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).

Grizzly River Run -- Empty and Full

Our most recent trip to Disneyland Resort caught Grizzly River Run right at the tail end of its refurbishment, with the mountain's river flume empty one day and filled with thundering rapids the next.

I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the trackwork along the big drop, which keeps the speeding rafts on a straight, smooth course before releasing them back into the river to bob and bounce freely once more.

We didn't get a chance to brave the rapids on this trip, but it was great to see the river going full blast again. It certainly ties the Grizzly Peak area together and brings the whole environment to life.

Grizzly River's Bear With No Name

This gigantic bear, all geared up for white water escapades, silently guards the entry to Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure.

It's an impressive sculpture, and a puzzling one; considering all the time, effort and talent that went into its creation, it's odd that the bear has no name, no backstory (beyond his gear), no merchandising presence, and -- as a result -- little impact on guests' memories of DCA.

Then again, when DCA first opened, the 2001 powers-that-be aimed for the park to be as unlike Disneyland as possible, and that extended to a lack of Disney characters or traditional storytelling. Our grizzly friend here might have fallen victim to that somewhat pixie-dust-free approach to park design.

Today's DCA bursts with charm, personality and Disney/Pixar characters. I say it's time to give this wonderful statue a name, a backstory, and some more visibility as a character on the ride itself and on the park merchandise. He's a white-water-rafting grizzly bear in a Disney park! Someone in charge needs to let the Imagineers and product designers go wild with the concept.

Heading Up Grizzly Peak

A raft heads for the upper reaches of Grizzly Peak, on course for a date with waterfalls, mine shafts, and the wildest rapids in Anaheim.

Disney California Adventure received a lot of well-deserved criticism when it first opened in 2001, but nearly everyone agreed that Grizzly River Run was a first-rate attraction. For years, it stood as an oasis of great theming and landscaping, showing just how beautiful the rest of DCA could be with a proper budget.

It took eleven years, but the rest of the park has finally caught up.