Southern California Winterim 2007 ***Click Here for Photos from the Trip         During the February 2007 Winterim, 6 students and Mr. Coddington traveled to Southern California and say a myriad of distinct and interesting sites.  Affectionately titled "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," this Winterim is a combination of Southern California College Trip and the best sites in Los Angeles.  Truly this was a Winterim not to miss.           After flying into LA on Sunday, our first stop was the In and Out Burger Stand near LAX.  As Ben would say, "I'll take a Double- Double Animal Style with a shake!"  Need we say more!!         On Monday we started out our trip at Disneyland.  Ok, this is an educational and cultural trip, but tell us a better place to start?!  And actually, it you really take in the complete Park, Disneyland actually is very educational.  Just think of all that physics that goes into the California Screamer Rollercoaster and the architecture of the Disney Grand Californian Hotel. Enjoying Disneyland         On Tuesday we visited the Reagan Library in the Simi Valley.  The Reagan Library was informative and the perfect place to spend President's Day.  Sitting atop a hill overlooking the entire Simi Valley, the Library and grounds offer spectacular views of the surrounding area.  The museum complex is vast and very user friendly.  It tracks both the Hollywood and political career of the President and concludes with President Reagan's Air Force One!!  Following the Library, we had lunch at the world famous Pink's Hot Dog Shop.  Following an awesome lunch of what are likely the best hot dogs west of Wrigley Field, we spent the rest of the afternoon on the campus of the University of Southern California.  This city within a city is definitely a college all participants considered worth the stop.   In front of the Reagan Library         Wednesday, our busiest day, started off at the President Nixon Home and Library.  Very different from the Reagan Library, the Nixon Library and Home contained almost too much information and exhibits.  Although it was not something we thought would be a highlight of the trip, it certainly was.  Nixon gets treated harsh by history, but we were able to see his whole career in perspective and come away with an appreciation for all he did for our nation.  Certainly seeing both libraries told much about each President and should be a must on any visit to Los Angeles.  Following the Nixon Library, we toured the Museum of Tolerance.  While sobering, it was certainly a stop we would not have missed.  The museum is centered around the Holocaust, but it offers incite and understanding to the Civil Rights Movement and to other instances of injustice and genocide ongoing today.  A must see museum in LA.  Our last stop on Wednesday was the Disney Studios in Burbank.  Here we met up with Mr. Coddington's old West Point roommate and now movie director Rod Lurie.  You probably seen some of his movies; The Last Castle and The Contender.  Or maybe you remember his hit TV show from last year, Commander in Chief.  Anyway, we got a special screening of his new movie Resurrecting the Champ with Samuel L. Jackson and Alan Alda at the Disney Studios in Burbank.  Following the screening, we went out to dinner with Mr. Lurie at a great restaurant in Hollywood.  It was just our group with Mr. Lurie for a fantastic dinner at one of the best spots in the city.  What a night!!   Rod Lurie shows our group some movie memorabilia         Thursday was our architectural tour of the city.  This was Abe's big day and we just let him lead the way!  We started off in Pasadena at the famous Greene and Greene Gamble House.  Not much one can say except, "What a house!"  It was fantastic.  For some of us who know little about Craftsman style architecture, it was certainly an informative and amazing tour.  Next we visited the campus of Occidental College.  This small, yet very distinctive school in Pasadena offers much to the student who wants big city life but the intimacy of a small school.  Again, definitely worth the look for any student.  It was time for lunch, so we had to hit Pasadena's best Pastrami Stand, The Hat.  Piled high with well marbled Pastrami, this no frills eatery is the place to go for a pastrami sandwich this side of Katz's Deli!!  Lastly on Thursday, we visited Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House.  This textile-block style house in LA was Wright's first house in the area.  Although interesting, we all agreed that the Gamble House was far better.  The house and grounds needed extensive work.  If you are in the area, Abe strongly suggests that you skip the Hollyhock House and visit the nearby Ennis House instead.     On the USC Campus         On Friday morning we boarded an Amtrak train for Tacoma.  Ok Abe, great choice.  We all had sleeper cars and this turned out to be a great experience.  If you have never traveled by train, this is a great trip.  The Coast Starlighter hugs the California Coast and offers spectacular sights of the Pacific that can be seen by no other means of transport.  We met many interesting people on the train and experienced a lost form of travel.  The day and a half train trip was a superb way to unwind and relax as we made our way home.  Thanks Abe for insisting on this mode of travel!!