Sunnylands, Oysters, Free Activities

Episode 18 of the California Now Podcast begins in the epicenter of mid-century modern design: Sunnylands. The center’s director, Janice Lyle, guides host Soterios Johnson through a tour of the estate’s rich history. Learn why Sunnylands is known as the “Camp David of the West” and discover how to take a fascinating tour through what Lyle calls the “surprisingly intimate, aesthetically satisfying” 25,000-square-foot home. 

Next up, Johnson breaks out the horseradish and lemon wedges for an oyster-themed lightning round with Hunter Lewis, Editor in Chief of Food & Wine. From picnic tables to high-end restaurants, Lewis dishes on the best spots to enjoy bivalves on the half shell. Travel insider Pauline Frommer rounds out the episode by highlighting her favorite free—and nearly free—activities in California. Learn tips for landing a front-row seat on a taping of your favorite television show, where to take a self-guided elephant seal safari, how to snag a free tour of San Francisco, and much more.

Guests

• Janice Lyle, director of Sunnylands Center & Gardens
• Hunter Lewis, editor in chief of Food & Wine
• Pauline Frommer, travel expert and co-president of FrommerMedia

Resources

Janice Lyle, director of Sunnylands Center & Gardens, delves into the estate’s history and shares her top tips for exploring Greater Palm Springs.

• Greater Palm Springs
• Sunnylands
• Annenberg Foundation
• Walter Annenberg
• Leonore Annenberg
• Rancho Mirage
• Sunnylands Collection
• Flight Plan: The Birds of Sunnylands
• Sunnylands Public Programs
• Sunnylands Center & Gardens
• Sunnylands Historic Estate
• Palm Springs Art Museum
• Architecture and Design Center
• The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
• Modernism Week
• Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
• BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament

Food & Wine Editor in Chief Hunter Lewis reveals his favorite spots for fresh oysters in California.

• Tomales Bay
• The Marshall Store
• Hog Island Oyster Co.
• San Francisco
• Swan Oyster Depot
• Pacific Heights
• Connie & Ted’s
• L&E Oyster Bar
• Silver Lake
• Hollywood Farmers’ Market
• The Oyster Boys
• Addison Restaurant

Travel expert Pauline Frommer guides us through the best free (and nearly free) travel experiences across the Golden State.

• TV Tapings in Los Angeles
• The Ellen Degeneres Show Tickets
• The Late Late Show with James Corden Tickets
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tickets
• The Getty
• Balboa Park
• Timken Museum
• California Missions
• Pacific Coast Highway
• Route 66
• Hearst Castle
• San Simeon
• Elephant Seals
• San Francisco City Guides
• Union Square 
• San Francisco City Hall
• Yosemite National Park
• Redwood National and State Parks
• Avenue of the Giants
• Monterey
• Pacific Grove Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
• California Wineries
• Napa Valley
• Hess Winery
• Napa Art Walk
• Frommer’s EasyGuide to San Francisco

About the Host

Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis, Calif., in 2016 and is just getting to know his surroundings. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.