San Francisco Rental Car and Will Rogers State Historic Park
Will Rogers State Historic Park pays tribute to one of the Hollywood's highest paid actors in the 1930s. This is the site of one of the actor's estates, which you can now visit with your San Francisco rental car.
Fame and fortune
Will Rogers got his start in vaudeville theater with his trick roping act. He then rose to world-wide fame as a columnist, philosopher, radio personality, and movie star. In the 1920s, as his career began to gain momentum, Rogers began to buy land in Santa Monica where he eventually developed a ranch. Eventually, he had 186 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This area is now know as Pacific Palisades. It was a place where Rogers could relax with friends and family while doing some his favorite activities such as riding and roping. In 1935, Rogers died in a plane crash, leaving his wife behind to their 31-room ranch house. When his wife, Betty, died in 1944, she left the property to become a state park, which you can now visit with your San Francisco rental car.
Try something new
The park is undergoing many changes at the moment to renovate the historic aspects of the park and restore the original appearance from when Will Rogers lived there. Some of the examples of what they have done already include restoring much of the ranch house, re-landscaping, and relocating the maintenance facilities away from the historic zoo. The park has a lot to keep you busy once you leave your San Francisco rental car.
The Ranch House offers tours of their facilities Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. At the moment, the visitor's center is closed for renovations and the installation of new exhibits. When it reopens, it is sure to be a fun and interesting way to learn about this fascinating Hollywood star. The visitor's center normally offers you a short film about the life of Will Rogers and the times he live in. You can also pick up an audio wand that will take you on a self-guided tour of the grounds before going home in your San Francisco rental car.
Horseback riding was one of Will Roger's favorite activities. Riding lessons are available Monday through Saturday, and there are trails that are beautiful to explore on horseback. There are riding and roped-in areas, as well as a trail to Inspiration Point that is worth a visit with your San Francisco rental car. Every Sunday there are polo matches by the Polo Club, which is a very interesting game to watch if you have never seen one.
Hiking was another activity that Rogers enjoyed very much, and his estate has a moderate trail that most walkers can enjoy. It is a three-mile loop to Inspiration Point. Inspiration Point offers a breathtaking view of the forested hillsides all the way down to the Pacific Ocean and over to the sky scrapers of Los Angeles. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Palos Verdes Peninsula and sometimes further. You will not want to get back into your San Francisco rental car after seeing this amazing view. More adventurous hikers, bikers, and equestrians can try some more rugged trails such as Backbone Trail into the Santa Monica Mountains, leading all the way to Point Mugu.
How you can get here
The park is located on the hills above Sunset Boulevard, midway between the Pacific Coast Highway and the San Diego Freeway (405). It is halfway up a steep hill, but with your San Francisco rental car you can easily get here.
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