By J.C. Thomas By mid-1965, the singer-songwriter Johnny Cash had become a huge star – a prolific, genre-spanning artist with a series of big hits on both the pop and country charts. He had moved with his first wife, Vivian…
Illustration of a Johnny Cash record and a California condor
(Illustration by V. Hemlock for California News Press)
The National Forest Foundation has declared July 8 to 14, 2024, as National Forest Week. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the 20 national forests in California, which protect a whopping 20.8 million acres of federal land. The…
collage of four images of California national forest scenery
Is there any item of food more American than the hot dog? The unique style of sausage, served in its custom companion bun and adorned with an individual’s own free choice among limitless condiments and toppings, is always the most…
Hot dog loaded with toppings on a paper covered serving tray
Massive, majestic birds of prey including eagles, falcons, condors and hawks are among the most remarkable creatures in California. Watching them fly, hunt and nest in the wild would be an unforgettable experience, but one that’s elusive and rarely convenient…
An osprey in flight with fish in its claws
On the edge of the San Francisco Bay in Richmond, California, is Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. The park preserves and explores the history of the “Rosies,” some 6 million women who entered the nation’s industrial…
An exhibit inside Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park visitor center
(Photo by California News Press)
As easy as it is to be boastful about California’s natural beauty, we have to hand it to the eastern United States – your fall foliage is truly incredible. With forests dominated by evergreens, the Golden State simply can’t compete…
Conway Summit, a snow covered peak, seen from the empty road flanked by yellow fall foliage in the Eastern Sierra of California
The Exploratorium, an award-winning, science-meets-art museum in San Francisco, checks off a lot of boxes on visitors’ wish lists. It’s one of the best places to go with kids in San Francisco, yet the museum is equally fun and engaging…
closeup view of the Rolling Through the Bay kinetic art sculpture at the Exploratorium, one of the top museums in San Francisco
Here’s an easy way to feel like you’ve cleansed your soul, just a little bit – take a stroll around your local botanical gardens.  There are around 100 botanical gardens in California that are open to the public, according to…
A clearing and dry creek bed under a shady oak tree at Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens in California
Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has a mission to preserve and celebrate over 13,000 years of human interaction with the ocean. It’s quite the scope, narrowed by a focus on the local coastal region, the Santa Barbara Channel and the…
Dwight Brooks ship models and more displays inside the main exhibit hall of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Every holiday season, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley presents a special exhibit of Christmas trees decorated to fit the year’s theme. In 2022, the theme is An American Christmas Story. The 5,000-square-foot exhibit features more than 60…
A closeup of ornaments on the California Christmas tree at the Reagan Library's An American Christmas Story exhibit in 2022
Are you an arachnophobe? Do creepy black spider Halloween decorations freak you out far more than any witch, bat, ghost or thing that goes bump in the night? Perhaps some factual information about our arachnid neighbors here in California could…
A closeup of a spider against a blurry yellow and brown background
There are many popular museums in Los Angeles, but the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County stands out among them with its comprehensive and broadly appealing exhibits housed in a historic building in Exposition Park. The museum boasts almost…
The exterior of the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum with banners