Betsy Malloy
California Travel Guide

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From July 6, 2012 through April, 2013, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is sponsoring a huge exhibition of props, costumes and artifacts from the Disney archives. Among the items on display: the original script for Mickey's Mouse's film debut in Steamboat Willie, a replica of Walt Disney's Burbank studio office and sculptured busts of all 44 U.S. Presidents, created for The Hall of Presidents attraction at the Magic Kingdom.

The exhibit will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley.

If you can't get down there to see it, or miss the dates, you can also see a fascinating collection of Disney memorabilia and items at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Or take a behind-the-scenes Backstage Magic tour with Adventures by Disney. Read our review of it here.

Forget the overdone fresh-baked cookie, wine and cheese or bottle of water some hotels offer, when you stay at these places, you'll get some really fun (and unexpected) extras. These are some of the ones we've come across during our travels:

• It's the closest you'll get to a safari without leaving the country, and at Vision Quest Bed and Breakfast near Salinas, your breakfast will be delivered by one of the elephants (accompanied by their trainer, of course).
• At the Montage Beverly Hills, meet with fashion consultant Joe Katz, one of the most charming and knowledgeable folks you'll ever meet. Joe can give you ideas, fill you in on the latest fashion trends and even arrange for dressing rooms full of items to be ready for you to swoop in and try things on. The first hour of Joe's services are complimentary to hotel guests.
• It's just a small thing, but at San Diego's Pearl Hotel, every room has a real, live fish in it (in a bowl, of course) - and they show movies once a week beside the swimming pool at their "dive in" theatre.
• In San Diego, the Grand Del Mar may not be quite on the beach, but they make up for it: they'll take you to the beach and back, set up beach chairs and umbrellas and provide beach towels, too.

If you know of others, just leave a comment.

In June, you can listen to some great music, watch hot air balloons take off or enjoy a classic car show. See what's going on.

More: California Summer Getaways | California Summer Concerts | Summer Outdoor Theatre