DCA's Rushin' River Outfitters

Located near the Grizzly River Run whitewater ride, Rushin' River Outfitters has always been one of DCA's most enjoyable shops. Its name is a twist on Northern California's Russian River (DCA's original designers certainly loved puns), its decor can be described as mountain-highway-truckstop-town-chainsaw-sculpture-classic, and its merchandise is generally worth a gander.

I love the interior of this shop. Despite the intentionally cluttered look of the props hanging about, the place has an open, airy atmosphere that's cozy in the winter and refreshingly cool in the summer.

And, just so you don't miss it, let's zoom in on that little sign up there...

A pause to groan. Bonus wordplay down on the lower right! I do admire the clever use of fake merchandise as shelves for the actual merchandise; They've almost got a little WDW Blizzard Beach West vibe going here.

For clothing and coffee mugs with a Disney-Goes-Pacific-Northwest theme (as well as Grizzly River Run souvenirs), Rushin' River Outfitters offers a relaxed and comfortable shopping option with a focused, well-chosen inventory. As a bonus, it's right by the gate to the Grand Californian Hotel, making it extra convenient for the hotel's guests (and Paradise Pier Hotel guests using the gate as a shortcut).

Golden Horseshoe Lives On Through iTunes

The recent "Limited-Time Magic" Tribute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue stage show is heading into its final days at Disneyland. While it's a shame the tribute isn't a permanent fixture at the park, the magic of the original long-running Disneyland classic can still be enjoyed, for Slue-Foot Sue's Golden Horseshoe Review is on iTunes (and Amazon MP3)!

Recorded Live at Disneyland in 1957, the album (misspelled title and all) captures the light-hearted joy and energy of the original show. The original amazing cast is in great form and this special presentation includes a guest appearance by the Disney's favorite barbershop quartet, the Mellomen.

Another classic park album joins our growing list of iTunes Disney Park albums. The digital scene keeps getting better and better!

Strange Things 5: More Great Offbeat Disney Tunes

Welcome back to Strange Things, an ongoing search for offbeat, unusual Disney tunes. The rules: the tracks should be obscure, rarely played, or performed in unexpected ways -- and available on iTunes or Amazon MP3. Today we've got Groucho Marx, pirates and more!

Let's start off with one of the best overlooked Disney songs ever, and a seasonal gem:

Track:   ONCE UPON A WINTERTIME
Album: Christine Davis & Family - Love Came Down.

I was surprised to find that this wonderful holiday song from Melody Time (the sequence with the young lovers, the horse-drawn sleigh and the cracking river ice) is only represented by a single recording on iTunes. Fortunately, it's a good one.

I'm not a big fan of electronic effects in ballads, but it works very well here. Mark Davis's relaxed vocals keep the song's folksy charm intact throughout this modern interpretation of a classic. Well done.

Next up: one of my all-time favorite finds on iTunes:

Golden Zephyr: A Relaxing Flight Above Paradise Pier

On your next trip to Disney California Adventure, take a few minutes to enjoy one of the park's original -- and often overlooked -- attractions: The Golden Zephyr in Paradise Pier.

The ride garnered a pile of resentment when DCA first opened, as its simplicity seemed to symbolize the insulting, cost-cutting mindset that clouded the park's early years. The situation's changed, now that DCA can finally boast a solid roster of great attractions; suddenly there's a welcome spot for the Zephyr's basic, old-fashioned charms.

Adam and Andrew of the Disney Hipster Blog noted the ride's connection to England's Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The historic, low-tech atmosphere of Golden Zephyr gives the ride an unexpected bit of depth, as you really are experiencing a sensation from the amusement industry's past.

The ride is a charming, easy-going thrill, swinging you out over the walkway and the waters of Paradise Bay. The views are wonderful, the loading and unloading spiels provide some fun period character acting, and -- simple as it is -- this is a unique form of swing ride that most guests have not experienced before.

I have to admit, I was one of the many who resented Golden Zephyr's simplicity when it first opened. Now, I actually hope it never leaves.