storytelling mixed in, and there's nothing not to like about that. In short? It's classic summertime road trip Americana. Or Californiana, rather.

FAVORITE TREE: What's yours? Do you adore the famous Elephant Tree, with its ridiculously elaborate roots system? The Cathedral Tree, which is synonymous with weddings? All are epic, but we have to go with the Candelabra Tree, which really does look like a candelabra, with smaller trees growing off its branches. Whatever your must-visit tree is, know that it is always just outside Klamath, California, growing away, waiting for the next batch of summertime road-trippers. That was your grandmother, then your father, now you, now your kids...

HOUNDS AT SEA: The phrase "California is quirky" is so obvious and true. It is like saying "the sun is hot" or "the woods have trees." Factual, is what we're saying. Historians and humorists and general observers have connected this trait to a lot of factors, but let's call it an overriding agreement to live and let live that we all go by 'round the Golden State. That quirkiness extends to our beloved pets, too -- no need to keep it all to ourselves -- meaning that pet dress-up opportunities happen pretty much every weekend at some California location. But those tend to be on land, for the most part, except for one notable party. It's Pet Day on the Bay, which is an opportunity to take a Hornblower cruise off the San Diego shore with your first mate -- er, mutt? -- at your side. And further proving our "California is quirky" assertion? Many of those dogs arrive dressed in full sailing regalia.

DATES, DETAILS, DOGS: The next Pet Day on the Bay is on Saturday, May 18. Dogs are free with their people, but humans have to buy a ticket. Cost? $24. There are a trio of boats leaving during that morning, so you'll want to book ahead with your choice. The narrated cruise lasts for an hour, but, let's be honest here: You're going to spend a heck of a lot of time taking pictures of your pup on the boat. So we're just saying you should go all out in the quirky costuming route (most people do go with a sailor hat thing, so we say stick a few tentacles on your hound and dress 'em as an octopus or as something else below the waves). We like this day because it raises money for pets in need, via the Helen Woodward Animal Center, but it takes our quirky pet love one step further. Plenty of other states can throw their offbeat animal events, but few states have the Pacific at their door. Why should we take our dogs out on it, for one day a year?

NATURE'S FRONT DOOR: Certain assumptions can be made about accessing wilder places, even among those adventurers who are frequent visitors to such treasured spots. One assumption? If it is in nature, and here on earth, and there are roads that lead to it, it must always be available to we humans, year-round, 24/7, whenever we want it. This is not true in a number of cases, of course. Several of our natural gems do periodically "shut the front door" in so many words due to weather conditions or roads or staffing. The good news, of course, is that the front door usually opens again just in time for summer visitors. Case in point? Devils Postpile National Monument in the Sierra Nevada.

IT'S NATURAL... RIGHT? We'll got out on a limb -- or perhaps postpile -- and call it the most instantly recognizable of our state's national monuments, which is no small feat, given our cornucopia of choices in California. That's due to Devils Postpile's unique, geometric columns of basalt, and all the chunks of fallen basalt at the base of the columns. It's striking, and even a little jaw-dropping, but it was not built by some math-loving doodler with a penchant for columnar shapes. Nature did the work, over eons, with the assistance of lava and glaciers, the sibling-like Heat Miser and Snow Miser behind the construction of our planet's mountains and valleys and wonders.

OPENING DATE: The tentative day is Saturday, May 25, 2013. But stand warned: Devils Postpile is not a cinch to access. The Red Meadows Shuttle Bus trundles visitors from Mammoth to the Postpile, and back, and it is, in a word, mandatory. There are a few exceptions, like campers, but you'll need to study up on the cans/can'ts before making for the Sierra. Also? It isn't open for all that long, so if you want to have your Postpile moment, aim for summer.

SERIOUSLY: Whatever you do, it is time to stop letting it linger there on your must-see bucket list, along with Catalina Island's Flying Fish and the other funky wonders of our state that happen to be seasonal. Seasons pass fast, as the Postpile can attest. It's seen one or two or a few million of 'em.

THE EL CAP CLICK: If you've been to one of the world's most famous valleys, and certainly what is among our best known national parks, we're going to make a pretty solid guess that you pulled over to take a photo of El Capitan. We're talking about the spot that is always lined with cars, regardless of the season, as people brake, exit, and pause to gape at the granite behemoth. And, truly, El Cap deserves all the gaping that comes its way, so we certainly aren't casting aspersions (and we've been among the gapees in the past). But there are other views in the park, of course, and other things to photograph. We can get in our wonder and beauty ruts, even in a spectacular setting that offers up a million, literally, new sights in all directions. One way to go and find those fresh takes is by horseback. The Yosemite Valley Stables just opened for the summer season, and, hello hello, they bypass some of the main sights of the meadow-laden floor and make for Mirror Lake.

THE CLIP-CLOP CLICK: And the ride is definitely about taking pictures in addition to communing with nature, your fellow riders, and, of course, your gorgeous pony. The ride takes two hours to Mirror Lake, meaning you should carve out about a half day in all. You'll see Vernal Fall. You'll also want to be aware it is described as a "strenuous ride," with switchbacks and slope action, so take note. If you are up to that ride, though, and you want some novel perspective on areas most visitors don't get into, a half-day hoof to Mirror Lake and back could be the ticket. Call it Yosemite for the adventurous, ready-to-ride shutterbug.
 

FOOD DE FESTIVAL: Ever been to a giant extravaganza, where thousands of fans show up, be it a science fiction convention, a car show, a sports spectacular, or a music festival? What did you eat? It might have depended on the type of event (a space taco at a sci-fi con, a glow-in-the-dark lollipop at an electronica gathering). But you probably don't recall too much about what you consumed during the day or weekend, other than it was salty, cheesy, and it kept your energy vaguely high for the duration. It isn't often that there's a food and beverage emphasis placed on a festival where many, many people are expected. Say, like San Francisco's Outside Lands, one of the largest music festivals in the state. That's because cuisine takes time, and care, and plating up hundreds of easy-to-eat dishes every hour isn't simpatico with that.

BUT... Outside Lands takes a different view. They've folded a food element into the larger tunes to-do, meaning that the grub is good. More than good, it can be delicious, and there's a healthy variety beyond the salty/cheesy element. The food line-up for the Friday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 11 festival was just announced on Monday, May 6, and we don't wonder if some people will attend solely  for the snacking and not for the rocking.

BILL OF FARE: There are actually five distinct foodie parts to Outside Lands: A Taste of the Bay Area, Choco Lands (!), Wine Lands, Beer Lands, and Outside Lambs. The quintet will offer over 200 food options all together, so even if you're just coming to eat, you probably will have to narrow things down. At Beer Lands, some seven of the 16 brewers are local to the Bay Area; Wine Lands will host 36 winemakers. And the main Taste event? Look for frozen hot chocolate from Charles Chocolates, chimichurri fries from 4505 Meats, and BBQ Oysters from Woodhouse Fish Co.

What was that? Who is on stage again? Some world-famous legend? Oh, right. This is a music festival. Be right back, need to get some more chimichurri fries...

HILLY HIGH JINKS: If you've been to Nevada City, and we'll just assume you have, if you like historic towns with long histories, funky breakfast places, artistic locals, wild senses of humor, and lots of nature, then you know it can tend towards hilliness. Not extreme hilliness, but you'll walk up and down several grades, guaranteeing your calves'll probably complain a bit later. (Whatever; it's good for you.) But a hilly town with a sense of humor and a long history also has a habit of hosting the most interesting annual events. Nope, not holiday parades and fireworks and such, nice though those are. We're talking offbeat stuff, like soapbox races, those quirky competitions where racers have to build their own dream machines. Nevada City has one of the best known 'round our state, and it rolls, literally, each June. The date is lined up for this year and the cars'll be colorful.

THAT DATE IS... Saturday,  June 22 starting at noon. There are a couple of spots left as of this typing, if you happen to be a soapboxer, but if you want to make a weekend of it, and head to the NC for some quality cheering on of soapboxery artiness, you should. Let us also reference again those artistic locals. Nevada City embraces a creative spirit, so the small vehicles set to race will veer from wildly strange to "what in the world is that?" So, it will all be fairly awesome, in short. Last but not least, and this is definitely worth a mention: Gravity does the work with a soapbox derby, not gasoline. So luck and downward whoosh play as big a part in the day as anything else (design, pluck, and nerve are important, too). It's a fine and funny way to welcome in summer, in one of Gold Country's, and the Golden State's, sweetest towns.

POWERFUL PEDALS: Spectators who like to take in major bike races are probably of three ilks, though there is some line-crossing within the ilk categories, we imagine. Ilk #1? Those people who like to be in a city where a bike race is running, so they can enjoy some of the city's amenities, and a possible expo or concert, too, that may be related to the tour. Ilk #2? Those people who follow the riders, either as a volunteer or just a fan that wants to take in a few stages of the event. And Ilk #3? The person who desires an emptier stretch of highway from which to observe the quick whizz-by, a place where they are free from jostling crowds and other city noise. The Amgen Tour of California, which is billed as "America's Greatest Race," sees spectators from all three ilks, and probably a few more beyond this trio. It's highly spectated, both in the urban areas it visits and along the country highways, too. The only thing for you to do, bike buff? Pick what stage you want to see.

STAGES ONE THROUGH EIGHT: Stage One lifts the kickstand in Escondido on Sunday, May 12. Palm Springs and Santa Clarita follow the next two days, and then the mega sports spectacular marches, or more accurately spins, north. Stage 5 is sure to have some stunning spots to watch, given that the riders are rolling between Santa Barbara and Avila Beach. San Francisco is the biggest city on this year's tour, and it is the city at the final stage leaves from, on Sunday, May 19. Bet there'll be fans who follow the whole way, but you can get a slice of the excitement pretty much anywhere. Starts and finishes will have more extra action, of course, but there is something nice about seeing top athletes zip by in the middle of practically nowhere, too.

SOUND + PLACE: It isn't often that two peak-experience events converge. You can go to a great concert but the auditorium might lack for character. You can visit a gorgeous park but there isn't much happening. Something fine can be paired with something else fine and the whole experience is, well, fine. But the Battle of the Mariachis, which is set to strum the strings and sing out on Saturday, May 11, will not deliver on that experience. It's a day of stirring folk music, the tunes so tied to Southern California's own story, and it is all happening in one of the state's most historic and postcardy spots: Mission San Juan Capistrano. Not just the mission, of course, but its flower-laden, bell-lined courtyard (the quintessential California courtyard, in our opinion).

FIVE HOURS OF MUSIC: Several bands will compete during the daytime event, a spectacular that runs five hours (a plus, since too often a mariachi experience tends to be too short, given that the band must stroll on). Bands on the roster include High Desert Mariachi Juvenil from Victorville, Mariachi Apache from Nogales High School in Arizona, and Mariachi des Oeste of Hamilton High in Los Angeles. In short, bands are journeying in for what is one of the premiere events on the mariachi calendar.

MORE TO-DOS: It's a full day with a string of performances and activities -- marionettes and Ballet Folklorico are part of the convivial scene -- but count on those famous bells ringing, too. If you've never been in the courtyard when the Mission bells are rung, it is one of those iconic and important Golden State moments. Yep, we called the setting quintessential California, and the bells are a large part of that.

A ticket is ten dollars.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, AVALON: A century can play out in different ways in different places. We're not claiming that time actually expands or contracts depending on location -- we'll leave that to the time travel movies -- but we are saying that a hundred years looks different depending on where those hundred years have happened. Cities can grow a thousandfold, or more, and the architecture can change dozens of times. But some special cities, towns that are removed from the hubbub, places that are, say, on islands, experience that span differently. History is alive there, and buildings remain in place, and cared for, for decades. Avalon on Catalina Island is a great example. You can stand on Crescent Avenue, at night, with the waves lapping, and the Casino Building in the distance, and feel as if it is indeed 1930. We love this about Avalon, as do many locals and visitors alike; it has retained its character over an entire century, even as new features and buildings arrived. The close of its first century is now nigh, and the start of the next one, and the small town out in the Pacific is ready to celebrate its 100th birthday.

FISH FRY, FESTIVAL, FAIR: June 20 through 26, 2013 has been designated as the town's birthday celebration week. Food events -- of course there's got to be a fish fry -- plus concerts and fests dot the calendar. A gala dinner at the Casino Building, plus fireworks, round it out.

MORE AHEAD: But if you can't make the birthday week, you can head for Avalon any time. Silent film screenings, dances, boat events, flying fish, buffalo tours, and general beachside chillaxing are par for this island course. Happy 100th, Avalon. We just bet that you'll still be as sweet and as past-pretty on your 200th as you are today.

AMPHIBIANS AHOY: May must be the official month for jumping animals 'round the Golden State. We have the Flying Fish Festival at Catalina Island -- yep, be-finned creatures of the deep really do exit the water and seemingly "fly" above its surface for several feet -- and we have those famous beasties of literature and fable, the Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County. Writer Mark Twain made the wee Gold Country denizens famous via his famous short story, and they've been celebrities ever since. Call it one of the most long-lasting California traditions, too, the jumping of the frogs; it has its roots, or tiny froggy legs, if you prefer, all the way back into the late 1800s. The tradition still flies high today, or perhaps the right word is "far." Frogs can clear over 20 feet in a single leap. That's impressive. Think, size-wise, if you tried to do the same. Comparatively you'd have to jump down a city block, or just about.

DATES AND DETAILS: The Calaveras County Fair, the annual setting for the frog jump, lights up the midway from Thursday, May 16 through Sunday, May 19 in Angels Camp. The fair itself is full of classic touches, like tunes and food, but the International Frog Jump closes it out on May 19. You can see the frogly competitors ahead of the competition at the on-site Frog Spa, and you can see them competing to qualifying rounds in the days leading up to the competition. They're definitely the small stars of the big fair.

QUIRKY NAMES: Beyond its historic and literary connections, we like the frog names best. They tend to come with colorful monikers as befits the colorful contest. If you can't make the weekend, a trip through Angels Camp any time of the year will be plenty froggy. The ribbit-sounding mascot is seen throughout the quaint burg on signs, sidewalks, and various souvenirs.

UP AND AWAY: While we all romanticize the science-y outings of our youth -- the trip to the mineral room at the natural history museum, the making of the chicken wire volcano, messy experiments with baking soda -- there are few memories than can equal rocket-type memories. Think back now, to when your class followed the science teacher out onto the baseball field, and she set up a cool launcher and vroom! There went the small projectile your class had spent the week building, straight into space (or at least hundreds of feet into the atmosphere). It was exciting and thrilling, both, and that excitement lasts into adulthood. Many a grown-up still builds rocket models, and all of us, regardless of age, love seeing a few sent straight up. The Discovery Science Center people definitely do, which is no surprise, and they're partnering with Boeing for a free day of rocket-launching high jinks, in Huntington Beach on Saturday, May 11.

YEP, HUNTINGTON BEACH: That's the first thing to make clear. This is indeed a Discovery Science Center event, but the annual Rocket Launch is held at Boeing in Huntington Beach and not in Santa Ana. And here's the really fun bit: It isn't just about watching the rockets but building your own, and getting assistance from Boeing engineers and rocket specialists. The material? Two-liter soda bottles, of course, that famous item that's been sent high thousands of times (if youtube is any judge). If you have young'uns interested in rocketry, this is the day, but a warning: guests get wet, as water is used a propulsion method. What's a little H20, though, especially when you can win the honor of having the longest "hang time" for your rocket? For all the details on this slightly surreal soda bottle science, and how to get in on this free day, click on, rocket man/woman.

ADVENTURE TIME: One of the tenets of Steampunk, that all-encompassing genre that celebrates the fantastic and the Victorian (and often the Edwardian), is this: Characters, be they fictional or real people who are in costume, should be having some sort of adventure. Travel themes are often involved, as are ghosts -- spiritualism reigned during the era -- and all sorts of wondrous, highly cinematic plots. And when a Steampunk convention comes along, it matters not where it is, as travel is at the heart of the genre. But San Diego is a very fine choice for a Steampunkian soiree. It's got a strong late-19th century spirit to many of its buildings -- Whaley House, we're looking at you -- and, of course, there's the Gaslamp District, which, come evening, looks as if it might have been plucked straight from a Steampunk romance novel. If you're in any of those spots from Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5, and you see people in wearing brass breastplates and fanciful bowler hats, know you've encountered the Gaslight Gathering 3: A Steampunk & Victoriana Convention.

MUSIC, AUTHORS, TALK: The schedule is full over the three days, but here are a few take-a-load-off and enjoy events (and by take a load off, we mean slip out of that brassy mechanical backpack that's frequently rocked by Steampunk devotees). A baroque concert, a charity auction, workshops on how to make things (including goggles, natch), and the Penny Farthing Bicycle Club demo. Truly, if it is a nook or cranny within the Steampunk universe, it shall be explored at the Town & Country in San Diego. Oh, that's HQ for the convention, if you're planning to land your fanciful zeppelin anywhere. Cheerio and ahoy, adventurers!

photo: Jerry Abuan Photography

TWANGY TIMES: While we long for the day when all instruments will have legs -- meaning the ability to pop up in the hit songs of the day, again and again and again -- we can be comforted by the banjo's supreme knack for getting trendy every decade and a half, or so. "Trendy" isn't a bad thing, at all; it is a positive when fresh bands, bands that have songs at the top of the charts, incorporate sounds that are often (and wrongly) called old-timey or even fusty. Fusty? What? Not the banjo, and not the fiddle, either. These instruments' appeal has lasted for such an epic amount of time because both possess warm 'n twangy characters. They emit sounds and feels that can turn any gathering from sad ol' slump to a dance-a-thon. And they're easily portable, which means they're forever tied to traveling music, the songs of the road. No wonder new folk has taken both under its wing, and pop and rock fans are once again discovering that certain thwangy string sweetness. It's a thwangy string sweetness that will be much on display in Topanga on Sunday, May 19 at the Banjo Fiddle Contest.

HALF-CENTURY PLUS THREE: The venerable music-filled gathering turns 53 in 2013 (yep, as mentioned, banjos and fiddles keep their popularity cycles rollin' right through the decades). Dancing, jams, bands, singing contests, and all sorts of convivial music-making fill the long and happy day. An who is set to play? Local favorite Triple Chicken Foot will be there, natch, as will other goodies like Dustbowl Revival, The Murphy Family Band, and The Show Ponies. Will there be square *and* contra dancing? Of course. Will people be rocking suspenders and flowering dresses and clogs? Fingers crossed. It's a sweet songy spring day, and a true Topanga tradition. Yep, we want to see banjos and fiddles at the top of the charts, but sometimes it is nice to gather in the canyon and honor all that is vintage and true, too. And online ticket is eleven bucks for the 18-64 crowd. Need other prices? Okay.

FLEET OF FOOT: They say in running -- "they" being pretty much anybody who gives advice, just so we're clear -- that it is best to set goals with yourself and not against others. Makes total sense, that you'd want to beat your best time, or run a faster Mile 9, but, on occasion, you don't mind pitting your abilities against your pal or maybe even other runners on the course. Of course, that really isn't advisable when participating in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Half Marathon. Yep, it goes right through the park, which is plenty stunning, but the fact is there are denizens of the Escondido-close that will be faster than you. Nope, they won't be on the course with you -- no one has yet invented the human/animal half marathon, as far as we know -- but when you hoof it by the cheetahs, just think to yourself "I am fast, but those exquisite beasties are the fastest land mammals on earth. And I am okay with that." No competition required there; the cheetahs have us beat. That's comforting, in a way, and it may return runners to simply trying to beat their personal goals. Which is best.

DATE AND DETAILS: The Half Marathon sets out across the animal park on Sunday, May 5. You'll gather at Westfield North County Mall first thing (first thing=a 6:30 a.m. start) and then eventually wend your way to Safari Park. Once in the park you'll run the paths, occasionally passing zookeepers and animals out to say hello. (Check out the friendly camel above.)

MORE CHEETAH LOVE: If you're not planning on running, but still want a slice of swiftness, get on one of the park's safaris, which includes a visit to Shiley's Cheetah Run. And they do mean run -- a cheetah zooms along a 300-foot-plus track. Yep, that guy is running faster than you, and pretty much everything else on land. Cheetahs, you fascinate.

TRIPS TO SIP: There was a day not too long ago when the word "tourism" did not have any other term or modifier preceding it. It simply meant going someplace, travel, and catering to those people who've arrive in your town from somewhere else. Now there's just about a tourism type for every interest, which we think is a good thing. It seems like a positive to receive maps and brochures and information and tours specifically tailored to your likes. And growing on the niche tourism list? Wine tourism, of course. You may long to stop us here while assuring us that you've been a wine tourist for years. Doesn't a trip planned solely around wineries and vineyard visits count? Indeed, but the sector's profile is growing, so much so that there is now, for the first time ever, an official Wine Tourism Day. It's on Saturday, May 11, and a particular region intends to celebrate it in myriad ways. Hello, Temecula Valley.

RESERVE DAY: A number of Temecula Valley wineries have designated May 11 as Reserve Day. Some wineries in the area may offer discounts on bottles or cases, and others will hosts special reserve tastings (Doffo Vineyard & Winery, Wiens Family Cellars, and Chapin Family Vineyards are all on the list). This is the day to get that extra sip of something very special at bevy of tasting rooms in the region. For more on Reserve Day, and wine tourism in general, read on, intrepid wine tourist. Read on.

PLANNING AND DOING: There are two stages to any activity: the planning and the doing. Yes, for sure, there are probably micro-stages within and next to those -- the cleaning up afterwards probably merits its own category -- but regardless of the task at hand, you need those two elements to get anything one. Most people would probably say they like one category over the other more, but not gardeners. We'll go on record and say that they like both elements equally. One has to purchase seeds and tools and bulbs, which is a pretty pleasurable pursuit. Then one needs to do something with those seeds and tools and bulbs, like put them in ground. Also pleasurable, because you're under the sun, breathing deeply, occasionally swatting away little buzzing things but in general enjoying nature. So where does a major garden show, one that's about to mark a quarter century, fit in? Definitely category one, the planning. And if you've been slow to get your own yard out of its winter doldrums this spring, the Southern California Spring Garden Show is likely the poke you need (delivered ultra gently, of course, by a gardening trowel).

DATES AND DETAILS: The big flower-and-leaf happening takes over a good chunk of South Coast Plaza the final weekend in April, meaning you have through Sunday, April 28 to get to the Crate & Barrel/Macy's area and have a look-see around. Over 75 vendors will be vending gardening tools and books and gloves and such and seminars on African violets and organic gardens and native plants will fill the clock. Start small, if you must, to swing into spring -- a handful of poppy seeds -- or go full-bore this year, with that full rose area you've promised to start for years. Whatever you choose, you've got to leave the planning stage for the doing stage eventually, though. That's how gardens grow, not just with seeds, sunlight, and water.

NATIONAL PARK GEMS: It's National Park Week, that time of year when fees to enter dozens of our glorious parks are waived. Yosemite is one such park, but it doesn't have to worry that visitors will trickle away after the free days go. On the contrary, summertime and the waterfall-laden destination go way back on the family vacation front. Meaning that while the park gets an uptick of visits during National Park Week, the soon-to-come summer will really hum. This means that a lot of activities start up around late April, including the Valley Floor Tour, the opening of the stables, and other outdoorsy pursuits. One we're feeling rather sweet on, though, is the Big Trees Tram Tour at Mariposa Grove. The outside-the-valley tour, which is near the south entrance (and not too far from Wawona Lodge), just opened for the 2013 season on Saturday, April 18.

THE STORY OF SEQUOIAS: The tram tour is not hosted by a ranger but rather features an audio component. Meaning? You'll strap on some headphones and sit back for the hour and fifteen minutes drive. An adult ticket is $26.50, and they're not reservable, so get to the Mariposa Grove Gift Shop early on the day you want to see the trees. The tours run through October.

MEET MARIPOSA GROVE: Around 500 mature sequoias populate this Yosemite tree-laden favorite. Yep, sequoias are often called the largest living things on earth, so you'll be doing a lot of looking/marveling/ahhing/oohing. There's a lot of age-talk with these trees, too, so if you're on the tour prepare to hear about how some of the specimens in the grove are over 3,000 years old. Yep, very ahh/ooh-worthy, indeed.

FRUIT AMBASSADOR: There are certain members of the produce section that one rarely sees on billboards and advertisements. The gooseberry? Nope, it doesn't get a lot of love (and it could be mistaken for a grape). Parsley? Maybe, maybe, but, again, some might think that they're look at cilantro. But the strawberry? There's not mistaking it. You could take an illustration of the famous fruit and remove the red and remove the seeds and remove the leafy green top and its distinctive shape -- it's kind of triangular, right? That's the word we'll go with -- would still convey it to be a strawberry. That's why it is truly one of our state's fruit ambassadors. We don't make such a claim lightly, given that our state pretty much grows everything, and grows everything well. But you can't see an old-timey fruit box label or travel poster featuring fruit without seeing a certain seedy superstar. (Okay, citrus, you're a Golden State ambassador, too.) And the largest yearly party for the strawberry, the one with "California" in its very name? It happens in Oxnard every May.

MAY 18 AND 19, IN FACT: That's the weekend of the California Strawberry Festival, which turns 30 this year. Now that it is officially an adult, at least according to some sociology textbooks that say adulthood begins at age 30, you'd think it might stop with the messy tart throwing and pie-eating contests. Au contraire -- those are the crowd favorites, and they're not goin' nowhere. Other contests, like one for strawberry hats -- you've made several, right? -- are on the schedule. And music, kid stuff, and more strawberry-type eating options. A ticket is twelve bucks, but you'll totally buy one, right? How often do you get an audience with California's own fruit ambassador?

BIG SWING, BIG THING: California is pretty comfortable with the whole "let's throw on some shoulder pads and a snood and kick up our heels, big band-style" thing. Maybe it is the presence of Hollywood -- all of those old movie musicals were made in the Golden State -- or maybe it is the fact that we're fairly live-and-let-live here. Meaning if you want to dress like you a late-'30s starlet, just to go to your job, well, by gum, do it. The happy consequence of this is that there are a number of occasions throughout the year when one can wear their fedora and their tie and go to town for an evening, old-timey glam style. But they're really just single nights here and there, maybe a dance, maybe a dinner. 

NOT ON CATALINA: Going to an island, though, for an event changes everything. Because you're there, on the island, once you arrive. It sounds plain, and obvious, but it is true. So if you've gone to Catalina Island for its vintage-sweet Avalon Ball in the past -- snoods on everyone! -- you know you've got more time to fill before your trip back to land (which is usually the following day, not that night). But that's been solved: The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, the people behind the Avalon Ball, are making the annual event into an entire weekend. 

AND THAT WEEKEND IS... Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14. So in addition to the Saturday night ball, which remains the centerpiece of the three-day hoop-di-do, there's a swanky Friday night cocktails meet-up, a silent comedies film festival, and more doings. Meaning your cute little period outfits? You can rock several of 'em throughout the weekend, not just one at the big ball.

ROAD TRIP QUIZ: If you know Bodie, and we hope you do, since it is rightly billed as "the best example of an old west mining town in America," we have a question for you: What do you see a lot of when you're there? Historic buildings is a good answer. Reverent, hushed-voice visitors works, too. And, yes, maybe even crows (they tend to be particularly chatty around the Eastern Sierra-close ghost town, but maybe that's just our observation).

But photographers always win out in the numbers game. Cameras sometimes seem to outnumber people in Bodie, which is a positive thing, since documenting the gold-mining town helps others learn about the town, which in turn lends to its preservation efforts.

And as any photographer who has visited the "arrested decay" town knows, there isn't a bad picture to be taken. Bodie looks very much like it did in the 1800s, without a coffee shop or t-shirt emporium to be found. The place is a composition of a few simple and stunning elements: big sky, chatty crows, dusty roads, and detritus lying about (that one never, ever takes, given that there's a curse. Oh yes there is.)

PHOTOGRAPHER DAY: You're allowed entry with your camera any day that Bodie is open, but, from May to October, the park marks the third Saturday of the month specifically for photographers. Meaning you may arrive at sunrise, just when the rays are peeping over the hills and lighting up the clutch of wooden and brick structures in fresh and interesting ways. No pics inside buildings are permitted, but you'll have plenty of great shots outside.

Cost? $75. Benefit? Your photos help Bodie live on, crows and curses and all.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: When times get tough, and profits are not seen, and financial goals are not met, what's a business owner to do? An owner can hang a "closed forever" sign on the front door, lock it, and walk away. But what if the business a) doesn't have a front door and b) is still much beloved by sporty families and people looking to strap on a pair of skis for the first time? Some downtime is taken to consider solutions and then? A reopening. That's just what June Mountain did and is doing. The Eastern Sierra peak has struggled to turn a profit over the years, and management opted to close for the 2012-2013 season to explore what could be done. It was announced on Tuesday, April 23 that the peak, which is overseen by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, will reopen for the 2013-2014 season. "Mid-December" is the probable week when the proverbial door will be thrown wide once again.

NEW ADDITIONS: "(T)he possibility of a new lift and enhanced snowmaking" may greet returning skiers, says June Mountain general manager Carl Williams. Regardless of fresh additions, the patrons who enjoyed June Mountain the most have to be happy. It was known as a family favorite, and an a-ok place for a first-timer to try out their fledgling stuff (whether that first-timer is a skier or snowboarder).

And, as always, a Mammoth Mountain MVP pass gets a winter maven free access to June Mountain.

Still need some June-ness closer to, well, June? There's always gorgeous June Lake Loop, which is the mountain's summertime sibling.

BABY ANIMALS: Precious little furry and feathery younglets fill our computer screens throughout the year -- seriously, Google "baby dolphins" in the middle of winter and you'll instantly enjoy hundreds of baby dolphin images -- but, in the real world, spring is the season for baby animaldom. Or traditionally so, at least, though recent weeks at our California zoos have supported this. A condor in San Diego is getting the lay of the land (and soon the sky) and in Santa Barbara? A giraffe was born on Thursday, April 18. But unlike some zoo babies that stay out of sight for several weeks or months, the 6' 3" Dane -- that's his name, Dane -- met the public for the first time on Tuesday, April 23.

MORE ON THE MASAI GIRAFFE: When he was measured and weighed the day after his birth, Dane did indeed top out at over six feet and some 156 pounds. Impressive numbers, but, of course, that's how a giraffe calf rolls. Large and in charge (well, maybe not "in charge," but certainly very big compared to other babies of the animal world).

ANOTHER CALF ON THE WAY: A five-year-old giraffe named Audrey gave birth to Dane, but there's another calf on the way. The mom-to-be is Betty Lou, and the father to both Dane and this soon-to-be-born giraffe is Michael.

MORE AT THE ZOO: A fox festival, the Zoo Brew, and World Oceans Day are all ahead at the Santa Barbara animal park May and June.

NONE FOR US, THANKS: You know how you're sometimes standing in a kitchen, and your friend is cooking, and they reach for the garlic and ask if they can throw a few cloves into the dish? And maybe you think "no, not tonight" but then you realize you cannot resist the mouth-fiery allure of one of nature's greatest gifts? You can't. So you say "heck yes, throw the whole head in!" And then eating pleasure ensues.

That's how we sometimes feel when approaching the topic of Gilroy while vowing to not make mention of its most famous crop. At first we think "Gilroy and garlic are married in so many minds, let's put the emphasis elsewhere for a day." But we can't do it. We're in love with garlic and we think it is just about the grandest thing in the world. We also think it is spectacular that we can go to the city every summer and devour garlic ice cream and twenty other garlic-flavored dishes of the entree and dessert varieties. So we are, in essence, throwing the whole head into the dish, not just a clove, when it comes to discussing Gilroy's garlicky and non-garlicky gifts.

NATIONAL GARLIC DAY: April 19 was the day -- nope, it doesn't fall in late July, when the Gilroy Garlic Festival happens -- and so we wanted to pause to pay tribute to Christopher Ranch and all of the growers who grow the deliciousness that we crave all the time every day, even at breakfast. (Yep, breakfast, you are the least garlicky of meals, but we bet that's a partnership that is bound to happen one day. Get on that, culinary geniuses.)

AND THE NON-GARLIC: But there are plentiful sights and pleasures around the city that go beyond a certain papery, cream-colored knob. The twisty Circus Trees at the adorable Gilroy Gardens are high on our list of favorite trees in the state. Yep, even in a state that contains redwoods. These trees are marvels. And Mount Madonna County Park is pure gorgeousness. Ever driven Hecker Pass on a crisp October afternoon? It's nearly as good as eating a perfect garlic-and-oil pasta.

Yep, you can't talk about one G without the other, and that's a great thing. Gilroy and garlic go together, but while you're there, visit some of the other special spots, too. They're just as delicious, in their own way.

SUNSHINE AND CINEMA: It's not secret, nor is it a surprise, that Orange County is one of the main go-to places for producers looking for nearby movie locations. There is a variety to the county that movie-makers love, and they've been venturing there from, if not Day One, then definitely Day Two or Three. (This peek-back at silents filmed in the OC is interesting indeed.) But the county doesn't merely serve as an easy-access backlot for Hollywood directors; it offers up some prestigious film festivals, including the Newport Beach Film Festival. The springtime movie party, which lasts a week, puts the focus on both studio flicks and independent offerings, making it one of the premiere cinema see-it-early spots in all of Southern California. And its 2013 is set to roll. Opening night? Thursday, April 25.

ON THE STARRY ROSTER: "Broadway Idiot" -- yep, if you're thinking Green Day, you're on the right track -- is the opening night, music-packed film. "The Way Back" with Sam Rockwell closes out the festival on May 2. And in the middle? "Stuck in Love" with Lily Collins pre-charms, as does the French film "Fly Me to the Moon" with Diane Kruger.

OTHER HAPPENINGS: There's a showcase party that will spotlight the Pacific Rim on Monday, April 29 and a number of other fetes. If you're in it just for the movies, they're happening at theaters around Newport Beach. And if you're wondering if the flicks you watch might go onto glory, consider that "Crash," which won the Best Oscar in 2005, had its debut at the festival.

UNPLUGGING'S MIDDLE PLACE: What does "unplugging" mean to you, in terms of a vacation? Does it mean a posh, well-appointed room with a television and hair dryer and various amenities or does it mean setting up a tent somewhere in a wide open space far away from everything? Opinions are as different as people, but there isn't a lot of middle ground with this particular question. Either you're in a room with telephone or at the very least lights or you're camping. The Drakesbad Guest Ranch, however, is that rather marvelous and rare middle place. The Lassen Volcanic National Park destination -- it is inside the borders of the gorgeous and wild Northern California park -- features cabins with no electricity. We were tempted to type "that lack electricity" there, but it is not a lack. Rather it gives guests a true sense of away-ness, something we all need in our hectic, ping-heavy world (the pings being from our various devices as they constantly alert us to new messages). Kerosene lamps are provided, which charms.

DARK NIGHT SHINE: The ranch recommends packing a flashlight, of course, but this is good to know: If you do need an outlet for some reason, they're available in the lobby. In short? You're unplugged, but not that unplugged. Again, the perfect middle ground.

WHAT TO DO: Stargazing is at the top of the list, as would be expected at a national park ranch that is mostly light-free come nighttime. Horseback rides and visits to hot springs are more fresh-air, let-go go-outs.

WHAT TO EAT: Meals are included with your room rate. You can request a sack lunch if you're heading out on a ramble, too, so not every meal needs to be taken at the ranch.

OPENING DATE: June 7, 2013. Closing date is Oct. 14. Summer gets a bit busy, so we'd aim for early fall, when the season is at its cooling-down turning point.

Ready to unplug? Who'd say no?

STEP ASIDE, WINE: Areas that are really good at making one thing are very often really good at making a lot of different things. It makes sense, right? If a lot of effort and heart goes into a single product, that's likely the style and commitment that the locals bring to a host of stuff. Which means that the Santa Ynez Valley, which famously excels at making a certain corked-bottle, white or red or sparkling beverage, also does an excellent job with a certain bottle-cap'd, amber or golden beverage, too. Nope, beer isn't the usual first drink that people cite when the Santa Barbara wine-making region is named -- movies like "Sideways" assure that it will always be wine first -- but brews are on the rise. The valley threw its first Craft Beer Week in 2012, in conjunction with American Craft Beer Week, but the Santa Ynezers are going one better this year. How? They're turning Craft Beer Week into Craft Beer Month, as if by magic, or at the very least crafty planning.

MAY IS THE TIME: All of May has been given this foamy designation. And while events aren't on every day, there are some highlights: Buellton Brew Fest pours on Saturday, May 11 and the Solvang Brewing Company throws a brewmaster's dinner on Wednesday, May 15. And Firestone Walker will release a few special ales during the course of the celebration. But, but, but -- what if you can't make it down for any of that? Fear not, as there is the craft brew map. Nope, you don't have to bid Santa Ynez wine goodbye forever, but getting to know its hop-laden, amber-sweet cousin is definitely a pleasant, heading-into-summer diversion.

PUPS AHOY: Any dog person knows that it has to be a) thunderstorming out or b) really thunderstorming out for their pup not to want to walk. And even then some dogs'll brave it, just to be in the outdoors. But the sunny outdoors, on a perfect Sunday? In the picture-nice hilly bits of Calabasas? That's like a dog's dream. (Maybe the Calabasas hills is where your furry guy is at when he's running his little legs while half-asleep.) The Calabasas Canine Classic, a two-mile fundraising walk through those very pretty hills, is a bit like a dog's dream come to life: the hills, the outdoors, the weather, plus lots of other pups to watch and sniff and bark at. And the big bonus? It raises money for area organizations like New Directions for Youth and L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue. The date? Sunday, April 21, which happens to have a blue-chip weather forecast: warm, but not summer warm. Total walking weather.

THE DETAILS: The walk starts at 10 a.m. at Juan Bautista de Anza Park and rambles happily on for two miles. A festival back at the park follows the strut at 10:30 a.m. Dog adoptions, an agility play area, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden are part of the four-hour festival.

MORE DOGLY TO-DOS: Summer approaches, which means the canine calendar will get as full as a dog's breakfast bowl (well, and that tends to empty rather quickly). The Doggie Street Festival is up on July 14 in Century City and Strut Your Mutt treks in Van Nuys in September.

CULTURE, HISTORY, EATS: There isn't a Southern California cultural festival that isn't a bit venerable at this point, which is an excellent thing indeed. We have large and well-attended celebration marking holidays from around the globe, celebrations that very often started decades ago. The Scandinavian Festival is a great example of this, and it is will be aebleskivvering it up in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21. The fest, founded in 1974, closely hews to many traditions, meaning there's a very solid educational component to it in addition to pure fun. (Those are one in the same, right?) There's such a close-hewing, in fact, that a Sami Village and Viking encampment are constructed on the grounds. They're convincing reproductions, meant to give visitors a true look at everyday life. Stina Fagertun, a Sami storyteller, will also be spinning tales.

AND THE ACTIVITIES: There's quite a bit afoot, but the maypole catches our eye first, if only because you so rarely see them now, outside of films and music videos. (Yep, Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, we know you're solid in the maypole category; no offense meant.) And beyond the maypole? A performance by ABBA Girlz -- ohhh yeah -- plus a showing of Norwegian Elkhounds and a few rounds of Dala Horse Croquet.

AND THE EATS: If you're hoping that something of the Swedish meatball variety will be for sale, hope no more: You're in luck. So will aebleskivvers, those sweet symbols of Solvang. Norwegian waffles, Swedish pancakes, and lefse, a Norwegian breadstuff, will also be seen in strollers' hands.

COST: It's eight bucks for an adult ticket (that's 12 and older). The April-perfect setting is the California Lutheran University campus.

KITCHEN, MEET YOUR MATCH: There are whole companies that make cute signs for kitchens, such as "Kiss the Cook" and "My Favorite Thing to Make Is Reservations'" and such. But one of the most popular and true signs is this "The Kitchen Is the Heart of the Home." Can anyone who has ever been in a kitchen dispute this fact? While the den and formal living room sit empty, people gather near the stove and refrigerator, chatting up the cook and sneaking bites from whatever is being made. There is a contender for this title, though, and it gets mighty powerful come summertime: the outdoor backyard grill. The kitchen is displaced as the meet-up space and the grill takes over. Ever seen five people gathered around the guy or gal who is holding the sauce brush? Yeah. We all have.

MEANING... Barbecue festivals, by their very nature, have a very high gatherability factor. Cooks stay close to their grills and coals and wood and hot meats, the better to tend them and keep them all well-rubbed. Fans stay close to smell some smoke action -- mmm -- and to ask the people rocking the aprons about their techniques. All of that is set to go down at the West Coast BBQ Barbecue Classic at the Queen Mary on Saturday, May 11.

THE SPICY HAPS... It's year two for this eat-fest, which actually goes down in the park next to the Long Beach-based ocean-liner. It's ten bucks to park and ten bucks to get in (if you buy online, that is; otherwise it is $15 at the door). Oh, and tastings are two bucks a pop. Are you picturing yourself eating something highly tangy while soaking up some sweet salty breezes? Do so now, if not. And pause to give thanks to the grill for being our summertime gathering place. The kitchen will reign again come fall, but the fiery outdoor meat station makes a fine warm-weather hangout.

YOU'RE ON EARTH: At least we expect you are, if you're reading this right now (we can't say where the internet and its articles will fly to far in the future). And being on the planet naturally makes you interested in issues regarding the planet and its well-being, or at least we hope. Your status as an earthling may even make you want to do something special to mark Earth Day, that late April moment when we all should take pause and think about the world we love so. But what is that something special? And where do you go? Two simple tips: Make for one of the cities that has the strongest ties to the holiday, because the history is deep. And two? Follow Van Jones and Bill Nye.

NOW... One can't always see the brilliant science maven in person, but if one of our country's innovation pioneers and the Science Guy are headed to a particular Earth Day celebration, it is probably one of the hoedowns to be at. And so it is: Santa Barbara's Earth Day Festival is one of the most venerable and multi-faceted of all the planetary parties. That has much to do with the city's role in the founding of Earth Day (an oil spill in 1969 helped bring people together to work for environmental change) and to the current commitment of its eco-minded residents.

THE DETAILS: The Earth Day Festival blossoms at Alameda Park on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21. Van Jones, a leader in green and economic innovation and growth, will receive the festival's environmental hero award on April 20. Bill Nye will be there on April 21 to pick up his hero award.

AT THE FESTIVAL ITSELF: Information booths, an eco-marketplace, and green car show are some of the highlights. If you've ever wanted to do Earth Day in a festival-type situation, this is definitely one to visit, both for its historic ties to the day and its plethora of activities.

THANK YOU, NATIONAL PARKS: Earth Day is only important if you live on earth. That's not exactly true; surely it is as important to anyone currently orbiting our planet, seeing as how they'd like to come back to a world that is careful and responsible with its resources. And while the April holiday happens everywhere, there are places where the messages of the day are brought home. Like? A national park, for one. Our wildest, greenest, wettest, most arid, most gorgeous spots do much to remind us of all that we have to lose and all that we take a stand for. With that in mind, and to honor the holiday, fees are waived at fee-charging national parks around the country. Sequoia National Park is one, meaning that if you visit from April 22 through April 26, they'll wave you through at the gate (meaning you can get to the General Sherman tree and all of its epic forest friends that much faster). But if you'd like to do something a bit more for one of California's treasured spaces all while having a little vacation, you can. Just book the Sequoia Parks Foundation package at the Wuksachi Lodge.

ABOUT THE PACKAGE: The timing is right for this particular package, as it falls over Earth Day, but it does extend into early May. Meaning? You just need to stay at the Wuksachi by May 12. Now, the giving-back part: Wuksachi Lodge will make sure ten percent of your room rate goes to the Sequoia Parks Foundation, an organization that looks after the conservation, protection, and future of our big trees. Nice? Very, and room rates start at $115 a night, double occupancy. Better yet, your park fee -- twenty bucks -- is waived on this one, if you visit before or after that free National Parks Week deal. It isn't often one sees a hotel package that has a giving-back element, so we want to personally high five this one. Also, if you've never seen the sequoias, you will need a full night's rest somewhere close after you do. They are that overwhelming and your full capacity for soaking them in will be called upon. Trust. There's no happy exhaustion on earth like the happy exhaustion following a first sequoia visit. Or a second. Or a third...

HELLO, LOST COAST: Much has been made, especially in satirical, meme-happy circles, of our desire to know all things at all times. We need to know what restaurant our cousin just checked into and how many people are going to the birthday party next month and what is the exact mileage to our dentist's office. It can quickly cross the line between helpful and overwhelming, though, as we pause and wonder if there are still mysteries and things to discover out there. There are, and sometimes they're quite large, and not so easy to reach. And are these mysteries the frequent star of social media conversations? They are not (that's what makes them mysterious). A major one for many Californians is the Lost Coast, that perfectly exquisite neck of Humboldt County that sits westish of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. True, it isn't *that* lost -- it does appear on maps and there's the oh-so-tasty Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka -- but it still feels nicely hard to reach and gorgeously wild. So it is the perfect place for a series of bicycle rides, including one called "California's Toughest Century."

100 MILES OF BEAUTY: That lengthy roll heads out on Saturday, May 11, along with a number of shorter rides. They're all part of the Tour of the Unknown Coast, a day of riding that counts as one of our state's most scenic bike events. Hills, bluffs, and all of that pretty Humboldt-i-ness is on full display as pedalers froom past. A ten-mile ride is hill-less and the perfect choice for those people who want to try out the tour.

MORE HUMBOLDT HAPS... If you go up for the ride, be sure to visit Ferndale and the other towns of Humboldt; there's always something interesting doing. And we realize and embrace the fact that we used the term "Humboldt-i-ness" before. But if you know the area you know the magic of Humboldt-i-ness. It's a quality more areas could aspire to.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONDORS: When a rather large bird, say a condor, marks an important milestone, say a 30th birthday, at a pretty famous place, say the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, what do you put in the cake? Frosting and sugar won't do for these rare birds, but mice, meatballs, rats, and beef spleen will. That was what was inside a cardboard cake -- cardboard so that the condors could tear at it to get their treat -- for the trio of famous condors at the animal park. The birds -- Sespe, Sisquoc, and Almiyi -- all turned 30 on Tuesday, April 16. It's an impressive age, but a condor can live twice that long. And these three have a rather interesting backstory: They arrived in their eggs, which were drawn from the wild to some controversy. At the time of their hatching, they were among the 22 condors left in the world. The Safari Park condors have gone onto to hatch many more times that number, some 170 chicks in all, with over 80 being returned to the wild.

CONDORS IN THE WILD: If you've seen the Safari Park superstars, where can you then go to see these majestic birds in their natural element? Baja and Central California are home to over half of the planet's condor population, which now stands at a much healthier (though small) 400+. Still, that is quite a jump from 22 condors just three decades ago. Thank you, Sespe, Siquoc, and Almiyi, and happy birthday.

AND MORE BIRDS IN SAN DIEGO: The Frequent Flyers Show at the Safari Park has announced that it has grown threefold since the mid-1990s (three must be the theme of the day). It's also the only bird show in the country to see a trained secretary bird, a beastie that stands -- wait for it -- some four feet tall.