Come Be Part of the Sky – My First Airplane Pilot Lesson

Each year, it gets harder and harder to create a new, unique Yearly Bucket List with ideas that top the previous years. I spend hours dreaming of the “what ifs” as if I could do anything in the world and then I add the craziest, most extreme ideas to my list, thinking outside of the box and completely forgetting about restrictions. Flight and everything that it encompasses has always found its way onto my list and lead me to new heights so this year I thought… heck, I might as well try being the pilot for a change. Being a pilot is one of those things that kids imagine, but it doesn’t exactly seem like reality. Pilots are part of an elite club and an introductory lesson from Adam Zeeman, at  Sunrise Aviation, reminded that not even the sky is the limit. Sunrise Aviation is a Flight Training Academy in Orange County that is committed to providing a full range of conventional and aerobatic flight instruction. They have been in business at John Wayne Airport for over thirty years and have gained a national reputation for excellence. I may have been simply interested in seeing what it felt like to pilot a light aircraft, but after jumping into the pilot’s seat, I found a new hobby. Continue reading

Oasis in Orange County, CA – Santa Ana Zoo

The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park, nestled in the midst of an urban setting, is an oasis in Orange County. It was founded in 1952 by Joseph Prentice, who requested at least 50 monkeys be kept at all times. It has since expanded to nearly 20 acres with a rain forest exhibit, several rare and endangered species, a walk-through aviary, a train ride, and a carousel. Last weekend, we roamed the rainforest, trekked through the aviary, relaxed by the waterfall at Amazon’s Edge, and explored the grounds on the Zoofari Express. With a personal, behind-the-scenes tour from the Director, Kent Yamaguchi, we experienced an escape in Orange County without the price tag of a major attraction. Continue reading