The Richard Nixon Presidential Library

     Good day audience! I am a member of the presidential libraries and as a member, I get general admission included to visit the presidential libraries anytime. These libraries are great for history and people who want to learn facts about the presidents' administrations. There are 14 presidential libraries including the upcoming Obama museum. The libraries I have attended include those of JFK, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon. If one happens to visit Northeastern Orange County and wants to escape the shopping malls, beach, or Disneyland, one should hop to Yorba Linda, both Richard Nixon's birthplace and the location of his museum.

     The Richard Nixon Presidential Museum and Library is the final resting place of both Richard Nixon and his wife Pat. The museum was opened on July 19, 1990. The museum goes into exclusive detail about the president's life, history, and career. His family home was designed to appear as it did in the 1910s. Wow! What an impressive fact for those who like to explore history. The museum did a massive expansion in 2016 and includes the oval office, media to appeal to millennials, the Vietnam War, Nixon in China, and Nixon's sitting room. These exhibits add more variety and give one a better appreciation of Richard Nixon's legacy. The main topics I hope to address are Nixon's life, the Vietnam War, his accomplishments, and the Watergate Scandal. I'd rather relive Watergate than live Trump and Putin.

 

     Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda on January 9, 1913. Interesting fact: Richard Nixon's father was a grocer like I am. One of Nixon's earlier quotes about his life was, "We were poor, but the glory of it is we didn't know it." That would make everyone's financial problems much easier today if they adopted that mentality. Both of Nixon's brothers died before he turned 20. Richard Nixon got into Harvard, but due to finances, he went to Whittier College and got a full scholarship to Duke University Law School. In 1940, he married a schoolteacher Pat and had two daughters.

     Richard Nixon was determined to do what it took to be president. In 1960, he competed against John F. Kennedy. Talk about the heartbreaking loss, by just 120,000 votes. Reminds me of the 2000 election of Bush vs. Gore. At least JFK won the popular vote. Upon return to California, he was encouraged to run for governor against Pat Brown, ultimately loosing to her. Richard Nixon decided to come back and run for president against Hubert Humphrey and independent George Wallace. He won the election by 500,000. If Nixon taught us anything, it teaches us to do what it takes to follow our dreams. I can relate to Nixon in the sense that I've been trying for years to get a job in entertainment and travel, and despite my failures, I keep trying to get that job.

     

     One of the major conflicts that Richard Nixon had to endure was the war in Vietnam caused by Lyndon B. Johnson. He really had a dilemma because the war caused the country to be split. If he didn't end the war, there would be outrage, but if he did, it would be an outrage too. Part of the problems he faced with the Vietnam War was that Democrats could charge Nixon abandoning a peaceful solution with war crimes. But if he didn't end the war, Saigon would fall. He slowly pulled troops out of Vietnam. In 1972, there were no troops on the combat field and by 1973, only 25,000 soldiers remained in Vietnam. The Vietnam War is a subject we can all debate if it was necessary or not. However this ended the mandated draft. Ending the war will go down as one of Nixon's accomplishments.

     Like or hate Richard Nixon, he tried his best to make America better than when he came in. He accomplished some excellent goals that helped set up our country for success. He founded the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), which was in response to pollution and conservation. Some of the laws that were passed were the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Mamel Marine Act. These laws have been very beneficial to make the environment safer and easier to battle global warming. He started the War on Cancer which created national cancer centers and medications to battle cancer. My favorite accomplishment of Nixon was that he was the first US President to visit China. He eased relations between China and America, making it easier for me to go on my favorite trip since graduating high school and go to Shanghai Disneyland this summer. I think these were excellent traits of this president. Unfortinatly, the Watergate Scandle were what led to the end of Nixon.

     Most of us are aware of the Watergate scandal, and it is relevant today to Trump colluding with Russia. There was a break-in on June 17, 1972 at the Democratic National Committee. The people involved were with Richard Nixon's re-election campaign. They used wiretapping phones and stole documents. Nixon made sure that Watergate was covered up. This caused people to question their leaders. Two reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein from the Washington Post, did a deep investigation and were applauded for their efforts in investigating and won a Pulitzer prize. This was traced back to Nixon because phone numbers of the re-election campaign were with the burglars' stuff. Also Richard Nixon arranged hush money to the burglars to keep quiet about Watergate, like Donald Trump did for Stormy Daniels. Nixon's administration tried to impede the CIA, which was both an abuse of power and obstruction of justice. The Saturday Night Massacre, October 20, 1973, was when Archibald Cox was fired upon his request for Nixon to give up the tapes. Nixon was forced to resign on August 8, 1974 and six weeks later was pardoned by Gerald Ford. This was a dark time, causing a lot of problems for years to come. Nixon was at least admirable for leaving when he knew he was in trouble. We live in similar times now and I hope that we have a country where we can trust our leaders.

     After Nixon resigned, he returned to Southern California to have a regular life. He went back home to San Clemente. He had a lot of struggles, both physically and financially, since Watergate. He died on April 22, 1994, and his wife Pat died a year earlier. At the end of the library, they had the video of his memorial. Richard Nixon left a legacy both good and bad, but did care for America's best interests. I hope that if you happen to be in Orange County or traveling from Riverside County, you will get off the 91 freeway and make up your own opinion about Nixon. Please watch this video: https://youtu.be/zztLek59e_M

My Adventures On Carnival Cruise Line

     Welcome audience! It's Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler here to discuss my first vacation of the year, my journey on the Carnival Splendor to the Mexican Riviera. For this blog we're not just going to talk about my journey on this cruise, we're going to talk about all my times on Carnival Cruise Line and how they are very similar and what the cruise line has to offer YOU. There are many reasons why one would pick Carnival Cruise Line, such as how it's the least expensive cruise line, especially compared with Disney (you might as well go to Disney World, where YOU would get more bang for your buck), it goes to all the places ONE would dream of such as the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe, and how people from all around the world drink and party together. People from all over the country, particularly the Midwest, come explore the world with Carnival Cruise Line and make it the fun ship.

     Before I talk about what works and what doesn't work for Carnival Cruise Line, I will talk about the history of how these became the fun ships. It's one of the 10 cruise line brands owned by the American-British Carnival Corporation. Founded in 1972, its headquarters are located in Miami, Florida. There has been a lot of economic impact to ports such as the Caribbean and Ensenada, Mexico. Carnival has brought lots of jobs and money to Port Everglades. Let me explain to all of YOU why Carnival is the way to party at sea.

     I have taken a good amount of cruises on Carnival Cruise Line such as the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Ensenada, and most recently the Mexican Riviera. Our journey on the Carnival Splendor begins in Long Beach, CA. From there one will start off with a fun day at sea where one can go into the pools and hot tubs, explore lots of restaurants with many different cuisines, and explore activities. Then we arrive at Cabo San Lucas, where one could check out the touristy town full of bars and restaurants as well as shopping. I checked out Lovers Beach, which is one of the best beaches in Cabo close to the Arc. One can also snorkel and see fish and crabs play on the rocks.

     If one wants to get a feel for a real Mexican beach town that feels less American, the cruise stops the next day at Mazatlán. On this port, one should take a city tour where one can see some of the architecture statues, cliff divers, and check out this little town, which feels more authentically Mexican than a tourist town.

     For those who want a mix of both America and Mexico, one would like to explore the final port Puerto Vallarta. There's beach life, Mexican culture, zip-lining, and shopping in town. Something I would recommend would be a city tour, which also allows an hour of shopping and photo opportunities at the Art Walk. If one is a big drinker, the tour offers a tasting at a tequila factory, which includes chocolate, vanilla, and coffee tequila. They all taste great for those who want to drink but don't love the taste of alcohol. The beach is also walking distance from the cruise ships at the resorts.

    

 

     Let's talk about the Carnival Splendor and what one can expect on it. The ship's crew really try their best to make the ship a lot of fun. This ship has a lot of food choices, such as burgers, a 24-hour pizzeria, a deli for those who like grilled cheese, and room service. There's always entertainment that would WOW music and production fans such as those who love Hasbro, as many of the productions are based on the games, as well as music from Queen and Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and Billy Joel. The productions take us back to life in the '70s and '80s with music and costumes. There are also movies on deck at night. If one wants to game and relive The Hangover, of course there's a casino onboard. There are a lot of activities to please all audiences on Carnival Splendor.

       

     On a Carnival cruises, they do more or less the same stuff on each cruise. They typically have a lot of pools and hot tubs for anyone who loves to swim. There is always entertainment such as shows and stand-up comedy featuring comedians who've performed with famous comedians. One can meet people from different parts of the country and build everlasting relationships. Families can see characters such as the Dr. Seuss' Guys and Mr. Potato Head. There's dancing and partying. Also there are people who go on a limb and get hammered. Most Carnival cruises feature the same material, but there is something for everyone.

    Why go on a Carnival cruise? There are several reasons. It seems to be the best value for the money. There also are many different types of destinations that Carnival offers, from just a port that one would choose not to get off at, to weekend getaways, family beach vacations, and that fancy trip around the Mediterranean. One has something to look forward to on these fun ships.

The Los Angeles Auto Show 2018

     Let's talk about the West Hall of the car show. From the moment you enter, one can take a picture with Bumblebee as they were promoting the new movie coming out. A very cool car that actually is a motorcycle is the Slingshot. I feel it's a combination of a motorcycle and a car because it doesn't feel like a motorcycle but doesn't look like a car. Let's explore some of the awesome cars in the first exhibit. The first exhibit features both the car models I had: Honda and Nissan. If you're a current Honda owner like myself, there's a lounge where you can hang and charge your phone. All the cars talk about their MPG, gas mileage, how much you could save in gas per year, costs, etc. Other types of cars this level had were Fords and Kias. You could test-drive a Kia and get a $10 Amazon gift card.

     Let's talk about the West Hall of the car show. From the moment you enter, one can take a picture with Bumblebee as they were promoting the new movie coming out. A very cool car that actually is a motorcycle is the Slingshot. I feel it's a combination of a motorcycle and a car because it doesn't feel like a motorcycle but doesn't look like a car. Let's explore some of the awesome cars in the first exhibit. The first exhibit features both the car models I had: Honda and Nissan. If you're a current Honda owner like myself, there's a lounge where you can hang and charge your phone. All the cars talk about their MPG, gas mileage, how much you could save in gas per year, costs, etc. Other types of cars this level had were Fords and Kias. You could test-drive a Kia and get a $10 Amazon gift card.

     One of the major dealerships that comes to the Los Angeles Auto Show is Galpin Ford, which is located in Mission Hills. I think it's impressive to see all the different cars Galpin has and to see how it has a history of being in business and has a story different than just a typical car dealership. I like knowing how the business has evolved since its inception in 1946. Frank Galpin opened up the dealership in San Fernando and the showroom had three different models and sold 46 cars in the first year. The Galpin Ford Convertible was created in 1952. Galpin's Shaggy Dog became the mascot in 1958. In 1961, Galpin created a NASCAR racing team for the west coast. Galpin Ford loves to show its history and evolution to those who visit the car show. It makes me wish more dealerships actually catered more to customers rather than sales since there is a true story that makes the dealership special.

     If one wants to see luxury vehicles, then one should go to the South Hall at the end of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The first cars one would see are the different types of Toyotas from the low-end to the high-end models. The Toyota Corporate Office comes in to talk about the benefits of having a Toyota. Now let's talk about the higher-end vehicles that look really amazing. Some of these cars include Jaguar, Lincoln, BMW, Lexus, Chevrolet, Acura, and Mercedes-Benz. If one wants to look at nice cars all in one place, this is the place to check out. I think that this is a must-see for those who like to look at cars and know what each type of car contains. I can't wait for next year's car show to see how these models evolve.

     At the end of the Convention Center, there is an exhibit called The Garage. This exhibit shows a lot of vintage cars that have been worked on and updated. These cars get customized to look awesome. One example is a truck that is branded with the Monster logo from the beverage brand. The vintage cars are a great thing to check out as you exit the show.

     Thank you for exploring the Los Angeles Auto Show with me and reading about my journey. This is a fun and interesting event to check out if one happens to be in Los Angeles before or after Thanksgiving. If one wants to go to the car show on the weekdays, there is a $3 discount. They even give tours and open up early for an additional fee. Next year's show starts on November 22 and ends on December 1. Please feel free to watch my YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZR_in1-UoU&feature=share

Top 5 New Years Destinations

     Happy New Year everyone. I hope all of you had a happy holidays, whatever holiday you celebrate. I appreciate all of you for following my blog and hopefully I am encouraging you to go out and follow your dreams and be inspired by my travels. For this blog, I am going to be discussing some top New Year's destinations and, much like the top Christmas destinations blog, I will explain why these destinations are worth checking out.

                     

                                  HONOLULU, HAWAII

    This Hawaiian capital is surprisingly a good place to spend New Year's. One reason is the warm and lively beach weather. Much better than spending it in some East Coast city. Fireworks explode over both Waikiki Beach and Aloha Tower Marketplace. This is an excellent place for families to visit for New Year's. An excellent New Year's event is The Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, which contains a beer garden, carnival rides, food trucks, and a lot of entertainment. This city is also a nice place to lie on the beach to deal with a hangover.

                           LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

     This divided city from West Los Angeles, Downtown LA, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, has a lot to offer on a reasonable budget. Some of the events include black-tie affairs, street parties, and all-night clubbers. One way to do it would be to buy a club package, which allows access to multiple clubs. Some big events in Los Angeles include Cleopatra's New Year's Eve Bowl at the Egyptian Theater, which has a DJ playing the newest releases, LED light show, and a balloon drop. A free event that one should do is Grand Park, which has entertainment and food among the streets. Both Grand Park and Hollywood are accessible by Metro stops.

                                   CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

     There are lots of things to do in the Windy City, including dinner parties, firework cruises, and family-friendly events. One should explore Navy Pier to see an amazing firework show that bursts over Lake Michigan. A fun place for mingling and dancing is the Chicago Resolution Gala. That is the highlight for New Year's in Chicago, containing 30 bars, buffet stations, and access to the Grand Ballroom and Lakeview Terrace. Another excellent activity would be to go to one of the hotels for one of their parties.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

     Sin City, particularly the strip, is an excellent place to party with over 300,000 visitors who check out all the themed hotels all on one boulevard. All traffic shuts down and the strip transforms into a big block party. At midnight, the casinos put on a firework show that makes Times Square look bad. Party goers dance the night away. The Skylofts at the MGM Grand give one a superb view of the strip during this party season.

                                NEW YORK, NEW YORK

   
     This is the destination of all destinations to visit for New Year's Eve. People head to Times Square to watch the ball drop, and all the networks play New Year's there. There are over 100,000 places to drink and ring in the new year. Many people brave up for Times Square and purchase a party pass for open bars. Other amazing activities for New Year's include STK Rooftop, where a DJ spins the hottest tracks and the bar overlooks the Hudson River. Or Monarch Rooftop Lounge, which offers a view of the Empire State Building. No matter what you do in the Big Apple, it will be epic.

    I hope I gave you an idea of places to visit for your New Year's. From the beach to a city in the desert to the Midwest to two coastal cities, there's no shortage of fun places to check out for your holiday. I look forward to taking YOU to more destinations in 2019, and thanks for reading.

     

Top 5 Christmas Destinations

                                      

     Happy holidays readers. It's Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler again. As it is that special time of year, for this blog we are going to talk about Christmas destinations that one should visit. These destinations are uniquely special for Christmas time, providing the holiday feel. Let's explore the top 5 Christmas destinations and I hope I will inspire you to visit these places.

                                REYKJAIK, ICELAND

     What better place to spend Christmas than a snowy country called Iceland. This isolated country in Europe contains amazing landscapes and liquid-green aurora borealis illuminate the nighttime. There are statues of the 12 yule lads, which is the equivalent of Santa Claus, all around the city. One restaurant to visit would be the seafood restaurant Vid Tjornina to eat Icelandic cuisine.

                                               

                                  SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

                                      

       California cities are great for the holidays. The Santa Barbara County coastal cities combine New England-style charm with California elegance with holiday touch. In the town of Montecito, the San Ysidro ranch is the equivalent of a Vermont hunting lodge, but just 20 minutes from the beach. One place to have a drink is the Summerland Winery.

                                        

                                              BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

     

     Boston: This New England city already feels Christmasy by the fact it snows a lot in the winter. Some Christmas activities include Beacon Hill streets covered in snow and 'Believe in Ghosts' at Harvard's Sanders Theater. If one wants to warm up during the cold winter, XV Beacon Hotel is perfect because there's a gas fireplace in every room. One place to eat is No. 9 Park, which showcases French and Italian cuisine, as well as rich desserts and artisanal cheeses.

                                       

                                  DURANGO, COLORADO

     Durango: I'm going to be honest, I had never heard of this town in Colorado until I did my research for this project. This mountain town serves up an old-fashioned holiday without being in Aspen. In this amazing Christmas town, one can explore Pueblo dwellings, go skiing, or have rum at a western saloon. The Rochester Hotel explores Durango's cinematic past and each of the rooms plays a 15-minute Mexican heritage short. One can have a meal at Ken & Sue's. After learning about this place, it makes me want to explore this town during Christmas.

                                           Key West, Florida

    

     Key West: We're now going to talk about a slightly different place, yet still a nice place to celebrate Christmas. Warmer temperatures, trimmed palm trees, done-up historical inns, and four festooned blocks around the waterfront add a different yet lively Christmas atmosphere. A good place to have an excellent Christmas dinner would be Nine One Five for a Victorian dinner experience.

     After doing some research, I was able to find more places to celebrate Christmas that I normally wouldn't check out. I learned all the things these places have to offer and why they might be good to check out around the Christmas time. Maybe one day I'll check out some of these destinations, but for now I will let you do the exploring and get back to me.

Top 5 Shopping Malls For The Holidays

     Happy Holidays and enjoy your holiday shopping. It's Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler again. I'm sorry I didn't have a Thanksgiving blog as I wanted, as I was dealing with the California wildfires. With the holiday season approaching, YOU probably are doing some shopping for your loved ones. For this blog, we're going to talk about the top 5 shopping malls for the holiday season.

                                              HARRODS LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

      Well if one is in jolly old London, particularly around the holiday season, a good place to visit would be Harrods. This department store was started by Charles Henry Harrod when he was 25 years old. It has evolved into a big brand in the last 200 years. WOW! It now consists of 330 departments such as clothing, electronics, and jewelry. This place is the place to go to find all your appliances from a reputable company in London. During the festive season, it's transformed into a wintry wonderland, replete with Christmas decorations inside and out and in the windows. Visitors can also visit Father Christmas and the Christmas Grotto Area.

                                             THE GALLERIA HOUSTON, TX

     If one happens to be in Houston for the holiday season, one should check out The Galleria Mall. The Galleria happens to be more than just a shopping mall. It includes two Westin hotels, Galleria Office Complex, as well as a private health club. This stuff is operated by different management than then mall. Forbes ranked the Galleria as one of the best shopping malls to visit. During the holiday season, the mall is decorated with beautiful lights and a big centralized Christmas tree to give you that holiday season spirit. And of course, Santa Claus comes to town.

                                      MALL OF AMERICA BLOOMINGTON, MN

   If one already happens to be in Bloomington or even the state of Minnesota, one should go visit the Mall of America. This mall is one of the most famous, well-known malls in the United States. It even has a little amusement park for families. Preparing for the holiday season is essential for this mall. Some of the holiday features include Santa Claus photos and arrival, Nintendo Switch, Salvation Army's Red Kettle, Holiday Flyover America, and many others. This mall should WOW anyone fortunate enough to visit.

                                           THE AMERICANA GLENDALE, CA

     This is one of two malls in the Los Angeles area I will be talking about that are good to visit for the holidays. Watch this plaza get sprinkled with snow from 7 to 8 every evening before Christmas. Also, Santa has moved into the Americana. He is here to grant your wishes. This is a nice place if one is in Glendale to visit.

                                             THE GROVE LOS ANGELES, CA

    For the last and final mall, we're going to talk about my favorite mall to visit during the holiday season, The Grove in Los Angeles, CA. From the Farmers Market to CBS to 3rd Street, this central location is an excellent place for any mall. Let me explain why this mall takes the cake compared to any other mall in Los Angeles and why I do it every year. The beautiful scenery, from seeing Santa and his house to the beautiful Christmas tree and lights, are enough to WOW you all. This is a great place for families to start their holiday season. If one doesn't want to endure traffic, one can take the 217 bus from Hollywood/Highland and save time as well as money. You can even go to Los Angeles County Museum of Art or the La Brea Tar Pits Museum if time allows.
  

  There are a lot of reasons to check out malls during the holidays, from big trees to shopping to bright, colored lights and even Santa for all ages. If you're an adult and want to believe in Santa, enjoy sitting on his lap. I look forward to sharing more adventures about the holidays and more with you soon.