The Mt Shasta area of California is surrounded by stunning natural wonders ranging from volcanos and lakes to waterfalls. I thought it would be fun to go on a one day road trip and see as many waterfalls as I could in one day. While you could push this and include more (there are more in the area for sure), this itinerary gives you a good introduction into northern California waterfalls without taking too much time. Plus it will show you two of my favorite waterfalls in the state, Burney Falls and Middle McCloud Falls. Here is all the information and let me know what your favorite waterfall is in the comments. 

Video

Here is a video I made of the road trip.

Details

• About 160 miles round trip of driving
• 4-5 miles of hiking (you can see half without any real hiking though)
• Fee to see Burney Falls, the rest are free

The 6 Waterfall Road Trip

To do this adventure, I spent the night in Mt Shasta and the trip begins and ends there. If you start in the morning like I did, grab breakfast at Seven Sons or Yaks Shack. Both are great breakfast / coffee shops in Mt Shasta.

Waterfall 1 – Faery Falls

Faery Falls is located 10 minutes from downtown Mt Shasta and the hike is about 1.2 miles round trip. It feels remote as you take a dirt road to access the trailhead and there are no real signs. The falls is worth it though as it is stunning. Here is all the information on doing the hike to Faery Falls.

Waterfall 2 – Hedge Creek Falls

From Faery Falls, it is about 15 minutes to drive to the Hedge Creek Falls trailhead in the town of Dunsmuir. This hike is less than a half mile round trip, but it is steep with a couple switchbacks that take you down tot the falls. The waterfall is beautiful, and it has a trail that takes you behind the falls for a unique view. You can also do this trail at the end if you want to go to Yaks on the 5 for dinner after doing all the waterfalls. Read more about hiking to Hedge Creek Falls here.

Waterfall 3, 4 & 5 – Lower, Middle and Upper McCloud Falls

Driving 20 minutes from Hedge Creek will get you to the town of McCloud and a series of three waterfalls along the McCloud River. You can hike all three of these on a 4.5 mile round trip hike, or you can just drive to each and go to an overlook. Here are each of the falls.

Lower Falls

The overlook here is right next to the parking area, or you can walk down to the rocks and get closer to the falls for a photo.

Middle Falls

This one has a high overlook near the parking lot that looks down on the waterfall. It is a stunning view to see the falls like this but it is even better from the base. It is about a mile round trip and it drops and gains a decent amount of elevation to get to the bottom though so many people just elect to take it in from the overlook. 

Upper Falls

This is the last waterfall you can see and it is another one that you simply do a short walk from the parking area to the overlook. There are multiple overlooks so you can see both the falls and the river from different angles. Read more about all of the McCloud Waterfalls here.

Waterfall 6 – MacArthur – Burney Falls

MacArthur Burney Falls is probably my favorite waterfall in the state of California. It is stunning to see such an amazing natural wonder and it was once called one of the 8 wonders of the world by Theodore Roosevelt. You can take it in from the overlook right next to the parking area, or hike down on a half mile round trip trail to the base. This trail is a little steep on the way up but this is a waterfall you want to experience from the base. There is an optional loop that allows you to hike more of the state park if you are interested in extending the trip as well.

After finishing Burney Fall, it is about 55 minutes back to Mt Shasta, completing your epic one day waterfall road trip. Let me know if you do it in the comments and what you think. You can see more Siskiyou County hiking recommendations in this post as well.

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Pacific Coast Highway is a bucket list road trip that people from all over the world come to California to do. It is easy to understand why when you drive it, as the route is stunning with coastal views, iconic cities like San Francisco and LA, and some of the best tourist attractions in the state. I wanted to create this video to help you make the most of a road trip along Pacific Coast Highway and to share some of the things I learned from spending seven days driving the route. Let me know your questions in the comments, and let’s jump into it.

Video

Here is a video I made on these tips or continue to read on for all the infromation.

Where does Pacific Coast Highway start?

The first thing that seems to confuse people is where Pacific Coast Highway officially runs. This highway does not run from Mexico to Canada along the coast; it is only a 655 mile section that begins in Dana Point and ends in Leggett. The rest of the route up to Washington is along Highway 101, which isn’t technically a part of Pacific Coast Highway. I have done the whole cost with Highway 101 before, and it is amazing, but for this video, we just spent 7 days doing only the highway 1 portion.

Should I travel north to south?

Deciding whether to go north to south or south to north is totally your call and will most likely depend on where you fly into and where you can get the best rental car deal. We did south to north, but in hindsight, I probably would have done it the other way if I did it again just so that I could have the coast on my side the whole way. The coastal views are the reason to drive the route so it would be nice to be on the coastal side and would make it easier to access the viewpoint pullouts, especially in places like Big Sur.

How do I get to the start of Pacific Coast Highway?

The easiest way to access the start of PCH would be to fly into either LA, San Diego, or San Francisco. You can rent a car from LA or San Diego and head to Dana Point. From San Francisco, you would need to drive about three and a half hours north on Highway 101 to access the starting point for Highway 1 heading south. Either way works but again, the coastal views are better if you are on the south side of the road.

How many days do you need for Pacific Coast Highway?

You can do this route in as little or as much time as possible. I would say that driving the route and seeing only a few things each day would take a minimum of 4 days. I wouldn’t try to do it all in one go without 7 days myself, as there is an overwhelming amount of stuff to see along the route, and rushing it or driving in the dark would be a waste of the fantastic adventures and coastal views. Even with 7 days, we had to choose what we wanted to do to make the most of our time. 

How to best experience Big Sur?

Expanding more on the route tip, I also wanted to talk specifically about the Big Sur section. I highly recommend making this section, ie. Cambria to Monterey one full day. This is one of the most beautiful areas in the entire country, and it is a windy two-lane road, so you don’t want to rush it. Seriously some of the most beautiful parts of PCH are in this section, and doing it faster than a full day will stop you from being able to experience much of it. I have a video you can see in the description of how we spent our one day driving through Big Sur. 

How is the traffic on Pacific Coast Highway?

When driving through cities like San Franciso and LA, you will no doubt get into some traffic. This is amplified 10 x if you do the drive during rush hour in the morning or evening. Make sure to plan your trip to miss the 3 pm – 6 pm window in either of the cities, or it will be slow going. Also, if you travel in the summer, many beaches will have no parking if you get there later in the day, especially if it’s a weekend. Just be flexible as you may have to skip some things if you run into traffic. 

How is the weather in California along the cost?

California is known for its stunning weather, which is generally true for summer. You will often have sun and a nice coastal breeze along the drive. That being said, the mornings can often be foggy with the marine layer, affecting visibility, and San Francisco especially can have lots of fog. As you head north, it gets cooler as well with a jacket needed in the afternoon, and it’s not rare for there to be some rain. 

How much does a Pacific Coast Highway road trip cost?

Pacific Coast Highway can be one of the more expensive road trips in the United States since California is a vast tourist state, and prices are higher there. California gas is frequently some of the highest priced in the country, so you also have to consider that. The trip ended up being right around $2,500 dollars. This did not include flights or a rental car since we are based in Southern California. A few notes on the cost, hotels on the route can be expensive since these are some of the most desirable areas in the state to stay. Also, we stopped at many popular food spots along the way, some of which were a lot more expensive. If you skip these, you can easily cut down food costs. I wouldn’t be surprised if a one way car rental and flights added another $1,500 to the total price.

If you want to see more information, including a link to a map with all the stops I did on my route, click the link in the description to purchase the ebook i made. Let me know what other questions you have in the comments.

The post 8 Tips for Planning a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip appeared first on California Through My Lens.

Griffith Park is a massive city park right in the heart of Los Angeles that has so many unique places to explore, if you just take the time to find them. One of those places is Amir’s Garden. While the hike to the garden is short, it is pretty steep, making it seem like you have found a hidden gem full of succulents and other plants when you make it to the garden. I love this spot in LA, and here is all the information if you want to check it out.

Getting There

You will pass the parking area for the Old LA Zoo and then arrive at the parking area for the golf course. There is multiple parking lots here. The trail starts from the back of the main parking lot. 

Amir’s Garden Trail

After leaving the parking area and heading towards Camp Road, you will see a sign that says “Amirs Garden .08 miles.”

The trail starts on a wide dirt road but almost immediately breaks off on a single track with lots of rough wooden steps cut into the dirt. 

This direction is very steep and there may be an easier way to get here but I am not sure. Let me know if you know in the comments. 

The trail gains elevation quickly as it proceeds up the “stairs.”

As you gain elevation you get some nice view quickly. 

After a tenth of a mile or so you will arrive at Amir’s Garden. This is the back of the garden though which makes me think there is another trail people use. 

Once you arrive at the garden you can go around a big loop through the garden. 

It feels so secluded up here and there are many paths that weave through the garden.  

You will also see hidden benches and picnic areas that you can use and that make you feel like you are alone in the garden. 

As you make your way around the front you will see a lot of benches and places to tie up horses. 

This is also where the sign is and where there is information on amir and how he created the garden. 

From here, you can explore as much as you would like. There are many different trails that lead to different viewpoints and plants and it is worth taking your time exploring. 

After you make it back to where you came up, you can head down the steep section back to your car. Be sure to be careful heading down as it is steep and has loose dirt. 

Hope you enjoyed the hike here like I always do. Let me know wha thou think in the comments. 

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Rubel Castle was the dream of one man who began building this eclectic structure in the early 1960s and eventually finished it in 1986. The structure is a legit castle, with a drawbridge, four story exterior wall, and even a dragon that guards the entrance. It reminded me of some of the other fascinating projects seen around California, like Nitt Witt Ridge and even Salvation Mountain. I love this kind of stuff, so I went for a tour and ended up spending a good half day just exploring all that the castle had to offer. If you are interested in seeing something unique like this in Southern California, then be sure to book a tour; it is the only way to visit. Here is all the information on Rubel Castle. 

Getting There

Rubel Castle is located right in the middle of a residential district in Glendora. Driving through the ordinary houses and arriving at the massive castle is an experience on its own. After parking, you will be met outside for your tour and let in. 

Video

Here is a video I made on the tour.

Rubel Castle Tour

It is impossible to try and explain everything you will see on the tour and all of the stories you will hear about the castle’s creation and the people that visited, but here are some of the highlights. 

First, the property was the work of one man, Micheal Rubel, but he had a lot of help from friends and relatives coming together to bring the project come to life.

The castle was built inside of a concrete reservoir that was used to supply water to the citrus trees that once covered the surrounding area.

As the citrus industry changed, the reservoir was no longer needed, and it was sold to Michael Rubel, who built his first small house right in the middle.  This structure (known as the bottle house) is still here today, and the castle basically surrounds it.

The tour helps you see how massive this structure is. I was there for 3 hours and probably still only saw about 30% of what there was to see.

The castle was built mostly of recycled materials, with many donated from local residents and businesses. One of the stories is how a local headstone maker would contribute any misspelled headstones and that many of the headstones were put into the walls. The castle entrance is another highlight. Here the castle walls open to allow you through the concrete reservoir and into the interior of the castle. 

There is even a dragon inside the tunnel that guards the castle from intruders. It’s the little things like this that are so fun to see.

The next highlight was the Tin Palace. This building is large and has multiple citrus refrigeration rooms that served as bedrooms for Micheal and some of his family that lived on the property.

This room was also the place where many parties were held, and there is a famous story of when Dwight Eisenhower visited and got stuck in the elevator that led to the wine cellar.

Stories like this are the reason to take the tour. There are so many amazing stories over the years, and there is even a book in the gift shop that you can buy that collects many of them.

From the Tin Palace, you can enter the castle and see the blacksmith area, which a local blacksmith club uses on the weekends. 

There is also a clock tower with a working Seth Thomas clock (restored and built in 1911) and a bell that rings on the hour. It sits at around 75 feet tall, and it is a historic and fascinating spot to see. 

The rest of the castle has many rooms that are rented out to private residents, so you can’t see those rooms. It must be pretty cool to live in a place like this.

The last area we saw was the Santa Fe Caboose from the 1940s, which has been retrofitted into a makeshift apartment, even though no one currently lives there. It is awesome to see something like this here, and it adds to the folk art charm of the place.

I really enjoyed my time here, and I highly recommend you take a tour of the property if you get a chance. Again, this is just a tiny portion of the castle, and I imagine that every tour is probably a little different. Let me know what you think in the comments. 

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Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park is a small park on the east side of Half Moon Bay. The park protects a barn from the mid-1800s, built as an English-style bank barn, and is the only barn like it in California. The historic barn is maintained in the form of arrested decay as it is kept from crumbling in on itself but not restored. The barn can be accessed via a 2-mile round trip trail, and it is the only real point of interest in the park. Here is all the information.

Getting There

The park is accessed via Murray Ranch Access Road, which you will turn on to from Highway 1. As you drive back, the road becomes more narrow and passes a few homes before you arrive at the small parking lot on the left. There is room for about a dozen cars, but it is not a very popular park, so it doesn’t usually fill up.

The Trail to Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Barn

From the parking area, the trail leaves on a wide dirt road. 

You will be walking this road for the entire time in the park. There was some traffic on the road from law enforcement training when I was there.

The trail is easy to follow, and there is a bathroom about a tenth of a mile from the trailhead.

The road heads in and out of shaded areas with large trees that grow up along the path; it is a nice walk.

You will cross over the small creek you are following on two short bridges at the halfway point.

The path continues to head back as it goes further into the canyon. I only saw one other person the entire time I was back here.

Eventually, the trail arrives at a forested area and has another bathroom and a few picnic benches to sit at.

You are basically at the barn now, as you just have to walk past the private residence and across another short bridge.

The Mills Barn

As you cross the creek, you will get your first view of the barn. The barn was built in 1857, and it is a unique historic structure to see.

The barn was built by Burleigh Murray’s father, who came to California during the gold rush but worked as a farmer. He built the ranch here in 1857, and it is the only English-style bank barn in California.

An English Style bank barn is a barn that is built into the hillside and where both levels walk out directly onto the ground.

At one point, the barn could have held up to 100 cows, and you can still walk fully around it to see it from every angle. 

The barn is being preserved but not restored, so when you peek inside, you can see it is held together by wires. 

It is pretty cool to see, but you can’t go into it, and there is not much to do after seeing the barn.

I took my time here and then eventually started walking back to the car.

I love seeing all of California’s state parks, so I was glad to be able to visit this one. That being said, it is not that exciting of a park if you are not interested in history. Check it out, and let me know what you think in the comments. 

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The Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site is run by the National Parks Service and preserves the home of the famous Nobel Prize winning playwright. At this secluded home in the town of Danville, he wrote some of his most famous plays and lived a life away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. While you can hike the grounds without a tour, if you want to enter the house and courtyard, you have to book a tour. Here is all the information from my tour of Tao House.

Booking the Tour

In order to book a tour, you have to email through the site or call the phone number on the NPS website and leave a message. Here is the site for all the information. I called and left a message and got a call back later that day to book my spot. On the phone, they provide the meeting address for the tour.

Getting There

Since there is no parking at the house, you have to take a shuttle from downtown Danville to get to the site. The shuttle was about 10 minutes and it was easy to access with a large parking lot right near where it picks up.

The Tour

After arriving at Tao House, we were greeted by a ranger and given some history and an overview of Eugene and his wife’s time in California. 

The ranger then opened the gate for us and walked us through the courtyard to the house. He was great, providing a good amount of information quickly and then letting us explore the house while he waited and answered additional questions if we had them.

The house was self-guided, and we were given a booklet with lots of information that told us about what we were looking at as we wandered through the two-story house.

While many of the rooms are pretty bare, the booklet helped to explain what you were looking at.

The highlight of the tour is being able to go upstairs. Here you can see both Eugene’s and his wife’s separate bedrooms, as well as his office.

The office was located at the end of the house and supposedly he told the servants that no one was to disturb him when he was writing, even if the house was on fire.

The office was furnished and had two desks and loads of books on the wall, it was by far the best room in the house. This is where he wrote The Iceman Cometh and Long Day’s Journey Into Night, two of his most famous plays.

Downstairs you can see the living room, complete with old photos of them using it. 

You can also see the kitchen, which has a cookbook that one of their servants used when they cooked dinner for the couple.

After exploring the inside, you can also walk outside to see the grave of their dog, which was a beloved member of the family.

I recommend walking around outside if you have the time as the views out across the valley and over to Mt Diablo are stunning and worth seeing on their own.

After about an hour and 15 minutes we were loaded back in the shuttle and taken back to where we parked. Even though I didn’t know much about Eugene O’Neill prior to coming, it was still a magnificent tour and I really enjoyed exploring the property. Check it out if you are interested and let me know what you think in the comments.

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Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve is a beautiful area full of towering redwoods and stunning Rhododendron blooms (during the right time of year). The blooms normally happen from mid-April to mid-June, which is the best time to go if you want to see the flowers. However, even during the rest of the year, the Rhododendron Reserve is still a stunning place for a nice hike. The reserve has a few miles of hiking trails and is a fantastic place to explore on a Highway 1 road trip. Here is all the information on the park’s 2 mile loop.

Getting There

The Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve is located off Highway 1, about 20 miles from the town of Jenner. The reserve can be accessed by turning on Kruse Ranch Road and heading back 1 mile, most of which is on a gravel road. You will see a small parking area on both the left and right side at the one mile mark, and you can park your car here to begin the trail.

Rhododendron Loop Trail

If you are short on time, the Rhododendron Loop Trail is a tenth of a mile and takes you on a short loop through the reserve. Here you can see a decent amount of the Rhododendron flowers if they bloom, which is great for a quick stop. If you want a longer trail though, read on.

Chinese Gulch Trail

From the Rhododendron Loop Trail, the Chinese Gulch Trail leaves and heads about a mile through the reserve before it connects with the Phillips Gulch Trail.

This trail is stunning as it heads through redwood trees and is shaded pretty much the entire time.

The trail almost immediately goes up, and you will gain most of the first half of the trail’s elevation here.

As it heads up, you cross multiple footbridges and head back into the reserve.

As you head back, the scenery is stunning, with scenes that feel like something out of the movie Jurassic Park.

The Rhododendrons are fewer here, but you will see them as you continue back. Be sure to look up as many of them are situated higher than you would think.

As you descend from the trail’s high point, you will reach the dirt road that crosses through the reserve and head over it onto the Phillips Gulch Trail.

Phillips Gulch Trail

This trail is just as stunning as the Chinese Gulch Trail, with towering redwoods around every bend.

You may also see small collections of Rhododendron here, but there was even less on this trail than on the Chinese Gulch Trail.

This trail was also wonderful for the different redwood “family circles” you could see.

These circles are formed after the main tree drops seeds and dies, and other trees grow around it, creating a circle. I have never seen so many family circles as I have on this section of the trail.

The trail continues heading down for a while before it starts an uphill push right at the end.

Here you will gain about 150 feet of elevation in a tenth of a mile, a steep hike up to the parking area.

Eventually, you will see the parking lot and be back at the start of the trail. I hope you can experience this trail like we did, with sparse but beautiful Rhododendron around the reserve. Let me know what you think of it if you get the chance to go.

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The Blackhawk Museum is one of the best museums in California. What started as a car museum with some of the country’s rarest cars has now turned into a full-blown experience with four large exhibits, each with some of the most unique installations I have ever seen. I didn’t know what to expect when I visited this museum in a shopping center, but I can easily say it is now one of my favorite museums in California. Here is all the information so you can check it out.

Getting There

From the 680 North, you will get off on Diablo Road and drive east onto Camino Tassajara. After passing Crow Canyon Road, you will see the large shopping center on your left. As you head in, follow the signs up to a small parking area for the museum, or park in the main lot and just make your way up to the museum through the shopping area.

The Blackhawk Museum

The museum has five main galleries that you can see throughout the building. I am not going to try and explain all of the galleries as each is massive and needs to be experienced to appreciate it. Here is some information on each and some photos to encourage your visit.

Classic Car Collection

The classic car collection is located right on the first floor, just past the admissions area, and it is the exhibit that started it all.

The cars used to be in multiple areas, but as they added more exhibits, they compressed them to this one area and now rotate the cars often to change up the exhibit.

They claim to have some of the rarest cars in the world, with cars featured in movies (like Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds), to prototypes that have only a select amount across the globe.

I am not a huge car buff myself, but I enjoyed walking around and seeing all of the beautiful cars on display.

The Spirit of the Old West

Directly above the Classic Car Collection is the Spirt of the Old West exhibit, which was one of my favorites. This area showcased America’s expansion west and featured stories and antiques from both the Plains Indians and the settlers.

As soon as you walk into the exhibit, you will see the large buffalo that greets you and the expansive diorama that extends almost the width of the exhibit hall.

I was blown away by this as it was so detailed and intricate. I am sure families with kids will love exploring this area and seeing the miniature display.

The exhibit also has many different rare guns, information on Wild Bill, and stories from many of the settlers.
Then on the other side, they have many Native American artifacts and stories.

Right in the middle, there is a beautiful teepee display, and I loved learning more about many of the Native American tribal leaders.

These photos just scratch the surface of this exhibit.

Art of Africa

The Art of Africa exhibit is the smallest in the museum, but it still has a stunning collection of masks, instruments, and woodwork pieces. The exhibit information says that it “brings the folklore of sub-Saharan African culture to life.”

I was especially interested in the tree of life wooden sculptures right near the entrance. Also, the mask display, which showcases many different types of masks, was amazing to see. 

Lastly, one part of the room has many different instruments, half of which I had never even seen before. It would have been cool to have some videos here showing them being played.

Into China

Into China was my favorite exhibit in the museum. I thought nothing could pass the old west exhibit, but then I was blown away here.

The exhibit focuses on the Forbidden City in China, and it features many reproductions of different parts of the city.

Right in the middle, there is a massive model of the entire city, and then behind it, there is a replica of the throne room. Surrounding these exhibits are more stunning works of art.

First, there is the Dreamscape. It is gigantic and stunning. I don’t even know how to describe this, other than that it is intricate carved wooden pieces to resemble a city that feels like it is floating in the sky.

Across from that is the 56 Horses art composition. This piece is a large section of wood that has horses carved into it and looks as if they are running up the wood. It was probably 30 feet across, and it was so beautiful.

Next to that is an exhibit on the famous Terracotta Warriors. These were cast from the original designs, and it is impressive to see them up close like this.

There is more to explore here, but I will let you see it for yourself. I thought that just this exhibit itself was worth the price of admission.

World of Nature

World of Nature is the last exhibit and the best if you are traveling with a family. 

This exhibit has over 600 animal species on display from all over the world. 

Many of the animals are taxidermies which makes the whole thing feel very real.

The animals are in intricate scenes, and it is crazy how much they fit into this relatively small space.

There were dozens of families with kids running around in this exhibit, and most were excited to see all that it had to offer.

I thought the most remarkable part was the stairs down to the exhibit hall, which had a giant shark right above it.
As you can probably tell, I loved this museum. It is easily one of my favorites in California now, and I highly recommend you visit. If you want more spots to explore in the Tri-Valley, check out this post and let me know what you think in the comments.

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Fort Ross State Historic Park is a unique part of California’s history and connection with Russia in the early 1800s. This park houses the remains and reconstruction of a Russian Fur Trading Outpost that was the southernmost Russian settlement when they were attempting to colonize North America. The park was preserved in 1909, and while much of it has been rebuilt, it is still a great spot to explore on the Sonoma Coast with a fascinating history. Here is all the information.

Getting There

The park is located along the coast on Highway 1, about 20 minutes north of Jenner. It is hard to miss as you drive north on Pacific Coast Highway, and there is a lot of parking after you pay your entrance fee.

Fort Ross State Historic Park

The park has a few main attractions that you should see. The first is a museum that tells you all about the history and has lots of artifacts that you can see.

Fort Ross was used from 1812 to 1842, and during that time, many people lived and worked here.

The museum talks a lot about how the area was important as an agricultural base for Alaska and was crucial in shipbuilding for the expansion.

A few of the scientists that lived and worked here helped record some of California’s cultural history, which was critical in preserving what would have been lost.

The Fort

After exploring the museum, take a 5-minute walk to the fort.

While most of the fort has been reconstructed, the commander’s house is still the original building.

The fort’s reconstruction is fascinating and so well done. The buildings feel old and help you understand how people lived in this area.

The buildings are open to walk through and explore, which adds to the experience.

The highlight is the reconstructed chapel, unlike any other chapel building I have seen with its build technique.

The building has two circular pillars extending from the roof, adding a distinctive style. It is supposedly the oldest Russian Orthodox Church south of Alaska, and you can walk inside of it as well.

After exploring the fort, you exit the front and start the loop hike back to your car.

Along the way, there are trails down to the coast if you want to explore more.

Be sure to see the windmill near the parking lot. These windmills were some of the first ever built in North America, and it is also interesting to know this history.

After that, you will be back at the parking area and can continue on. This is a spot you must visit if you are into the area’s history, and I enjoyed seeing this unique state park. Let me know what you think in the comments.

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Mt Dana is the second tallest mountain in Yosemite National Park, sitting just 60 feet below Mt Lyell. At 13,060 feet, it is a commanding presence in the Tioga Pass area of Yosemite’s backcountry. While it is technically a short hike at less than 7 miles round trip, it is very tough with an almost relentless uphill slog that climbs over 1,000 feet in the last 3/4ths of a mile. Once you reach the top, you are greeted with one of the best summit views in California, with the backcountry of Yosemite one way and Mono Lake and Highway 395 the other way. Here is all the information on this fantastic summit hike in Yosemite National Park.

Details

• 7 miles round trip
• 3,100 feet of elevation gain
• Usually hiked in the summer but start early, there is no shade
• Parking right near the entrance to Yosemite National Park

Getting There

The trailhead for the hike is located across from the Yosemite National Park entrance at Tioga Pass. You have to drive all the way up from Mono Lake to get to around 10,000 feet, which is where the hike starts. There is a parking area on the side of the road before the entrance that you can use for the hike. 

Video

Here is a video I made on the trail as well.

Mt Dana Trail

The hike up Mt Dana begins right at the entry station. After walking across to the trailhead, you will begin the 7 mile round trip trail to the summit. 

The trail begins by walking through a flat shaded area for the first half mile. 

Along the way, you will see a few different lakes that have some stunning views in the early morning light.

At about a half mile, the trail begins to climb, and it climbs the rest of the way to the summit.

Pretty quickly, you will lose the shade and tree cover, and there is no shade the entire rest of the hike.

The hike heads up from here, and it has no real switchbacks for most of the trail, so it is pretty much just a steep uphill with loose rocks.

As you gain elevation, the views get better and better out into Yosemite’s backcountry.

We ran into some snow at around 11,500 feet (it was early June when we hiked this), and it was easy to go around. I am sure during years with more snow, this is probably a trail where you will need an ice ax and crampons.

After getting to the top of the first hill, you will have a more gradual incline for a little while as you walk to the base of the Mt Dana summit.

From here, you will be at the most challenging part of the trail as you will gain over 1,000 feet of elevation in less than 3/4ths of a mile.

This section is relentless; it is steep with lots of rocks you have to hop as you make your way up.

The trail is a little hard to follow here, but there were large rock piles that we could see and which noted the trail.

At the end of the day, you are just going up, and all paths are pretty much the same, stepping on large rocks as you go up.

Eventually, you will reach the summit and some of the best views you will ever see on a California summit.

The peak has a fantastic amount of prominence, and you can see all the way down to Mono Lake and Highway 395 from the summit.

You can see Lembert Dome, Unicorn Peak, and many other peaks and lakes in the other direction.
It is stunning and a view I will never forget.

We spent about 45 minutes up here, having a snack and just soaking it all in, and it was an amazing California adventure in Yosemite National Park.

Be sure to check it out if you get the chance, and let me know what you think in the comments.

The post Mt Dana Trail: Hiking Yosemite’s 2nd Tallest Peak appeared first on California Through My Lens.

Siskiyou County sits at the northern top of California, right in the middle the state, and is bisected by the 5 highway. The county is rugged and wonderful, with some of the best hikes you can do in California. With the Trinity Alps Wilderness on one side and Mt Shasta and the caves of Lava Beds National Monument on the other, you could easily spend a lifetime exploring the wilderness in this part of the state. While this is by no means a complete list, and it focuses more on the easier hikes for those just getting into hiking, there is something for everyone in Siskiyou County and on this list. The list is in order of length, and let’s jump right into it.

This post was sponsored by Discover Siskiyou but all opinions are my own.

Video

Here is a video I made on all these hikes.

Hedge Creek Falls

Hedge Creek Falls is an easy stop in the town of Dunsmuir that is great if you are looking for a way to stretch your legs on a road trip. The hike is around a half mile round trip, but it is scenic and steep in some sections. The trail leads down to a waterfall on a series of switchbacks. When you get to the waterfall, you can continue on the trail behind the water and over to the other side. It is unique to be able to go behind a waterfall like this, and it is one of those hikes that I have done many times and still love coming back to do again. If you are short on time, it is the most accessible introduction to the area you can find, and a spectacular waterfall to see after only 10 minutes of hiking.

Box Canyon

Box Canyon is a fun, family-friendly hike right near Lake Siskiyou that is a little over a mile round trip. The trail begins next to the Box Canyon Dam, and it takes you downhill as you parallel the creek next to you. Unfortunately, there are only short glimpses of the stream as most of the hike is shaded with lush trees. One of the highlights is all the old abandoned cars that you will see around the halfway point. Apparently, this part of Shasta used to be a dumping ground for cars, and there are dozens of them in different levels of deterioration along the trail. As you pass them, the trail continues through the beautiful trees and eventually ends at a small rock outcropping from which you can almost see the creek. It’s a nice path that never seems too busy in the area.

Spring Hill

The Spring Hill Trail is located minutes from downtown Mt Shasta and is another excellent short hike for a quick road trip stop. The trail leaves from a parking area across the street from the Sacramento River Headwaters, and it climbs 650 feet to the top of Spring Hill. Along the way, there are benches to sit and relax at that look out towards Mt Shasta. This is a fantastic hike, and the views are stunning if it is clear. Do note that the views at the top are not very good, so the best views are on the way up. My favorite part of the trail is the view at Rocky Point, so consider taking the short hike to Rocky Point on the way back down the hill.

Lava Beds National Monument

Lava Beds National Monument was hard to place on the list as the hikes there are all varying lengths, and you will want to do many of them if you make the drive out to the eastern part of the county. Lava Beds is impressive and features dozens of caves that you are free to explore with unique features like cave-ins that let in the light, a cave with almost a full mile of darkness, and one that has a golden appearance on the cave ceiling. You can drive the cave loop and get out at any you are interested in or check-in with the visitors center, and they will tell you some of the best for your ability level. Be sure to bring a flashlight though! I recommend you do Skull Cave, Sunshine Cave, and Sentinel Cave, but you will have fun doing any of them.

Hidden Lake

I didn’t want to not have the Trinity Alps Wilderness on this list, but most of the hikes there are long and remote, so they require a lot more effort than the average hiker will want to put in. That being said, the easiest way to get a taste of the Trinity Alps Wilderness is on the Hidden Lakes Trail. This trail is 2 miles round trip and takes you up to a stunning high-altitude lake. The area did get burned in a fire in 2021, so the path can be hard to find, and it is not as scenic as it once was. That being said, it is a fascinating area to explore, and the lake will probably make you want to spend more time in this unique part of the state.

McCloud Falls

Heading to the town of McCloud in the southern part of the county, this hike is around 4 miles round trip and takes you to three waterfalls. The hike starts at the lower falls and follows the McCloud River as you head up to the other two waterfalls. My favorite is Middle Falls, which is as stunning as it gets for a California waterfall, but all three are worth seeing. If you don’t want to hike, you can also drive between the three, but if you’re going to see Middle Falls from the base, you will have to hike down to it from the overlook. Spend some time here, it is an excellent spot for a half-day, and in the winter, you can even snowshoe to the falls if that is something you are interested in.

Lake Siskiyou

Lake Siskiyou is another great hike for all ages as it can be as long as 7 miles to get around the whole lake, or it can be short if you simply want to park at one of the lots and hike around. The lake is spectacular and has so many amazing views that it is worth exploring. If it is clear, you will see Mt Shasta towering above you as you make your way around the west side of the lake. Be sure to also go across the fantastic pedestrian bridge they have in the northeast section of the lake. It is great to see an awesome bridge like this just built for pedestrian access and is a unique feature on the trail. Let me know what your favorite part of the lake is in the comments.

Castle Dome

Castle Dome is located in Castle Crags State Park, a stunning and often overlooked state park right on Highway 5. The park has an amazing collection of craggy rocks as the focal point, but it is hard to see them without a lot of work, which is why the park doesn’t get a lot of visitors. The main hike takes you through a lush forest and up to the park’s main feature, Castle Dome. Castle Dome is a massive granite monolith that you can only summit with ropes but which looks across at Mt Shasta on a clear day. Even if you don’t want to climb to the top, the trail takes you up to the rocks and lets you explore to your heart’s content. However, it is a tough hike, with the last mile climbing over 1,000 feet on uneven stones. The views from the top easily make it worth it though. I heard there are more great hikes in the park so let me know if you have one I should try next time!

Mt Shasta

I know that most people watching this video (or reading this post) probably won’t want to undertake the mammoth hike that is Mount Shasta. Still, I wanted to include it as it is iconic and the focal point of Siskiyou County. This 14,000-foot volcano is most often climbed in the late spring when the weather is more favorable, and there is still some snow cover, making the climb more technical yet easier to traverse. We did it in 2018 over two days, and it was one of the best and hardest California adventures I have ever done. Some of the highlights were seeing the mountain’s shadow as we were hiking the Red Banks section, standing on the windy summit, and getting to glissade down some of the steeper parts at the end. If you are interested in the full climb, there is another video on my channel detailing it.

There you have it, some of my favorite hikes in Siskiyou County. Hopefully you can check out a few of these and that you fall in love with the area like I have. Let me know what I left off in the comments!

Hotel recommendation

Inn at Mt Shasta

The Inn at Mt Shasta is a great home base for exploring Siskiyou County. The hotel recently went through a renovation and it is a a fun and modern spot right in the heart of Mt Shasta.

Check it out

The post 9 Great Hikes to Do in Siskiyou County appeared first on California Through My Lens.

The Indian Canyon area of Palm Springs is the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, who lived along the creek that runs through the canyons and used the water to grow their crops. The area is still part of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, and it is home to the largest California Fan Palm oasis in the world. Hiking here is a pretty magical experience as you can walk for miles without leaving the shade of the palm trees, something you would never expect to see in the desert of Palm Springs. Here is all the information on the two most popular trails so that you can check them out as well.

Getting There

From Downtown Palm Springs, you will take South Palm Canyon towards the mountains. Note the bend where South Palm Canyon leave from East Palm Canyon and continues south. After 3 miles, you will arrive at the pay station and can pay your fee to enter the park. 

Once in the park, you will see signs that direct you to Palm Canyon and Andreas Canyon; here is the information on both. Also, on the way to Palm Canyon you can see the Split Rock in the photo above.

Andreas Canyon

Andreas Canyon is a great family-friendly hike at only a mile round trip and about 100 feet of elevation gain.

The trail begins next to a remarkable rock formation called pride rock and next to some bedrock mortars historically used to grind food.

The trail then continues under the palms and along the Andreas Creek. 

The trail was stunning, with a good amount of water in late April and lots of shade.

The official website states there are over 150 species of plants in this half-mile area, and I wouldn’t doubt it.

Eventually, the trail reaches a locked gate for the Andreas Club, and you can either head back the way you came or head up a little on a path that looks across towards the palm. 

There is no shade on this path, but it is nice to see the palm oasis from both ways. 

You will eventually make it back to your car and can continue to Palm Canyon.

Palm Canyon

Palm Canyon is a longer trail, especially if you take the Victor Trail, which takes you up to look down on the oasis.

We started the trail by heading down into Palm Canyon and walking among the palms.

You can walk over a mile from here without leaving the tree’s shade. 

It is an excellent hike for a family as it is shaded and has a nice creek you are walking along. I can’t wait to bring my young twins back to this trail.

We just walked through the canyon and enjoyed all of the views.

Seeing the massive collection of palms reflected in the creek is beautiful.

The trail will split with the Victor Trail at the one-mile mark. You can take this trail or head back through the canyon you came up.

Victor Trail

The Victor Trail leaves the canyon quickly with a decent elevation gain (over 300 on this portion of the trail). 

I enjoyed making this a loop as the elevation gain gave you some stunning views down into the Palm Canyon area from above. 

The trail goes along the ridgeline with some good drop-offs on one side, looking over the oasis.

Note that there is no shade on this portion of the trail, so you will want to avoid it in the heat of the summer.

As you make it back to the parking area, the trail adds about a quarter-mile as it winds its way back.

You don’t have to go back this way, but I enjoyed making it a loop and seeing more of the canyon.

These are just a few of the popular short trails in the area, but there are dozens more if you want to see more of Indian Canyons. Let me know what your favorite spot is in the comments, and you can see more Palm Springs recommendations here.  

The post Indian Canyons: Hiking Palm Canyon and Andreas Canyon appeared first on California Through My Lens.

Knotts Berry Farm has a yearly event that runs for about a month and spotlights the tiny fruit that has become synonymous with the theme park. The boysenberry was first grown in Anaheim, CA, and then it was given to Walter Knott, who created Knotts Berry Farm. He grew it and developed it for commercial use, and purchasing boysenberries became a big part of visits to Knotts over the years. The festival now takes the love of boysenberry to a new level with dozens of dishes that all make use of the fruit. Here is all the information on the festival in 2022, and let me know if you have any questions in the comments..

The Boysenberry Festival

f you want to visit the festival, I would recommend going on a weekday as the park is less busy. If you want to experience the event fully then you should buy a tasting card. 

When I went in 2022, they were $50, or $45 if you had an annual pass, and they allowed you to get six different tastings.

When they say tastings, they really mean it as we had three people and two toddlers, and everyone got to try a lot of each dish. I was surprised by how generous the portion sizes were for the price. Here are the six dishes we chose.

Meatballs in a Boysenberry BBQ Sauce on mashed potatoes

Boysenberry Cowboy Chili with Mac & Cheese and a Frito Garnish

Boysenberry Filled Donut Open Faced Chicken Sandwich topped with a Bacon Jam and Arugula

Elote with a Boysenberry Butter, Mayo, and Cotija Cheese

Boysenberry Beer

Boysenberry Pie Bar

I was honestly surprised by how good all of the dishes were. I expected them to be lower quality than they were, since we were at an amusement park, but my group really enjoyed them.

For us, the highlights were the chili with mac and cheese, the elote, and the pie bar.

We spent about an hour walking around the different booths and selecting our six items. Even though it was a Friday, there was not much of a line at any of them.

Eating is the central part of the festival, so after doing that you can ride any of the regular rides and experience the park as you would like. My family has annual passes, so we had a blast just coming down for dinner and trying many of the dishes. If you get a chance to go let me know what you think the best dish was in the comments!

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It is hard to beat Orange County beaches and ice cream shops with summer right around the corner. I already covered beaches in a previous post here, so this short post is all about some of Orange County’s best and most unique ice cream shops. I have visited many ice cream shops over the years and this list is some of my favorites in the Orange County area. Here are all the shops in alphabetical order. Be sure to let me know what I left off in the comments!

Hans Homemade Ice Cream

Hans has been a local favorite since 1972 in Orange County, and it feels like you are visiting an old-time ice cream parlor. They make all of the ice creams in house, and they rotate frequently. It’s just classic ice cream here, which I love. Also, the mint ice cream sandwich with oatmeal cookies is a personal favorite of mine as well. 

HoneyMee

HoneyMee sources all of their milk for their smooth soft-serve ice cream from California dairy farms, and they top the ice cream with locally sourced honey and honeycombs. It is as simple as it gets, but it is tough to beat good quality honey on top of nice ice cream. Plus, if you want to get crazy, they have affogatos served with either coffee or matcha. It’s an excellent spot for a unique dessert.

House of Chimney Cakes

House of Chimney Cakes is a popular Instagram foodie spot with a sweet bread cone that is the official dessert of the country of Hungary. They pile the cone high with delicious soft serve and then add all sorts of toppings to create one-of-kind ice cream cones. You can even watch them make the chimney cakes after you order. It is close to Disneyland and is a great stop after a day of exploring the park.

Joe’s Italian Ice

Joe’s Italian ice is a must-visit spot in Orange County, and it is home to some of the best Italian Ice I have ever had. There is always a line, but you will understand why when you visit. Everyone is friendly here, the storefront has an old-school cool, and it is just ridiculously good. I have had many flavor combinations but it is hard to beat strawberry lemonade. 

Popbar

Popbar is also located close to Disneyland, and it is a famous New York shop that was brought to the west coast. The ice cream here is gelato on a stick, and then they dip it in your choice of chocolate and roll it in the toppings you select. It’s different from the rest of the spots on this list, but it is a great grab-and-go ice cream in a fun Southern California food hall. My favorite is the Green Tea Kit Kat creation. 

Salt & Straw

Salt & Straw started in Portland, Oregon but now has a few Southern California locations. The Orange County location is in Downtown Disney, and it is a popular spot for a scoop of ice cream while at the park. Salt & Straw has some of the most unique flavors you have ever seen, with five new ones rotating every month. When I say unique, I mean it as they have had ice cream with bugs in it and often have goat cheese and even smoked ham in their rotating flavors. The ice cream here is so good that I will try anything they make.

Saffron & Rose

Saffron & Rose is a Persian ice cream parlor that has been making ice cream for almost 50 years at their LA location. The Irvine location is much newer, but the ice cream is just as good. Seriously, I never knew how much I needed Persian ice cream in my life, and I highly recommend you go down and give it a try. It is so simple and flavorful that I rarely leave without a pint. I recommend the white rose. 

Sweet Rolled Tacos

The last spot on this list is Sweet Rolled Tacos in Garden Grove. Rolled ice cream has been popular for a while, but this shop took it a step further by making rolled ice cream and then putting it in a taco and adding some toppings. I love watching them make it after I order, and I can easily say that it is not just a gimmick but actually tastes fantastic. It is the dessert taco you never knew you wanted, and the flavor combinations often change, making it new every time you go in. 

The post 8 Orange County Ice Cream Shops You Need to Try appeared first on California Through My Lens.

Meadowlark Dairy is a historic spot in Pleasanton that has been serving the community for over 100 years. I was shocked to see how popular this little neighborhood market was when I visited on a Monday afternoon, and I am bummed it took me so long to get here after trying the ice cream. Meadowlark is one of those places you don’t find anymore in California, and it is a must-visit if you are even remotely close to the area. The ice cream here is excellent, as the line that is pretty much always in front of the store will tell you. Here is all the information on this fantastic California spot.

Getting There

Meadowlark Dairy is located one block off First Street in Pleasanton. It is easy to find as you will no doubt notice the line. You can either drive through and get your ice cream, or park along the street and use the walk-up line. I recommend walking up; then, you can take your ice cream over to the park and eat on one of the park benches.

Meadowlark Dairy

On my recent trip to Tri-Valley, I went to Meadowlark Dairy twice, and I would have gone more if I had the time.
I showed up around 3 PM two days in a row, and it was packed on both a Sunday and Monday.

I was a little worried about the line, but it went incredibly fast, with dozens of workers taking orders and grabbing ice cream.

The six main flavors are always there, and other flavors rotate depending on the season.

On my first trip, I tried blue cookie dough, which was great, but I got orange and vanilla swirl on my second trip, and this was the way to go. It tasted like a creamsicle, and it was awesome.

A medium is more than enough for most people. I tried both the medium and the large. The large was basically the height of my head; it was a lot of ice cream.

After paying for your cone, I recommend taking it over to the park across the street to enjoy.
Not much else to say about this spot, other than it is not something you want to miss on your visit. It is just fun historic California, and you won’t regret it. Find more spots to visit in Tri-Valley here, and let me know what you think in the comments.

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The Tri-Valley is a collection of cities located about 35 miles east of San Francisco that is home to renowned museums, fantastic hiking trails, historical points of interest, and many highly reviewed restaurants. I spent a weekend exploring the towns of Danville, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore and was greeted by much more than I expected, thoroughly enjoying my time in this special part of the state. Did you know they even have the longest-running lightbulb in the world?? I collected many of my favorite spots in this list to make the most of your time in the Tri-Valley. Check it out, and let me know what I left off in the comments that you enjoy in the area.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Visit Tri-Valley, but all of my opinions are my own.

Livermore

Livermore is the largest city in the Tri-Valley, and because of that, it has lots of restaurants, a great downtown to explore, and many hiking trails. Livermore is where I stayed while I was in the Tri-Valley area, so I got to know the city pretty well. Here are some of my favorite spots in Livermore.

Downtown Livermore

I spent many mornings and nights in the downtown area as it has shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and more. Parking is easy around downtown with street parking and many parking lots. Just grab a spot and explore Downtown Livermore.

Livermore Murals

Downtown Livermore has a large collection of murals covering many buildings. There are more than 15 of them today all around the downtown and surrounding areas. I love seeing murals when I visit new cities, and they had some great ones here. If you want to see them all, you can find each location on this site.

Centennial Lightbulb

The Centennial Lightbulb is the Guinness Book of World Record’s longest burning lightbulb. It has been burning for 120 years and is still going strong in the Livermore Fire Station. It is inside the fire station, so you can only visit when someone is there to show you the lightbulb. You can see the lightbulbs webcam here, if you want to make sure it is still burning from the comfort of your home. 

Sutherland Distillery

Sutherland Distillery has been in Livermore for almost a decade, and it sources many of its ingredients from local farmers. You can set up an appointment if you would like to try their many different spirits. My favorite was the rye.

Del Valle Regional Park

This park encompasses over 4,000 acres and features dozens of miles of hiking and biking trails and a large lake with fishing and boating opportunities. It is especially charming during the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.

Livermore Restaurants 

Donut Wheel

I always try to find new donut shops when I visit a city, and Donut Wheel was my find in the Tri-Valley. It is a typical mom-and-pop donut shop with a continuous line and classic donuts. It you like donuts like me, then check it out.

The Press

The Press was the biggest surprise during my visit to Livermore. I had gotten coffee there before, which was great, but I got a chance to try the food on a recent trip. They have “toastinis” which are slices of toast with different toppings, and you can mix and match two flavors. I had the avocado toast and egg with the strawberry caprese, and both were magical.

Posada

Posada specializes in contemporary southwestern cuisine that includes influences from many different cultures. It is an excellent spot for lunch with friends or a nice dinner out. Get the sangrita, a mix of Sangria and Margarita, and you cannot go wrong with the mahi-mahi tacos and watermelon salad. It is the most ordered item here, and it is easy to see why.

Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard

Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard serves up “innovative Asian cuisine” and is a fantastic upscale restaurant in Downtown Livermore. It is an excellent place for a date, and I loved the “Aged Orange Peel Beef” dish. It was flash fried and had a sweet and spicy flavor. One of my favorite things I ate in the Tri-Valley.

Story Coffee

Story Coffee is your spot if you are looking for a traditional coffee shop with fantastic drinks. Plus, it is right next to the Livermore Mural, which is fun to see as well.

Pleasanton

Pleasanton is a great spot to spend the night while in Tri-Valley. It is the closest town to the San Jose Airport (if you are flying in), and the downtown area is just as walkable as Livermore and Danville. Plus, it has the Meadowlark Dairy, one of my favorite places in the Tri-Valley area.

Downtown Pleasanton

Downtown Pleasanton comprises six blocks of shops, coffee, restaurants, and museums. It is centered around the Pleasanton arch, an often photographed spot in the city. Parking is easy with lots of street parking and a few lots, so it is another excellent downtown to explore.

Meadowlark Dairy

No trip to Pleasanton is complete without a visit, or two, to Meadowlark Dairy. They have been selling dairy products here for the better part of a century, and you can stop by to try one of their famous ice cream cones daily. It is always busy, but the line moves fast, and there are multiple flavors, with new ones being switched out often. It is awesome, and a great way to spend a warm day in the city!

Museum on Main

While in Downtown Pleasanton, be sure to stop by Museum on Main. It is free and pretty small, but it has a great exhibit on the city’s history worth checking out.

Pleasanton Restaurants

Sabio on Main

Sabio on Main is an upscale restaurant located right off the main street. It is an excellent spot for a date with al la carte options and multiple course meals. I tried a three-course meal, and everything was fantastic that I tried. I especially liked the mussel soup, which I would never usually order. It’s a great spot for a relaxing dinner in Pleasanton.

Danville

Danville is the furthest north of the Tri-Valley towns, making it the access point for Mt Diablo, one of California’s best state parks. Not to be overshadowed by the mountain, the town also has a great downtown you can explore, the Blackhawk Museum, and the Eugene O’Neill historic site, among other things.

Blackhawk Museum

The Blackhawk Museum is one of the best museums I have ever been to and easily one of the state’s best. The museum has only five exhibits, but the exhibits are immersive and stunning, with days worth of information to take in if you are interested. You should not leave the Tri-Valley area without visiting this museum, and it is worth the visit to the Tri-Valley by itself. Here is more information on my time at the Blackhawk Museum.

Eugene O’Neill Historic Site

Eugene O’Neill is one of the USA’s most prolific playwrights. He wrote some of the best plays of the 20th century and even won a Nobel Prize during his life. He lived for a period in Danville, and the NPS has preserved his house. You can still tour if you get a ticket in advance, and it is worth it to see this beautiful property and learn more about Eugene O’Neill himself.

Mt Diablo

Mt Diablo is the crown jewel of the Tri-Valley and can be seen from all over the Bay Area. The mountain is a commanding presence, and on a clear day, you can see hundreds of miles away from the summit. The state park that encompasses the mountain has hiking and biking trails and a scenic drive to the summit. Read more about my time there in this post.

Danville Restaurants

Danville Harvest

Danville Harvest is a delicious brunch spot in Downtown Danville. Here, the food is farm-to-table with traditional breakfast items and sandwiches. I especially enjoyed the burrata appetizer, and this is a place where you will see lots of tourists and locals congregate on a nice spring day.

Danville Brewing Company

Danville Brewing Company is my go-to spot after a day of hiking in Mt Diablo State Park. The restaurant has plenty of seating inside and out, great beers, and many fun food options. I am partial to the fuji apple melt with bacon added on. It is hard for me to order anything else since it is so good.

Lottie’s Creamery

Lottie’s Creamery is a hand-crafted ice cream parlor right in Downtown Danville. The flavors change often and include everything from key lime pie to brown sugar & apple.

Dublin

Dublin is the town I spent the least amount of time in, so hopefully, I can go back and spend more time there in the future. I did visit one of the museums though, and really enjoyed it.

Dublin Heritage Park & Museums

This park preserves many buildings from the 1800s, allowing visitors to dive into the area’s history and see how people lived during that time. If you visit outside of regular hours, you can still walk the grounds, but I recommend visiting when it is open to go into a few of the buildings.

Tri-Vally Trails (Beer Trail – Ice Cream Trail – Caffeine Trail)

The Tri-Valley does something fun that I have not seen before to encourage stops at many of the area’s best breweries, ice cream parlors, and coffee shops. They have three distinct trails (beer, ice cream, and caffeine) where you can visit a set number of participating locations and then upload your photos to a website to win a prize. You can learn more about the trails here, and you can see the mug I got from the caffeine trail above.

Hotel recommendation

Courtyard by Marriot Livermore

I have only stayed at one hotel in the area, the Courtyard by Marriott Livermore. It was a great spot that was centrally located, had a spacious room, and had a lovely bistro with breakfast and lunch options. I enjoyed having it as my jumping-off point for a weekend in Tri-Valley.

Check it out

There you have it, my favorite spots in California’s Tri-Valley area. What did I leave off that you love exploring? Let me know in the comments. 

The post Tri-Valley Things to Do: Exploring 22 Spots in Livermore, Danville, Dublin & Pleasanton appeared first on California Through My Lens.

Mori Point is a beautiful piece of land maintained by the national park service, preserving bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The area is popular for hiking and mountain biking, and it is a stunning place to spend some time enjoying the California Coast. There are many trails through the area, but my favorite is the loop trail that I did below, as it allows you to spend a good amount of time just enjoying this unique spot. The hike takes you to the bluffs overlooking Rockaway Beach, along the ridgeline, and down to Mori Point. Here is all the information if you want to hike this fantastic coastal trail.

Details

• 3 miles round trip
• 400 feet of elevation
• Free
• Small parking lot 
• All Trails link – I recommend you use this as there are no signs

Getting There

From Highway 1, heading north towards Pacifica Pier, you will turn left on Allen Road and immediately arrive at the small parking lot. This lot only has space for 8-10 cars, and it is often full. If it is full, you can sometimes find street parking on the other side of Highway 1 and walk across.

The Trail to Mori Point

From the parking area, you will head out on the bike path which goes by Mikes’s Garden.

Mikes Garden is a public garden planted as a memorial to September 11. It was maintained for a while by Mike, but as he got older (he is 94 now), he opened up the individual plots of the garden for other people to adopt and care for. 

It is a fun start to the hike, and the many gardens are beautiful.

Walking along the bike path for about a quarter-mile, you will eventually come to a break in the path that takes you into the nature area of the park.

There are no signs and many random paths here, so get an All Trails map if you want to follow the way I did.

The trail then heads up along the bluffs and looks down on Rockaway Beach, south of you.

The trail hugs the coastline as you continue to gain elevation and stunning views of the ocean below you.

This is where the trail gains most of its elevation as you continue climbing up the ridgeline. It is also steep and slippery here, so be careful.

Once you reach the high point, you will be looking down on Mori Point out in front of you. 

The views here are stunning, with the point and Pacifica Pier out in front of you.

The trail then heads downhill and passes some old mining infrastructure that has since crumbled into the mountain and become covered in graffiti.

You can see down to the cove here as you walk along it, and it is beautiful.

You will arrive at the short path out to Mori Point as you pass the cove.

Mori Point

From here, you can get amazing views back towards the cove to your left and Pacifica to your right.

I was impressed by how beautiful the views were here, and there are a few benches if you want to relax more.

The area looks down on Bootleggers Steps, a popular trail that takes you up to Mori Point from the pier. 

This area was used for bootlegging during prohibition, so it is a fitting name.

From here, the trail either heads down to the coast and back along the bike path or up and over the ridge. All Trails will take you down, but I decided to go up and over the ridge.

I headed up on the Coastal Trail and over to the Timigtac Trail (you can see these on All Trails).

There was a steep section to get to the top of the ridge, but the views over the park were stunning. It was green in the spring, which made it even nicer here.

As I crossed the ridge, I hiked back down to the bike path and followed it to my car.

I spent a lot of time on this trail as it was a stunning coastal trail with epic views. Check it out if you are in the area, and let me know what you think in the comments. 

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Monterey is a beautiful city along the California Coast that sits on the Monterey Bay and is home to many fun activities. The city was the capital of Alta California, under Spain and Mexico. It is steeped in literary history with John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, and it is home to a world-renowned aquarium, among other things. While this is by no means a complete list of things to do in Monterey and expands to the surrounding areas, it includes many of my favorite things to do in the city. Let me know what your favorite place in Monterey is in the comments, and let’s jump into it.

Cannery Row

Cannery Row is the main tourist area of Monterey and has shops, restaurants, and history for you to experience. The location was once home to sardine canning factories which was big business in Monterey in the mid-1900s. Cannery Row still has the preserved research laboratory, which inspired one of the main characters in Steinbeck’s Cannery Row. There are also some nice sandy beaches to relax at, and the whole area is very walkable. The main tourist destination in Cannery Row is our next recommendation, the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is often voted one of the best aquariums in the world. It opened in 1984, and it was the first-ever to have a living kelp forest on exhibit. The aquarium uses its spot on the bay to showcase many of the local marine life, and it is one of these places that you could easily explore all day. The aquarium is often busy as it sees over 2 million annual visitors. It is easy to see why though, as there are dozens of massive tanks and many events like feedings that happen throughout the day. It can be expensive for a whole family, but it is hard to think of a better aquarium you can visit than this one. 

Old Fishermans Wharf / Old Fishermans Grotto

Old Fishermans Wharf is the original pier used for commercial fishing operations from when it opened in 1870 to the 1960s. Now it is a tourist area that is the home base for many of Monterey Bay’s boat tours and has lots of stores and restaurants. It is fun to walk on this historic wharf and get views of the bay, and it has the Old Fishermans Grotto, which is a terrific spot for lunch or dinner. Old Fishermans Grotto is often named the best clam chowder in Monterey, and it has been here since 1950. I have had the chowder many times, and I can confirm that it is excellent.

Monterey State Historic Park

While at Old Fishermans Wharf, take some time to walk around Monterey State Historic Park. This park has 17 buildings and includes many significant historic structures like California’s first theater and the customs house, California’s oldest public building. You can grab a map and walk to see all of the buildings, many of which are only open during specific times of the week, if you want to look inside. It is an excellent stop for those interested in both the area’s history and California’s state history.

Monterey Moon Tree / Colton Hall

While technically part of Monterey State Historic Park, I wanted to specifically call out this building and the moon tree in the surrounding park. Colton Hall is where the California constitution was written, and it is now a museum that you can explore. In the park that surrounds it, be sure to check out the moon tree. This coastal redwood was grown from a seed that was carried to space. Sure it just looks like a typical tree, but how many other trees have you seen that have been to space? It is worth a quick stop. 

Lower Presidio

The Presidio is still an active US Army Base located right in the downtown area of Monterey. While you can’t visit the base, the Lower Presidio area is home to a small museum and a beautiful park with amazing views out towards the water. Be sure to walk up to Sloat’s Monument for the best views. The monument is interesting as it was dedicated to Commodore Sloat, a commander in the navy who claimed California for the United States. In another smaller park below the museum, there is also a statue of Father Junipero Serra looking over the bay that you can also see. 

Dennis the Menace Park

Dennis the Menace Park is one of the best children’s play areas you will find. The play area has an entire train engine right when you walk in and a famous tiger fountain that has been in many photos over the years. The playground has slides, a maze, tunnels, and other spots for kids to explore, and if you are traveling with a family, you do not want to miss it. This park was created over 50 years ago with the help of Hank Ketcham, who started the popular comic, and it is an excellent way to introduce your family to the fun history of Dennis the Menace.

The following few recommendations leave the downtown area to visit a few fun spots in the surrounding region.

17 Mile Drive

17 Mile Drive is a paid scenic drive that takes you to the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course and along the stunning coast. The drive has many different numbers that refer to specific areas along the route and allow you to learn more about the region. While it does cost, it is stunning, and it is a fun half-day adventure stopping at many of the viewpoints and just soaking it all in. The Lone Cypress is a great spot for photographers, with a cypress tree growing out of the rocks and standing all by itself. If you have a half-day to explore, this is a great adventure.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Point Lobos sits basically at the entrance to the Big Sur coastline, and it is one of the best state parks in California. While the park is not that big, it features miles of coastal trails with stunning views. My favorite trails are the Cypress Grove Trail and the Bird Rock Trail. There are often sea lions and seals on the rocks and beaches below many trails. Plus, the area has a lot of history, including the whalers who once lived along the coast. If you like hiking, you must visit Point Lobos while in Monterey.

Monarch Grove Sanctuary

In the neighboring city of Pacific Grove, you can find a preserved forest that provides a sanctuary for monarch butterflies. The butterflies typically visit the area from November to February, and if you happen to be there when they are, you should stop by. It can be hard to see them if they are further back in the preserve, but it is crazy to see the clumps of hundreds of butterflies all hanging together from some of the trees. It is a special event to see in the Monterey area.

Before ending this post, I wanted to share two food spots I love in Monterey. 

Lou Lou’s Griddle in the Middle

First up, Lou Lou’s Griddle in the Middle is a delicious breakfast restaurant on Municipal Wharf 2. This tiny spot has been serving up their famous Hubcap Griddle Cake, a pancake so big that it overflows the plate, for years. It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and I always stop by for breakfast if I am in the area. I think they have lunch too, but I have never been. Let me know how it is in the comments if you have.

Revival Ice Cream

My last recommendation is Revival Ice Cream, one of California’s best ice cream places. This spot makes small-batch ice cream with local ingredients and has won awards for its unique flavors. If you have never been, then you must order the Bees Knees. It has local honey, beeswax, and honeycomb candy. I have never ordered anything else here since it is so good.

So there you have it, my favorite places in Monterey. Let me know what I left off in the comments!

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Santa Cruz is a coastal California city right on the northern part of Monterey Bay. The city has been a popular place for arts and pop culture for decades and has a fun, relaxed vibe for a weekend of exploring. I have spent a lot of time here and love the history of the boardwalk and the close vicinity to the redwoods. Here are all of my favorite spots and let me know what I left off in the comments. You can see my full Santa Cruz city guide here as well.

Video

Here is a video of all these recommendations.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is the top attraction in the city of Santa Cruz. The boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park, which opened in 1907. It is still going strong, with summer weekends packed with people enjoying the weather and rides. The Giant Dipper is an especially amazing piece of history, as the wooden roller coaster has been running since 1924 and is a blast to ride. It is a fun stop in Santa Cruz for the whole family.

Santa Cruz Wharf

Next to the boardwalk, the Sant Cruz Wharf is a large pier built in 1914 that is drivable and has multiple restaurants. The pier is fun to explore, with great views looking back at the boardwalk and over towards Lighthouse Point. My favorite spot to eat on the wharf is Stagnaro Bros Seafood. I recommend getting the clam chowder and the fish tacos there. Plus, they have a fish market if you want to pick something up.

West Cliff Drive

Next up, head over to West Cliff Drive and take the scenic drive along the city’s western portion. While there, stop at Lighthouse Point and check out the surfing museum if it is open. This is also a great area for a pleasant coastal stroll, the beach, or watching the surfers out past the point. It can be hard to find parking, but it is an excellent spot for a summer day.

Natural Bridges State Beach

At the end of West Cliff Drive, you will reach Natural Bridges State Beach, one of the most picturesque views in Santa Cruz. This beach is stunning and has a large natural rock arch about 20 feet out into the water. The beach is worth visiting itself, but for photographers, the arch is a fantastic spot for sunset photos. There used to be two arches here, but the other broke in a storm in the 1980s. There is only one arch now, but it is worth seeing by itself, and it’s a great spot in Santa Cruz.

Wilder Ranch State Park

Heading on from Natural Bridges, Wilder Ranch State Park is another excellent spot to hike in Santa Cruz. This state park preserves a historic ranch part of a Mexican land grant in 1839. You can still see one of the old adobe buildings while you are there and walk past many of the newer ranch buildings as well. The main highlight here is the coastal trail, which takes you towards the bluffs and lets you walk along them. The coastal views are stellar here, and even though I have been many times, I always enjoy going back to see it again.

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is another historic park in the city that preserves an adobe building once a dormitory for the Santa Cruz Mission. You can walk through the building, and see displays about life during that time. There is also a nice picnic area outside with a view out towards the ocean. While you are there, you can see a replica of the Santa Cruz mission. This mission is one of the 21 Spanish California missions, and even though it is not original, it is still unique to see. 

Downtown Santa Cruz

Heading back into the city, park your car and explore some of downtown Santa Cruz. Here you will find shops, restaurants, and historic buildings as you walk down Pacific Avenue. A few of my favorite spots to eat here are Pizza My Heart, a chain that sells pizza by the slice and is pretty great. You can get a shirt and a slice of pizza for $7-$8. The other spot I love in downtown Santa Cruz is Penny Ice Creamery. The ice cream here is stellar, and they have a marshmallow topping that they burn onto the top of the ice cream, which is pretty hard to beat as well. 

Mystery Spot

Heading a little out of the city, the Mystery Spot is a must visit in Santa Cruz and a historic and fun adventure in the city. The Mystery Spot is a mystical area of altered reality or a clever collection of optical illusions, whatever you believe. Either way, it is a blast to explore, and the tour is a lot of fun for the whole family. Plus they give you a sticker to take with you when you leave. Book a tour in advance though, as it often sells out.

Henry Cowell Redwoods

Fifteen minutes from downtown Santa Cruz, you will reach the redwoods, and one of the best ways to explore them is to hike through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. The park preserves some old-growth redwoods, which are massive and awe-inspiring to see. The one-mile loop trail is great for the whole family and takes you up close to some of these gigantic trees. There is a parking fee to visit here, but the trail is one of the best 1-mile trails you can do along the coast to experience these fantastic natural wonders. 

Roaring Camp Railroad

Next to Henry Cowell Redwoods is Roaring Camp Railroad; you can actually visit both of them with the same parking fee if you walk over from the state park to the railroad. Here you can take a 1-hour ride into the redwoods on a steam train, and it is such a unique experience to have along the California Coast. The train takes you deep into the forest and even uses switchbacks to gain elevation as you make it up to a lovely grove. At the halfway point, they let you explore a little bit and see the train up close. It is a fantastic half day adventure and another spot you want to book in advance if you go.

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum

UC Santa Cruz is a destination school that people from all over the world come to attend. The school has a fantastic arboretum with over 2000 different plant species and which overlooks the ocean. There are miles of trails here that weave in and out of various gardens, and it is both relaxing and beautiful. One of my favorite gardens is the aroma garden which is full of plants that smell good, and it is next to the succulent garden, which is fantastic as well. This is an excellent spot if you are looking for a relaxing way to walk and experience the Santa Cruz area. 

Donnellys Chocolates

On the way back from the arboretum, be sure to stop at Donnelly’s Chocolates. This small chocolate shop has been voted one of the best chocolate shops in the world by National Geographic, and it is pretty incredible. They have all sorts of chocolates you can purchase, but I usually go with the ice cream bars. Honestly, they are some of the best ice cream bars I have ever had. The Sea Salt Caramel is especially impressive. I doubt you will be disappointed if you pick one up.

Walton Lighthouse / Seabright State Beach

My last recommendation for this list is a visit to Walton Lighthouse and Seabright State Beach. If you are looking for a great beach to spend the day at, this is a good option. I love it for watching the sunset and for exploring the historic Walton lighthouse. Walton Lighthouse was built in 2002 to replace an older lighthouse that people thought was an eyesore. The new lighthouse is beautiful and sits out on the jetty’s edge. It is a fun walk if you are spending the day at the lighthouse and a great spot for sunset photography. 

There you have it, my favorite spots in Santa Cruz. Let me know what I left off in the comments!

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Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is one of the most beautiful places along the California Coast. The small state park at the north end of the Big Sur takes all of the beauty of Big Sur and then combines it into one small area. There are a half dozen trails to explore and each one is more beautiful than the last. While I haven’t explored them all, I have done enough to fall in love with the place, here is all the information on what I have seen in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

Details

• Cost: $10
• Day Use Area – 8 AM – 5 PM
• Dogs are not allowed
• Location: 62 Point Lobos, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923

Getting There / Permits / Parking

Point Lobos State Park is located on Highway 1 about 5 minutes south of Carmel. You access it from Highway 1 and as soon as you turn you will see the pay station to pay for your permit.  There is parking at each of the trailheads but it can be popular on the weekends in the summer and the parking lots are pretty small. I would recommend getting there early so you are sure to get a spot.

History

Point Lobos is a beautiful stretch of land situated in between multiple marine sanctuaries. The park has been called the crown jewel of the California state parks system and it is easy to see why when you visit. Point Lobos has a long history, dating back 2,500 years, when the Ohlone people group used to harvest abalone in the area. The California state parks system bought the land in 1933 which would become the main portion of the park. They continued to add to the park with donations and purchases of more land and the park now has about 400 acres.

Whaler’s Cabin

The park has removed almost all evidence of human establishments on the land other than the historic whalers cabin that was turned into a museum which discusses the whaling history in the area which is fascinating to learn more about. The whaler’s cabin was built in the 1850s and the Carmel Whaling Company operated it from 1862 to 1879. Whales were harpooned off the coast and brought into the cove where they could be processed. There used to be 10 other cabins in the cove and the last resident moved out of the cabins in 1983.

This museum is accessed via a short trail from the Whaler’s Cover parking area if you are interested in visiting it. Do be sure to check whether it is open before you go though as it has some revolving hours that change with the season.

Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving is a popular recreation in Point Lobos. I have seen many people going out to scuba dive in Whaler’s Cove, but I have not done it myself so I can’t really comment on it here. Let me know if you have been in the comments and what you thought about scuba diving at Point Lobos.

Point Lobos Hiking Trails

I have done many of the parks most popular trails, and you can click the image below to read more about each of them. There is also a trail that goes around the entire circumference of the park if you are looking for something that will give you a full introduction to the coastal sections of Point Lobos. If the parking lots are filled then people will often park along Pacific Coast Highway and walk in, utilizing this trail to visit the entire park via foot.

Cypress Grove Trail

The Cypress Grove Trail is the most popular in the park as the trail takes you through a stunning cypress grove and provides dozens of coastal viewpoints along the way. This trail was my introduction to the park and after hiking it I have returned many times to do the trail again. I love hiking it in the morning when the light is coming through the trees and relaxing at the viewpoints to watch the waves crash over the rocks below you.

Sea Lion Point Trail

Sea Lion Point Trail is a short trail that leaves from the same parking lot as the Cypress Grove Trail. It has no trees, so the coastal views are unobstructed, but it is not as good as Cypress Grove. It is a short trail though and there are often sea lion to see when you make it to the point, so if you have the time there is no reason not to add this trail on as well.

Bird Island Trail

Bird Island Trail is the other popular hike in the park. The parking lot for this trail is tiny so get their early, but the trail is magical. The trail hikes up to coastal bluff that you walk along to get to an area known as China Cove. Here you can see a stunning cove below you that almost always has seals and sea lions relaxing on the sand.

The trail then heads around to an access point for Gibson’s Beach before arriving at a look out for Bird Island. If you go when the birds are there, this island is literally covered in them. There is also an arch you can see in the water on this trail.

Cabin Trail

The Cabin Trail leaves from the Whaler’s Cove parking area and it heads up to Cannery Point, which is another great viewpoint in the park. From there it hikes around the hillside and back to the Whaler’s Cabin Museum. You can also walk up the road to make it shorter but I like taking the trail as I love this park and want to experience as much of it as I possibly can.

Where to stay when visiting Point Lobos

Camping

There is not a campground in Point Lobos, so you have to stay outside of the park.

Hotels

I recommend staying in Carmel-By-The-Sea or Monterey. Both are close to the park and both have lots of good hotel options for a weekend exploring the coast. Here is a list of hotels in Carmel and in Monterey.

Let me know what you think of Point Lobos and if there is a trail I should hike that I left off.

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