One of the most engaging early books about 19th-century California is Robert Louis Stevenson's account of his 1880 visit to the Napa Valley, titled The Silverado Squatters.

Mormon entrepreneur Sam Brannan was among the first to see the possibilities of the hot springs of Calistoga as a major travel attraction in Northern California's Napa Valley.

While many adventurers were drawn to California in search of gold nuggets, some discovered that the true gold was to be found in agriculture. No agricultural product was pursued with more passion than the growing of grapes and the making of wine, especially Cabernet wine in the Napa Valley.

Tiburon is an engaging place to consider visiting when you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area. This small town lies on the north side of the Bay.

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is one of the world's most beloved icons. The story of how it was built is engaging. The many places where you can view or photograph it are intriguing, such as Baker Beach, Crissy Field, or Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands. 2012 marked the 75th anniversary of the Bridge.

I went alone into a nine-day Mammoth Lakes/Eastern Sierra of California trip in June 2018 with some fears in mind. I was then nearly 75 years old, officially so on July 23.