These 10 California creatures could be the oozing, bellowing, fluttering, galloping stars of your next weekend - Los Angeles Times
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These 10 California creatures could be the oozing, bellowing, fluttering, galloping stars of your next weekend

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To welcome March — which is supposed to come in like a lion and leave like a lamb, remember? — we’ve rounded up 10 trip-worthy California creatures to inspire you. And most of them are real.

We’re talking about elephant seals, grunion, roadside dinosaurs, desert dragons, large horses and little ones, along with assorted others from the San Diego Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Any one of the critters here could play a starring role in your next weekend journey, as long as the season is right. Writers Catharine Hamm, Sara Lessley, Elisa Parhad and I came across them while researching the L.A. Times California Bucket List, and you’ll find plenty of details below on the when, where, how and how much of it all.

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10. Marvel at the massive elephant seals near San Simeon

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9. See orange at the Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach

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Monarch Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach.
(Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times )

8. Fawn over mini-Flickas and foals at the Quicksilver horse ranch in Solvang

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Miniature horse at Quicksilver Ranch, near Solvang, Calif.
(Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times )
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7. Spend a day at the races in Del Mar

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Outrider, opening day, Del Mar, 2013.
(Susannah Kay / Los Angeles Times )

6. Schmooze with jellyfish at Monterey’s big aquarium

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Monterey Bay Aquarium
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times )

5. Calculate the age of Cabazon’s dinosaurs just east of Palm Springs

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Cabazon dinosaurs.
(Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times )
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4. Sight dragons, dinosaurs and more in Borrego Springs

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Dragon, Borrego Springs.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times )

3. Run with the grunion on Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

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2. Feed a beast at the San Diego Zoo

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Snacking flamingo, San Diego Zoo.
(Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times )
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1. Listen for frogs in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, where Mark Twain launched his literary career

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Angels Camp, Calaveras County.
(Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times )

[email protected]

Follow Reynolds on Twitter: @MrCSReynolds

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