Category Archives: California

Mammoth Lakes

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Jean Nguyen

One reason why I love California is that I’m never far from somewhere beautiful, and there is always somewhere new to explore whether I go north, south, east, or west. After Thanksgiving when “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The … Continue reading →

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Redwood National & State Parks

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Jean Nguyen

Chris and I got up close and personal with the world’s oldest living trees at the Bristlecone Pine Forest and meandered through groves of the world’s largest trees at Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park.  While the ancient bristlecone pines … Continue reading →

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King’s Canyon and Sequoia

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

California boasts the highest and lowest points in the U.S. at Mount Whitney and Badwater Basin.  In addition to that, California also has the 2nd oldest national park in America (after Yellowstone), which is home to the largest trees in the … Continue reading →

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Ghost Town Bodie

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

Ever since I stumbled upon Rhyolite, a ghost town of respectable size in Nevada, I learned more about the handfuls of poignant mining/gold rush ghost towns of California. Of the ghost towns, Bodie was the most notable but relatively distant … Continue reading →

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Bristlecone Pines

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

I had just learned about the ancient bristlecone pine trees—the world’s oldest known trees—at Great Basin National Park, and my fascination with them plus further research led me to the discovery of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. During my side … Continue reading →

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Alabama Hills & Mt. Whitney

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

I’ve always said California has everything, and that was before I even knew that California also has the highest AND lowest points (both within ~100 miles of each other) in the contiguous U.S! Last year in Death Valley, we sauntered along Bad … Continue reading →

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Joshua Tree

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

I didn’t think I’d like Joshua Tree National Park.  I typically prefer the more “traditional parks” that consist of deep canyons or mountains, forests, and lakes.  I figured Joshua Tree NP would just be a boring desert with a bunch of cool trees, … Continue reading →

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Lassen Volcanic National Park

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

California has everything: beaches, deserts, forests, mountains, islands…and volcanoes and hydrothermal basins! Tucked away in northeastern California’s remote wilderness, it’s easy to forget that a mini Yellowstone with active fumeroles, mudpots, and bubbling ponds actually exists in California. Even with … Continue reading →

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Touring The City

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

As of February 2016, I’ve lived in San Francisco for 7.5 years.  Before that I lived in Berkeley for a couple of years, and before that I spent most of my life in San Jose, where I was born and raised.  Unlike … Continue reading →

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Yosemite and Mono Lake

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Jean Nguyen

Note: This post has two sections.  The first tells the story of my ridiculous chain of events and misadventure during my first visit to a national park, and the second shares useful information about hiking Half Dome, cycling Tioga Pass, and … Continue reading →

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