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WHAT A YEAR Our Picks for the Year's Best
It's inevitable that the new year or course brings us the "year's bests" list. Who are we to argue with success? Here's the best of SoCal in 1998:
- Amusement Park
KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
We were worried when it was announced that the farm would no longer be in the hands of the venerable Knott Family. The good news? Life on the farm is just as good and the rides have improved dramatically with the addition of Supreme Scream and Ghost Rider.
For us purists...and yes, we count ourselves among you...Ghost Town is still alive & kicking and the chicken dinners are still doing business to standing room only crowds.
Cedar Fair has done a remarkable job: While attendance at the mouse's place is down dramatically, Knott's has had a banner year. Maybe that's because you can still afford a day here. You listening, Mickey? That mouse can sure be greedy...
Go to our Amusement Parks Page
- Amusement Park Ride
SUPREME SCREAM - KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Last month we unveiled our list of the area's 10 best rides with this one at the top. To be fair, we still have yet to ride Ghost Rider (the new woodie at Knott's) and Riddler's Revenge at Magic Mountain so I suppose those are still in the running.
On the other hand, we did go to Disney to try their new entry, Rocket Rods. The result? So far the top 10 is still just the way we had it with this killer ride right at the top.
What makes a good thrill ride? It's hard to define. Some tell a story superbly along with the thrills such as Indiana Jones (which just missed the top 10) and some provide a new and different experience such as Superman. But looking at it...just the name "Thrill Ride" means the main goal is of course thrills.
Currently, Supreme Scream provides more thrills than any other ride in Southern California. You seriously think there may be a chance you're not coming off this ride (of course you do). You hope those restraints won't fly off at 300 feet when you're slammed back down into earth and you're really glad to be alive when it's over.
Some people prefer a pleasant diversion in their rides but if you like a real gut crunching, fly-out-of-your-seat thrill that takes an hour to get over, this is the ride for you!
See Southern California's top 10 Amusement Park rides here.
- Bed & Breakfast
THE RESTFUL NEST - MARIPOSA
The Restful Nest B&B in Mariposa (near Yosemite) continues to be the B&B which all others are measured against. It has everything you want in a B&B...great food (and plenty of it), extremely friendly and gracious hosts, room to explore, pool & spa, and a great dog.
Jon & Lois Moroni run the Restful Nest. Jon puts it best when he explains that he wants his guests to feel like they are staying with good friends as opposed to paying guests. This is the way you will feel here.
The town of Mariposa is one of those quintessentially Californian gold rush towns with a lot of history and pride behind it. The Restful Nest sits 5 miles out of town in an isolated area on 11 acres of land complete with a fishing pond. Deer are a common sight on the grounds.
The inn is limited to 4 rooms so you are never crowded here. Breakfast is a huge display of Lois' cooking talent. You will not be able to finish everything presented and probably not need to eat again for most of the day.
- Free Museum
JUSTICE BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
Ed Justice worked for Wynn's automotive additives. Ed got mad at the way Wynn's treated him. Ed & his brother started their own company to compete with Wynn's. Ed got rich, very rich. Ed retired. Ed started spending his money buying historic vehicles. Ed opened a museum.
Now you too can play in Ed's toybox. Inside his company headquarters is a treasure chest of historic cars, planes, and related memorabilia. AJ Foyt's indy winning car. Cruz Pedregon's funny car. Mickey Thompson's Mach 1. The list goes on & on. If you're real lucky you'll get to see the museum's most spectacular exhibit, Ed himself, who sometimes leads lucky visitors on a personal tour of the museum.
The museum is open weekdays 9-5 and is free.
Visit the Justice Brothers Racing Museum.
- Restaurant
MAGIC LAMP - RANCHO CUCAMONGA
This was a tough category to pick. We ate at a number of superb restaurants over the past year. What put the Magic Lamp over the top was the crab cakes and the cozy warm fireplace atmosphere. Best time to come is on a cold, winter night.
The Magic Lamp seems just right now, with it's red leather booths harkening back to the days of Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Slip into the lounge, have a martini and treat your special person to some live music. Have a great dinner served with professionalism...make sure you start off with some of those delicious crab cakes. Cozy up in front of the firepit with some after dinner cognacs.
You could make a whole evening in this classic road house along historic Route 66.
See our restaurant picks on our Eating Page.
- Wine
1995 REFOSCO - MONTEVINA VINEYARDS, AMADOR COUNTY
Montevina Vineyards, which is owned by the mammoth Sutter Creek company, in the Shanandoah Valley tries things a little differently. Instead of the usual varietals such as Cabernet or Chardonnay Montevina takes advantage of Amador's hot, dry climate to plant the varietals of another hot, dry climate...Italy.
Here they grow Sangiovese and Barbera along with the Zinfandel. But our praise goes to another, the spectacular Refosco.
This wine goes down like velvet with a rich buttery aftertaste. The main flavors are a strong mix of berries. It is a wine that is truly best a room temperature, any coolness robs it of those intense flavors. Have this wine with a bold, assertive meal.
There are better wines out there but not in this price range...$9.95 at the winery, maybe a little less at selected wine dealers. If you find it, snap it up. According to Ed Masana at the Wine of the Month Club, very little of this superb wine is left on the shelves.