The Beauty of Southern California: A Picture Story

For those that have ever traveled through southern California, it is like its own little country. I live in a city called Riverside which is considered a “semi-desert.” I am about forty five minutes from the nearest beach, an hour from the mountains, and an hour from the desert.

In this hub posting, I share photos that I have taken during my southern California adventures with my wife Marilyn. I am always amazed at all the beauty that this very small portion of the world offers. It doesn’t matter if you are journeying to the desert, mountains, beaches, or the city.

Each place is unique and beautiful in its own particular way.

Take for instance Joshua Tree National Park. This place has unique rock formations along with the famous Joshua Trees that populate the area. The beaches are a welcoming place during the hot summer days in southern California. The sound of the waves is very therapeutic and relaxing. The mountains offer beauty and tranquility. There is something special about the scent of pine and the cool crisp air. I always feel very at peace when my wife and I are in the mountains. Then there is the beauty of museums and the many botanic gardens located in southern California that transports a person to another place and time. Each place also shares a unique history. For those history buffs, Riverside was the birthplace of the California Citrus Industry. I share more about this in my other article entitled "There is Beauty in the Desert: Riverside, California through Pictures." There is a link to that article in this post.

Below are all the places that we had taken photographs during our southern California adventure. I also provide website links for those that want more information on the different places that we visited.

The Beaches
Dana Point Beach
http://www.danapoint.org/index.aspx?page=151

Museums and Botanic Gardens
Cabot’s Museum
http://www.cabotsmuseum.org/

The Huntington Library
http://www.huntington.org/

The Getty Museum
http://www.getty.edu/museum/

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens
http://www.rsabg.org/

Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center
http://jmdc.org/

UCR Botanic Gardens
http://gardens.ucr.edu/

San Juan Capistrano Mission
http://missionsjc.com/

Richard Nixon Library
http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/

Riverside, California
Mount Rubidoux
http://mt-rubidoux.org/

Canyon Crest Towne Centre
http://www.cctownecentre.com/

Parks
Joshua Tree National Park
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

California State Citrus Park (Riverside)
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=649

San Diego Zoo
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

Safari Animal Park (Escondido)
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

Spiritual Centers
Glen Ivy Center (Corona)
http://www.glenivy.org/

Common Ground (Corona)
http://commongroundcorona.com/

Lake Shrine (Pacific Palisades)
http://lakeshrine.org/

Other Places of Interest
Integratron (Landers)
www.integratron.com

This song was written by Will Phelps and John Kopko. The song is inspirational and uplifting. It is about a person that has forgotten their way. This individual is caught up in life’s dramas and believes they are powerless. However, the song helps us to transcend the limiting beliefs we have about ourselves that stop us back from fulfilling our dreams.

We are as powerful as we believe we are.