I nearly missed the Historic Life-Saving Station Cemetery even though I was on the alert as I drove along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Point Reyes National Seashore. I had seen a signpost on my way south, but traveling northbound the turn was unmarked. When I finally spotted it, the narrow lane took me over a cattle guard and up […]
I honestly didn’t expect an episode entitled ‘Cotton’ could be all that interesting, but as usual Huell takes what might be a dull subject and makes it informative yet fun. California grows its share of the nation’s cotton, both Upland/Acala and Pima types, and cotton is the main industry of the town of Buttonwillow, which was founded back in 1895. […]
Nothing tends to remind us humans of how small we are and how brief our time on this planet like a visit to a place like the Petrified Forest National Park. Walking among the desert environment that once was a lush forest, marveling at the brilliant fragments of rock that were once majestic trees really readjusts your perspective. These geological […]
Back in August 2018 I was pretty thrilled to see the small group of buffalo in the Bison Paddock at Golden Gate Park; there have been American bison living in the park ever since the 1890s, and their existence even helped to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. In this Classic episode of California’s Gold from 1991, […]
Last Monday I promised you the Perito Moreno Glacier, and here it is, looking absolutely brilliant in a series of postcard images as well as photographs shot by our South American traveler back in the year 2000. But while the glacier is stunning, this small photo album still holds a few surprises tucked in between the postcards and scenic views. […]
As a rule, whenever I’m in San Francisco I try to avoid the more tourist-oriented spots and instead seek out more obscure treasures. I think this site must fall somewhere between those two extremes — I was joined by a handful of other intrepid climbers during my midday visit, but I had never heard of the Lyon Street Steps until […]
The Mojave Desert doesn’t seem like an especially welcoming place to be — especially in the summertime — but it would be a mistake to think there’s nothing to be found there but dirt or sand and cactus plants. As a rule, California’s desert regions are home to some very colorful history, and this remote spot is no exception. Since […]
This half-hour episode sees Huell visiting the community of Winters in Yolo County for yet another of his many series, this one called California Communities. I’ve passed through Winters via Highway 128 a number of times, on the way to Lake Berryessa, but I must confess I’ve never stopped to really see what the town is all about. It does […]
You can’t tell a whole lot about the city of Barstow, California, merely from driving through on the interstate. In fact, you might wonder why anyone would choose to live in such a hot, rather isolated place. But this desert town has a very colorful history — pioneer trails and the railroad, the instant riches of silver mining, and the […]