Spring into Spring With Waterfalls

Many of the mountain destinations have sprung into action, touting their springtime attractions, waterfalls. Water is certainly on everyone's mind in California where the majority of the population is being asked to cut consumption and water use right now. That's why the state's waterfalls are so interesting and important. They tell the story of water availability.

Several great blogposts have listed the places to watch these waterfalls right now. One post if for Lake Tahoe waterfalls, and the other includes Shasta and Yosemite.

Tennis Anyone

Some say the tennis vacations are passé. I saw the local Hyatt Regency Resort where I live in Huntington Beach take out their courts and replace them with a new themed attraction, Slyders, a water park allowing locals to play for a fee when the pool is not maxed out by tourists staying at the hotel. Now that's good use of land, and an added source of revenue, I presume.

Meanwhile I drive around each day between four tennis courts, hoping to snag one for some play. In the winter the courts were readily available, which hooked me into a routine. We'd take a broom and sweep off the water left in puddles on the courts from Southern California's few mild rains.

Now it's a whole new game. I have to get out there before the kids get out of school, hoping to find a court. I have developed a system that starts from my home near Central Park, then heads up Edwards Hill to one of the newer parks where there's only one court that's often taken. Next I drive down Seapoint to Pacific Coast Highway for a 10 minute cruise to Seal Beach's Marina Park courts. Those have been taken lately by individuals just practicing hitting balls. From there I sometimes head to the park near Long Beach Marine Stadium, but that's often in use, as well. If I really want to play, I continue onto south Huntington Beach to Edison Park. The courts there look like an earthquake rolled the ground underneath. The courts slant so much that you have to continuously play uphill. It's strange.

So if tennis is so undervalued in California and the U.S. and we've not produced many quality players in recent years, I predict there will be some up-and-comers in the next generation. If not, then at least there is still strong interest.

Here's a list of tennis hotel resorts in California, though from what I am experiencing, I may need to make a few calls and re-visit this list.

My favorite beach tennis courts include the courts at Hotel del Coronado, for a fee. For free, head for Seal Beach's Marina Park, or there's a nice little set of courts on Balboa Island in Newport Beach.