Whitman Mission

I can still remember my visit to this place when I was 9 or 10. We lived in a town about an hour away and we were here for a camping trip. My parents took the three of us to this place. I will forever remember the marking for the place where one of their younger daughters fell into the creek and drowned, it made me cry. I also remember how shocking the story was but even more so the feeling of being conflicted inside by the fact that the people who lived there, the Cayuse people had been wiped out by the small pox that the missionaries brought from the other end of the Oregon Trail. I remember my mom pointing this out to me and being sad. I recommend this place because it is a little known part of our countries history that is important for our consciousness.

martin luther king Jr. national park service

I went here and I am so glad that I did. Sometimes I think it is slightly useless to spend tons of money for memorial sites but then I went here. The church who grew up preaching in is here, the house he grew up in, and a museum for peace and justice are all located here. It is a great learning tool for families and educators and can help promote dialogue amongst the people in your group. I really liked the museum and would encourage anyone who can to go to this place. They also have a gift shop with some great material for teaching tolerance and about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his message.

Cnn Studio Tours

I went on this tour with some people from the conference that I attended a few years ago. We got a tour of the studios (pre-anthrax threat shutdown). We missed them filming any of the shows there but it was still fun to see the studios and watch the people at work at their desks. If you get a chance, get passes to sit in on one of the shows, it will make the experience even more memorable. Plus, downstairs they have a large foodcourt just in case you go there around meal times.

World Of Coca Cola

I went here one year while at a conference. This is a great museum experience. You take a tour through the history of Coca-Cola and they demonstrate how it is made, they have large sculptures of the polar bears to take pictures with. But, the best part ever is that they have a pavilion of Coke products from all over the U.S. AND all over the world. I tried lychee soda and peach coke. It was a very fun experience and I thought worth the cost of admission but some may not think so.

PROS: The World of Coca Cola Tasting Pavilion
CONS:

Modern Concept Medical GRP

I really liked this medical office when I had insurance and I am looking to go back to them when I get insurance again soon. They are close to my house, affiliated with White Memorial Medical Center and they helped me out when I was sick over a year ago. The wait isn't too bad and every time I went in without an appointment, they were willing to see me within that hour. They have a variety of doctors who work in the area and so I felt comfortable if my doctor couldn't see me but another in the office could.

PROS: No waiting, good service, clean, comfortable
CONS:

Powell's City of Books

Ever since I was a senior in high school and visited this store with a school group, I have been in love with this place. Not really in love, like I'm not going to marry it but you get the picture. They give you a map, the place is four floors and they shelve used books with new books. The top floor is devoted to the Arts and this was probably my favorite. You could find anything about art that you needed. They also have a Pacific Northwest section, which has books about the PNW, the place I love to visit for the holidays and not just because my family lives there. For a bookstore, they have everything you could want in a vendor of books and more.

Siem Reap Restaurant

A friend and I went down to Long Beach to immerse ourselves in the Cambodian culture there. We wanted to go eat at La Lune, which is the Cambodian restaurant most talked about by Cambodians and non-Cambodians alike, but it was very loud. It was fun to go and see the place but they had a band performing and it was very loud in the restaurant. So, we went to this restaurant, Siem Reap, instead. The food was great and the dishes were from Thailand and Vietnam and China as well as Cambodia. The service was very friendly and I enjoyed eating here.

L A County Museum Of Art

For all those who teach, this center is a great resource for visual art materials. They have curriculum packets associated with the exhibits the museum is currently showing and has shown in the past. They have books, slide sets, prints, videos, and lesson plan packages for you to check out. You sign up once and then you can check out resources for 2 to 4 weeks at a time. The National Gallery materials are free of charge also. The staff are excellent as well.

Santa Teresita Elementary School

This small, Catholic school is located in the Hazard Park area of Lincoln Heights. It is right across the street from the Ramona Gardens Housing Projects. The school just earned their six-year accreditation which is the top accreditation they can receive. The teachers and staff are wonderful people and the parish is small and has an active community. There are some spots open for the school year. It is a K-8 school for boys and girls both. They have an after-school program for a limited enrollment fee, Fine Arts Program, PE program and excellent religious instruction.

Kidspace Children's Museum

I have never taken kids here but I applied for a job here once and had the opportunity to see the place in action. The facility is amazing and my co-worker said her two daughters went with their Head Start classes and loved it. There is so much for the kids to see and touch and do that they can't possibly get bored. They have great staff and they are adding new exhibits on all the time. Take your children here and you won't be disappointed.