While in the Palm Springs area we visited the Cabazon Dinosaurs, a roadside attraction featuring a couple of large dinosaurs that one can go inside, plus lots of smaller ones. Read the Wikipedia article for more info.

A sign by the entrance:

Lots of pictures of the dinosaur gardens:

Going inside the big T Rex:

The gift shop:

The big T Rex dinosaur (that we went inside):

The other big one:

It has another gift shop inside:

After that, we stopped by a nearby In N Out for lunch:

Then went to the Hadley store to get date shakes, another touristy thing for the area:

We bought a bunch of snacks:

And of course the date shakes:

While in the LA area, we felt we had to do something Hollywood-related. We’ve long wanted to do a studio tour, so decided to do the Warner Bros Studio Tour.

After going through security and a waiting area, the tour started with a short video on the history of Warner Bros:

Then we headed out in carts for a guided tour of the lot; we sat up front with our hilarious guide:

I can’t remember everything that things appeared in, so I won’t try; here are a bunch of pictures from the back lot; you may recognize some from various movies and TV shows:

The iconic WB water tower:

More back lot scenes:

The gazebo from The Gilmore Girls:

Some stages:

We drove through the workshop, where they make the sets etc:

Then walked through the property department, where they store lots of props:

We met the granddaughter of the Warner brothers:

Then walked through the Ellen stage:

Stage 16, the tallest stage:

Then we went to the next phase of the tour, a self-paced walk around some exhibits on the movie-making process:

A touch screen to design your own Batmobile:

A photo op on a Friends set:

More exhibits:

A forced perspective demo:

Green screens where people can use props and be directed to make a video:

Jenn did a Harry Potter flight on a broomstick, but didn’t like how it turned out, so we didn’t keep those. We also did these together:

We had a beverage and cookie from the Central Perk cafe:

A Friends-focused gift shop:

Next, we hopped back on a cart to get ferried over to another building that was more focused on movies, primarily Batman and Harry Potter:

Finally, exit through the gift shop:

While in the LA area we went to Medieval Times for a dinner and show. They have a fixed menu of medieval-inspired food, eaten with hands, and put on a show of knights, squires, a queen, and medieval competitions like jousting and sword fighting.

All kinda cheesy, but fun.

A photo op on entry. Yes, believe it or not, I’m smiling. Somewhat:

The bar area (we were fairly early):

They have a bunch of merch for sale, of course:

Interesting ceiling:

Suits of armor:

Knight info; the Red & Yellow knight was the one we were assigned to for seating as “our” knight:

There are windows into horse stables behind the merch area:

A selfie:

Me:

Jenn:

Announcements:

My place setting:

Menu:

Serving “wench”:

Announcer:

Red and yellow knight:

Queen and knights:

Squires:

Knights:

Showing horses:

A falcon swooping over the audience:

Soup and chicken, to be eaten with hands:

Knights:

Horse:

Knights and tournaments:

The victor:

It was a fun experience.