Cool Places to Fly SoCal on Thanksgiving

[Bryce Salmi]

Anyone have any suggestions for a flight on Thanksgiving here in SoCal that would be interesting? I assume most off-airport places will be closed so wanted to see what anyone knew here. Flying an SR20.

Caveats:
* I am not checked out at my current club for Catalina/Big Bear
* Kern Valley while neat, would be a self-imposed no go due to mountainous terrain until I go with someone familiar to that area myself (personal minimums).

 

[s35pilot]

Agua Caliente for a hike.
Santa Monica (pick up a rental bike from a kiosk). Venice beach.

 

[Bryce Salmi]

Thanks I'll give it some research!

 

[camorton]

Death Valley? Either Stovepipe or Furnace Creek
I think Oceanside has bikes to rent and a nice bike path to the beach
Santa Barbara, park at Atlantic and walk to the beach
Tehachapi is always nice. Walk to lunch at the German deli, or BBQ place

 

[mr_happyland]

Santa Ynez...walk into town/Casino
San Luis Obispo...eat at the restaurant on field/uber or crew car into town
Lake Havasu...have a bite at Hangar 24 (if open)
Santa Barbara...get a bike from Atlantic and head to the beach
Oceano...walk to the beach

 

[s35pilot]

Oceano can be an interesting one. Many years ago we were having lunch there and saw a wall of fog rolling in. At the airport we had probably 1 mile visibility at best, but we knew the extent of the fog was limited. People were taking off using call signs on the radio like blue dog 3....anything but a tail number. I plead the fifth myself.

 

[Direct C51]

I think Oceanside has bikes to rent and a nice bike path to the beach

While I absolutely appreciate the effort made by the gentleman who provides these bikes, they are most certainly not in working order. At least not last time I was there about 6 months ago. They are left outside in the weather and are pretty beat up.

I fly out of Gillespie, so Oceanside isn't all that much of a destination, but I thought it would be fun to fly in, ride the bike path to the beach, and have lunch. We went through all the bikes and found the best looking two. We got about a mile down the road when one of the tubes in my bike let go completely. Not a slow leak, a complete split tube. I walked it a mile back and we looked for the next best bike. The tandem one seemed fun, so we started riding and about 20 yards down the ramp the derailer completed broke off the bike. I grabbed the last semi-functional bike that had an airless tube (at least it wouldn't go flat on me) but it was too small for the tire, so it took about twice the required effort to ride. I was pretty well over it by the time we got to the beach. Great idea, poor execution. I don't fault the guy one bit though, I don't think he has any affiliation with the airport and provides the bikes out of his own kindness.