If anyone is interested in learning more about L Frank Baum I would recommend "The Real Wizaerd of Oz" by Rebecca
Loncraine. I read this book 2 or 3 mos ago and enjoyed it. Ms Loncraine gives the reader an overview of Baum's life and
possible outside influences on his books

It is a very fine biography. Perhaps not the final word, but very informative.

If you ever get to the Hotel Coronado in San Diego, Baum designed their chandeliers in the ballroom.

Sad to hear. I was last there many years ago and found it charming and all the other things you say it is no longer.

I went there first on a business trip, covering a trade show held there. I got off the plane, checked in, and spent an hour sitting out on the rocks, calling people and saying, "Guess where I am?" over the surf.

Went back 3-4 times with the family. Never had the wherewithal to stay in the Beach House, but did stay in one of the first beach cottages built.

When we went down for our anniversary a year back, it was one of our first air trips without the kids and to a place we both loved. I won't say the trip was a failure, but the hotel was as cold, corporate and uninviting as any airport Sheraton I've stayed at. For one thing, the half-dozen beach cottages are now a huge row of beach condos extending a quarter-mile down the beach. The dinner restaurant had changed from a destination to an iteration of that charmless, fauxelegante expense-account mill found in every three-star business resort. And the slightly... odd staff had all been replaced by corporate robopodpeople.

I'm still just sick about it. Coronado is still a thoroughly unique and interesting place and I might go back someday... but not to the Del.

I made my first ever trip to San Diego in May for a CPA conference. I brought my wife and son, and we stayed in La Jolla. Dined at a couple of restaurants (Crab Catcher was my favorite) in downtown overlooking the La Jolla Cove, with the sea lions and crashing waves. Beautiful. Visited the Birch Aquarium. Spent our last day in downtown San Diego at Seaport Village, had a nice meal on the harbor, toured the USS Midway with my son. Loved it.

We spent Memorial Day weekend there. Took the Coast Starlight train down from San Jose, and it was a spectacular trip. The train winds through the launch towers at Vandenburg AFB and hugs the coast. We met fascinating people, including a 2-hour lunch with , chief helicopter pilot for four US presidents, and toured the private rail car hitched to the back of the train. We stayed in Old Town San Diego, which was charming, and spent a full day at the Midway, which is the best museum of its type (type = converted ship) I have seen. While we were there, across the channel were docked, bow-to-stern, *three* active carriers: the Reagan, the Nimitz, and the Carl Vinson. We also spent a full day at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in Escondido, and got up close and personal with an okapi, a baby elephant born just three weeks earlier, and a huge wild egret who wandered into one of the open-air tourist shops and didn't seem to mind that we were close enough to reach out an touch him (we resisted the temptation). I'd go back in a heartbeat, but then, hotels have never been very important to me.

L. Frank Baum also dated my first husband's Aunt Lena. Hey, ya gotta go out with SOMEone.