We visited the California’s Great America amusement park in San Jose. We’re not really into amusement or theme parks, but Jenn wanted to do the Mass Effect ride, so we went basically just for that.

A selfie:

We wandered around and looked at the other rides, though nothing really appealed:

Jenn with Snoopy:

Gondola:

We decided to ride the gondola back to the entrance:

Then it was time for the Mass Effect ride:

Jenn really enjoyed the ride, so mission accomplished.

Posing with Wrex:

Jenn with Garrus:

Since we were at an amusement park, we had to have some park food to round out the experience; we shared a tasty funnel cake:

While staying near San Jose, we toured the famous Winchester Mystery House.

A rather bizarre house, with low-riser stairs, windows in floors, a door to nowhere, and other strange things.

Here’s a model of the house:

Info plaque:

Winchester goods:

Green screen tour photos:

Low riser stairs:

Bedroom:

Desk:

Low riser stairs:

Bedroom:

Pictures:

Floor window:

Arboretum:

Hair wreath:

Desk:

Sink:

Basin:

Bedroom:

Floor window:

Arboretum:

Stained glass:

Display:

Door:

Roof:

Dresser:

Bathroom:

Laundry:

Stores:

Kitchen:

Unfinished room:

Dining room:

Front door:

Dining rooms:

Fireplace:

Parlor:

Pantry:

Dining room:

Parlor:

Ceiling:

Foreman’s house:

Fruit drying shed:

Water tower:

Carriage:

Greenhouse:

Back of the house:

Gardens:

Windows:

Fountain:

House exterior:

Door to nowhere:

Front door:

Gardens:

We visited Bidwell Mansion in Chico, CA, and had a guided tour inside.

The exterior of Bidwell Mansion:

Portraits:

Drawing room:

Dining room:

Kitchen:

Laundry:

Library:

Office:

Stairs:

Hall light; both electric and gas:

Main bedroom:

Bathroom:

Closet:

More bedrooms:

Bathroom:

Servants bedrooms:

Servants bathroom:

On the third floor, a ballroom:

Skylight:

More bedrooms:

Storage:

Stairs to the tower:

Back door:

Architect’s house:

Carriage house:

Plaque:

House exterior:

Info signs:

We visited a vineyard… which isn’t a particularly unusual thing for us to do, but this was an interesting one: the New Clairvaux Vineyard is part of a Cistercian abbey; yes, wine made by Trappist monks.

Tasting room:

Cork cross:

Picture and model of the abbey:

Info:

We enjoyed a tasting, and bought some bottles.