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.

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

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!

The staff is very nice. The reason only one star is that I don't think they properly warn about how…read morephysically challenging this tour is. Warning: If you are not in excellent and athletic condition, you should not go on this tour. There are hundreds of wet steep stairs in the caves. Then the long steep hike back up to the gift shop and your vehicle is torturous. Older people or people who have any physical limitations should rethink this tour.

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.

Unfortunately California is way too crowded to let wild horses roam free and if they were on public…read morelands they would be killed. Luckily for the horses there was Dianne Nelson who stepped in to help and make this 5,000 acres sanctuary on the west side of the sierra mountains. We were so fortunate to have a chance to get to know these wild majestic creatures a little better. This Sanctuary made me think of the movie Spirit. Our daughter Esther has been fascinated with horses for some time now and we wanted her 13th birthday to be a memorable experience and it sure was. She will never forget her 13th birthday. She started at 7am. Esther learned how to catch a horse named Cloud, learned how to tie the horse to the pole, cleaned  the horses hooves, saddled him up, put repellent on him, walked him to the arena, learned how to command and ride a horse. After all of this she took the saddle off and bathed him. Once she was comfortable with being around horses we got to go out into the pastures and feed the wild mustangs. These horses have never been saddled, rode on, and they have no horse shoes. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Here you can adopt a horse, sponsor a horse if you have no room to keep one of your own, live and work at the ranch as part of your internship, and experience a two or three day trail ride experience.

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!

One of the most underrated national parks in the country. You owe it to yourself to visit Lava…read more Beds National Monument at least once in your life! There are many lava tubes that are for all difficulties and they are all mostly along the road loop around the park or a short trail walk away. Some are easy to walk through upright all the way to those you have to crawl through requiring gear. Certain tubes can be closed seasonally to protect the bats that both migrate and hibernate there, so be sure to check with the park before you go if there is a specific one you would like to visit. The campgrounds are first come first serve except for the large group sites that can be reserved online, and the restrooms are decently kept with water refill stations outside. Overall a great experience, would highly recommend!

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!

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.

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!