“Long ago, when men cursed and beat the  ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf.”  Will Rogers
In the first part of the 20th century if there was one man that truly represented the United States it was Will Rogers.  As an authentic cowboy he moved on to be an actor, radio commentator,  newspaper columnist,  world traveler, and a pioneer in aviation. 
 As a humorist and philosopher his quotes and remarks are as fresh and pertinent today as when he made them three quarters of a century ago.  All of which made him one of the most beloved and admired men in America.  And the whole nation mourned at his untimely death in 1935 in an Alaskan plane crash.
But thanks to the Will Rogers State Historic Park his memory and life-style can still be enjoyed.  In 1922 Rogers purchased 200 acres of hillside property in what is now Pacific Palisades with the idea of making it a ranch for his horses.  First and foremost for his whole life Will Rogers was a cowboy who loved horses. He learned roping as a cowboy when he was six years old and it continued to be one of his favorite activities throughout his life.   In 1930 he moved his family from Beverly Hills to the Ranch which continued to be expanded from a six room cabin to a home with 31 rooms, 11 baths and seven fireplaces.
“Never squat with your spurs on”  Will Rogers
In 1944 Betty Rogers, Will's widow, deeded the ranch to the State of California as a memorial to her husband.
We visited this Park  on a Summer day and wondered why it has taken us so long to get there.  We started at the Visitor Center which is located in the Roger Guest House and Garage.  Here there are historic exhibits of important periods of his life as well as a mini theater that shows his films.  He had roles in fifty silent films and twenty one "talkies"  A tour guide is required to tour the residence and we were fortunate to have David  Shepherd, park ranger, as our guide.  He was both knowledgeable and most friendly and has been with the Park  five years.
We also viewed the extensive stables where Will Rogers maintained a large collection of horses, some which he used especially for his roping.  And polo became one of the principal activities with his sons as participants.  The polo field is still maintained today.
Besides Will and Betty the family included four children, with one son dying at an early age of diphtheria.  The house also saw many famous guests including Walt Disney, Clark Gable and the Charles Lindbergh family.  Decorations in the house all have a western theme with paintings, saddles and ranch style furnishings.  We visited his office where Will Rogers wrote a daily column which appeared in some 300  newspapers.  He wrote over 4,000 of these columns. 
 We  settled at one of the picnic tables with  our ice chest, filled with goodies, for lunch while enjoying our serene surroundings.  The picnic grounds are extensive and some with pits for barbecues and all providing extensive views of the whole park.
The Park offers a full schedule of events during the year including hiking, horse back riding, and a  film event where Rogers movies are presented.  For a schedule of these events go to www.willrogersranchfoundation.org.  The park is easily accessible from either Pacific Coast Highway or 405 Freeway at 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road, Pacific Palisades.
“Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"  Will Rogers

It would be difficult to find a more beautiful dining room than the Napa Rose located at the California Grand Hotel in Disneyland.  Designed to bring to the world the beauty and charm of California’s wine country this restaurant marries this setting with an exceptional dining experience.
Impressive with its high vaulted ceiling and 20 foot windows that overlook Disney’s California Adventure Napa Rose also includes a showplace exhibition kitchen and an extraordinary collection of wines from every part of California.
Matched with a truly professional culinary and service staff it is designed to showcase California’s wine country cuisine.  Heading this culinary team is Executive Chef Andrew Sutton who opened Napa Rose after a career that included the renowned Auberge du Solei in Napa Valley.  At Napa Rose his inspired wine country  regional cuisine has captured national attention.
General Manager Philippe Tosques, who has been with Napa Rose for ten years, pointed out that just as much attention is given to the wines and the care given to the paring of food and wine.  Here there are quality California wines that have not yet earned the recognition they deserve.  The number of labels is huge with many available by the glass including some from premium high end wines.
Reading the list may be compared to discovering the ‘who’s who” of California’s diverse vineyards.
Our Waiter, Mickey, was typical of the service staff which often has been with Disney for many years.  He has been with Disney seventeen years and with Napa Rose since the day it opened over a decade ago.
Included on the menu are featured four course, prix-fixe Vintner’s Table selections that are paired with a hand-selected wine, and new dishes are created each week by the chef and his culinary staff.
Some creations by Sous Chef Steven Ruiz that were on menu included Braised Wagyu beef cheeks with mushrooms; maple leaf farms duck a l’orange; grilled Colorado lamb porterhouse and cast iron roasted beef filet mignon.  Each course served with a matching wine.
The Napa Rose is located at Disney’s Grand California Hotel, 1600 S., Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, Ca.  For reservations call 714 300-7171.  Valet parking.

The number of Americans who actually reached California on Route 66 is diminishing rapidly but thanks to a new exhibition at Santa Monica History Museum the memories of this famous road are well preserved.
Entitled “California’s Route 66: Hiding in Plain Sight” the exhibition was presented for the first time at an  inaugural opening which we were fortunate to attend.
Route 66 has enjoyed a  romantic history from the time it opened in 1926  connecting  Chicago with Los Angeles.  Through the decades it has been the subject for movies, radio and TV series and song.  It also played a major role as many people moved west especially during the time of the Great Depression.
For Santa Monica Route 66 ends  at the corner of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards just blocks from where the Santa Monica History Museum exhibition is being shown.
The highway actually followed what before was an old trails track first used by Native Americans and Early Settlers.  What it developed into was a destination itself with a host of roadside attractions which lured visitors to stop and experience.
All of this changed in 1985 when it was decommissioned as a federal highway with the creation of the Interstate Highway system.  It is still possible to drive much of Route 66 but it is a byway now and what were once busy towns are now all but deserted.
To preserve what Route 66 meant for much of the  20th century  the California Route 66 Historic Route Association exists to maintain its history and traditions
One exhibit brought back memories of the Burma Shave signs that at one time could be found on Route 66 and almost every other highway.  Another of interest was the fact that Will Rogers  was one of Route 66 most prominent supporters.
In parts of Los Angeles the Route 66 route is used daily and without most commuters being aware of it.
The Santa Monica History Museum is located at 1350 7th Street, Santa Monica, Ca 90401, web www.santamonicahistory.org.