As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Lassen Volcanic National Park was one of the biggest surprises. The drive into the park was beautiful, and despite evidence of recent wildfires in parts of the forest, the landscape is recovering and remains absolutely stunning. Nature has an incredible ability to heal, and seeing young trees growing alongside older burned areas was a reminder of how volcanic landscapes are constantly changing. Lassen is one of the few places in the world where you can experience all four types of volcanoes: shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome. That alone makes it geologically fascinating, but what really impressed us was how much variety the park offers. One moment we were standing beside steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pots that reminded us of a smaller, quieter version of Yellowstone. The smell of sulfur, the hissing steam, and the boiling earth beneath your feet make you appreciate that this landscape is still very much alive. The next moment we were hiking around peaceful alpine lakes with spectacular reflections of Lassen Peak mirrored in the crystal clear water. Manzanita Lake was especially beautiful, and seeing the volcano reflected on its calm surface was one of the highlights of our visit. We also loved exploring quieter trails to places like Lily Pond, where we could hike for long stretches while seeing only one or two other people. There is something special about having so much natural beauty almost entirely to yourself. For those who enjoy being on the water, the lakes are perfect for kayaking or simply sitting quietly and taking in the scenery. The combination of volcanic landscapes, mountain forests, meadows, lakes, and wildlife makes every part of the park feel different. We stayed in the nearby town of Chester, which turned out to be a charming little base for exploring the park. It has several good restaurants, friendly people, and everything we needed after long days of hiking. Lassen Volcanic National Park may not receive the attention of some of California's more famous parks, but it absolutely deserves it. It combines dramatic volcanic features with peaceful alpine beauty in a way that feels both exciting and calming at the same time. If you enjoy hiking, geology, photography, or simply discovering places that are a little less crowded, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a hidden gem that should be on every national park lover's list.

Another gem of a national park. You can see all the volcanic type activity and sulfuric acid that…read moreyou see in Yellowstone Park on a smaller level. Well worth a stop. We downloaded the National parks app and drove through while reading the audible tour. We also took the Bumpass trail to the hot Springs. Also very cool.

Dylan is awesome! He answered my questions and made me feel welcome…read more I was getting frustrated and wanted to cancel membership but after speaking with Dylan he was able to solve my concerns.

I recently moved from Orange County in SoCal and had been looking for a gym close to Plumas Lake…read more The Yuba Sutter location is only 15 minutes away and has everything I could need! First off, the gym is open 24/7 and has plenty of parking. The front desk team was immediately welcoming and offered me a tour. While I have been a gym rat for decades, a tour is always important to understand the layout and amenities, so I was happy the team understood the value of doing one. Training Zone has over four sections with cardio, strength, and stretching areas, in addition to a basketball court and three rooms dedicated to strength and cycle classes! They have a rooftop area which is critical for us over-heaters and a fantastic Kids' Zone which is included in the membership. Amenities seem endless, with locker rooms, showers, tanning, and bath rooms with sauna and steam rooms. The gym is fresh and clean, and has just the right amount of beast-mode vibes. Best of all, there is a Women's Zone! What a treat for us women who want to have a bit of a safe zone while lifting, bending, and stretching. Pricing is competitive with a membership costing $60/month. There are more layers here but overall I found the pricing to be fair given all that is included. Highly recommend and can't wait to sign up!

The Dixie fire in 2021 tore through the town of Greenville decimating it…read more The camp is currently in a rebuilding phase and I don't know when it will reopen. I can tell you that my experience there as a camp aid back in 1986 was amazing and unforgettable. It is an international camp. So I got to meet and work with many campers from all over the world. I did things that I never thought I'd ever get to do, waterskiing for one. I learned to ride a horsey and camp out at some amazing locations with scenery that would reset your soul for enlightenment.

Coppercreek Camp is an excellent place to send your younglings. 3rd generation family owned and…read moreoperated. Fun, exploration of what counts in life, excellently trained staff for all kinds of amazing activities. The horse program is stellar from learning how to ride to advanced and care for horses and mini horses. I love to going to this camp. Check it out for your younglings

It was a great hike, sadly it was raining but we still got to mile 3 before heading back. On the…read morehike I lost my great grandmothers bracelet that I haven't taken off in years. If anyone hiking this trail is willing, I would deeply appreciate if you would look for it and return it to me. I could meet you anywhere within an hour of Sacramento to retrieve it from you. I'll attach a picture of it along with a picture of me on the hike and my email. To the person who finds it, I'll give you a $20 reward, cash (or if you are willing to mail it, that would be even better) My email is duncansophia@icloud.com

The hike was actually a really good workout. A lot of hills, creeks, and different plant life. I…read morethought it was a good challenge but not impossible. At the same time I'm not a big hiker. We did come across a friendly group of 70 yo ladies that had completed the trail a few times and gave a lot of information.

Daniella was an amazing guide ask for her!! Extremely knowledgeable and safe!! Thanks for the great…read moreday!!

I decided I wanted to take the kids I nanny (11 & 13) to do something fun and unique and thought…read morewhy not finally cross off whitewater rafting from my bucket list?! We were gifted a beautiful day on the river with multiple sightings of wildlife including fish jumping, ducklings, geese, and even a bald eagle! The best part was getting to see the kids do something, get scared, have a blast doing it, and then ask to come back for more intensity next time. I really appreciated the guides for their hospitality, humor, and kindness. However my main piece of feedback would be a friendly reminder that nature and outdoor recreational activities are a form of escape and respite from our every day life, so being more mindful of the topics of conversation brought up during the ride is very important to the atmosphere.

Gorgeous landscape! I recently completed the Quarry trail and it was a beautiful walk. The entire…read morepark is great for enjoying nature and exploring the outdoors for various levels of activity. For the Quarry trail, I recommend parking along the main road if you find a parking spot. The parking lot at the trailhead is tiny, and always full. This trail has plenty of portable bathroom stalls and is paved.

I luv hiking the multitude of trails in the Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA). The area covers 40…read moremiles of the north and middle forks of the American River. Lots of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. It is a beautiful area with hills, Foresthill bridge, lake, and the river. I am not an avid hiker. More of a leisurely stroller. There are various trails with different elevation gains, distance, and difficulty. Most of the time that I came out to this area is to just hike near the confluence and sit along the river bank and take in the sights and sounds. If you go in the summer, just be aware that the temperatures can hit triple digits during the day and there can be very little shade on the trails. There is no potable water stations on the trails. Parking is limited to what is available along the side of the road near the trailheads. The spots fill up quickly on the weekend. The fee is $10. But from April 1- October 1 on the weekends 9am-5pm, there is a transit bus rides from designated areas in Auburn to the Ranger station at the confluence crossing (near Highway 49 and Old Foresthill Road). The rides need to be reserved though, details on the ride program (cost, reservations, route) are on the state parks website. The ASRA is managed by the State of California Parks Department.

We have only come here for the toddler time but we had a great time. It is a mellow little circle…read moretime with a story, a visit from a nature center friend, a game, then you move over to the art room for a craft and then take a walk outside. It's truly a perfect little morning activity for small children who like to be busy and outside. Grateful to be able to take my kids!!

Had our son's 4th birthday here. Kurt was very helpful in accommodating us for an animal…read morepresentation with all his class mates. Amazing price, only payed for the presentation and the picnic area was open for the party. $3 per child is such a great price compared to places like rare air and the new rock climbing place. Also they are local and I'm sure need the resources to provide shelter for the animals. Great alternative to renting out a party place that way overcharges and kiddos are out in nature

Amazing camp! A crown jewel nestled in Northern California. Many great activities and the folks…read morerunning the camp were incredibly hospitable, kind and generous!

We time traveled back to the gold rush area and this crew did not disappoint! This was a school…read moresponsored trip and the staff were outstanding! They committed to their roles, got the kids very involved, were educational and entertaining. So glad I got to go on this trip with my daughter and can't wait to go back with my son in a few years. Hopefully "Cuz" is still there, always nice to have a relative around