Places to Play: Olompali State Historic Park

Before it was one of the Bay Area’s prettiest state parks, the oak-strewn mountainside of Olompali saw thousands of years of Coast Miwok culture, the indulgences of a wealthy ranching family, and the highs and lows of a counterculture commune. Olompali State Historic Park is in Marin County, just off US-101, 3 miles north of […]
Hitching a Ride on a Stagecoach in Paso Robles

Looking for fun things to do for the whole family in Paso Robles? You’ll never forget the unique experience of a stagecoach ride and ranch tour and at Harris Stage Lines. By J.C. Thomas The stagecoach has a prominent place in the western imagination, familiar from countless movies and TV shows, the Wells Fargo logo […]
Humboldt: The Man Behind the Name

To Californians, Humboldt is the name of a county in the far north of the state, along with many places and products of that region. There’s Humboldt Bay, Fort Humboldt, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Humboldt State University and the foodie-favorite Humboldt Fog cheese. We associate the name Humboldt with the breathtaking scenes of the Northern […]
The Story of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

How an Italian chocolatier created the sweetest San Francisco icon By J.C. Thomas Ghirardelli, the third-oldest chocolatier in the United States, is today a beloved international brand. Contemporary consumers can’t get enough of the company’s filled chocolate squares, brownie mix and many other chocolate products. In San Francisco, Ghirardelli holds iconic status as a company, […]
Eight Mysterious Facts About the California Gold Rush on its 171st Anniversary

Tales of ambitious trailblazers striking it rich in the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s loom large in our national narrative. While there are countless uplifting stories of these pioneering souls peppered throughout our history, there are also many aspects of the Gold Rush era that get drowned out by the glitz and glam of […]