State Bliss Blog — hollywood

Months ago, I signed up for my first of many 5K races this year and was completely psyched – I even compiled the perfect playlist for running. However, upon waking up this morning, I was greeted by steady rain, constant winds, and a dreary forecast: Of course, the easiest alternative plan to take for such a catastrophe would be to spend the first Saturday of the month indoors, in fleece pajamas, sipping hot chocolate while binge-watching House of Cards on Netflix. However, if you’re desperate to get out of the house today, there’s a variety of activities you can look into that won’t involve having to be outdoors to bear the cold weather and has your brain constantly engaged, leaving no room to be depressed over the climate. Here are a couple of suggestions on what to do on a rainy Saturday in California, for your consideration:

1. Jump!

To cater to the kid within, take a trip to Presidio, San Francisco and visit House of Air. It is an indoor park that features jump structures comprised of more than 40 trampolines, including a few on the sides for maximum fun. You can freestyle, play trampoline dodge ball, and take classes! There’s even a Bounce House for kids ages 3 to 6. Fun, huh? Normally, weekend tickets sell out fast and House of Air recommends that you reserve slots ahead of time, but I took the liberty of checking today’s schedule, and it looks like there’s a lot of slots available! Go to the website and buy your tickets ASAP.

2. Tour!

The Winchester Mystery House is a mansion in San Jose that used to belong to Sarah Winchester, widow of William Wurt Winchester, a gun magnate. Construction of the mansion took 38 years (from 1884 until Winchester’s death in 1922), mostly due to the widow’s belief that her family and wealth were constantly haunted by the ghosts of those who died because of the Winchester rifles and that building the house for their spirits would appease them. You can choose between touring just the mansion or the entire grand estate, both of which include a look into 110 of the 160 rooms in the house, windows built into floors, staircases and doors that lead to nowhere, and upside down posts! You can even learn a little bit more about the history of the place through a special behind-the-scenes tour. Day-of tickets must be purchased at the counter, but you can call ahead to ask about availability.

3. Climb!

If you’re the athletic and outdoorsy type and really looking forward to getting a workout in this weekend, you can check out MesaRimClimbing & FitnessCenter in San Diego, a place that boasts to be the largest and tallest climbing gyms in the west coast. With over 200 routes, 150 boulder problems, and 450 lead bolts, any mountain climbing aficionado would love the scaling the walls of Mesa Rim. The facilities include a center for yoga classes, a ping pong table, board games, and a library. Their rates include an all-in-one day pass that give you access to climbing, yoga, and fitness

4. Fly!

Who says you have to be outdoors to skydive? iFly Hollywood gives you an idea of what it’s like to jump out of an airplane 2,500 feet high, only you’re indoors and safe within the confines of a booth with a strong blower. It’s a lot more fun than it looks and requires less courage to actually do if you’ve been dreaming of one day giving skydiving a try and are always finding excuses to bail. You can book your flight today. Other locations in California include one in San Francisco and one in Perris Valley.

Want to explore Los Angeles, but on a tight budget? Check out these FREE things to do around the city and you will have plenty to keep you busy.   LA farmers market Off of Third and Fairfax, the LA Farmer's Market offers fresh produce, shops, and restaurants from local growers Saturday through Monday. Source: offcite.org Hollywood Walk of Fame One of the world's most famous sidewalks, the Hollywood Walk of Fame honors celebrities and famous people with their very own star. Go search for your favorite actor! Source: wildnatureimages.com Get on a Game Show Most networks have first come first serve seating for FREE tickets to their game shows. If you show up early, prepared with enthusiasm, and looking good, they may even seat you in the front! Source: abcnews.go.com Check out the murals That's right, LA has it's very own Mural Conservancy, which is a group of artists, public art advocates, city and state officials, and restorationists that have come together to protect and promote the numerous murals that have been painted on buildings and in other places. Go searching and you will find some amazing art! Source: offtoseetheelephant.com Hollywood sign hike Want to break a sweat and simultaneously catch an amazing view? Well go no further than the Hollywood Sign hike. Iconic, and FREE - you can't go wrong. Source: samoverlands.blogspot.com Exposition Park Rose Garden Looking for some peace and quiet and to pretend like you aren't in the middle of a city? Then go check out the beautiful expanse of roses taken care of by the City of Los Angeles. Source: rosesareredphoto.com Free Yoga Classes Along with meditation, Archery, etc. you can find many places offering free classes around LA. Try something new! Runyon Canyon offers free yoga classes daily outside. Source: losangeles.cbslocal.com Stargaze at Griffith Observatory Late night adventures in LA are easy to find, but when it comes to FREE and includes stars, it can be hard to find in the city. Take a trip up the the Griffith Observatory and park in their parking lot, you will be sure to find a blanket of stars awaiting your viewing above you. Source: nametersest.blogspot.com