DanMargarita.com

There's plenty of things to do in L.A. and those of you who know me well or are regular readers of this space know that most likely, I would be going to an L.A. Dodgers or Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Still the most awkward team name in Major League baseball) game. Obviously, this being mid-November, that is not an option. The next best thing to do then, would be to do other things.

I'd walked down Hollywood Boulevard before, but you really can't catch everything in one trip. The strip is of course, lined with souvenir shops and movie merchandise stores. Perhaps the coolest is the Musso and Frank Grill, which has continuously operated since 1919 , thus making it Hollywood's longest continuing restaurant.

One of the bartenders is Manny, who had been there for 36 years and in the business, going on 52 years now. He is an encyclopedia of who some of the restaurant's most famous patrons are that have dined there. He points out a table in the corner that was the regular dining spot of the late actor Raymond Burr. Mr. Burr is no longer with us, but his brand of wine is, as Manny shows me when he pulls out a bottle or "Raymond Burr" vintage 2005. In the opposite corner is a table that Al Pacino has been known to frequent.

Certainly the most interesting (to me, anyway) is the booth near the entrance, which apparently was Charlie Chaplin's regular booth. I do the geeky tourist thing and have someone use my disposable camera to take a photo of me sitting in Chaplin's booth. I'm wondering if when it is developed, it will be in black and white.

Hollywood Boulevard is best known for its "Walk of Fame." As you walk along Hollywood Boulevard (pardon me for quoting you, Ray Davies), there are stars on the sidewalk with the names of various celebrities from the movie, TV and radio business from the last 100 years. Many are names that are legendary, but many are names that may be unfamiliar to the average fan. Sure, some people who may have been famous in their day may draw blank stares at the mention of their names today. Some are likely technical people who whose names were never known to the general public, but were instrumental in the development of their particular medium and thus, are deserving of recognition too. Then there are names of stars that are simply inexplicable. Seriously..."Rugrats"?

When Disney World opened in 1971, its predecessor Disneyland immediately became its unappreciated, adopted, ugly step-cousin. Not far from Disneyland however, is ITS unappreciated, adopted, ugly step cousin Knott's Berry farm.

Initially a dining place for passing tourists, it evolved into a slice of Americana, harkening back to the days of settlers moving west, displacing the natives, and living a hard life. A great museum contains artifacts of standard tools and luxury items that Americans have used over the centuries. We may take out ipods for granted, but try walking down the street with a gramophone on your shoulder as you listen to Jay Z or Rudy Vallee.

Naturally, there are plenty of souvenirs to be bought, if you so choose and if you want to dress like a Kansas prairie woman going to church on a Sunday in 1850 ladies, they have the dress for you. Among the souvenirs available (and I kid you not) is a bag of rocks. For a small fee, you can load up a small sack full of rocks that they provide you. I'd prefer to save time and money by going to my back yard and getting rocks when I need them.

The Calico Saloon features a 25-minute show involving Cameo Kate, her boyfriend Dakota Dan, whom she describes as "tall, dark and handsome" (and I think she's 0-for-3 on that one) and a honky-tonk piano player, Fingers. There's some banter, some music and a lot of corny jokes. The least authentic aspect of it is the wireless headsets they all wear. I decided to try a sarsaparilla and discovered why cowboys were always ordering whiskey instead.

To Knott's credit, the Native Americans are acknowledged with exhibits and have their own show, which was not available when I was there.

There are rides, including a roller coaster-type ride, and had I someone available to hold my stuff, I might have taken that ride, Alas, I was alone and could easily see my cell phone, wallet and change raining down on the patrons below me while I do a loop-the-loop.

Americana is not strictly limited to Manifest Destiny, though.There are old fashioned 1950's cars nearby, and '50' burger joints that serve "American" fries.

All in all, I'd have to say that Knott's Berry Farm is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That is to say, you should probably experience it one.

Once is really enough, though.