Badwater Basin, nestled in the heart of Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, California, holds the title as the lowest point in both North America and the United States, plunging 282 feet below sea level. Remarkably, it lies a mere 84.6 miles from Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, showcasing …
I spent a few days kayaking Death Valley National Park and lived to tell the tale. Whether you want to kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, this is a proper guide full of tips gleaned from kayaking alongside folks who live in the park and first-hand experience. Kayaking on Lake Manly, nestled within the striking landscapes of …
In February 2024 I paddled an inflatable kayak across roughly four miles of water in the middle of Badwater Basin. The water was a foot deep at the center and ankle-shallow at the edges. By March 4 the National Park Service had pulled the kayaking allowance, and as of the May 7, 2026 NPS conditions …
I raced the 8 Mile at PaddleSplash on Lake Natoma in September 2026, out of Black Miners Bar, on a 4-mile-long lake with a 5 mph speed limit. Lake Natoma sits between the Folsom and Nimbus Dams in Sacramento County, California, on the lower American River, and it is one of my favorite lakes in …
Mount Diablo State Park in Northern California’s Bay Area is a great spot for wildflower hunting this spring. There are countless trails that meander through the park and many that lead to the summit, where you can take in panoramic views that span all the way to the Sierra Nevada mountains. Surrounded by rolling hills …
Located 75 miles north of Los Angeles, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve has become famous for its rolling hills of poppies, painting the landscape with a sea of orange and yellow. With the abundant winter rains we have experienced this year throughout California, officials are predicting an above-average bloom. As with …
Carrizo Plain spreads its bloom across a desert flat. Antelope Valley grows poppies on alluvial fans. Anza-Borrego paints its show across creosote-and-mesquite scrub. North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, fifteen minutes north of Oroville on Cherokee Road, blooms on rock. The reserve sits atop a basalt mesa that erupted in the mid-Miocene, flowed 150 miles down …
I drove to Carrizo Plain National Monument the second weekend of March 2026 with three gallons of water in the trunk, a paper Bakersfield Field Office map, and no expectation that anyone I knew would be able to text me for the next forty-eight hours. Cell service ended somewhere around the second cattle guard on …
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert of Southern California and is the largest state park in California. The park covers over 600,000 acres and is known for its stunning desert landscapes, unique geology, and rich cultural history. Wildflowers are currently blooming in the park, including the stunning desert lily! The park …
The independent Sacramento coffee scene is a vibrant mix of third-wave, eclectic, minimalist, and community-oriented cafés. I’m a sucker for a great-tasting cold brew, but what makes good coffee even better is an aesthetically pleasing setting in which to enjoy it. Interior design and calming aesthetics may fall high on my list, but coffee remains …