Kids exercise their artistic talents at the Haggin. The Leyendecker Gallery is a popular art exhibit. This classic Stevens wooden runabout helps the museum tell Stockton’s story as a boat-building center over the last 170 years. The Yokets Village is part of the museum’s Native American gallery. Huge harvester, a wonder of wood and iron, [...]
View from Mt. Diablo, looking west from Northgate Road. Wildflowers just off the Hardy Canyon Trail in Round Valley Preserve. Hikers descend from the native oaks in Round Valley Regional Preserve. Spouse Susan ascends the Hardy Canyon Trail in Round Valley Regional Preserve. Backroads in the wild East Bay, alive with wildlife, hiking, scenery, history! [...]
The hills along Electra Road are alive with California poppies and other wildflowers. Old homestead dating to late gold rush days along Middle Bar Road. California poppies blanket a hillside above the Mokelumne River just above Hwy. 49 in late March. Mokelumne River; wild and scenic river, wildflowers, history and quaint towns Recent spring rains [...]
Balboa Island Ferry links the island to Balboa Peninsula for a short 3/8 mile journey. Corona Del Mar State Beach is a popular spot for sun-seekers and surfers, just south of the Newport Beach Harbor. Orange County is just south of Los Angeles, providing 40 miles of sunny coastline! Big Mountain Railroad in Disneyland provides [...]
Beat the Interstate 5 blues; creative cures for a monotonous five hour drive If you are a California resident, you’ve probably driven Interstate 5 south to the Los Angeles Basin many, perhaps even scores, of times. You likely have your favorite gas or reststop, maybe ventured to Harris Ranch for a burger and a drink, [...]
Discovering ghost town gems along the Gold Rush Highway, CA Hwy. 49 Recent rains have cast our Sierra foothills in a verdant shade of green, perfect for exploring our state’s gold rush legacy. I always suggest starting in the place of gold’s discovery, just 80 miles northeast of Stockton, at the tiny town of Coloma [...]
Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Parks offer wildflower blooms, wildlife and other-worldly scenery Tired of chilly mornings and frosty windshields? Use the late winter/spring to take a road trip to the California desert for wildflower blooms, exotic wildlife and stunning scenery. Our destination includes two stunning national parks, Death Valley and Joshua Tree, and several [...]
Dodge Ridge re-opens for the season on Friday, March 2; Bear Valley also receives huge snow fall Dodge Ridge Ski Resort will reopen on Friday, March 2. Wednesday evening delivered a significant storm with three feet of new snow expected by Friday evening. With this significant snowfall, Dodge Ridge will have a majority of terrain open with [...]
Thinking of moving up from tent camping to a classic travel trailer? Be cool with the classics! Last week, I shared thoughts about moving from tent camping to small, newer travel trailers. I offered that small trailers share special qualities; they’re easy to maneuver into tight campsites, easy to store and can be towed with [...]
Friends Christine and Steve Lewis and dog Alice with their T@B trailer. Tiny trailering; see the country in small, cozy travel trailer! Our classic ’64 Serro Scotty in Yosemite; these other trailers are just a bit larger and heavier than our trailer. My spouse and I have spent the last 10 years or so crossing [...]