22nd Annual International Indio Tamale Festival, Indio, CA, Dec. 6, 7 & 8

The 22nd annual Indio International Tamale Festival will once again overtake Old Town Indio to kick off the holiday season in the Coachella Valley. Admission into the Festival is FREE, and family-friendly activities, arts and crafts booths, and live entertainment are geared for all ages and community interests. The Festival has been ranked as one of the top ten "All-American Food Festivals" in the nation by Food Network-TV. Guinness World Records awarded the Festival as having The World's Largest Tamale--over 1 foot in diameter and 40 feet in length, Dec. 4, 1999, and The World's Largest Tamale Festival--with 120,000 in attendance, Dec. 2-3, 2000. The traditional competition for best tamale recipe will be held, and there will also be a tamale eating contest. At least 125,000 people are expected to attend the two day celebration this year which begins with a parade on Saturday morning. Performances will be featured on four stages.

Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes said, “As a business owner, resident, and Mayor of the City of Indio, I’m always very excited to attend our Annual Tamale Festival. It’s an event where visitors from around the world can enjoy a one of a kind cultural experience only Indio can offer. This is a tradition we’re very proud of, where families, foodies, and anyone wanting to taste one of the many adventures Indio has to offer can come together for great food and fun. Admission is free, so join us for some of the best tamales you ever had, in traditional and new ways you never imagined.”

 New attractions this year include an Inaugural Car Show, an Art and Wine Garden, and Food Truck Alley. And, as always, in addition to the parade and live entertainment, there will be the Best Tamale Contest, a Tamale Eating Contest, Kiddieland, and Carnival Rides. Recipes from all over the southwest feature pumpkin with Jamaican rum tamale, bourbon pork tamale, chocolate cherry tamale, and hundreds more.

Complete information for the Tamale Festival can be found here.
Friday, December 6, 2013 -- 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Carnival only this day)
Saturday, December 7, 2013 – 10:00am – 6:00pm (Carnival open until 10:00pm)
Sunday, December 8, 2013 -- 10:00am – 6:00pm (Carnival open until 10:00pm)

The Festival is located at Old Town Indio between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard; it occupies the streets of Miles, Towne, Smurr and Requa.

 Free parking is available at Riverside County’s Administration Building at the Larson Justice Center on the corner of Highway 111 and Oasis Street. Public parking is also available on various streets around downtown Indio. Free shuttle services are provided by Lin Lines to all festival visitors from the Larson Justice Center. SunLine Transit bus routes include stops close to the Festival grounds. For more parking or bus route information can be found here.

The Festival is produced by KevaWorks, Inc., in partnership with the City of Indio. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will serve as the official presenting sponsor, as they have since 1999.

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Pacifica, CA: Pacific Coast Fog Fest

Born in 1986 and now in its 27th year, The Pacific Coast Fog Fest was created to promote the City of Pacifica & to celebrate its marvelous coastal climate & community. This 2-day event brings in over 100 arts; crafts booths, a parade, a Fog Jog, a photo contest, a family fun area, a marching band competition, 3 stages of live music, tons of food and drink to satisfy any taste and has been known to attract up to 40,000 festival goers each day. Fog Fest has free admission and is always held the last weekend of September, along 8 blocks of Palmetto Ave, one block away from the ocean where the sun, sand and surf await.

This year Pacific Coast Fog Fest is proud to announce actor/comedian, Rob Schneider, as Saturday morning parade's Grand Marshall. Also, the Pacifica will be celebrating a historical milestone; 30 years of Family Fun Fest, which promises extra surprises!

The Family Fun Fest was developed 3 years prior to the creation of the Fog Fest. The two merged together, creating a long lasting partnership. The Family Fun Fest has also laid down the foundation for which many festivals and events today have modeled their family fun zones after.

The Fog Fest is proud to give back to its community organizations that participate and also to the, "Gift to Pacifica Fund." Fog Fest also strives to lessen our environmental footprint by moving towards zero waste. This year they will provide bike valet securing. So, locals are encouraged to ride a bike in, with family & friends and, the staff will take care of the rest! What's not to like? Visit their website or follow the Fog Fest on Facebook for details.

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The Pacific Coast Fog Fest
September 29 - 30, 2012
City of Pacifica, Along Palmetto Ave.
Between Shell Street and Montecito Street

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Santa Rosa, CA: Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center

For many years, the Peanuts comic strips of Charles M. Schulz never had a proper home in Sonoma County, the place where Schulz called hom for almost 40 years.

Until now.

Opened in 2002, the mission of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is to preserve, display, and interpret the art of Charles M. Schulz. The 27,000+ square-foot museum offers 6,000 square feet of gallery space showcasing original comic strips and memorabilia.

Visitors can enjoy outdoor gardens and exhibits including the Snoopy Labyrinth and the famous, "Kite-Eating Tree". There is a 100-seat theater displaying animated specials and documentaries, and a hands-on activities center.

As the 50th anniversary of Peanuts drew closer, it seemed clear that a museum was needed to celebrate the life and work Schulz. The vision for the Museum fell on the shoulders of local cartoon historian, Mark Cohen, along with Schulz's wife Jeannie, and Schulz's longtime friend and attorney, Edwin Anderson.

Schulz's enthusiasm for the Museum increased in 1997 after seeing the inspired and playful creations by artist and designer Yoshiteru Otani for the Snoopy Town shops in Japan. Sparky and Jeannie agreed that Otani could bring an element of artistic whimsy to the new Museum that would balance and complement the comic artwork.

This was all the encouragement the three friends needed to move ahead. A newly-formed Board of Directors developed the Schulz Museum's Mission Statement, chose an architect and contractor, and selected a location, with Schulz's approval of the plans at each stage.

The Museum could have been located anywhere due to the worldwide popularity of the Peanuts comic strip. But the particular location on the corner of Hardies Lane, was chosen because the last 30 years of Schulz's life was centered here—around his art studio, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena (Snoopy's Home Ice), and this Santa Rosa neighborhood.

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LOCATION
The Charles M. Schulz Museum is located 50 minutes north of San Francisco by car on Highway 101. The Museum is located at 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa, California, 95403.

HOURS
Weekdays Monday thru Friday (except Tuesdays*) 11am – 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am – 5pm
Closed Tuesdays*
*Open everyday throughout the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day)

ADMISSION FEES
Free – Museum Members, Children 3 and under
$5.00 – Children 4-18, college students with valid I.D. card, and Seniors 62+
$10.00 – Adults

For more information consult the Museum web site: http://www.SchulzMuseum.org.

http://www.facebook.com/schulzmuseum

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Oakhurst, CA: Children's Museum of the Sierra

Located in Oakhurst, California, 24 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, is the latest "fascination station." The 4,000 square foot museum is packed with a variety of activities to occupy the hands and minds of young people of all ages.

Open year round, the Children's Museum Of The Sierra offers young people (ages 2-12) and their families hands-on exhibits and programs designed to encourage visitors to learn by doing, imagining, creating and making choices.

With a draw of 1,000 visitors monthly, the museum serves local residents and tourists that visit Yosemite National Park.

The museum operates under the auspices of the Educational Enhancement Foundation, a private nonprofit organization (classified as a 501(c) 3 by the IRS.

Funds are generated by private contributions and earned income from membership, admission fees, grants, gift shop sales and special events. The museum development and exhibit design is provided by devoted and generous volunteers who have a passion for our museum and enhancing the lives of children.

Founded in 1995 by a group of parents and individuals interested in bringing specialized programs to young people of the mountain community, the museum teaches scientific principles allowing children to learn about the world around them through dramatic play and artistic expression.

As children interact with exhibit components, there is an opportunity to learn elementary occupational behaviors through imaginative play. This play builds an awareness of potential career opportunities.

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Children's Museum of the Sierra
49269 Golden Oak Drive, Suite 104
Oakhurst, CA 93644

Telephone: (559) 658-5656
Website: http://www.childrensmuseumofthesierra.org/

Hours of operation:

Winter Hours: ( Mid-Sept through Mid-June.)
Tuesday through Saturday
10 a.m.- 4p.m.
Sunday
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Summer Hours: ( Mid- June through Mid-Sept.)
Tuesday through Saturday
10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Sunday-Closed.

Admission:
$4: Per person. Children under 2 admitted FREE.
$3: Seniors 60+
$1: Pre-arranged educational groups of ten children or more.

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Palm Springs, CA: Palm Springs Air Museum

History, nostalgia, and some fighter planes have always been a personal allure. So when I visited the Coachella Valley to enjoy some of the desert dry air and an abundance of sun, there was one place to scratch that itch - the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Located adjacent to the Palm Springs International Airport, this attraction which also provides activities, contains one of the world's largest collections of flying WWII airplanes, that include such aircraft as: Grumman F4F Wildcat, Russian Yakovlev YAK_11 Moose, Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, the Lockheed P38 Lightning, or the Curtiss P40 Hawk.

Located on the north side of the airport, near the Desert Sun newspaper and the new Gene Autry Plaza that is filled with a number of different shops, the Palm Springs air Museum is housed in a magnificent new structure that includes two main display halls and hangers.

Walking through these enormous constructions, I saw how the flying aircraft that was kept in pristine condition was displayed in modern, well-lighted, air-conditioned and clean hangars. There was little dust and a cool breeze that provided adequate ventilation.

Along with the incredible displays was the Buddy Rogers theatre were I was able to view the daily documentaries about aviation in the military. There was also a gift shop, a ramp, and an airport access for when there were incredible flight demonstrations as well as visiting planes from around the world.

The museum also has a research library that allowed me to delve into the many books of history and stories that accompanied some of the sites to be seen. The library contained some 6300 volumes primarily related to aviation and American military history. There is also a simulator and educational center that gave me an excellent opportunity to feel what it was like to sit in the cockpit of a Bell P63 King Cobra.

As I enjoyed taking my time, moving through each exhibit, I was soon to learn that the Palm Springs Air Museum was dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and operation of America's legendary fighters, bombers, and trainers. It was constructed to give each visitor a welcome into the past and the experience of what it must have felt like to be in the air and in the middle of battle. What an experience to hear the pounding roar of high-powered piston engines or climbing into the cockpits of legendary fighting jets and bombers. It's a moment well worth the time spent in the valley.

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Open seven days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., you can make a day of it when the desert heat becomes a little too much. A perfect stop on your next Palm Springs vacation.

Palm Springs Air Museum
745 N Gene Autry Trl
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 778-6262
http://palmspringsairmuseum.org/

For discounts and deals on hotels, restaurants, and attractions in Palm Springs, CA, visit http://www.palmspringsvacationdiscounts.com/.

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Cathedral City, CA: Boomers! Amusement Park Fun For Families

For some fun in the sun and an opportunity to catch a breath of fresh desert air, there is no better place then Boomers activity park located near Palm Springs, just right off of Hwy 111. It's the perfect place for some family fun in a variety of ways that test your endurance, your skill level, your strength, and your smile meter.

On my recent trip to the desert, being at Boomers was lots fun with activities like go-carting, miniature golf, bumper boats, rock climbing, and a fully loaded arcade with the most up to date games available. With the go-carts, I was able to fulfill my Richard Petty fantasies as I slid thru banking curves, roared down paved straight a ways, and maneuvered hairpin turns as I raced to victory. Kids must be over 58" to drive solo and passengers must stand 40" or taller to take the ride. Prices range from $7 for adults to $2 for kids, all depending on the height.

After the racing fun came to an end, it was on to some relaxing miniature golf that can always have one pulling out what's left of their hair. There are two different courses for all ages equipped with lush greens, wild water features and wacky windmills were I had to take some quick steps so that I could catch were my ball was spit out at. The balls and a putter are all supplied for between $6-8. It was an excellent opportunity for me to take some time and work on my short putting game, and watch out for the out of bounds cause balls do tend to fly of the greens. Play it were it lands.

After golf, I was a little warm having been out in the hot desert sun and nothing looked better then the cool water that the bumper boats sat in. Each boat is equipped with squirt cannons to bombard the other with. And if the cannon doesn't get them, then the high speed bumper action will. Broadside collisions and twirling side swipes are a common occurrence and it usually calls for a wave water to follow. It costs between $2-6 and to have a passenger, you have to be 18 years or older.

After that, it was time for some exercise and the challenge sits in the rock climbing wall that is well supervised for all. Here I was able to pick a path and pull and step myself to the summit of a sheer cliff that I imagined was in the Alps with a cold wind blowing snow in my face as I stood at the top. For about $7 I got two climbs up a 32 foot wall that provides an excellent test of one's skill and strength. I had to find a good foothold, didn't look down and I learned the higher I climbed, the more difficult it became. And I didn't have to worry about taking a spill since the climb came with a harness to prevent any unwanted spills.

At the end of a very full day I decided to spend some time visiting the arcade arena to play one of the numbers of video games that pack the center. Whether it was air hockey, skeeter ball, shooting baskets, dancing to music or racing cars and motorcycles, the arcade had a variety of things to experience. It will definitely bring out the 14 year old boy or girl in you. In addition to games galore, my hunger and thirst was satisfied with a small snack bar equipped with fries, burgers, pizza and drinks.

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Boomers is open Sunday thru Thursday Boomers 11am to 9pm, Friday 11am to 11pm, and Saturday 10am to 11pm. Boomers also provides group rates for large families and functions as well as all type of specials throughout the year. Boomers is the place to let your inner child run free and experience a day filled with laughter.

Boomers!
67-700 E. Palm Canyon Dr.
Cathedral City, CA 92234
(760) 770-7522

For discounts and deals on hotels, restaurants, and attractions in Palm Springs, CA, visit http://www.palmspringsvacationdiscounts.com/.

Cathedral City on Dwellable

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