There are a number of trails to explore when you park at the Rattlesnake Bar area of Folsom Lake SRA, but the trip out to Avery’s Pond is one of the most popular. The best time to hike the trail is in the springtime, when wildflowers are abundant and there are few if any annoying dry weeds. Of course, poison […]
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 — […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It’s been a while since I hiked along the old Folsom canal, but I’m looking forward to an organized walk along the canal tomorrow and hoping to learn more about its history. Today I’ve managed to dig up a few images from previous years, going back to 2016, shot at various locations along the course of the canal between the […]
Whenever we’re looking for a place to stay on our coastal trips, we try to find locations where it’s easy to get outside and walk. Not all of the houses we’ve rented fit that criteria, but it’s a definite plus in my book. The shoulders along Highway 1 can be small to nonexistent, and the road itself consists of innumerable […]
Off along a short side trail at the Petrified Forest in Calistoga, I found an extra bit of geological history — a large ash fall left over from the eruption of Mt. St. Helena 3 million years ago. Although the entire site is scattered with concrete-like remants of the ash deposits (like the one in the image below), this spot […]
As summer draws closer and the weather warms up, it’s important to stay hydrated. With that in mind, I’m sharing some small pieces from San Francisco’s Legion of Honor art museum (and one from my favorite hotel) to help remind you. These beautiful creations from Europe and the Mediterranean date from as far back as 300 A.D. to the modern […]