Really interesting. Displays going back to the beginning of McCloud. A definite must visit if…read moreyou're in town.

Located on the southern slope of Mt. Shasta, McCloud is a quaint little mountain town that draws…read moreits fair share of skiers, kayakers, hikers and mountain bikers. It has an interesting history too, including as a longstanding home of the Wintu people, many years as a company town owned by a lumber mill, an Italian labor uprising in 1909, and William Randolph Hearst's nearby Wyntoon estate that once hosted guests like Clark Gable, Charles Lindbergh, and John F. Kennedy (and is still used by Hearst's heirs today). The Heritage Junction Museum on Main Street is filled with over 100 years of photographs and artifacts documenting that history. This free museum is well curated, and the docent who showed us around was a lifelong resident who was very friendly and knowledgeable.

A guided tour of Lake Shasta Cavern. You can get tickets online or in person inside their gift…read moreshop. Tour included boat ride to the bus, bus ride to the cavern. Inside the cave, there are so many different rock formations. Each section, our tour guide gave many interesting facts and information. Be prepared to walked through hundreds and hundreds of stairs. Up and down. Some can be pretty steep and slippery. The ground inside were mostly wet and muddy. I will recommend wearing comfy shoes, hiking shoes, closed toes shoes or any shoes you don't mind getting tons of muds on it. It can get chilly inside the cave, so bring a jacket just in case. At the end of the tour, you get a chance to take pictures with the beautiful colorful formations. Once the tour is done, you will walk back to the bus stop to get a ride back to the boat. The boat will then take you back to the starting point. Plenty of parking. There are restrooms to use.

Dog-Friendly Adventure!…read more Lake Shasta Caverns was the perfect stop on our road trip from Portland to San Francisco! We were thrilled to discover it's dog-friendly and our pup loved every minute of it. The location is ideal for a midway break, and late May weather was absolutely beautiful. We arrived 30 minutes early and found parking easily. The gift shop kept us entertained while we waited, and the boat ride across the lake set the perfect tone for what was to come. But the real star? The caverns themselves. The natural beauty and the opportunity to explore with my dog made this feel truly special. Fair WARNING: you will get your steps in! The climb to the cathedral room is steep, and my partner and I, who are gym-goers with an active dog, definitely felt it. That said, the views (and the bats!) absolutely make it worth it. I noticed some older visitors and those recovering from knee surgery opted out, and a few families with small children were cautious on the descent, so know what you're signing up for. The walk back down requires careful footing so please take your time and watch your step. The tour guide wasn't as polished as I'd hoped and leaned a bit too playful for our taste, but honestly? You're paying for the scenery, not the commentary. And yes, it's pricey, but it genuinely feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Overall, worth every penny and every step. Highly recommend!

My fiancé (not a horse person) treated me (horse nut) to a horse filled pre-birthday day starting…read morewith the Wild Horse Sanctuary! We did the 3 hour private ride and it was worth every penny! We got to interact up close with the wild horses and loved it. Yes, as some have commented the horses you see on this aren't truly wild. (they have a wild side with the real wild horses) but these horses you interact with live just about as close to wild as you will get. As much as a horse lover as I am, I really didn't know much about the situation with the Wild Horses and the BLM. Our trail guide (I wish I could remember her name, blonde super bubbly super sweet!) started in with a tour of the ranch and history of the founder Dayton and how he came to establish the sanctuary. The views are spectacular especially the lookout over the Cheyenne River. We learned that that particular spot was very important to the Native Americans as the river runs east west north and south in that location. There are carvings made by the Native Americans that are so interesting to see on the tour as well! The horses are so well cared for and we loved seeing the interaction between the groups. We had horses right in the windows of the SUV. Even my non-horse crazy fiancé had a great time. The bets part of the whole tour had to be seeing our guide and hearing about Dayton and his assistant Susan and everyone else on the ranch. To be witness to a group of people with such passion and truly selflessly helping these horses was an amazing energy to be around. For an authentic tour of the Black Hills and to help our a great cause, don't miss this while in the Black Hills!

Would you like to renew your faith in humanity? Enjoy the site of happy, healthy animals living in…read morethe wild as they should be? Meet kind, generous and wonderful people who are doing exactly what they want in life? Rather than watch TV (again!) this weekend... Visit the Wild Horse Sanctuary! It's a short drive from Redding, Red Bluff, even Chico. There's a comfortable visitors' center, interesting guided tours, and of course, 5000 acres of wildland where contented horses, burros and donkeys live. These are rescue animals which would have been killed because they were no longer wanted. This is an environmentally sound, ethical non-profit organization that is good for horses, good for the planet, and good for visitors. You might even see a cute baby horse or two! Call ahead due to covid, etc.

Visited Alturas in June with my friends and read about the museum and historical society online…read more We got there an hour before closing and were warmly greeted by the staff up front. The museum has a huge collection of antique firearms from all over the world, local articles (including two towns on the Oregon/California border called New Pine Creek), a large display about the Taishanese and Cantonese workers from the Transcontinental Railroad who eventually settled in Alturas and established businesses along with many other items. They have local brochures, postcards and guidebooks as well. I had a very good conversation with a staff member who used to live in the same county that I did in SoCal too. This is a must see if you are a history buff or just interested in Modoc County in general and its past and present.

Don't drive by Modoc County Historical Society Museum! It's not much from the outside with a huge…read moreBlack Train Engine out front, but inside the exhibits will create all sorts of emotions. This museum exhibits history of the nation Indian tribes, the pioneers and the cavalry. It's truly a well rounded display and look at the history of this area. The docents were helpful with answers to our inquiries, but mostly stayed out of the way to allow us to fully grasp the history displayed. We were traveling from Grants Pass, OR to Reno, NV. We almost drove right by. So happy we stopped in.

*Epic* small-town museum focused on the lumber industry, a key regional economic driver. Not to be…read moremissed in Chester. The architecture alone is worth the trip. You will learn more about pine than you ever thought possible.

Worth a stop!!!!…read more Good history. Picnic there. Nice Machines.... be blessed, brian Jesus loves YOU

I've been to where lava flows were before but never have I walked/climbed through where lava tubes…read moreactually are before. This was definitely an experience if you haven't done it! $15.00-25.00 to bring your horse, bicycle, motorcycle cycle, car or RV into the park. Doesn't matter how warm outside as the caves are cool to freezing with ice depending on which cave and how far down it goes. Headlamps/flashlights are needed but headlamps easiest so you can use both your hands. The fantastic Park Rangers will not only give you expert advice on what caves are best suited for you but the history about this amazing park. Skull Cave before you get to the visitors center was my first cave. After descending the short rock staircase then a rock floor then to a metal landing and down the metal staircase lower and lower into the cold dark earth. At the bottom is a Skull, bones and ice. The hand rails were freezing. Wish I would have brought my gloves. The visitors center can help with what caves are where and offer helmets, flashlights and other needs via borrow, rent or buy. Closed shoes, knee pads, etc for tight caves recommended. The others I tried weren't near that cold but still really incredible in different ways. To see all the melting of rock and burn scars through these tubes is spectacular. Our earth is alive and so amazing. There are some bathrooms at some of the sites but not all so take advantage. Also, make sure to wear clothing you've never worn in other caves. Transfer of biologicals is real and could very negatively effect the bats in here. An awe experience and I highly recommend it. Some spaces also might be a bit small in case you're claustrophobic. Many are not tight but pitch black. Better than any Halloween haunted house with the creep jumping out at you. A park experience not to miss!

Most Californians don't even know this place exists, and that's a genuine shame. Lava Beds sits…read morenear the Oregon border and holds over 800 lava tube caves -- some small enough to belly-crawl through, others you can walk through upright. Above ground, the Schonchin Butte Trail (1.8 mi) climbs to a fire lookout with massive panoramic views of the high desert. There's also Native American rock art at Petroglyph Point! Spring wildflowers fill the basalt fields, and the dark skies here at night are about as good as it gets in the state.

It's awesome. We had so much fun. All 5 of my grandkids loved it from the oldest to the youngest…read more Thank you city of Weed.

Great little stop! Free but donation encouraged. (Do it!) Larry is the quintessential local…read moreold-timer with all the stories behind the town history, it's name, and all the cool artifacts in this museum. Figure 30-60 minutes for a typical visit to see: Lots of old logging photos, tools, and records; Impressive collection of military unit patches from the local bar; historic jail cell & the first black sheriff in California; and even 2 old fire engines and a stagecoach. Enjoy!

Awesome museum! Loved the outdoor exhibits of several buildings including a one room school house,…read moreminers cabin, old store, blacksmith shop and a church. Lots of information inside the museum and nice displays. The staff very friendly and helpful with answering questions about area and history.

We joined as members. Wonderful historical museum that has an annual interactive event for families.read more

A wonderful local museum with vintage (antique?) items on display. The staff was absolutely…read morewonderful! For those in the area, I certainly recommend visiting the museum!

We loved this little museum. It really came to life because of the 3 ladies we met that talked…read moreenthusiastically about their town. What an amazing history! Please leave them a donation. The donation box is on the counter with streamers hanging from the ceiling. And we still didn't notice it without asking if they had one ! I recorded one of the ladies playing a ROLMONICA, harmonica that had music on rolls. Like a player piano. Delightful!