For over 70 years, there was plenty of "star gazing" at the Paramount Ranch. Located near Los Angeles, the Ranch was used for filming more than 150 movies and TV shows featuring some of the biggest names in the industry. Now part of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the ranch will host a chance for the public to enjoy a more timeless type of star gazing during a winter sky star party on the evening of February 8.

Bottled-up genetics lead to problems, as evidenced by the inbreeding woes of the wolves at Isle Royale National Park. Though mountain lions that roam Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area aren't as inbred as those wolves, the lack of genetic diversity is a growing concern.

Locally produced Native American baskets and jewlrey, soaps, bath salts, and carvings will be among the items on sale when the annual holiday sale is held at the King Gillette Ranch at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area on December 15.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area claims the title of "largest urban national park in the country," but it's 150,000+ acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties also include some non-urban wildlife. Biologists recently discovered two mountain lion kittens in the park.