California sights
Highlights of California:
Recommendations of RVers
Chico, California
After a Spring Escapade Stephanie and Paul Bernhagen stayed on to see the sights in Chico. This is her description:
I have to admit I fell in love with this college town. If you visit be sure to allow a few days to see the area.
There are wonderful murals on the buildings in downtown Chico. Our favorite was this Greek column one at First and Salem Streets. While it looks like you could step right through the wall into the building I assure you it is only paint on the wall.
John Bidwell was born in 1819 and at the age of 22 led the first overland expedition to California. After striking gold on the Feather River be bought 28,000 acres along Chico Creek and in 1860 founded Chico. Learn more about how John Bidwell and his wife Annie built and contributed to Chico.
Residents still benefit today from their efforts.
Stop in at the visitor center and Bidwell Mansion on Esplandade across Big Chico Creek from downtown. Be sure to leave time for the 25-minute movie about John and Annie
Bidwell before spending the dollar to tour the mansion.
Thanks to the Bidwell's, Chico has the 3rd largest park in the U.S. It's 3700 acres offer picnicking, swimming, flat land walking and biking as well as mountainous hiking and biking, plus many other sports.
Also downtown is the National Yo Yo Museum at the Bird in Hand store located at 320 Broadway. Admission is free. The Museum was under renovation, but we did get to see the world's largest Yo Yo, which is 50 inches tall and weighs in at 256 pounds.
The Orient & Flume Art Glass Studio is a must see also. I didn't take pictures of their fabulous work as I didn't feel pictures could do it justice.
Watch the artists at work as they create intricate, three-dimensional designs encased in clear glass for which the studio is now famous. The skill of these artists is so outstanding their work reside permanently in the Chrysler Museum, Corning Glass Museum, the Metropolitan and Smithsonian.
We just began to uncover the wonders of Chico in the two and a half days of sightseeing we did. Even a drive through town will reward you with beautiful homes and landscaping. Don't miss this gem! (SB 4/01)
Salvation Mountain, Niland, California
Sixteen years ago a fellow came to what is known as "the Slabs" for a week. Instead of leaving he found a
project that has grown over the years and kept him there through mild winters and roasting summers.
Salvation Mountain is a painted mountain. It has taken 80 to 100 thousand gallons of paint, mostly donated, to make this mountain. Art or environmental problem, you decide.
The Slabs and Salvation Mountain are located northeast of Niland. Take Main Street through town. By the way, the Slabs is an old military base that RVers have taken over. Many residents live here year around as they cannot afford to travel or live elsewhere. Leave a little
extra time to drive through Niland to see the interesting architecture of the abandoned buildings. (SB 3/01)
Pacific Lumber, Scotia, California
South of Eureka, right off highway 101. This is your opportunity to see logs processed from debarking to bundling of finished lumber. The tour is self paced, with excellent signs explaining the process along the way. This is one of the best tours we have ever had. (SB 1994)
Solvang, California
While touristy, this little town is well worth the visit if you enjoy Danish architecture. Here is a picture of the downtown area. (SB 4/01)
Highway 1 in California
If you don't mind switchbacks and hills on the side of a cliff that lands in the ocean far below, Highway 1 between Morro Bay and Monterey, California is a drive worth taking. We have done this drive twice with our fifth-wheel. I didn't recall the hills we had to climb up and down, but I did recall The switchbacks were not as tight as I recalled, nor was the road as narrow as memory insisted. And there are lots of pull-overs so you can let the cars behind you pass.
I would not recommend long RVs take this road (our fifth-wheel is only 29 feet). The length limit on this stretch of Highway 1 is 30 feet from kingpin to rear axle. I would also not recommend tow trucks with automatics take this road. But then there are a lot of roads I would not recommend that tow tr
ucks with automatics take. Do not, however, be scared away from taking your RV up Highway 1 if you are comfortable with switchbacks and hills. Lots of people will tell you not to do it, but they probably are not comfortable with the specific driving conditions, even without their RV. Make your decision based on your comfort level, not theirs. Even if you don't feel comfortable taking your RV, don't miss the scenery. Just leave the RV in the campground. (SB 4/01)
Update: June/July 2008 a devasting fire swept to the coast burning down a number of dwellings in Big Sur. Make sure the road is open and be prepared for blackened hills and trees.
Thanksgiving 2007
Alice visited her son and daughter-in-law for Thanksgiving. One of the days they took a drive to Muir Woods. See her blog entry with description and photos of Muir Woods - a neighborhood park. (AZ 11/07)
Calistoga Mud Baths
One of Jaimie's favorite places to stop when she visits her son and family in Santa Rosa is the Calistoga Mud Baths. Here is a link to her blog entry.
Other articles
See Jaimie's article on wine tasting in Sonoma County and Alice's article Good grief, Charlie Brown! You have a museum! also at this Web site.