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September 2, 2020 Vol. 16 No. 69
‘Sunnylands Gardens’ Photo copyright The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands By Desert Star Staff RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Sunnylands Center & Gardens is opening its 9-acre art garden to the public as a venue for peaceful walks and the exploration of desert plants. The gardens and their 1.5 miles of walking trails will be available free of charge from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Until further notice, the public will not have access to Sunnylands’ interior spaces, including the Center and the historic Annenberg home. Tours of the estate and public programmings, such as Yoga and Tai Chi on the Great Lawn, are currently on hold. The reopening of the
gardens marks the first time that the public will have access to Sunnylands since California officials issued stay-at-home orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic in midMarch. While restrictions for some businesses eased around Memorial Day, Sunnylands remained closed, adhering to its routine of
using the summer months to prepare for a new season beginning in mid-September. This year, Sunnylands is planning a gradual reopening of its facilities, starting with the gardens only. Currently, Riverside County has not met the state criteria to allow museums to open their interior spaces. Sunnylands
is revamping its operations and retrofitting the Center to qualify for social distancing when indoor visits and house tours resume. Sunnylands requires guests to wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth and to maintain a 6-foot distance from
6 ways to find nature in and around L.A.
By Pam Price LA’s balmy weather is the envy of almost any city. Still, the tangle of freeways, traffic congestion, and general hassle of driving (and hunt for parking) almost everywhere can take their toll. Fortunately, there are plenty of beautiful natural escapes away from the urban fray. Here are five ways to find nature in and around the City of Angels—no passport required! The famous Los Angeles Zoo is owned by the city of Los Angeles and has had many improvements and eco-savvy additions over the years, like the Campo Gorilla Reserve and Rainforest of the Americas. The 133-acre zoo is located
behind the Hollywood sign at the edge of Griffith Park, which itself covers more than 4,300 acres. And yes, the zoo is open! Visit lazoo.org for details The 21-mile coastal strip of Malibu was once just an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County, but today is a city in its own right, though a small one with a population hovering around 13,000. The big draw in Malibu is, of course, the beach, or more accurately beaches, which parallel the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica to Point Mugu, across the Ventura County line. While some beaches are
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