Channel Islands National Park is a series of islands off the coast of California that you can only reach via boat or plane. Santa Rosa is the third closest island to shore, and after visiting the other two close ones (Anacapa and Santa Cruz), I decided to make the trip out to Santa Rosa for […]
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Empire Mine State Historic Park: Exploring one of California’s Richest Gold Mines
Empire Mine State Historic Park is home to one of the richest and longest running gold mines in California. The mine ran for over 100 years and was able to extract more than 5.5 million ounces of gold. When it stopped operations in 1956, it was eventually turned over to the California state park system, […]
Hiking to Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is home to many beautiful Giant Sequoia groves throughout the park’s boundaries. The Mariposa Grove is the most well-known, with some truly impressive trees, but Tuolumne Grove is also a great spot to visit if you want to see big trees and not have all the crowds. I snowshoed to the grove […]
Urban Legends Halloween Haunt at OC Fairgrounds
This year (2020) has been one of the craziest years I have ever experienced. With the global pandemic changing the way we travel and even the way we celebrate holidays, it has been interesting to see the new businesses have popped up during that time. Urban Legends Haunt is one of those experiences, born out […]
Tunnel View: One of Yosemite National Park’s Best Views
Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park is one of, if not the best view in California. It is known all over the world and has inspired thousands of artists over the last century. This iconic viewpoint was created in 1933, and since then, it has been the spot that welcomes visitors to the park when […]
Hiking to Devil’s Kitchen in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is known for its amazing geothermal attractions, like a baby Yellowstone in California. These areas are amazing places to explore in the state, which are unlike anything else you can find in California. The main and most impressive one is Bumpass Hell, also in Lassen Volcanic National Park, but if you […]
Boiling Springs Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Boiling Springs Lake is located off the same trail as Devil’s Kitchen in the eastern portion of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Leaving from the Warner Valley Trailhead, this trail is short but has optional excursions to Terminal Geyser and Devils Kitchen if you want to hike more miles. Even just going to Boiling Springs Lake […]
Exploring the Devastated Area Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
The Devastated Area Trail is a nice, accessible trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park that allows you to learn more about the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak. Did you even know Lassen Peak erupted that recently? I didn’t until I started exploring the park, and this trail shows the effect of an eruption like this […]
Hiking the Panorama Trail in Yosemite National Park
The Panorama Trail in Yosemite National Park is one of the park’s most beautiful trails with uninterrupted views of Half Dome and multiple waterfalls along the way. It’s a great example of what the park has to offer, and if you visit when the shuttle is available, then you can take the 8 mile hike […]
Darwin Falls: Hiking to Death Valley National Park’s Waterfall
Darwin Falls is a 20 foot waterfall in one of the most desolate places in the country, Death Valley National Park. While the park is known for being dry and arid, this hike and waterfall feel like a hidden oasis in the Death Valley landscape. I loved doing this short hike on the west side […]