Where's Johnny Jet: Living it up in Hollywood

Howdy! This week we travel back home to California (the man needs a new pair of underwear once in a while!). The highlight is my whole family showing up for the screening of my pilot travel TV show, which takes place at Sony Pictures. What a special treat to have so much love and support from friends and family. While in California we check out the Hollywood Bowl, Medieval Times, and tour an exclusive ranch in Santa Barbara before heading back overseas. If you want to come on this wonderful trip, then saddle up -- we're off to God's Country.

Connecticut to JFK

Last week I wrote about my not so pleasant trip from JFK to Connecticut using Prime Time Shuttle. For the ride back I took my own advice, and found an alternative mode of transportation. It wasn't easy, but it was quicker by a few minutes. I began with an hour train ride from Westport, CT to Grand Central Terminal (GCT), using the Metro-North commuter line ($11.50 for off peak). Then I took the 6 Subway uptown ($2) one stop to 51st Street (a subway station is located in GCT). I walked underground two blocks to 53rd street to the E line (a free transfer). I took the E thirty minutes to the plush, newly remodeled Jamaica Station. Once there, I didn't even need to go outside -- it was just a 100-yard walk to an elevator to the AirTrain ($5). The 10-minute AirTrain connects to all the terminals at JFK, and the rental car lot. So I had to ride five trains and lug two bags around -- but I still beat my two-hour trip on Prime Time Shuttle by a few minutes. The best parts: I saved $45, and face!

United JFK-LAX

I flew United (without my toiletries) back to L.A. on their ps service. That meant I had five extra inches of legroom, and an electrical outlet in coach. All economy seats on this route are designed that way -- that's why United charges so much more than competitors between JFK and LAX or SFO. Economy in ps service no longer includes a free meal service, so it's Buy On Board. There are good choices of sandwiches, salads and snack boxes for $5. For more info, click on Unitedps.com.

Hollywood Bowl

It was good to be home. Scratch that -- it was really good to be home. Sometimes there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed, getting back to your normal habits (like playing volleyball every day), and hanging out with your friends. I love so much where I live. Two days after I returned, my friend Larry called and asked if I wanted to go to a Dave Matthews concert at the Hollywood Bowl. I jumped at the chance, especially because his firm represents Dave Matthews. That meant awesome seats, and passes to the after party. Yeah baby! Believe it or not, this was my first time at the Hollywood Bowl. I sure hope it's not my last. What an amazing place to see a concert, on a warm clear night. As Dave Matthews mentioned when he walked on stage, he was honored to play for the first time at the Hollywood Bowl, because is so full of history. The Bowl opened in 1922, and many legends have performed there. It's one of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, and seats over 17,000. The box seats near the front have folding tables and chairs; waiters come around before the show, serving dinner and drinks. Next time I'll arrive early, to avoid the nasty traffic and long lines. I parked in the closest lot. It cost $18 -- and I was blocked there until the end of the night. The shows have to end by 11 p.m. because of a noise ordinance, so I did not have to worry about jet lag kicking in too much. Other useful info: Beers cost $7.50, and cameras are supposedly not allowed. I could have snuck one in, like everyone else. Instead I used my lame camera phone (hence the blurry pictures). Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Avenue. Los Angeles; tel. 323/850-2000.

Medieval Times

Another place I had never been to was Medieval Times in Buena Park (near Disneyland). I was there for my cousin's girlfriend's birthday party. It turned out to be a great time because we were with a huge group of fun people, and I sat next to her Lakers cheerleader friends. How lucky am I?! When guests arrive they are given a paper crown, corresponding to their seating area. We were in the blue section, so naturally we rooted for the blue knight as he competed against five other knights. This is a delightfully tacky production that kids love (as do groups of rowdy drunk young adults). A master of ceremonies begins by inviting the guests to the Grand Ceremonial Arena. It looks like a rodeo pen, with stadium seating. Wenches and serfs serve the meal of garlic bread, hot vegetable soup, roasted chicken, spare ribs, baked potato and pastry), and two rounds of beverages (beer or Pepsi). There's a cash bar for stiff drinks, and shops selling costumes and fake swords. The feast is served "medieval style": without silverware. I liked that, but I'm not sure how many women did -- most of them just left their food on their plates. The show takes place during dinner: a lance-splintering joust; a competition of flag toss, ring pierce and javelin throw, and the grand finale, a full-armor joust that turns into a street fight when the first knight gets knocked off his horse. That's when everyone gets crazy. Show times vary, so check their online schedule. Tickets cost $49.95 for adults, $33.95 for children 12 and under. Medieval Times; tel. 888-WE-JOUST.

Screening

As I wrote earlier, the highlight of being home was having my family and friends come for the weekend to support me. They arrived from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Las Vegas and San Francisco to attend our "Johnny Jet on Location ‘Da Vinci Code'" screening. We shot the show back in May (see our archives for stories and pictures), highlighting all the places in the Da Vinci Code book and movie, including where the stars slept and ate. It was a lot of fun to make, and even more fun to watch the completed version on the big screen with my loved ones. It was a night I'll never forget. We even had cool gift bags from Joico. The after-party was held at my cousin AJ's monster pad in the Hollywood Hills. I hired a taco guy who makes the best soft tacos. He was a huge hit. Even my sister -- who said "You're serving tacos?" -- loved them. For about $400, he comes out in a trailer, and make 500 authentic Mexican tacos -- chicken, beef, pork, etc. -- with all the fixins (rice, beans, lettuce, cilantro, radish, peppers, HOT sauces…). Call Tacos Pineros: 562/650-6430.

Santa Barbara

On Saturday my friend Andy (I wrote about his wedding in Ile de Ré, France last year) invited my family up to his ranch. Santa Barbara is 100 miles from LAX; if you time it right, it takes just an hour and a half. We began with breakfast at Tupelo Junction Café. They serve tasty homemade granola with fresh berries and yogurt ($8), and even better chicken, andouille sausage and sweet corn hash with poached eggs and homemade barbecue sauce ($14). Don't get the fruit plate, though; it's way too expensive ($7) for the few pieces they serve. Tupelo Junction Café,1218 State Street, Santa Barbara CA; tel. 805/899-3100.

Santa Barbara Mission

Next stop was California's 10th Spanish mission. There are 21, spread along El Camino Real ("The Royal Highway"). The missions represent the arrival of the first non-Native Americans to California. They brought both Christianity and diseases. The Mediterranean -style Saint Barbara Mission, founded in 1786 by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, is beautiful. The $4 fee to enter the church, courtyard and small museum is well worth it. Santa Barbara Mission, 2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara CA; tel. 805/682-4713.

Sideways Revisited

A couple of years ago I wrote about the tour from the popular Sideways movie (Here's the link to the story). On this trip we did not have time to see everything, but my family got to stop by a couple of the sites. The first, Los Olivos, a beautiful, quaint, historic town, home to only 1,000 residents. It's known for its amazing views, wineries, horse ranches, eclectic art galleries, antiques and shops. A great place for lunch is the Los Olivos Café, where Miles said to Jack, "I'm not drinking any [bleeping] merlot". Los Olivos Café, 2879 Grand Avenue, Box 205, Los Olivos CA; tel. 805/688-7265.

Ostrich Land

A few miles down the road is Ostrich Land (Ostrich Land, tel. 805/686-9696). Like everyone else, the owners are capitalizing on the success of the movie. They now charge $1.50 to get in (which is a bargain). It's amazing what a movie can do for tourism. I visited these places just after the movie debuted. There were hardly any tourists -- and now they're packed. If our TV show gets picked up by a television network, you can be sure we'll do a Johnny Jet on Location: Sideways Tour, too.

Santa Barbara Ranch

When you see my friend Andy's ranch you'll understand why he jokes that he won the sperm bank lottery. The place is seriously God's country. I promised him I wouldn't say the name, because unlike the other places I mentioned in Santa Barbara County this one does not want any outsiders -- nor are they welcome (it's a gated community). These 39,000 acres of unspoiled oceanfront property were owned by Andy's grandparents. After they sold it it was broken into parcels of 100 acres, some of which are now owned by Hollywood's elite. I've been to the property a few times, but my family hadn't. They loved it! Part of the land is a working ranch. We almost ran over a few cows hanging out in the middle of the road. We traveled down dirt roads at elevations of 1,000 feet, with no guardrail. It was hairy at times. My favorite spot isn't at the top of the mountain, but rather on a hill along the shore. We had a bird's-eye view of at least 200 dolphins jumping. My sister Carol asked me if this was the spot where I got engaged a few years ago (she recognized it from the pictures). I nodded. She asked why I wanted to come back. I said, "Because it has one of the most beautiful views in the world, it's part of my history, and this is good closure." Even if you don't know someone who lives in this special place, you can see it by taking either a boat along the coast, or, better yet, Amtrak (tel. 800/872-7245) travels along the shore -- and through the ranch -- several times a day.

Next Week

I'll save my trip overseas for next week. Here's a hint: I had never been to this country before, but it's less than a six-hour flight from New York. Stay tuned!

Happy Travels,

Johnny Jet

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Web Resources

• AirTrain
• Amtrak
• California Missions
• Dave Mathews Band
• Hollywood Bowl
• Los Olivos Café
• Medieval Times
• Ostrich Land
• Santa Barbara Mission
• Sideways
• Tupelo Junction Café
• Unitedps.com

John E. DiScala (aka Johnny Jet), is the founder of www.johnnyjet.com, the ultimate travel website and weekly newsletter. He logs over 150,000 miles a year, has been featured in over 850 articles (including Frommers.com, USA Today, Time, Fortune, the New York Times, CNBC and MSNBC), and has published the book, You Are Here Traveling With JohnnyJet.com.

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