Arcata, CA

Please feel free to join our wonderful group! - CALIFORNIA DREAMING

Everyone that knows me figured it would just be a matter of time before I formed a group about California. I have bloged so many photos and stories about the West Coast State, I had to go beyond the realms of duty.

My first visit to the wonderful State of CALIFORNIA was back it 1974 when I was only 16 years of age.

I moved to the West Coast from Minnesota when I was 16 years old with a friend from school and lived in Portland Oregon. At this time I would hitch-hike down the whole West Coast through CALIFORNIA.

With a back-pack, harmonica in one hand & a Bible in the other I would travel up and down Hwy 1 and 101 taking in the wonders of the West Coast.

When I lived back home in Minnesota in the winters I started listening to a song on my record player, I would listen to it over and over. Here is the song!

So my CALIFORNIA DREAMING had come true, I spent over 5 years traveling from Oregon to California getting to know the West Coast like the back of my hand.

Please feel free to gone our wonderful group! - CALIFORNIA DREAMING

Some may ask, did you work? Well of course I worked but only 5 months out of the year, the rest of the year I traveled up and down the State of Oregon & California.

If you have never been to California, you must plan a vacation and see what all the fuss is about. Try to visit the Northern part of California. I was most so impressed with the northern part of the state because it is more laid back and relaxing.

California has the tallest trees in the world, (Redwoods) it has the oldest tree in the world, (Bristle Cone Pine), the most beautiful coast line in the world and some very fun cities, like Redding, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles & Dan Diego, just to name a few.

So if you are a Active Rain Member and live in California, have traveled in California, of love California, please join my new group and post blogs with stories and photos attached. Here in the URL for the group and we look forward to reading and viewing you photos.

Please feel free to join our wonderful group! - CALIFORNIA DREAMING

Have a wonderful day and I will see you in The Rain

all photographs by Robert Swetz www.LakeOwner.com

All photographs by: Robert Swetz and copyrighted/ trademarked by Robert Swetz - Any duplication in any form with out the permission of Robert Swetz will be in violation of a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $20,000 dollars - For permission please call Robert direct at: 702-443-7156 or email him at: swetz444@yahoo.com

I have been communicating with an invester client from southern California for the past week and since I work in both Del Norte and Humboldt counties, I have been sending him investment properties in both areas. Recently, he asked me a great question which I replied to.

By the way if you were to invest your money on a property in Northern California what city would you invest in and why?

If I had the money to invest up here, it would be in Arcata because it is a college town, it is home to Humboldt State University, and the values and rents will always appreciate. But there is another catch, the prices in Arcata are amongst the highest in the county. So another place would be Crescent City, 1 hour to the north of Arcata, because the homes are still fairly priced and the economy is growing there. They have a State Prison that brings great jobs to the people, as well as a new Home Depot, a new Super Wal-Mart being built soon, and a Wal-greens being built. If these big box stores are locating in Crescent City, they must have done their research and know that the area is growing. They also have plans to build a Casino resort on the south end of town. So I think it is good to buy into Crescent City now because the homes are still priced lower than most areas of CA and there is room to appreciate in value.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

1:00 PM I just came back from the Oyster Festival in Arcata, which coincides with the local farmer's market today in the Plaza. There were lots of people and lots of booths featuring all sorts of foods from Chinese food, Lao/Thai food, Cambodian food, African food and of course, dozens of booths featuring all sorts of ways to cook oyster and beer booths as well.

The Oyster Festival took place in the plaza itself, so the farmer's market this week got moved a block west of the Arcata Plaza. We walked the whole length of the entire plaza and the farmer's market area as well. A local band was playing some swing and big band music in the center of the plaza and there were lots of people eating and setting on the grass in and around the plaza.

The Oyster Festival will last until 6pm today. For more information, go to http://www.oysterfestival.net/about.php If you have not had a chance to go, I recommend it.

Friday night my family and I decided to check out the new Rita's Mexican Restaurant in Arcata, CA. Rita's has always been know for great Mexican food, tequila and margaritas in all of Humboldt County from Eureka to Arcata. Rita's opened the Arcata location earlier this week, with no advertising, and when we got there, we could not believe it because the place was jammed pack with people waiting in line out the door! When we got inside, we had to wait a few minutes in the waiting lounge.

The decor was very nice inside the restaurant and there were people all over having a good time eating, talking, and drinking. We were able to sit down and have our own table with fancy Mexican art and decorations. There were pictures of local artists along the walls and an art piece with running water that added to the moving ambiance of the entire room. There was active Mexican music playing in the background and everyone inside was having a great time.

I recommend that you go and enjoy the fine foods and atmosphere of the Rita's Restaurants in Eureka or Arcata locations and be sure to visit the Rita's Market in Arcata as well. For more nformation on the Rita's Restuarants and fine Mexican Food and Grill, visit their website http://ritascafe.com/ .

For Information on homes for sale in Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, Crescent City, or Fortuna and everywhere in Humboldt County and Del Norte County, call Lucky at 707-954-7926 and visit our Lucky Star Realty website: www.luckystarrealestate.com .