Taking in a 3D movie at the Discovery Science Center in Orange County.
While living nearby in Fullerton, we drove past the science center on occasion and wondered what might be inside. Now, back in town for a visit, we decided to spend the hot hours of the day here before moving on to take in the Orange County Fair.
Our discovery at the Discovery Science Center was that mid-summer means lots of sugar-hyped kids screaming and running from exhibit to exhibit, pushing buttons. It was NOISY in there!
After all that bustle and noise, Case decided cruising around Newport Harbor in an electric boat would be more peaceful than joining the crowds at the fair. (After all, we're on vacation, so we get to do whatever we want, and change our plans as often as we please.)
Many of these cute electric boats cruise the harbor around sunset.
The rays of the setting sun warm the colors of this picture, but the air is already quite cool and you can't see the warm blanket Jolene has wrapped herself up in!
Lazy sea lions take over a vacant dock.
Individual sail boats race each other back to the dock, hoping to beat the setting sun.
While admiring the extravagant boats moored through out the bay, we noticed lots of silly names. Boat names seem to attract bad puns. However, all three boats moored at this dock, which services one of the most palatial homes on the bay, were named "Mr. Terrible". Ya' gotta wonder about that owner...
As we round the far end of the bay, the moon rises from behind the hills.
Darkness settles in, leaving a lighted path across the harbor waters -- a beautiful end to a wonderful evening!
Intense color of Bougainvillea.
The fog hangs low over Shell Beach. What isn't visible is the long path winding its way on the bluff next to the water. A lovely walk.
Unnamed beauty. Anyone know what these are?
Looking over to Avila Bay from the bluffs of Shell Beach, somehow a patch of sunlight usually breaks through the fog over Avila.
Hard at work!
A fine place to sit and listen to the ocean.
Left to Right: Case, Denise, Darrell, Jillian, Heather and Megan
Girlfriend time with Heather and Denise!
Once the entire museum, the J. Paul Getty Villa houses only the oil tycoon's collection of Greek and Roman antiquities since the museum's expansion into the Getty Center in nearby Malibu.
The renovated Villa is as lovely as the art itself.
Ponds and pools,
sculptures and reliefs,
fountains and frescoes,
and gardens blend into a harmonious whole. 
Case thinks this guy has had his eye on Jolene,
and then this picture...it seems Case's attention has gone elsewhere...and it's time to take him home!
On the way (well, a little out of our way, actually), we stopped to eat in "Little Ethiopia". Jolene hadn't tried their cuisine before, but having previously seen her chow down when we visited "The Banana Leaf Restaurant" in Singapore, Case knew she likes anything eaten with just her hands.
Traffic on the 405 Freeway. We so don't miss this.
We happily purchased seats up in the "nosebleed section" with a great view of the bowl, the Hollywood sign, and the surrounding hills. Fewer people, too! We had enough crowd getting here!
Thanks to our high power zoom lens, we could see the symphony, and as the music began, we forgot the traffic, relaxed, and enjoyed the Tchaikovsky violin concerto.
Taking in a 3D movie at the Discovery Science Center in Orange County.
Our discovery at the Discovery Science Center was that mid-summer means lots of sugar-hyped kids screaming and running from exhibit to exhibit, pushing buttons. It was NOISY in there!
Many of these cute electric boats cruise the harbor around sunset.
The rays of the setting sun warm the colors of this picture, but the air is already quite cool and you can't see the warm blanket Jolene has wrapped herself up in!
Lazy sea lions take over a vacant dock.
Individual sail boats race each other back to the dock, hoping to beat the setting sun.
While admiring the extravagant boats moored through out the bay, we noticed lots of silly names. Boat names seem to attract bad puns. However, all three boats moored at this dock, which services one of the most palatial homes on the bay, were named "Mr. Terrible". Ya' gotta wonder about that owner...
Darkness settles in, leaving a lighted path across the harbor waters -- a beautiful end to a wonderful evening!
While waiting in line at the cinnamon roll shop in Pismo Beach we entertained ourselves with the local paper Coast News, Police Blotter section, and we're reminded of why we moved to AG from the LA area:
