If you get a kick out of succulents, you’ll enjoy this episode of Visiting, originally aired November 2002. With a laid-back central coast vibe, a wide variety of cactus, and plenty of room for local artists to work out their creative urges, this former nursery along the coast a few miles south of Hearst San Simeon State Park was definitely […]
Russian Gulch State Park is such a beautiful place to explore, especially on a cool afternoon in October. The sky sent down a light drizzle as I started along the headlands trail, but by the time I had circled back and later headed to the landward side of the park — following the road that crosses beneath Highway 1 — […]
Road trips can be absolutely exhausting, especially if you’re driving long distances for more than a day or two. But if you can keep your eyes open no matter where you are, you’re bound to find fun details and beautiful scenery.
I would have liked to spend more than a couple of hours wandering the streets of Susanville during our trip to Eagle Lake last September. But even in the short time I was there, I saw a lot of great details and reminders of this small town’s fascinating history. Here’s hoping that I’ll get a chance to go back someday […]
I’ve shared before about taking Highway 16 on the way back from Clear Lake rather than the usual I-5 route. I’m fascinated by these hills and canyons and always so torn between the desire to get home and wanting to stop every mile or so along Cache Creek just to explore. I didn’t realize until later that I’d stopped at […]
The Petrified Forest located in Calistoga could scarcely be more different from the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. This lovely spot in Napa County is relatively small, with shaded paths and spring wildflowers, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit last month — and would have lingered there even longer if possible. Yet I have to admit that, although the […]
This morning I finally got outside to play with my brand new Canon 100-400mm lens. I planned to take a walk along the bluffs overlooking Lake Natoma and head out early enough to find cooler temperatures and fewer people. As you can see by the image above, there were plenty of folks — including a few Canada geese — already […]
I first climbed Mt. Konocti in March 2020. My lofty plans on that occasion fell short thanks to problems with my knee which made every step up the mountain painful. I failed to reach any of the three peaks, but I did manage to explore Mary Downen’s cabin. So in the back of my mind ever since I’ve had the […]