Sitting on the median of Highway 101 in Crescent City, a few miles south of the Oregon Border, just as the road turns east, is a big chunk of concrete, which is worth visiting. It is a piece of rip-rap, a designed concrete piece, that looks like a child's jacks. It's purpose 

Approximately 1.5 hours north of San Luis Obispo, lies a granite playground to explore. By going across the Fort Hunter Liggett training grounds, you will access some pristine swatches of the Los Padres National Forest.

At one time, shortly after 9/11/01, you had to pass through a security checkpoint to access this natural wonder. These days they've done away with the pat-downs, allowing you to pass by tanks firing, troops organizing, even a mini Baghdad (with flipped over cars, like a movie set) unimpeded by security forces. While you're passing through the Army base, you'll also have the opportunity to see Mission San Antonio de Padua, but that's for another article.

As far as historic American highways go, the Pacific Coast Highway is second only to historic Route 66.

Originally started in the 1930’s, the Pacific Coast Highway extends from the tip of Baja, California to the 

Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Since its completion, the Pacific Coast Highway has become a favorite 

destination for RVers, and photographers alike. 

Along its trek from southern California to northern Washington, the Highway winds along the coast. 

The San Francisco Bay Area encompasses many beautiful locations. Although the world famous Golden Gate Bridge is California’s most recognizable landmark symbolizing this area, and perhaps the state in general, the gorgeous nature scenery equally deserves to represent this expansive west coast state. Despite having interconnected urban cities, there are reclusive spots where you can reconnect with Mother Nature on hiking trails. Bear witness to sunsets painting evening skies; nature intermingling with urban borders; redwoods growing high until the eyes can’t distinguish the tops. If you are traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area region, and you’re an outdoor hiking fanatic, then it’s required that you partake in a hiking adventure trip to the five locations described below.

(Image: "Golden Gate Bridge at Night" art print. Click here to buy)

There are 21 California Spanish Missions that reach from San Diego to north of San Francisco, 

each with a unique story to tell. These missions represent the first contact the California Native 

Americans had with Europeans and are a living history of the struggles and triumphs that each 

culture experienced hundreds of years ago. The missions were all established as churches and 

some are still active with mass held regularly since their founding. Others have become part of the 

California State Park system. The buildings started as humble rooms and grew to the stately adobe 

structures that are still standing today. They were started by the Franciscan order with the first one 

in 1769 and the last in 1833. The El Camino Real, or The Royal Road, still links the missions from 

San Diego to Sonoma, although it follows modern highways today. Each mission has a fascinating 

founding story that is steeped in history and the politics of Spain at the particular time that they were 

built. Some of the most interesting ones to visit today are:

California is a state full of amazing sites, natural wonders and history, so it's actually pretty difficult 

to decide what you do when you get there, or even if you live there. Today though, I thought I would 

ignore the more commercial attractions and look at the historic natural and manmade attractions 

that are nearby.


Redwood National Park

3 hours north of San Luis Obispo is the Redwood National park. This park is full of trees (of course) as well

Heading from the Village of Arroyo Grande toward Lopez Lake, you will surely pass a road sign that leaves you scratching your head. "Who-as-na?", "Hue-snay?", "Oh-Susanna?"....

Huasna (wah'-znah) Road is a 

Each time I travel from my home in Slo County, to Las Vegas, I take Highway 58 all the way to I15. We go to Las Vegas A LOT (I know what you're thinking, but I don't have a problem....I have an Italian wife. Her grandfather's company built all the old hotels). Each one of these trips, we come to a sign (just after the solar farms these days)  that says "Carrizo Plains National Monument - Soda 

I figured I'd start this website, the same place I start every day....(Guadalupe-Nipomo) Dunes. The dunes are my backyard, and are one of the most beautiful natural wonders Slo County has to offer.

Located just south of Pismo Beach, The dunes in Oceano offer the only