HIDDEN GEMS
TOP 10
Hidden Gems
for Summer Travel 2024
by Pat Pattison’s Best of California
These top 10 “Hidden Gems” for Summer Travel are “the Best of The Best” in this year's annual review of the places Pattison has featured on his national TV show, “Pat Pattison’s Best of California TV”and deserve to have a spotlight shined on them as they are not well-known to the general traveler.
CAF SoCal Air Museum-Camarillo
Fabulous Museum for Families-CAF SoCal Air Museum in Camarillo, CA. We loved this museum tucked away in 3 hangars at the Camarillo airport. It not only keeps the history of World War II and aviation alive, but you can get a real flight in some of the “Museum Pieces”!
455 Aviation Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-0064
Beach Resort- Best Hidden Gem-Zachari Dunes
on Mandalay Beach
Beach Resort - Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach in Oxnard, CA – Family friendly at its best! This newly revamped all suites, footsteps to the beach, and reasonably priced! One of our favorite things was renting pedal cars and cruising the cement boardwalk along the beach. Kayaking and other activities for everyone are available at the nearby highly interesting Channel Islands Harbor—great dining, too, at the Ox & Ocean.
Best Hidden Gem City-Ferndale, CA
Best Hidden Gem City-Ferndale, California - A treasure trove of preserved Victorian home and buildings. Frozen in time, this was a city the dairy industry built. In fact, the mansions of the city's well-to-do are called Butter Fat Palaces. We stayed at the Victoria Inn, loved the Mind’s Eye Manufactory and Coffee Lounge where you can learn to build a kayak! It’s the home town of Guy Fierri so great food options.
Best Hidden
- Gem State Park -
Oso Flaco Lake
Best Hidden Gem State Park-Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area is a part of Oceano Dunes SVRA Sate Park. Amazingly tranquil hidden gem of the great California State Parks system. Along the wood plank walkway, we see the lake and preserved dune area.The walkway is 1.5 miles from the lake to the viewing platform for a great view of the entire San Luis Bay. Easy access and a mild hike are well worth the view!
Foodie Haven
-Best Hidden Gem -
Orcutt, CA
Foodie Haven-Best Hidden Gem: Orcutt, CA - We found it in the Santa Maria Valley! For one stop foodie shopping we were thrilled to find this out of the way old timey town or Orcutt! Where do we start! We loved Kay’s Orcutt Country Kitchen (pancakes!), Pizzeria Bello Forno (xxx pizza! For cameraman Jeff!), Naughty Oak Brewing Company Craft Beer and for us non-drinker the best ginger ale I’ve ever tasted. I would just campout here and eat for 3-4 days!
Nature Preserve
-Hidden Gem-
Madrona Marsh
- Torrance, CA
Nature Preserve-Hidden Gem-Madrona Marsh in Torrance, CA. Amazing protected area in the center of the city of Torrance is one of last preserved Vernal freshwater marshes for migrating birds and other endangered species. Safeguarded back in the 1970s by a group of conservationist citizens it is there for us to enjoy in the middle of this suburban development.
Madrona March Preserve
3201 Plaza del Amo
Torrance, CA 90505
310-782-3989
Film Location
- Best Hidden Gem -
Bodega Bay
Film Location-Best Hidden Gem -Bodega Bay-Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 classic “The Birds” exteriors were filmed here. You can still see the old Potter Schoolhouse and an updated version of The Tides which houses some memorabilia. It’s a beautiful part of CA to relax and eat some of the best clam chowder anywhere at the Spud Point Crab Company!
Historic Preservation Project
-Best Hidden Gem-
Lake Norconian Resort
Historic Preservation Project - Best Hidden Gem - Lake Norconian Resort: Norco, CA. Built as a luxury resort for the elite Hollywood crowd of the 1920’s, this failed resort became an important Naval Hospital days after Pearl Harbor on Dec. 9th , 1941. The crumbling resort is now on the ground of a State Prison and needs preservation badly. Host Pat Pattison was born at this Naval Hospital exactly 12 years to that day after it opened.
Sports Venue
- Best Hidden Gem - Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert
Sports Venue - Best Hidden Gem - Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA - I love this place new sports and entertainment complex. Watching the families stream into this bite-size arena from an easy parking lot felt like old time when my Dad took me to college football games on the late 50s! Firebirds Hockey, Madonna, Eric Clapton and more are coming soon.
Acrisure Arena
75702 Varner Road
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Food Experience
- Hidden Gem -
Tio’s Tacos, Riverside, CA
Food Experience - Hidden Gem - Tio’s Tacos, Riverside, CA. Tio's Tacos in Riverside is all about great Mexican food in the midst of amazing folk art. Artist Martin Sanchez has assembled masterpieces of recycled materials into a true folk art Disneyland! This is a real must-see location in Riverside.
Tio’s Tacos
3948 Mission Inn Ave.
Riverside, CA 92501
951-788-0230
“Pat Pattison’s Best of California”
Evolved from Pattison’s YouTube
and Facebook Video Travel Segments
The show highlights California’s natural wonders, unique history, and fascinating people from all over the state. It most recently won the prestigious Image Award from the Native Daughters of the American West for its work in history education on TV.
A veteran on-air host and actor, Pattison has been the host of the business show “Remade in California” for Spectrum Cable, done segments on CNBC’s “Make Me a Millionaire Inventor”. He has a book, Creative YOU Turn” based on his second-act journey. He is also a regular contributor to PBS’s “NextAvenue.org” and Forbes.com. Pattison has always worked in the entertainment industry where he was V.P. Creative Services at the Walt Disney Studios as well as positions at KTTV-TV, WTTG-TV, WCVB-TV, Disneyland, and the head of marketing for the “Merv Griffin Show” over his long career.
The show also airs nationally on FunRoads: TV, MeTV in Los Angeles, and many CW affiliates . The show is available to stream on Tubi, Roku, BIZ-TV and First-TV.
YouTube: “Pat Pattison’s Best of California”
Pat Pattison book : 9 Steps to Your New Creative Life & Career
626-429-3296
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