Mission San Fernando, CA

Mission San Fernando was founded in 1797 in the Mission Hills district of LA near the site of the first gold discovery in Alta California. It's the 17th in the chain of Spanish outposts along El Camino Real. 

Last weekend we took a quick detour on our way home from Venice Beach to check it out. What a treasure it is. I've been to many of California's historic missions (my goal is to visit and photograph all of them) and this one really enchanted me. I think it was a combination of the brilliant blue skies, balmy southern California temperatures, and impeccably maintained grounds. 

It wasn't crowded at all and strolling around the compound was very peaceful and kept me and my Nikon busy. You do have to buy admission tickets in the gift shop to visit the museum and grounds, but it's well worth it. The museum contains excellent displays with great explanations and the map you get guides you through the gardens and explains many features of the mission complex. 

Welcome to Mission San Fernando...

 An exterior view of the Convento with its 21 Roman arches; now it houses the authentically refurbished rooms and is the largest remaining building of all the missions in California...

 The portico of the Convento...

A view of the interior of the Convento...

The workshops and the old Mission church...

The corridor of the Archival Center, which serves the Archdiocese of LA...

One of the six Piczek Tableaus, which portray the geographic history of the Archdiocese of LA...

 A view toward the Convento...

 Beautifully manicured gardens...

 The flower-shaped fountain in the East Garden...

 Believe it or not, Bob Hope is buried in the Bob Hope Memorial Garden on the mission grounds...

A Statue of Fray Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, founder of Mission San Fernando. 

He's buried at San Carolos Borromeo Mission, Carmel...

Thanks to a large gift of money in the 1940's by the Hearst Foundation, this particular mission and California historical landmark has been completely restored and is well cared for. Don't forget to visit it if you are zooming through the San Fernando Valley along Interstate 405. It's very easy to find, parking is plentiful, and a visit will hopefully calm your mind and spirit!

Venice Beach, CA

Venice Beach held its annual Venice Beach Music Fest last weekend, so we headed south to check it out. Our son Z also happened to be playing the drums in one of the featured bands, Dylan Chambers and the Midnight Transit. So that was all the more reason to go...

What can I say about Venice Beach? Well, it's quite magical, funky, and very colorful. It really reminded me of the wonderful hippie era - very laid back and full of artists, musicians, performers, vendors, and tourists; it's a great spot for people watching. Fortunately the local residents work hard to support the art and music scenes, and they celebrate them throughout the year with various festivals. 

Venice Beach is so alive and vibrant and is really an ideal place for a summertime music festival - and a bit of photography! Here's a tip: we stayed in a hotel right next to LAX. Those hotels really seem to be more reasonably priced than the ones along the pricier beach communities, and they're not that far at all from Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and Marina del Rey. And, they're quiet too!

Welcome to Venice Beach...

                          

The Pacific bike trail...

Walking along the Boardwalk...

Medicinal marijuana anyone?

You want t-shirts? Venice Beach has them - with every message you could imagine...

Interesting architecture...

Starry Night revisited...

Venice Beach Park...

Typical beach scene... 

Public graffiti walls...

It could almost be Venice, Italy...

Dylan Chambers and the Midnight Transit on stage...

Dylan Chambers...

Two young men enjoying the music...

Dancers...

A mini Lion King...

Venice Beach has numerous man-made canals along which you can ogle at multimillion dollar homes...

You won't have trouble finding a place to eat around here...

Almost time for sunset near the Venice Beach Pier...

Kind of reminds me of the Baywatch days...

The popular pier...

What would southern Cali be without a surfer?

A lovely LA sunset...

Here's another tip: if you watch some of the street performers or take photos of them, be prepared to leave a small tip, so bring plenty of change or dollar bills to help them out. Venice Beach should definitely be on your bucket list of places to see in the LA area.