Gene Autry Museum

     Greetings audience! It's Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler again. Today we're going to talk about a trip I made to the Autry Museum of the American West. I went on a Tuesday, and the second Tuesday of every month is free. There was recently a remodel, after which the center has expanded and become better than ever. This museum explores the world of the wild wild west and what makes it so special

    The first exhibit I'm going to talk about is Rick Bartow: Things You Know But Can't Explain. Bartow started his career in art after serving in Vietnam and recovering from PTSD and alcoholism. Kind of like American Sniper and Thank You For Your Service. I think it's amazing that people find passions during rough and stressful times. I've been through periods of stress and things that have gotten me through them are movies, trips and even work at times. Some of Bartow's works include large-scale paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. These types of art combine haunting combinations of animal and art. I encourage you to explore this unique artist's body of work, but come before January 6 or it will be gone.

    My favorite exhibit to check out was La Raza. This exhibit is very timely, especially in this time for immigrants in this country. This exhibit displays all the struggles of being an immigrant, particularly from Latin America and Mexico, and all the protesting they had to do for their rights. The bilingual newspaper La Raza gave a voice to the Chicano movement. It showed how they are stronger together and how important it is to fight as a team. An interesting fact is that The Race photographers are not only journalist but artists capturing the Chicano movement. These pictures are a powerful tool for political activism. I love this exhibit because of how it shows the history and fights of the Chicanos even today, and how all groups of people have had to fight for their rights and defeat oppression. See this exhibit ASAP, before it leaves on January 10.

     One of the best permanent exhibits is Art of the West. This exhibit includes works that display how life was portrayed in the west. It also includes old movie stars who portray the west such as John Wayne. This exhibit speaks of the west as both a home and a destination. It deals with three primary themes: Religion and Ritual, Land and Landscape, and Migration and Movement. I think this is an interesting exhibit because it shows how life was portrayed in the wild west and all the different parts of the west.

     Another permanent exhibit I liked was Western Frontiers: Stories of Fact and Fiction. This exhibit focuses on guns. I like seeing all different types of guns because I like action movies. This exhibit showcases the roles that guns have played in the west. Guns have been used for hunting and trapping, the conservation movement and popular culture in the west. This exhibit would be great for those gun lovers or even those who just like to look at guns.

     I think that if one is at Griffith Park, one should go visit the zoo and the Autry Museum. I am impressed with the expansion at Griffith Park and feel it made the museum more interesting. When I visited years ago, the museum was small to the point of feeling forgettable, but now it's easy to spend hours there. Please feel free to watch my video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odDWpgGHi_A.

FDR DRLC Dinner 2018

     Greetings audience! It's Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler again. This blog will be about something completely different than travel. On Saturday, September 15, 2018, I went to an excellent dinner fighting for those with disabilities. I went to the FDR Dinner for the Disability Rights Legal Center. It was an amazing event. There were three different awards and I'm going to discuss them and what they represent. The three awards presented include Vanguard Award, Chuck Siegal President's Award, and Dream Award.

     A lot of different people and companies come in and discuss how they help people with disabilities. My two mentors -- Keri Bowers, who is head of The Art of Autism, and Tom Iland, who wrote the book Come To Live -- were there to sell their services. Starbucks managers from West Los Angeles were there to discuss how they hire those with disabilities. Exceptional Minds, an animation and visual effects school in Sherman Oaks, attended the event. Elaine Hall aka Coach E and Julia Moss came in and promoted the amazing Miracle Project. I might potentially be part of that program in the coming months.

     The first award given was the Vanguard Award, which was presented by The American Cancer Association. This award was presented in the Disability Rights Legal Center fight to help those who are battling cancer. Battling cancer takes a toll on your life from employment to battling insurance to getting the life-saving treatment necessary. The Disability Rights Legal Center goes out of its way to make sure people get the legal support they need and sue whomever to get those rights. This award is a great honor for the American Cancer Society because of what they do to fight cancer. The speech was amazing.

     The next award is a significant award for both the disabled and film communities. The Ruderman Family Foundation presented Chuck Siegal President's Award. This award is presented for displaying disability in film. The example they referenced was Dwayne Johnson having a fake leg in the movie Skyscraper. This award spotlights characters with different abilities and their inclusion in entertainment. I hope that they bring up shows like The Good Doctor or Atypical -- both dealing with autism -- for the next award ceremony.

     The best part of the night was the Dream Award, which was presented by Scott Silveri, the creator of Speechless. Micah Fowler, who plays J.J. in the show and also has cerebral palsy, and Cedric Yarbrough, who plays Kenneth, gave the speech in honor of Scott. Scott gave an amazing speech about how disabilities have had an impact on his life. The example he brought up was his brother, who had cerebral palsy and was mistreated in a home. He died at the age of 41 due to lack of care. Scott talked about how he made it his mission to help those with disabilities, including by creating the show Speechless, which is about a family who work to help their disabled son J.J. I liked the first two seasons, and season three is coming up in a couple weeks. Also, Coby Bird, who made cameos in episodes of Speechless and The Good Doctor, was in the audience. What an excellent way to end the award ceremony.

     The night concluded with the director giving an amazing speech about how history repeats itself and what the direction of our country is. I felt this was an amazing award ceremony and I am glad that I got to write a piece for them. These groups of lawyers really go out of their way to help those with disabilities achieve their potential and fight to sue whomever they need to. Hopefully I will be able to attend the award ceremony next year.

Top 5 Labor Day Destinations

    Happy Labor Day, audience. This is a very important blog post because some people might want to think about getaways for Labor Day. After all, it is a nice time to have those last-minute celebrations. Do something before going back to school (if you haven't started already), a weekend off from work, or because you CAN. Here are 5 top destinations for your Labor Day holiday.

                                                         1. New Orleans

    

     This is a great holiday destination, particularly if you live near the South. It's a year-round party destination. Some of the highlights include nightlife, jazz, history, and food. Labor Day will be a particularly busy weekend due to people visiting from all over to join its parties, parade, and Southern Decadence events. It's also LGBT-friendly. Let's hop off and have a party in the city of jazz.

                                                          2. Lake Tahoe

  This is the largest alpine lake in California and one of the most beautiful. It goes into both California and Nevada, and it has waters that look as blue as the Caribbean Sea. One reason this is an excellent Labor Day destination is that it's still summertime, but not exceptionally hot. This makes Lake Tahoe ideal for swimming. There's also a fireworks event over the lake after dusk. If one wants to go somewhere far but still driving distance from L.A. or San Francisco, this would be a great getaway.

                                                     3. Charleston

  What a coincidence, I went here last year the day after Labor Day during Hurricane Irma. It's a charming city with Southern hospitality. Charleston is great for water lovers with some of the best beaches on the east coast. It's a shame that Hurricane Irma didn't allow me to explore Myrtle Beach, but that's a different story. Some of the popular things to do on Labor Day weekend include the annual Lowcountry Jazz Festival, the festive farmers market, and sunset cruises around the harbor. This beautiful city won't let you down and if you feel like it, take a horse carriage ride around the city.

                                                     4. Sedona

     This small destination has a lot to offer and if you live in the west, this is an excellent place for a getaway. This is a place sacred to Native Americans, and visitors come for the healing energy, the amazing red-rock scenery, and multiple recreational activities. For those who like and believe in meditation, this is an excellent place to do some breathing exercises and take a tour with a native guide. Other activities include a scenic hike, spa treatments, hitting the back roads, as well as browsing galleries and boutiques.

                          5. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming 

     Grand Teton National Park has a lot to offer hikers, such as some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the country, as well as wildlife such as elk, moose, and bison. One would enjoy hiking trails that lead to waterfalls, a horseback expedition, or trout fishing in Lake Jenny. Lake Jenny Lodge is a luxury eco-resort with private cabins and excellent views. This is an excellent nature destination.

     There are many different types of short destinations that one would want to check out for an excellent 3-day weekend to finish summers. From beaches to cities to nature, there's something for everyone. I hope you have an amazing Labor Day.

San Diego

     Greetings audience! It's Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler, and in this blog we're going to discuss my most recent getaway to San Diego. It's a well-known city in way south of California. I think San Diego has a lot to offer, such as theme parks (SeaWorld and Legoland in Carlsbad), Balboa Park and its museums, activities in downtown such as the Gaslamp district and the USS Midway, beaches such as La Jolla, Pacific and Mission Beach, and lots of activities for everyone. My personal opinion is that if you're looking for many tourist attractions paired with activities for the entire family, San Diego is your best choice. Now let's talk about some of the history of San Diego.

    Alonzo Erastus Horton got off a San Francisco streamer and strolled ashore in 1867. He was a worldwide traveler such as myself and felt that he had never saw anything more pretty. Though he wasn't nearly the first person to visit San Diego, he was the biggest real estate influence in San Diego. Alonzo Horton had a lot of influence in making San Diego what it is today, such as by creating jobs that helped stimulate tourism in San Diego. Centuries earlier, the area had belonged to the Southern California costal region's first Americans, known as San Dieguitos. The San Dieguitos were descended from Asians that crossed the land bridge in the Bering Strait in search of game, and from others who moved over the Sierra Nevadas and down the Pacific slope. Not unlike the modern Californians, they always found the best places to live. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to come, not to colonize San Diego but to find a northwest passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I feel very inspired by a lot of the people who made San Diego what it is today, especially Horton since we both love to travel around the world, dream a lot, and make our dreams a reality when we find something we're passionate about. This is some of the brief history -- for more information, please visit http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/San-Diego-Covered/San-Diego-History/.

     For those interested in saving money and still do the activities they want to do, one should explore the Go San Diego Card. I've talked about activity savings cards before, so I'll just elaberate on the Go San Diego Card. It's pretty much an all inclusive activity pass, where you can do as many activities as one can go to. One can do activities all around San Diego County. Those activities include the musuems at Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, Belmont Park, Birch Aquarium, Legoland, San Diego Harbor Cruise, Legoland, Petco Park Tour, USS Midway Museum, San Diego Zoo Safari Park as well as many others. If one decides to get the 3, 5, or 7 day pass, they can get a premium attraction such as Seaworld, 3 Day Hop On and Hop Off Trolly, and Speed Boat Adventures. If YOU decide to leave San Diego and explore Orange County or Hollywood, some of the attractions included are Knotts Berry Farm, Knotts Soak City, a Whale Watching and Dolphin Cruise, Hollywood Museum, and Tour of the Dolby Theater. This is an excellent pass for those who want an all inclusive pass. For more information, please visit https://www.smartdestinations.com/san-diego-attractions-and-tours/_d_Sdo-p1.html?pass=Sdo_Prod_Go&allInc=true.

     One of the most notable parts of San Diego is Balboa Park, which has beautiful architecture as well as many different museums. I feel it's an excellent park that one can explore for the entire day, and it's also very close to Downtown San Diego. Some of the museums in Balboa Park include the Museum of Man, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Natural History Museum, and many others. They are plentiful, but very small and easy to do. It's easy to spend less than 30 minutes in each museum. My favorite is the art museum because of how nice the art looks. The most famous part of Balboa Park is the San Diego Zoo. The zoo hosts 3,700 animals across 650 species. The zoo has expanded throughout the years, including with the Panda Trek in 2017, which can require patience due to long lines. Other exhibits in the zoo include Elephant Odyssey, Gorilla Tropics, Outback, and African Rocks, which opened last summer. I even hung with King Julien from Madagascar, who likes to "move it, move it." Also feel free to take a gondola from one part of the zoo to the other. If you are a zoo lover, this is a zoo you should check out. Please visit my video about the San Diego Zoo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4CLOI0jXOI

     Well, San Diego is an excellent place to go for tourism, museums, the beach, and more. It's a big county with a lot to see from north to south to east to west. If you are an active person, you should get the Go San Diego Card. I hope you will experience why San Diego is a unique place to visit, and I look forward to sharing more adventures with YOU soon.

An Annual Getaway To Las Vegas

     Greetings audience! Today I am going to discuss my annual Vegas getaway and talk about things that you may or may not be aware of. Most of us know about or have been to Las Vegas, especially coming from Los Angeles. Today I am going to discuss the history of the strip, discuss my particular hotel and why I recommend it, and how Vegas keeps growing and expanding throughout the years.

     First, I'd like to tell you the cheapest and most affordable way I go to Vegas. The reason I started going to Vegas every year is because of the Megabus. You can either catch it from Los Angeles Union Station or Riverside Station. If you know the dates you want to go and book it from the minute tickets go on sale, you can get your tickets for as little as $1 each way. So with the booking fee currently, if I book from the minute it’s available, I can get the fare for $4.50 round trip. They also offer fares to San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. The bus ride consists of picking up passengers from Riverside and, at the bus driver’s discretion, a stop in Barstow. Then the bus goes straight to the Las Vegas South Strip Terminal. The ride can take from 4.5 to 7 hours, depending on traffic, but it beats driving yourself! For more information, visit https://us.megabus.com/.

     Las Vegas has a history of its own, full of resorts and vibrant lights that make it more unique than other cities. I mean, who could dream of many countries with their distinct symbols -- such as the Pharaoh in Luxor, Excalibur’s Castle, the Empire State Building, the MGM Lion, and flamingos -- all within a three-mile radius. This was what the visionaries of Vegas dreamed about when they saw three miles of desert road. These visionaries kept on pursing their dreams of making the strip a reality. It came with much criticism and laughs along the way, since no one believed in them. They inspire all of us, myself included, to follow our dreams no matter what anyone else thinks.

     Let’s talk about how the strip has expanded over the years. On April 3, 1941, the El Rancho Las Vegas opened up with 63 rooms and in 2004 became a Hilton timeshare. The famous Flamingo Hotel was the third hotel that opened up, with 105 rooms on December 26, 1946 -- what a fascinating post-Christmas present. On November 1, 1979, Imperial Palace was created and became the Linq area, which we will discuss when I talk about how the strip has grown. I felt that learning about the history of the strip was fascinating and I learned so much about one of the biggest casino destinations in the world. If you want more information about each of the hotels and more history, please visit http://www.lvstriphistory.com/.

     Now I am going to talk about the hotel I stayed in on this trip to Vegas. It's the Royal Resort. It's a no-thrills hotel behind the Encore Hotel and near the convention center. It’s not in the most central location but still accessible to a lot of the strip action, especially if one takes the bus. It has late-night pool hours for those who like to swim and don't want to be pressured into leaving the pool because of pool hours at the resorts. The best part about this hotel is that there are, at least as of now, no resort fees. Most of us who've been to Vegas know the pain in our wallets that resort fees can cause and how there's no way around them, even when staying at non-resort or non-strip hotels. This hotel doesn't have a casino, but with all the hotels within walking distance, there's no need to worry. For those who just don't care about staying at a fancy resort with resort fees, this is an excellent place to explore. You won't regret staying here. I just wish they offered breakfast, even if it was $10 more a night. I might stay here every year if the price is right.

     Well audience, I can safely talk about one thing that keeps happening to the strip throughout time. The strip keeps on expanding for its tourism market. Some of the new additions are the T-Mobile Arena, the Linq, and the High Rollers Ferris Wheel. The High Rollers Ferris Wheel lets you explore the city from the sky, and the T-Mobile Arena hosts loads of events. The Linq area has an In-N-Out Burger, a Ghirardelli, an Irish Bar, as well as many great restaurants and a shopping area. Another nice place to check out, especially for Disney fans, is Magical Memories in the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace. It has art work representing scenes from many Disney movies and is definitely worth checking out for any die-hard Disney fan. The strip always is a changing environment, from a street in the middle of the desert to a family destination to an adult playground to a place that has something for everyone.

     So now YOU know how I feel about going to Vegas. There are lots of reasons that I in particular go every year, from the cheap bus ride to the lively resorts that make you feel like a kid again. Even though I'm not a big drinker or gambler, just walking the strip and checking out the hotels is enough reason to go to Vegas. I’m so excited to see this paradise just keep on growing. For more information, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAlyxFtXX4s.

Top Summer Destinations

     Greetings audience, this is Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler again, and today we are going to talk about a different subject. We are going to discuss Top Summer Destinations. For most of us who are out of school or looking for a break from work and haven't booked our summer trip, here are some ideas to consider while booking. Some types of vacations that people like to check out include beach, city, camping, theme park, and nature.

     A lot of people in the summer, especially those graduating high school or college, have plans to tour around Europe. One of the best summer destinations to visit is Paris, France. With many museums such as the Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, and even a Disneyland for Disney fans, there is a lot for the "city of love" to offer. There are many things that make Paris an amazing summer destination, such as July 14 aka French National Day or Bastille Day. This was the beginning of the French Revolution and storming of the Bastille. There's a parade and everything. There is also a pop-up beach near Paris with sand and umbrellas. Launched in 2002, the mini beach is known as the Paris Plages. This is a great way to get a tan without going to an actual beach. Some other summer activities include the Tour De France, rollerskating on the streets every Friday night, and a trip outside Paris to Chateau de Versailles. These are unique attractions that make Paris an exciting city. For more information, feel free to check out https://www.travelchannel.com/destinations/france/paris/articles/summer-in-paris-beyond-bastille-day.

     We all think of going back east as going to big cities such as New York City, Boston, Washington D.C. or Philadelphia, or even historical walking tours about slavery and plantations. However if one is going back east, one should check out some lesser known destinations such as Lake George, New York, and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Let's first talk about Lake George. Located about 4 hours from New York City, it's dubbed the miniature golf capital of the world. Some of the attractions include swimming, fishing, cruising on the lake, hiking, and even zip-lining. This small town is worth checking out if you're into nature or if you're visiting New York and want a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. For more information, please visit https://www.visitlakegeorge.com/.

     Another destination worth checking out is Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Some of the highlights include the gingerbread-style houses and the famous lighthouse. This is a beautiful place for those who want to check out an island on the east coast, particularly those who want a break from Boston. There are many ways to get there, such as a ferry from Woods Hole, which you can get to by bus from Boston, or you can even take a ferry from New York. This would be a great day trip to escape the city, or an adventure for the entire weekend. For more information, visit http://marthas-vineyard.com/.

     Another destination worth checking out in the summer is Alaska. As you may know, there are many cruises to Alaska out of Vancouver or Seattle, particularly in the summer months. This is why. Between May 10 and September 15, the days are long, the nature is beautiful, and the air is clear. On June 21, the longest day of the year, the sun in Anchorage is up for 19 hours, 20 hours in Fairbanks, and 18 hours in the southeast. Think of why that movie was called Insomnia with Al Pacino and the late great Robin Williams. Some of the activities in Alaska include Northern Lights tours, dog sledding, bear viewing, glacier tours, and many other nature attractions. There is a lot of beauty to check out in Alaska. For more information, visit http://www.alaska.org/.

     Hopefully I've given you some ideas of places to visit that will make your summer just a little more eventful. From international travel around foreign continents to nature to the beach to the city, there are a lot of places one can check out that would be suited for them. Happy travels!

Temecula

     Greetings audience! Imagine a land in Southern California between Los Angeles, Orange County and between the Inland Empire and San Diego on Interstate 15. That magical land is Temecula. It is centrally located and has a lot to offer, from wineries to an old town to hot-air balloon rides, as well as the famous Pechanga Resort. I happened to spend my 29th birthday there and can't wait to take YOU on this epic journey.

    Temecula has a lot of attractions and events that bring people to visit every year, such as the Temecula Wine Country, Temecula Valley Wine and Food Festival, Temecula Valley International Film Festival, and of course Old Town Temecula. Our journey starts in Old Town Temecula, which has the perfect old-town vibe. Consisting of historic buildings from the 1890s, Old Town features antique shops, specialty food stores, and collectible stores. If one wanted to go on a weekend, it also has a growing nightlife. Old Town hosts many events such as Rod Run Car Show, Art and Street Painting Festival, Santa Electric Parade Show, and Summer Days. I found Old Town Temecula to be a vibrant place to explore if one has an hour to spare and take in the stylized buildings.

    Another aspect on the journey to Temecula is the world-famous Pechanga Resort and Casino. It's the largest casino in California. It's larger than the MGM Grand. Wow! This resort palace opened its doors on June 24, 2002. The magical resort has a lot to offer, such as a golf course, a spa, 11 restaurants, and The Pechanga Showroom, where many celebrities have performed. This castle is the biggest employer and has 4,000 jobs in Temecula. The Pechanga Resort and Casino is worth checking out in Temecula, though some may not find it special if they have been to Las Vegas or other large resort casinos.

      Without a doubt, the best part of my birthday in Temecula was going up in the air in a hot-air balloon. I mean, how many people can say they've been up in the air in a hot-air balloon? So let’s discuss the basics. It starts early in the morning around 6 a.m. because the weather is cool, which is optimal for flight. The tour guide will take you to a remote part of town for your flight. They load the basket, which takes all the passengers from the jeep, then the balloon is prepared by being filled up with hot air from the flame. Once the balloon is ready, all the passengers ascend and get a fantastic view of the Temecula Valley. On the flight, one will see other balloons up in the air, mountains, houses, and the vast area surrounding Temecula. Let me tell you: the views are incredible. There are not many places in California where one can take a hot-air balloon ride; some of the other places you can do it is Palm Desert and Del Mar. However, those are only seasonal due to their extremely hot climate, while Temecula offers it year-round. This is definitely one thing to cross off your bucket list!

    Temecula has many attractions one can easily check out, and with its central location, one can certainly take a day trip to experience them. From a lively downtown to wineries to an awesome casino to, of course, hot-air balloon rides, Temecula has something to offer for everyone. Please feel free to watch my video on the hot-air balloon ride at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3AbS8cMjK4.