Mark’s travelogue

Tarzan's tour guide to the San Fernando Valley

Photo Essay written 28 January 2008

A visit to five unusual places near Tarzana, California: a cave, a petting zoo, a red barn, a missile site, and a healty cafe.

Vanalden Cave, Encino, CA

Vanalden Cave, Encino, CA

San Fernando Valley high schoolers call this cave the "'shroom room." Nearly every square inch of its soft surface has been carved with heavy metal druggie hieroglyphics. In the daytime, when I visit it with my family, it seems spooky and ghost-inhabited. At night, the teenagers take over.

The Farm, 8101 Tampa Ave in Reseda, CA

The Farm, 8101 Tampa Ave in Reseda, CA

Located on a corner lot in a dense suburban neighborhood, This dilapidated petting zoo and pony ride stable will provide many valuable life lessons to your children. They'll witness: Darwinian struggles for survival, nature's relentless struggle to take back man made structures when they are not maintained, uncontrolled breeding, and the dire consequences of overpopulation.

But that's why I love this crazy, anachronistic compound populated with dozens of goats, chickens, ostriches, emus, cattle, llamas, ponies, and other farm animals, most of them freely mingling with the human visitors.

  • Page 1 of 1
Mark Frauenfelder

Mark Frauenfelder has been a member since 23 January 2008 and goes by markf.

Currently in Tarzana, CA.

I am the editor-in-chief of MAKE and a blogger at boingboing.net. I like to draw, paint, and read.

You can also find Mark at markfrauenfelder.com.

Get a FREE trial issue!
Subscribe to Everywhere

Tell us how we can improve Everywhere!

If you’d like a reply, please include your email address.

  1. This is a: