Hiking Backpack Zone

Posts Tagged ‘california’

Two former big league baseball players had dreams. Big dreams which come alive at the Big League in the California desert resort city of Cathedral City just outside of Palm Springs.

The Odekirk brothers, Rick and Jeff wanted to share their passion and love for sports, in particular baseball, fast and slow pitch, by creating an environment that would give participants, for the most part regular people young and old, the opportunity to experience the big league feeling by creating environments that would give them that chance. In early 1998 they created the first of the Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, California just outside of Palm Springs.

They weren’t the only ones with a dream. Kirk Walker, a softball coach at Oregon State, wondered why there were no world - class tournaments on the West Coast. Many of the West Coast teams were seeking a more convenient venue to play and half never went to the then existing big league tournament known as the “Lead-off Classic” in Columbus, Ohio. Walker began planning an inaugural event in 2001 and the first “Classic” was held in 2004. Walker was able to bring together the UCLA, Arizona and the US Olympic team to the first event and The Cathedral City Classic had been born. Big League Dream Parks like it have become immensely popular and construction has exploded throughout the United States.

Many have replica fields so one can play fast pitch or softball in replica stadiums like Ebbets Field, Forbes Field, Angel Stadium and others including some well know Polo Fields. Participants can experience the exciting experience playing and watching world - class athletics in a major stadium setting as they can in Cathedral City. The latest addition is a spectacular complex which recently opened in Las Vegas.

The Cathedral City complex has grown remarkably over the years and the stadium is regularly filled with spectators overflowing onto the field. As presently construed Cathedral City has five fields with replicas of Fenway, Yankee and Wrigley parks. In addition to these three fields there are two fields located at each end of the existing venue not to mention a 20,000 Square foot indoor soccer stadium and restaurant.

The venues are envisioned as multi-purpose use stadiums and feature everything from dog and auto shows to birthday celebrations and weddings and concerts. My first trip to the Cathedral City Park was to attend a sold out concert by Winona Ryder. My second field experience was attending the 2009 NCAA Womens College World Series Softball Tournament where I had the very special opportunity to see defending Champion Washington play talented Arizona. All of this with no maintenance cost to the community and the fields supporters.

Baseball, softball, soccer fans and all others are enthusiastically encouraged to visit the park and attend the Cathedral City Classic for world - class athletics on your next vacation to Palm Springs and the California desert resort cities.

Want to find out more about where to go and what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation, then visit Mitchell Sussman’s site and choose the best Palm Springs vacation for your needs.

In my last trip to Palm Springs, I spent an afternoon hiking the Palm Springs Indian Canyons. Located in Palm Springs, California the Palm Springs Indian Canyons consist of three trails to choose from: Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Murray Canyon. Each with an outdoor adventure for the active traveler.

The first and easiest is Murray Canyon. It is the easiest of the three to hike and is a simple trek from Andreas Canyon. Murray has both foot and equestrian trails that lead to the beautiful recreation areas that lay among thousands of palm trees. If you are lucky and keep your eyes open, you might just catch a glimpse of an endangered species, the Peninsula Big Horn Sheep. We saw mule deer and other wild animals that roam the high ground above the canyon. Murray Canyon is less visited and has a secluded beauty that must be seen to be appreciated.

Andreas Canyon has a half-mile lush radius with contrasting views of the magnificent fan palms and over 150 species of plants. It is the perfect place to bring your camera. Andreas provides scenic foot trails that lead through the canyon passing groves of skirted palms, unusual rock formations and the Andreas creek. It is a tranquil setting that is excellent for photography, bird watching, or just a quiet picnic at one of the many tables along the trail.

Palm Canyon is the last of three. Fifteen-miles long Palm Canyon has indigenous flora and fauna which are a breathtaking contrast to the stark rocky gorges and barren desert land beyond. It is equipped with a moderately graded, paved foot path that winds down into the canyon for picnicking near the stream, meditating under the sun, exploring the formations, hiking or horseback riding through the terrain. We found a trading post for hiking maps, refreshments, Indian art & artifacts, books, jewelry, pottery and conversational cultural lore.

The Palm Springs Indian Canyons are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. October thru July and then July thru September open on weekends only. Prices vary from adults, seniors and children.

The Palm Springs Indian Canyons are a perfect stop for the adventure traveler on your next Palm Springs vacation.

Looking to find the best deal on a Palm Springs vacation, then visit www.palmspringsvacationdiscounts.com to find the best advice on aPalm Springs vacation for you and your family.

What do you think of when you think about Southern California? I bet the word sunny comes to mind. How about the word sand or flip flop? Certainly those are images that come up as well. But, would you think of snow and winter sports? Not many people would. However, there is plenty of it in the second largest state. Northeast of San Bernardino, there is a place called Big bear Lake. And, there is plenty of skiing and snowboarding in Big Bear Lake California.

Big Bear Lake is a mountainous region about 7000 or so feet about sea level. It is one of the prettiest places on the globe. Below highway 38 and above highway 18 there are miles and miles of lake bordered by even more miles of shoreline. But, the center of it all are the four mountains. This is the place to go if you like snowboarding and skiing and you happen to be in Southern California.

Snow lovers can choose from any of the 4 mountain tops and indulge to their hearts delight in passionate snowy sports. Beginners through experts can traverse the 1700 vertical feet accessing 75 trails using one of 20 lifts. For some slops 4 high speed chains will help you get to the height you want to reach to do your skiing and snowboarding.

Perfectly groomed or powder runs makes skiing and snowboarding in Big Bear Lake California an experience never to be forgotten. But, skiing and snowboarding are not the only snow sports available. You can sled, skate or just make snow angels. Or you can take long walks through the countryside since snow shoe tours to scenic areas are also available.

In addition to having runs for beginners through experts, there are other attractions off the slops. Big Bear Lake offers entertaining and interesting attractions for all ages. Moon Ridge Zoo is not just a zoo. Many of the animals there were injured in the wild. Once discovered, they were brought to the zoo for treatment. If injuries were too severe for survival in the wild, they were allowed to remain in the zoo, protecting them from predators. The 2.5 acre zoo is sure to be entertaining and informative for kids of all ages.

You may be the best skier in the world, but at some point you too will wear down and need to rest. At Big Bear Lake, you can go indoors to many places and sit by the fire in cozy furniture and create a new set of memories. There is not much better feeling than coming in from the cold to a warm fireplace, a big chair and some hot apple cider. But, don’t think even that is all there is to do in this place.

If you have children, there is child care available almost anywhere you go. That includes on the slopes and well as indoors. So, you can really enjoy yourself and not have to worry about entertaining the children.

Spend your evenings and nights enjoying five star food and top notch theatrical productions. Your time at Big Bear Lake will be full of things to do and may well wear you down like no other vacation. However, the memories you create will be some of the best of your life.

The San Bernardino Mountains, Northeast of San Bernardino is a place made by Mother Nature for snowy vacations, getaways and eating fantastic food at Big Bear Lake Restaurants. We’ve got the best info on the tastiest restaurant menu