Mariposa is a historic, gold rush era town built in the mid-1800s that you pass by when you take the El Portal route in Yosemite National Park. I hadn’t spent much time here, but on a recent trip to the park, I took a half day to explore Mariposa and quickly realized how much history […]
Historical Structures
Yankee Jim’s Bridge in Colfax
Yankee Jim’s Bridge is a suspension bridge in the city of Colfax that was built over 90 years ago, and that is a historic bridge with a great swimming hole below it. Just getting to the bridge is an adventure though with a 3 mile, mostly one lane dirt road that you must traverse to […]
Riding the Skunk Train and Visiting the Model Train Museum in Fort Bragg
I love trains; they are one of my favorite things to photograph and to ride. I have ridden many of California’s famous trains, but I never had the chance to ride the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg until a few weeks ago. This train is one of the most recognized in California, and it goes […]
Mammoth Consolidated Mine Trail in Mammoth Lakes
The Mammoth Consolidated Mine Trail is a short, less than a mile trail in Mammoth Lakes that takes you to the ruins of a once “somewhat successful” mining district. This area was used from the late 1920s to the early 1930s, and it ended up producing a little over $100,000. Today you can walk through […]
Mt Shasta Fish Hatchery: Oldest on the West Coast
The Mt Shasta Fish Hatchery was opened in 1888, and it is the oldest trout hatchery west of the Mississippi. It is still in use today with multiple ponds featuring thousands of fish, and it is a fun road trip stop for the whole family in the town of Mt Shasta. Here is all the […]