Mount Umunhum is a prominent mountain peak located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is well known for the large rectangular building you can see from all over Silicon Valley up the hill. The mountain is accessed via a 45-minute drive from Downtown San Jose, which will take you to the top. You can also park below the mountain and hike to the summit, but I always have trouble getting myself to hike to a summit I can drive to. It is a fantastic adventure in San Jose, and here is all the information.

Details

• Free to visit
• You can hike to the top if you want, more information on the hike here
• The drive is long and windy to the top

History

In the mid-20th century, Mount Umunhum was acquired by the United States Air Force and was used as a radar station during the Cold War. The summit was crowned with a large white radar tower, which became a landmark visible from miles away. However, the station was decommissioned in 1980, and the tower was dismantled in 2017.

In 1986, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District acquired the land from the Air Force and began efforts to restore the mountain’s natural habitat. The summit was reopened to the public in 2017, after the removal of the radar tower and a massive restoration effort that involved removing military buildings, concrete pads, and underground fuel tanks. Today, Mount Umunhum is a popular destination for hikers, birdwatchers, and nature enthusiasts. The mountaintop features an observation deck, and several hiking trails that offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Getting There

From San Jose, it takes about 45 minutes to drive up to the summit of Mount Umunhum. This is a windy drive and one that you have to take slow on the way up and the way down.

Mount Umunhum

When you get to the top, there is a large parking area that you can utilize and the views over San Jose and the Silicon Valley are stunning. 

You will have to walk up about 6 flights of stairs to the hiking trail that takes you down to the old radio building.

Once there, you will find plaques which talk about the areas history and how it was restored to become the park you see today.

You can’t enter the building or anything so there is not much to do here other than to walk around it. That being said, it is still a fun spot and the views are spectacular.

Once you are done exploring, you will start the drive back down to the city. Overall, this is a fun adventure for a few hours with cool history and beautiful views. I really enjoyed it and I bet you will as well. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments. You can find more spots in San Jose to explore here.

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Napa Valley is a picturesque Northern California region renowned for its beautiful vineyards, rolling hills, and exceptional wines. Located just an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, the area offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. With more than 400 wineries, Napa Valley has become a paradise for wine enthusiasts, but Napa Valley isn’t just about wine. The region’s vibrant culinary scene celebrates fresh, locally sourced ingredients. You’ll find many Michelin-starred restaurants, charming cafes, and gourmet food trucks, each offering a unique culinary experience. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a fun-filled vacation with family and friends, Napa Valley has something to offer everyone. Here is how we recommend you spend the perfect day in Napa Valley.

Details

• Napa is expensive, plan for most everything to cost more than you would think
• All Napa wineries require reservations, be sure to book them in advance
• All cost information as of February 2023

Hotel

I recommend staying in the city of Napa. This is the most cost effective place to stay and it is easy to access the valley from Napa city. It is about 45 minutes to Calistoga which is the top of the Napa Valley and only 15-20 minutes to Yountville or St Helena. I enjoy the RiverPointe hotel myself as they have a small kitchen and one bedroom so they are a nice place to stay after a day of wine tasting.

Napa Valley Itinerary

8:00 am – Breakfast and Coffee at Model Bakery

Start your day with a delicious breakfast and a cup of coffee at the Model Bakery in Napa. This bakery is famous for its English muffins and they are worth waiting in line for. Plus, the multiple flavors or jam they have are always a hit as well.

• Cost: $5-10 for a coffee and pastry

9:00 am (two options) – Hot air balloon ride or the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga

Option 1 – Take a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley and experience the breathtaking views of the vineyards and hills. Balloons Above the Valley and Napa Valley Balloons are two of the most popular balloon ride companies in the area and the views from up there are spectacular.

• Cost: Typically around $300 a person

Option 2 – Drive up to Calistoga and see the Old Faithful Geyser, which erupts every 30 minutes to 2 hours. While you wait, you can also enjoy the park’s gardens, small museum, swings and farm animals. It is an especially great stop for families.

• Cost: $15 for adults

11:00 am – Castello di Amorosa Tour and Wine Tasting

Visit Castello di Amorosa, a 13th-century Tuscan-style castle and winery. Take a tour of the castle and its underground wine cellars, and enjoy a tasting of their award-winning wines. There are over 100 rooms in the castle, which includes everything from a wine cave to a medieval torture chamber. It is not an experience to miss in the Napa Valley.

• Cost: Tour and tastings start at $50

12:30 pm – Lunch at Gott’s Roadside

For lunch, visit Gott’s Roadside, which is a casual restaurant that serves gourmet burgers, salads, and shakes made with locally sourced ingredients. It is located right in the middle of the Napa Valley in St Helena and it is a popular lunch spot, so it can be very busy. I recommend any of the burgers.

• Cost: $20-25 for a burger, fries and a drink

2:00 pm (two options) – Wine Tasting

Option 1 – Visit V. Sattui Winery, which is one of the oldest wineries in Napa Valley and a great spot with a relaxed atmosphere and an amazing deli (if you want to just have lunch here you can). Be sure to book your tasting in advance as it often fills up.

• Cost: Tastings start at $45

Option 2 – Visit Frog’s Leap Winery, which is known for its organic and sustainable farming practices. The tasting room is housed in a charming farmhouse, and the winery offers a variety of wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. It is great for a tasting and for strolling their beautiful garden.

• Cost: Tastings start at $45

4:00 pm – Downtown Napa Riverwalk

Head back to Napa city and park the car to spend some time walking along the river. Downtown Napa is full of great restaurants, shops, wine tasting rooms and even a 9/11 Memorial. It is a beautiful place for a stroll before heading to dinner.

6:00 pm (two options) – Dinner

Option 1 – Head to the Oxbow Public Market, which is a foodie’s paradise. It offers a variety of dining options, including fresh seafood, barbecue, tacos, and sandwiches. One of my favorite spots in Hog Island Oyster Company, which has some of the best oysters around, but you can’t go wrong with anything you find there.

• Cost: Depends on where you eat but I would plan on a minimum of $20 a person

Option 2 – Ad Hoc in St Helena is probably my favorite restaurant I have been to in the Napa Valley. It is a prefix menu that changes every day, but the food is always amazing and I love the family style way it is served for the table to share. You need reservations in advance for this one but it has always been great when I have visited.

• Cost: $64 a person for the tasting (add-ons and drinks additional)

9:00 pm – Nightcap

End your perfect day with a nightcap at the Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar in downtown Napa. It offers a great selection of cocktails and wines, along with stunning views of the valley.

Let me know what you would add to this list and you can explore more Napa Valley spots in this post.

The post How to spend the perfect 24 hours in Napa Valley (Full Itinerary + Costs) appeared first on California Through My Lens.

San Jose is the largest city in Northern California and full of fun adventures. It’s by no means as popular for tourists as San Francisco, but if you’re willing to look beyond the surface, it has a lot of hidden gems waiting to be explored. This post collects many of my favorite places in the city, including a haunted house, many different tech museum, art installations and even the world’s first mountain observatory. Check it out and let me know what your favorite spot is in San Jose in the comments!

Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House is a peculiar mansion that was built by Sarah Winchester, who was convinced that she was cursed by the ghosts of those who had been killed by Winchester rifles and could never stop building the house. The house features confusing designs, secret passageways, doors that lead to nowhere, and multiple floors. It is a fascinating experience in San Jose and one that everyone should experience once.

Children’s Discovery Museum

The Children’s Discovery Museum is an interactive museum with over 28,000 square feet of exhibits that encourages children to learn through play. It is one of the best children’s museums I have ever seen, with full cars kids can climb in, an impressive water play area, and a half acre of outdoor space to explore. The museum states that the activities are designed to promote creativity, imagination, and exploration. My children loved it.

Municipal Rose Garden

The Municipal Rose Garden is a beautiful garden that houses over 4,000 rose bushes of varying species. It is a popular spot for weddings, picnics, and other events and a stunning area to stroll when the flowers are in bloom and even when they are not. I have never been here when the flowers bloomed, but I still love watching the sunset and just walking around the garden.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is a historic basilica in downtown San Jose, the first non-mission church built in California. It is the oldest parish in San Jose and features stunning stained glass windows, a pipe organ, and ornate architecture. It is actually the fifth church in this location, as earthquakes and fires destroyed the other.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum features an extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts and exhibits. It is one of the few museums in the world dedicated solely to ancient Egypt and is one of my favorite stops in San Jose. The museum has many reconstructions of famous Egyptian works and a full tomb you can explore. Even if you don’t enjoy museums, this is not one to miss.

Santana Row

Santana Row is a trendy outdoor shopping and dining district offering various high-end shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. It is a meeting place in San Jose, and the main street that runs through the outdoor mall is closed to drivers and walkable for pedestrians. Plus, the market lights that line the streets make it a wonderful place to stroll at night.

The Tech Interactive

The Tech Interactive showcases the history of technology through many different mediums. It is excellent for the whole family, especially those with older children, as it has interactive exhibits and displays that are designed to educate and inspire visitors. I loved walking around this museum and could have easily spent half a day there.

Monopoly in the Park

Monopoly in the Park is a life-sized version of the classic board game right in the middle of downtown San Jose. The Monopoly board is 930 square feet, and it is actually playable if you want to book a time to experience it with friends online. It is fun to see for a few minutes after visiting the children’s museum, and it is a Guinness book of world records holder for the largest permanent monopoly board.

Sonic Runway

Sonic Runway is an interactive art installation outside city hall. It is a tunnel of lights and sound that responds to the music playing and is 432 feet long with 25 arches. It is a blast for the whole family to see at night one of the more unique outdoor art installations I have seen in California.

Japantown

Japantown is a historic neighborhood located in San Jose and one of three remaining Japantowns in the USA. It features traditional Japanese architecture, restaurants, and shops with historical plaques that tell you about the area as you explore. Anthony Bourdain even visited here to eat at Minato for No Reservations, and the Aloha Poke place is perfect if you like that type of food.

Lick Observatory

The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the summit of Mount Hamilton, about an hour outside of downtown San Jose. It features several telescopes and is open to the public for tours and stargazing. This historic observatory was built in 1880, with all materials having to be brought up by horse and carriage. The original telescope was the largest refractor telescope in the world when it was built, and it was responsible for many scientific discoveries throughout the early 1900s. It is one of the best things I did in San Jose, but the drive up to the summit is a little scary.

Los Gatos Creek Trail

The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a 9 and a half mile scenic trail that runs through San Jose and Los Gatos. It is popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. It is a great way to be active in San Jose, and if you are looking for a good jumping off point, one of the best areas to explore the trail is at Los Gatos Creek County Park.

San Jose Flea Market

The San Jose Flea Market is one of the largest open-air markets in the country. It features over 800 vendors each week, offering a wide range of goods. The Farmers Market portion is about a quarter mile long, and there are many places to eat, small green spaces to explore, and even a few amusement park rides. The market is a maze with so much to see and experience while you are there.

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is a family-friendly zoo and mini amusement park that offers a variety of rides, animal exhibits, and play areas. The zoo is tiny, with only a dozen or so animals, but the play areas around the park are great, and the rides are included with the ticket price. This spot is only for those with younger children, but you will probably have a blast if you have younger children. A good stop in San Jose with small children.

History Park

History Park is located near Happy Hollow Zoo and the Japanese Gardens in Kelly Park. It features buildings and exhibits that depict life in the Santa Clara Valley during the late 1800s. Visitors can step back in time and see how people lived and worked during that period, with a few different museums and houses open on specific days. Plus, you can ride a historic trolly on the weekends as well. It is a fun and free stop in the city.

Intel Museum

The Intel Museum is located at the Intel headquarters in Santa Clara and showcases the history of the world-renowned company and how it built its semiconductor chips. The museum is open on weekdays and is free to visit. I was impressed by how interactive it was, and it is an excellent stop for 45 minutes with families or by yourself. While the museum is small, it has some fantastic exhibits, and there is a shop where you can buy souvenirs from your visit. 

What would you add to this list? Be sure to leave it in the comments!

The post 16 Things to do in San Jose appeared first on California Through My Lens.

The Griffith Park area of Los Angeles is a true natural gem in the city and one that draws countless locals and tourists alike to hike its many trails every day. There are many hiking trails in Griffith Park, like Amir’s Garden and the Hollywood Sign, but the Ferndell Trail is one of the most beautiful and scenic. You can do this hike as a short half-mile family-friendly trail or go up to Griffith Observatory for a more challenging hike. Here is all the information on both.

Details

• .5 miles roundtrip through Ferndell and back 
• 2.6 miles to Griffith Observatory and back with 600 feet of elevation
• Free street parking

Getting There

You will want to enter the park at the entrance on the corner of Los Feliz Blvd and Ferndell Drive. As soon as you enter, you can look for parking along the street. On a weekday, it is not usually too bad but on a weekend it fills up quick.

Ferndell Trail

After parking, you will head across the street to the entrance of Ferndell. Here you are whisked away into a stunning area of ferns, shade, and even a small creek.

The trail is relatively flat, with multiple bridges that cross the creek as you proceed through Ferndell. 

I love how this spot always feels like you have left Los Angeles, and the people I meet on the trail always seem to enjoy it as much as I do. 

The trail parallels the creek as you continue up, crossing more bridges and passing benches where you can sit and relax if you need to.

Eventually, the trail will pass out of the gates that lock at night and exit the Ferndell area. From here, you can walk back the way you came, let your kids play on the big playground or make your way up to Griffith Observatory.

Griffith Observatory Trail

If you decide to continue, the trail is basically a wide dirt road with no shade as you make your way up. 

It is also steep, but it is not too bad and you get views of the observatory the entire way.

The trail slowly winds up dirt road switchbacks until it gets to a viewpoint with a bench and views of Downtown LA. This is a great place to relax, but you can continue on to the Observatory which is right behind you.

After another small hill, you will make it to Griffith Observatory. Here you can relax on the lawn or explore the observatory if it is open. Then when you are done, simply make the walk back down through Ferndell to your car.

Overall, this is a fantastic hike in a beautiful area of Los Angeles. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments. 

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Big Bear is a great city to explore and a place I love to spend a weekend away during the year. While the city is full of hikes, restaurants, and shops, I always find myself coming back to Boulder Bay Park for a fun area for my kids to run around and a stunning place to catch a sunset in the city. While it is tiny and only has a small parking lot, it never seems to busy, and if you are looking for a great place for sunset photography in the city, this is somewhere you should visit. Here is all the information.

Details

• Free
• 20 or so parking spots
• Can get busy on the weekends.
• Not a direct sunset shot but often gets a great glow

Getting There

Boulder Bay Park is located right off Big Bear Blvd in the western part of the city. If you come up from Los Angeles, you will likely drive right by it as you make your way into downtown Big Bear. Once you pull in, there are 20 or so parking spots that are free to use.

The Park

The park has a small walking trail that takes you around the grass area. There is also a set of picnic benches under an awning on the park’s west side.

Right in the middle, a walkway takes you down to a dock that sits on the water. This is a fun place to walk down to and a great spot for photos with the island in front of you.

Sunset Photography at Boulder Bay

If I photograph the sunset here, I usually get there about an hour before sunset, walk around to see what shots I want to get, and research where the sun will go down.

I usually photograph the walkway to the dock with the island behind it or go out on the dock itself and photograph the island.

It is a small area, so there are only a few different shots to get but I am always happy with my time watching the sunset here. Check it out if you are in Big Bear and looking for a fun place for photography, and you can see the rest of my favorite places in Big Bear here. 

The post Boulder Bay Park: An Amazing, Little Known Spot In Big Bear appeared first on California Through My Lens.

The Anderson Valley is a fun and historic area about 2 and a half hours from San Francisco that features wineries, redwood hikes, historic hotels and decadent restaurants. My wife and I spent the weekend there and fell in love with this relaxed and special part of the state. Here is all the information on our time there and you can watch the video below to see the full adventure we had in the Anderson Valley. This trip was sponsored by Maggy Hawk, all opinions are my own.

Details

• 2.5 hours from the Bay Area
• Only a few hotels there so book in advance
• Book winery tastings and restaurants in advance if you are going on the weekend.
• Many spots closed during the week as this area is more known as a weekend destination.

Getting There

To get to the Anderson Valley, you will take Highway 101 from the Bay Area and make your way past Santa Rosa and Healdsburg to Highway 128, which heads towards the coast and Mendocino. After about 40 minutes of driving you will arrive at the tiny town of Boonville and be right in the middle of the Anderson Valley.

Anderson Valley Video

Here is a video I made during my time in the Anderson Valley.

Anderson Valley Attractions

Here are some of my favorite stops in the Anderson Valley

Restaurants

Boonville Hotel

This is the best place I ate during my trip and one of the best meals I have had in a long time. The 5 course meal was pricey but the chef here was one of the youngest chefs to ever get a Michelin star when he worked in the city and so you know the food is fantastic.

Boonville General Store

Great spot for a quick lunch or to grab a sandwich to take on the road. Great sandwiches, coffee and teas. 

Disco Ranch

Disco Ranch is a market with wine and snack that also has a great collection of fancy finger foods. We had duck sliders, smoked salmon and a great beet salad here that we took to eat on our hike.

Wickson

This is a new wood fired restaurant at the Madrones and it makes some unique dishes unlike what you would normally find at a wood fired restaurant, such as a seafood stew in a copper kettle pot.

Drinks

Maggy Hawk Winery

Maggy Hawk is the winery I worked with on my visit and I really enjoyed the wines there. They have a beautiful tasting room with bocce ball and lots of tables.

Anderson Valley Brewery

If you are looking for beer, this is the spot for you. It is situated on a massive 30 acre plot of land and it has frisbee golf, concerts on the weekends and lots of beer to try.

Gowan’s Heirloom Cider

If you are a fan of cider, this is a not to miss spot. I didn’t care much for cider before I came here but I really loved the different options they had and even took some home with me.

Hikes

Hendy Woods State Park

This state park is a hidden gem as it has better trees than Muir Woods with a fraction of the people. There are a few short trails here that take you through the groves and it is a fantastic place for a hike.

Farms

Penny Royal Goat Farm

Right in Boonville, Penny Royal Farm is a goat farm that is producing award winning cheeses. You can tour the farm and interact with the goats, which is a blast on its own. Then at the end you can try some of the awesome cheeses they make here.

Gowen Oak Tree Fruit Stand

This is a great spot to stop for some fresh fruit on your drive through Anderson Valley. The building has been here for decades and they have more apple varieties then you can imagine.

The Apple Farm

This is another fantastic fruit stand which is cash only and honor system. You pay for what you want and take it with you, there are no workers there. The apples here were delicious and both my wife and I loved it. 

So there you have it, some of my favorite places in the Anderson Valley. Let me know if you have been to the area and if you have a spot I missed in the comments!

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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.

The post Road Trip 6 Waterfalls in One Day in the Mt Shasta Area appeared first on California Through My Lens.

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.

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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. 

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