More than 750 Fairmont staffers accompanied by friends, family and recruits scoured inland waterways and beaches for litter on Sept. 17 as part of the 27th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Working with the California Coastal Commission, Fairmont led five drop-in cleanup sites (Newport Beach, Santa Monica, San Jose, San Francisco and Sonoma) where volunteers hauled off everything from baseballs to shopping carts. Other odd finds included a rubber chicken, a 1980s shoulder pad and an animal spine.

The GLBT History Museum opens today in San Francisco, California. A project of the GLBT Historical Society, an archives and research center established in 1985, the new museum will be the first of its kind in the United States—and only the second in the world—the Schwules Museum in Berlin, Germany, being the first. 

“A quarter century after the founding of the GLBT Historical Society, we’re proud to open a museum to showcase our community’s history,” said Paul Boneberg, executive director of the Historical Society. “The GLBT History Museum is in the heart of the Castro, a neighborhood visited not only by locals, but also by tens of thousands of tourists every year who come in search of queer culture. At our museum, they’ll discover treasures from our archives that reflect fascinating stories spanning nearly a century of GLBT life. We have gone all out to create a museum as rich, diverse and surprising as the GLBT community itself. Whether they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or straight, visitors are sure to be moved, enlightened and entertained.”

Located at 4127 18th St., the museum includes 1,600 square feet of gallery and program space and will feature two debut exhibitions: In the main gallery, "Our Vast Queer Past: Celebrating GLBT History;" and in the front gallery, "Great Collections of the GLBT Historical Society Archives."

There's a new, unique way for people to shop for experiences!

Skyara.com launched today, with users offering experiences such as fitness training with an Army Ranger (for $20!), working as a barista at a coffee house (also only $20!) and bike, kayak and walking tours around Northern California.

If you're seeking an experience not offered on Skyara, post it on the site's request page.

Skyara only offers experiences in Northern California at the moment, but there are plans to expand. Hey, it just launched today, give 'em some time.

I've never visited any Disney property. When you're younger and living in the north Texas area, California and Florida seem so far away, and plus, I had Six Flags Over Texas nearby to satisfy any amusement park cravings. 

I learned, though, that Disneyland Resort is more than an amusement park--it's an experience, a show, an immersion into a world of magic and dreams. 

Before heading to Los Angeles for the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2010, I was able to walk around the park and ride some of the attractions that I had heard about over the years: the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, the tea cups (for some reason, when I hear the word Disney, I think of the tea cups ride). 

In addition to all the great rides, Disneyland Resort offers some wonderful shows, such as parades and fireworks. Their newest show is the World of Color, an amazing display featuring water, laser lights, fire and music located at Disney California Adventure. But rather than read about it, check out the clip below for a short preview of what is sure to be another long-running Disneyland Resort attraction.