I can’t help seeing this Classic episode of California’s Gold, originally aired April 5, 1998, as a perfect reminder of the way many different cultures can come together to make our country much richer in so many ways. Of course, small town life isn’t for everyone, but Huell is very much in his element, chatting with various people around town […]
This Classic episode of California’s Gold originally aired November 1997 — and a lot has changed at Vandenberg since then! These days the facility is known as Vandenberg Space Force Base, and it has been the site of numerous military space launches as well as those of NASA and SpaceX. As a military installation, access to the Vandenberg property is […]
If you’re into history (like me) and if you love trees (again, like me) this episode is the perfect fit! Although this episode originally aired over 20 years ago on October 10, 2003, both trees still survive — more or less. You may not see the historic Vizcaino-Serra oak tree standing tall in its original location, but if you are […]
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 […]
Arthur Harold Beal was a true California character, the creator of a one-of-a-kind house that in 1986 was designated California Historical Monument #939. Huell’s visit to the site originally aired on September 25, 2002. Unfortunately, the house was sold in 2022 and is currently listed as permanently closed. But because it was such a popular and quirky attraction, searching online […]
I’m not too sure about blaming the sea otters for the disappearance of the famous Pismo Beach clams — but the good news is that the clams seem to be making a comeback these days! While the truly big specimens have yet to be found, the population is now being carefully monitored, and hopefully will continue to thrive in the […]
Since I’ve featured episodes about abalone for the past two weeks, I thought it was about time to look at another edible marine creature living off the coast of California! It’s actually quite interesting to compare the recent histories of the abalone and the sea urchin; while the public’s taste for abalone exploded decades ago and led to its near […]
Join Huell and hike to the world’s tallest tree in Redwood National Park with a group of fifth graders from a nearby school; admire fields ablaze with golden color of California’s official state flower, the Golden Poppy, at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster; and climb to the top of magnificent Morro Rock for a beautiful view of […]
Huell visits the world’s first motel, the Motel Inn in San Luis Obispo; a stop at Pozo’s Saloon, a stagecoach stop, and chat with the last remaining citizen of Moy Mell, where a colony of people called Dunites lived in the sand dunes from the 1920s through the 1940s. When I think about the Central Coast of California, I tend to think […]