Discover Northern California's Travel Blog
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May Event: Sacramento
the Sacramento Music Festival!
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Memorial Day Weekend is coming up and in addition to all the solemn and sacred ceremonies held to remember and commemorate the sacrifices of those who have died in our nation's service, Northern California has a multitude of events and festivals to kick off the summer vacation season, starting with the Sacramento Music Festival.
2012 marked the start of something new. Not for the first time, the Sacramento Jazz Festival has been given a spanking new name to reflect its ever-evolving nature!
The new and improved Sacramento Music Festival features more than "just" jazz with the additions of blues, rock 'n roll, Western swing, rhythm and blues, zydeco, Latin, bluegrass and many more genres to the mix.
It's still in picturesque and historic Old Sacramento, and it still offers plenty of traditional jazz with such time-honored and popular jazz bands as the the Black Tuesday Jazz Band, The Blue Street Jazz Band, and the Mardi Gras Band.
The customary Opening Day Parade steps off on Saturday at 10 A.M. along Front Street in Old Sac with marching bands, fire trucks, antique cars, colorful costumes, and military color guards. The Reviewing Stand is near the Delta King and the parade runs in the opposite direction from its olden days - mixin' it up like jazz riffs and improv!
one GIANT PARTY in Old Sacramento!
For more about Sacramento, visit Discover Sacramento and Old Sacramento. To see photos of Sacramento, check out our Sacramento Facebook Albums/
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
Belvedere Tiburon
The Belvedere Tiburon area - great for day trips and weekend stays - is located across The Bay from San Francisco on a peninsula that juts out into The Bay.
May Event: Mt. Tamalpais
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Mountain Play is an outdoor theatrical experience that takes advantage of the spectacular Mt. Tamalpais scenery and the ambiance of its natural amphitheatre to bring live musical theatre performances to the community in a unique setting.
Take a free shuttle from Mill Valley, hike up, bike up, or get there by car, but get there early and spend the day to take full advantage of this special site.
While you're waiting for the show to start enjoy puppet shows and face painting for the kids' relax and engage in some people watching; take a hike along one of Mt. Tam's beautiful trails; enjoy a good read...
There are concession stands for food and drink, but feel free to follow the example of the locals and bring your own gourmet picnic for sustenance.
Mountain Play is a long-standing Marin County tradition which has been offered very year since the first performance of "Abraham and Isaac" in 1913 (except for a four-year hiatus during World War II).
For more about Marin County, visit Discover Marin and Marin Attractions. To see photos from Marin County, check out our Facebook albums at www.DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
#TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week
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"In the hub of downtown sits Lithia Park, Ashland's crown jewel. Lithia is a 93-acre vista of emerald lawns, tennis courts, a sand-pit volleyball court, picnic area, colorful landscaping and playground equipment. The park follows Ashland Creek through undeveloped woodlands, and also includes a Japanese garden, two duck ponds, a formal rose garden, groves of sycamore trees and a number of secluded spots."
What the above description doesn't mention is the wilderness-style areas running deep into the park along Ashland Creek. Strolling the paths and byways, watching the waters bubble and gurgle along the path of the creek, crossing the foot bridges - sometimes seeming as if no one is sharing the park with you but the local wildlife -it's easy to forget that you're on the edge of a thriving and busy arts community and tourist attraction.
Over 100 years old, Lithia's landscape design was improved upon in 1914 by John McLaren, the landscape architect who designed San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. More improvements were undertaken in the late 1930s as part of the WPA program during the Great Depression, and the park was finally listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
but what's in it for human beings."
- Jim Fowler, co-host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
For more photos of Lithia Park and Ashland: A Weekend in Ashland
May Event: Castroville
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Probably because it celebrates one of my Favorite Foods of All Time - the perennial thistle that we call Artichokes!
It's the Castroville Artichoke Festival - May 18th through the 19th - and you should get there if you possibly can! Did you know that Norma Jean Baker was crowned the very first Artichoke Queen back in 1948? That was before she went on to receive international fame as Marilyn Monroe!
The festival has grown since 1948, and has morphed into one of the most popular food festivals in Northern California, with its colorful parades, live musical entertainment, Agro Art Competition (think veggies carved, arranged, and stacked into works of art), wine and chef demos, children's activities, field tours (see how artichokes are grown - they really are the strangest looking plants!), farmers markets, arts and crafts, and classic car shows!
And don't forget the Artichokes! Try 'em fried, sautéed, grilled, marinated, pickled, fresh, and creamed in soup! They're delish, any which way you go!
For more about Monterey County, visit Discover Monterey County. To see photos of the Giant Artichoke, check out our Facebook album, Lunch at the Giant Artichoke.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Angels Camp
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The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
By Samuel I. Clemens (Mark Twain)
Have YOU ever jumped a frog? I would expect that most of us haven't! But every year hundreds of frogs vie to leap tall buildings in a single bound (okay... to cover the greatest distance in three jumps) and win the title of International Leaping Frog Jubilee Champion Frog Jumper.
It's all happening May 16th through the 19th at the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angels Camp, just as it has happened since 1928!
In addition to the Frog Jumping Contests held throughout the run of the Fair, you'll enjoy iconic County Fair entertainment, exhibits, livestock, arena events, and fabulous fair-food - all to celebrate the rough and tumble days of the California Gold Rush and California's original 49ers (the ones that came before the football team).
~ Mark Twain
Speaking about the celebrity of his famous story in his Autobiography
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Petaluma
is coming up this weekend!
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Now we all know that George Lucas' semi-autobiographical coming-of-age movie was set in 1962 Modesto where George Lucas was born and spent his teenage years, but by 1972, when the film was being made, Modesto had changed so much that most of the film was actually shot in Petaluma - a town that more closely resembled the Modesto that Lucas remembered and wanted to capture.
So every year the life and times of George Lucas and his American Graffiti are celebrated during Petaluma's "Salute to American Graffit" - a weekend of Cruisin', classic cars, Mel's burgers, and live bands crankin' out our favorite tunes from the '50s and '60s.
and take a stroll down Memory Lane!
Where were YOU in '62?
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: El Dorado Hills
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"The El Dorado Hills Optimist Club, El Dorado Arts Council and the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce, present the 10th Annual El Dorado Hills Art & Wine Affaire, Saturday and Sunday, May 11th & 12th from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm in Town Center, El Dorado Hills.
"Nearly 100 artists are expected to display at the 2013 show. In addition, 20 El Dorado county wineries will be on-site for tastings both days throughout the weekend and live entertainment will be featured at the Town Center Amphitheater and intermixed within the festival grounds."
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Roseville
A Roseville Tradition on Mother's Day Weekend!
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"Celebrating the Harvest of the Strawberry with great food, contests, shopping and exhibits with kids entertainment all Mothers day weekend!"
With treats like Strawberry Flan, Strawberry Parfait, Strawberry Cookies, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Strawberry BBQ Sauce (YUM!), Strawberry Pancakes, Deep Fried Strawberry Pie, and Strawberry Beer (by Lost Coast), what's not to love! Actually, there are even more strawberry-inspired concoctions that that - some, alas, that you'd never dream of!
With all the activities, booths, and vendors, There's fun for everyone at the BerryFest in Roseville this weekend!
the Strawberry Kitchen Cooking Demos.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Petaluma
Petaluma's the place to be on Saturday, May 11!
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The 16th Annual, Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off, Salsa, and Beer Tasting benefits Cinnabar Theater Young Repertory Company!
And, with 40 chili teams, 15 salsa teams, and 14 breweries to sample, it'll benefit your taste buds as well! Local competitors put forth their best efforts, spices, and flavors to entice you to vote for them.
Join the crowds at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Herzog Hall to sample chilis and salsa, and vote for your favorites!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Davis
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That's the theme of the 44th annual Whole Earth Festival at the University of California, Davis campus this weekend, May 10 - May 12.
"Whole Earth Festival was born when an art class taught by Jose Arguelles had an 'Art Happening' on the University of California, Davis campus in 1969.
"The students used art to involve visitors in the ultimate goal of learning about activism, wellness, and the environment. Whole Earth Festival aims to ignite passion, propel creativity, and leave visitors with inspiration."
If you're into hippies, composting, tree-hugging, recycling, green everything, learning stations, quality arts and crafts vendors, MUSIC, and the arts in all its forms, this is the happening place for you to be this weekend!
Barry "The Fish" Melton on Saturday, the UCD Quad will be rockin'!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
#TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week
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You might be wondering what reason we could possibly have for presenting a picture of two banana slugs as our #TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week. Aside, of course, from the fact that it is a beautiful photograph. In answer, we would beg you to consider that if you travel in Northern California - particularly if you visit any of the coastal rain forests, famous Redwood forests, or even parts of Yosemite National Park - there's every possibility that you might run into one of these curious critters.
In a 1989 special-to-the-New-York-Times article by Jane Gross, Ms Gross makes the claim that the Pacific Banana Slug is "as prolific here as cockroaches in New York." While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, they are so abundant in the region of the Russian River that there once was a Russian River Banana Slug Festival, featuring slug races and a recipe contest.
What to do if you encounter a banana slug in your traipsing of the wildernesses of Northern California? Well, in Santa Cruz - where the banana slug has been adopted as the mascot of the University of California, Santa Cruz - it's traditional to kiss the slimy creature, though you are advised not to pick up banana slugs as the salt from our skin can injure them. Oh, and rinse your mouth and lips before kissing for the same reason!
banana slugs are perfectly harmless to humans!
1989 New York Times article: Russian River Journal; Courage Is an Ingredient At Banana Slug Festival
May Event: Dixon
'four-squeal drive' or 'hamward bound'?
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"You will at the Dixon May Fair’s 11th annual Hogcalling Contest, set for 2:30 p.m., Friday, May 10 in the Swine Pavilion on the fairgrounds..."
And that's just one of the fabulous activities and entertainments awaiting you at the Dixon May Fair, May 9 through May 12. Hop on the carnival rides, attend the Demolition Derby and the Car Show, browse the commercial vendors and concessionaires, enjoy the bull riding and the tractor pulls...
"The Dixon May Fair is the oldest district fair and fair-grounds in the state of California."
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Redding
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It's Rodeo Week in Redding, California - May 11th through the 18th - and it's all about the cowgirls and cowboys! And the bronc ridin', bull buckin', team ropin', steer wrestlin'... everything you'd expect from a world-class rodeo!
The Kick-off Dinner and Dance is Saturday night, May 11; Monday is Barrel Racing; Wednesday is Western Heritage Days and Day 1 of the Silver Tour Rodeo; the Silver Tour Rodeo continues nightly through Friday; then Saturday brings the first ever Champions Challenge Performance. Lots of new stuff going on at the 65th Annual Redding Rodeo Week!
Breast Cancer Patient Fundraiser just for women!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Paradise
Chocolate in Paradise sounds just about perfect!
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" Experience a chocolate paradise on the Paradise/Magalia ridge nestled among tall green pines in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and overlooking the Sacramento Valley.
"The Fest will be held Saturday, May 11 at Terry Ashe Park on the Skyway in Paradise from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fest features Chocolate Candy Land where you can dip into decadence at the large chocolate fountain or visit chocolate booths and professional Chocolatiers with countless chocolate delicacies, desserts and confections for sale.
"Fest attendees may also enjoy a blast from the past by visiting fifties themed Lollipop’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Shoppe, or simply taking a walk through the park and enjoying the musical entertainment, fine art and craft booths and a wide range of food selections.
"Young Fest goers will have great fun visiting Kidz-Zone including giant inflatables, carnival games, costumed characters, clowns, face painting, musical entertainment and interactive chocolate arts & craft projects."
~ Dave Berry
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: San Francisco
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It's this weekend's Norway Day Festival in San Francisco. The first festival was held in 1993 for the purpose of promoting relations between Norway and the United States, helping U.S. residents of Norwegian descent celebrate their heritage, and promoting modern Norway. Organizers expected maybe 300 people that year - imagine their surprise when 1300 showed up!
The festival has continued to grow in popularity and you can be one of the celebrants this year - just head for San Francisco May 4th and 5th to enjoy authentic Norwegian foods, music, and dance!
Browse the clothing, craft, art, jewelry, books vendor booths; take in a cooking demonstration or two; learn something of the history and genealogy of Old Norge; enjoy the on-stage entertainment and the fabulous fashion show.
beneath the Golden Gate Bridge
For more about The City, visit Discover San Francisco. To see photos of The City and more, check out our Facebook albums at www.DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com on Facebook.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Mountain View
Mountain View's A la Carte & Art festival, May 4th and 5th, kicks off the Bay Area's outdoor festival season with colorful tents filled with fine art and cool crafts; dynamite live music...
Fantastic food - Artisan specialty foods offering organic, fresh, and exotic festival fare; delightful drink; health and wellness displays...
Plus a Classic Car Show, the Tons of Fun Zone, and a Farmers Market offering fresh locally-grown produce!
it's Springtime in the Bay Area!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Sebastopol
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For seventeen years, Voice of Romani has been helping Romanies and non-Romanies alike celebrate the cultural traditions and folk arts of the Romani people.
It's a frolicsome fete of Romani music, songs, dances, stories, foods, crafts, literature, and customs!
Join in the fun as Romanies and their visitors from all over the United States enjoy a traditional Gypsy folk arts festival while welcoming the Spring and Summer seasons and the gifts that Mother Earth provides to her peoples, on May 4th.
And join in on the sense of shared community/neighborhood - or mahala - that this lively festival brings to all!
~ Old Romani Saying
To see photos of Patrick Amiot's and Brigitte Laurent's sculptures, check out our Facebook album, Sebastopol: Florence Avenue Sculptures.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
May Event: Oroville
Hop Aboard the Bidwell Bar Time Machine!
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Every first Saturday in May the California Gold Rush town of Bidwell Bar comes alive again thanks to the Bidwell Bar Association and the state Department of Parks and Recreation.
Join in the fun as living history volunteers in period dress reenact the good ole days of gold mining in Northern California! Celebrating over 30 years of Bidwell Bar Day, it promises to be lots of fun for the whole family: stop at the various stations to play Faro with a card shark, make a candle from scratch, weave yourself a bracelet, make a corn husk doll with yarn hair, or pan for gold - you might even come up with a flake or two!
It's all happening Saturday, May 4th near Bidwell Bar Bridge (Lake Oroville). Call 530.538.2219 for more information.
boo the black hats and cheer the white ones!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
Things To Do in Northern California
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One of our fondest memories from the early years of our marriage is driving with our two young sons up to San Francisco for a visit to the San Francisco Zoo.
We didn't have much money back then, but that didn't stop us from finding adventure. Pack a picnic lunch along with plenty of healthy snacks, put film in the camera - yes, it was a long time ago! - hop in the car, and go.
There was something especially venturesome about arriving at the beach to visit wildlife from the far reaches of the world, and knowing we were at the edge of a large metropolitan city with skyscrapers and an International Airport.
We'd try to stage our visits so as to be there when it was time to feed the lions - it seemed so dangerous to hand chunks of red meat to a cage full of lions.
Nowadays, they feed the Penguins, Grizzly Bears, Sea Lions, and Giraffe as well.
There were monkeys and apes (now in the famous Primate Discovery Center); elephants from Asia and Africa; giraffes; antelope of all species; Polar Bears and cute little Sun Bears; reptiles and insects too.
But our sons' favorite part was the Children's Zoo with food you could buy for a nickle (no doubt it's more now) to place on your flattened palm to share with the farm animals that were as anxious to take the food as the boys were to give it to them.
and it's better than ever. Plan YOUR visit today!
#TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week
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Located in Newport Beach - just off the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) - in Southern California, Crystal Cove Cottages and Historic District is one of the last remaining examples of Southern California beach architecture and happily for us, it is being protected, preserved, and lovingly renovated through the combined efforts of the California State Parks system, which owns Crystal Cove, and the Crystal Cove Alliance -- and it's now listed as a Federal Historic District.
Visit and explore for the day, or rent one of the historic cottages for a weekend, it's charming and chock-full of nostalgia!
see Getaway Guide to Crystal Cove State Park's Historic District
April Event: Red Bluff
It's the annual Red Bluff Civil War Days, with living historians reenacting the sights, sounds, and battles of the War Between the States!
The event takes place Saturday and Sunday (April 27th & 28th) amid the shaded trails of Samuel Ayers/Dog Island Park, which actually puts one in mind of an ancient Virginia battlefield because of its lush and rugged isolation.
Experience cannon and musket fire, cavalry and skirmishers probing enemy lines, and authentic tactics and weapons of the Civil War.
Visit Union, Confederate, and even civilian camps, and speak with the soldiers and camp followers to learn what life was like during this period in American history.
Thrill to the precision of the Fife and Drum Corps performances, and the demonstrations of artillery, cavalry, and infantry drills; witness the horrors of civil war surgery, and the squalor of everyday civilian life.
General Lee to General Longstreet
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Petaluma
with Butter and Egg Days
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Did you know: in its early days, Petaluma was named Egg Basket of the World; it was home to the world's first chicken pharmacy; it's the place where the egg incubator was invented by Lyman Byce in 1879; and one of the largest historic chicken processing plants still stands in the center of town (although it no longer processes chickens). Out of their close association with egg production and dairy farms comes the annual Petaluma Butter and Egg Days celebration.
Legends of Petaluma - Past and Present is the theme for the 32nd Annual Butter and Egg Days Parade and Festival, taking place on April 27th, celebrating "all the characters, businesses, stories & history that has made Petaluma the unity city [it is] today!"
The Nave Patrola (a slapstick platoon of Italian infantrymen) leads the perennial parade with its comical clumsy formation and Three-Stooges-style routine, getting everyone in the mood for the fun and merriment to follow! Fun that includes the Clover Kids Parade, the festival of arts and crafts booths, tasty food offerings, the Cutest Chick Contest, and a traditional Cow Chip Throwing Contest.
An added bonus: Stick around for the weekend and you can also enjoy the Petaluma Antique Faire on Sunday! Petaluma's Historic Downtown is one of the Bay Area's premier antique centers, and during the twice annual Faires, Petaluma is transformed into an antique marketplace!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: San Francisco
starts this weekend!
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From April 25th through May 9th - you'll discover 15 days of World Cinema films, documentaries, and works by new directors, in addition to live and onstage musical presentations, and shorts - 200 features in all. Add the glam crowd, Awards Night, and several special events with accompanying parties to the mix, and you're sure to find something to your liking!
It's been the happening Spring event in San Francisco since 1957 and it just keeps getting bigger and better every year!
For more about San Francisco, visit Discover San Francisco, and San Francisco Attractions. To see photos of NAME OF PLACE, check out our Facebook album, San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Stockton
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Asparagus is one of those things (like tomatoes, artichokes, and avocados) that are best enjoyed during their growing season! And nothing says Springtime for me like the Stockton Asparagus Festival!
From Asparagus Alley - where you'll savor the Festival's signature delicacy, Battered and Deep-fried Asparagus, along with such delish treats as Asparagus Tri-tip Sandwiches and Asparagus Burritos - to entertainment that includes Houserockers, and Starship with Mickey Thomas; Velocity Circus; and Tyson the Skateboarding Bulldog...
From the new Chef of the Fest cooking demonstrations and the Chopped-style competitions, to Spear-Its of the Valley featuring wineries and microbreweries...
From the World Famous Deep Fried Asparagus-eating Contest (Can Joey "Jaws" Chestnut do it again?), to the Home and Garden Expo...
This is my favorite food festival of all time - so head over to Stockton April 26th through the 28th, for the time of your life!
"Best of the West Food Fest"
by Sunset Magazine for a reason!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
And for more Food Festivals: Discover Northern California's Fun Food Festivals
April Event: Paradise
That's one heck-of-a big nugget!! And it was responsible for putting Dogtown (which was later renamed Magalia) on the California Gold Rush Map!
Since 1959 (the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Dogtown Nugget), the folks of Magalia and Paradise have joined forces - via the Gold Nugget Museum - to remember that nugget and all the good-ole-days stuff that went along with it.
Come on up to Paradise between April 25th and April 28th to explore Tent City where miners are living and working along the West Branch of the Feather River, panning for gold.
Enjoy a fast game of cards and a glass of beer at the ole saloon (after the deputy checks your ID); take in the Dogtown Revue; cheer for your favorite donkey in the Donkey Derby...
There's lots to see and do during Gold Nugget Days! Don't miss the big parade on Saturday, the 27th!
P.S. Do you know how Paradise got it's name? There used to be a saloon called the Pair O' Dice - true story, or so I'm told!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
Photo-of-the-Week
#TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week collectables from DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com.
#TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week
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While visiting Healdsburg in Sonoma County recently, we discovered - tucked in amongst the vineyards and wineries - a lovely, family owned and run rose farm.
Started in 1990 by Jan and Michael Tolmasoff, the Russian River Rose Company is home to over 600 varieties of roses, "ranging from ancient roses to recent introductions; native species to highly hybridized ones; GIANT shed-eating climbers to micro-minis, and many 'found' roses."
In addition to cultivating, growing, and selling roses, Jan and Michael have re-created historic Bulgarian perfume-making methods and offer California's only estate-produced rose oil perfume and rose water.
Visit the Russian River Rose Company's beautiful and fragrant display gardens where - depending on the time of year - you may take a perfume rose harvest tour, attend a workshop or demonstration, witness the blessing of the roses, enjoy butterflies, birds and bees in the garden, take an Iris class, or learn about the mysteries of Russian teas, culture, and music.
~ Ernest Dowson, "Vitae Summa Brevis"
April Event: Northern California
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In honor of the fact that today is Earth Day 2013, I'd like to share an article I ran across at EarthSky.org entitled, "Photos from friends: Favorite images of Earth."
as we all strive together to make our home a beautiful place to live!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Stockton
Stockton Earth Day Festival!
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"This year's theme is '25 Years of LIVING GREEN in SAN JOAQUIN.' Stockton's Earth Day Festival has a long history of helping people recognize the importance of caring for our earth and natural resources.
"Through educational programs and other activities, the all-volunteer Earth Day Festival committee has helped share this vision with thousands of people each year.
"The festival has grown over the years but it remains true to its mission of education, conservation and recycling."
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and it's FREE!
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Mendocino County
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"Mendocino County in Northern California is often called the 'greenest' county in California. And for good reason! As the first county in the US to ban genetically modified organisms, Mendocino grows more organic grapes than any other region in the world, and has long been recognized as a pioneer in the sustainable revolution.
"This year the County is hosting its second-ever countywide 'Where the Earth IS First' Festival, where visitors can take part in a range of eco-friendly activities.
"While every day truly is Earth Day in Mendocino County, the special events planned in April make it easier for visitors to enjoy the organic food and wine on offer and take advantage of special lodging packages, all while communing with nature and renewing their spirit.
"Celebrate Earth Day, Mendocino County-style at our Second Annual Where the Earth IS First Festival. Starting on Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 28, you can see and experience how Mendocino County lives.
"From dog hikes to local wine, food, and beer tastings to lodging specials, from the coast to the redwoods, you'll have the opportunity to understand what makes this county such a special place to live and visit."
For more about Mendocino County, visit Discover Mendocino County. To see photos of Mendocino County, check out our Facebook albums, Mendocino Village, Little River and Fort Bragg.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Sacramento
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"Fun for the whole family...don't miss two great shopping events in one at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park (SHP) and the State Indian Museum on April 20 & 21.
"Visitors will have the opportunity to learn from and support artisan crafters while browsing through the 'Traders' Faire - California's First Mall' at Sutter's Fort SHP and checking out the unique gifts and collectibles at the State Indian Museum's spring time 'Arts & Crafts Market.
"At Sutter's Fort SHP, visitors will experience the hustle and bustle of pioneer trading days by watching artisans create goods, making their own crafts, haggling with traders, hammering square nails, and enjoying musket and cannon demonstrations.
"And, next door at the State Indian Museum, guests can peruse beautiful custom beaded jewelry, artwork, baskets, gourds, soapstone and elk horn carvings, drums and much, much more.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Fresno
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"The ninth annual Fresno Film Festival, presented by Fresno Filmworks at the historic Tower Theatre (815 E. Olive Avenue), will feature seven exclusive programs of short and feature-length movies, including special filmmaker appearances, social gatherings, and Q&A discussions" April 19 through 21.
The line-up includes Flight of the Tortoise and Opening Night Reception on Friday; a program of several shorts on Saturday morning; the feature film, Violeta Went to Heaven Saturday afternoon; On the Road with post-screening discussion circle Saturday evening; and two more feature films plus a shorts program, and an awards presentation and special performance on Sunday.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
#TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week
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Many years ago a seven year old boy from Bodega Bay was visiting southern Italy with his family when he was tragically killed during an attempted robbery gone very wrong. The boy's name was Nicholas Green, and his parents, Margaret and Reginald Green, donated his organs to help seven people have better lives.
To honor Nicholas and his family, more than 140 bells were sent to the Greens from individuals, families, schools, and churches all over Italy and The Children's Bell Tower was created in Bodega Bay where the Greens had lived before their fateful trip. The central bell was made by the Marinelli Foundry and blessed by Pope John Paul II - it has the names of the seven recipients of Nicholas' organs inscribed on it.
The positive impact that the Green family tragedy and subsequent organ donation had on the country of Italy and, in fact - organ donations everywhere - has been dubbed the Nicholas Effect. Since Nicholas died, organ donations in Italy have more than tripled.
April Event: National Parks Fee-Free Days
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Several of the US National Parks in Northern California - including Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Yosemite National Park - are participating in fee-free days, meaning the fees normally charged for entrance to the parks will be waived.
January 19-21 (Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday weekend)
April 22-26 (National Park Week)
August 25 (National Park Service Birthday)
September 28 (National Public Lands Day)
November 9-11 (Veterans Day weekend)
And many National Park food, transportation, and lodging concessioners are also offering special experiences and discounts to visitors, making fee-free days an even better bargain!
The next event takes place April 22nd through April 26th, so... bundle up, get outdoors, and enjoy your National Parks!
"Many of your 398 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee!"
For more about the area around Whiskeytown, visit Discover Shasta County; see Discover Tehama County for the Gateway to Lassen; and for more about Yosemite, see Discover Yosemite National Park. To see photos of Yosemite, check out our Facebook album, Yosemite National Park in Winter.
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April Event: Sebastopol
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Sebastopol's Apple Blossom Festival is all about the apples and the farmers who provide them! Main Street and Ives Park are the centers of attention for Sebastopol's 67th annual Apple Blossom Festival with its spirited down-in-the-old-hometown parade and its fun-for-everyone festival.
Cheer for your favorite flowered float, feast your inner Foodie, frolic to the beat with The Farallons, and forage through the festival arts and crafts - Whatever your pleasure, you're sure to have a very good time!
The parade starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
To see photos of the Florence Avenue sculptures of Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent, check out our Facebook album, Sonoma County: Sebastopol.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Davis
Saturday, April 20th, marks the 99th annual Picnic Day at the University of California Davis campus. Imagine, 99 years worth of Open Houses - inviting anyone and everyone to come and see what it is that you do! Talk about pushing 100!
But UCDavis has every reason to be proud of its accomplishments as you'll find out by way of over 200 events taking place all over campus. Some of the highlights are The Battle of the Marching Bands, the Chemistry Magic Show, and the Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Demo. But my favorite is the Doxie Derby - color-coded Dachshunds (Doxies) racing for all they're worth to find their owners!
More than 50,000 people attend UCDavis Picnic Day each year, but don't worry - there's plenty of room for everyone and hundreds of opportunities to have a good time!
but come on out and have a picnic!
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April Event: Chico
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"Food, wine and beer lovers unite! With a focus on locally grown foods from the North Valley, the fourth annual California Nut Festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"Each year, this popular culinary event showcases plentiful gourmet food offerings, wine and beer sampling, nut-inspired cooking demonstrations, live musical entertainment on two outdoor stages, an inspiring art show featuring talented local artists and much, much more."
This year's celebrity chef is "Sacramento’s talented and widely admired 'Farm-To-Fork' Chef Kurt Spataro!"
So join us in Chico on Saturday, April 20th, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Patrick Ranch -
For more about Chico, visit Discover Chico California or Chico Attractions. To see photos , check out our Chico Facebook album.
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April Event: Red Bluff
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The 92nd Annual Red Bluff Round-up promises to be "More than just a Rodeo" with its parade through downtown on Saturday, and its wild horse races that climax each day's rodeo events!
The history of rodeos in Tehama County goes all the way back to the 1918 Clough Ranch Picnic, when Tehama County cattlemen gathered up to celebrate the end of the Spring Round-up with a picnic, saddle bronc and wild steer rides, bulldogging and roping contests.
Nowadays the Round-up includes a bowling tournament, foot racing, the street dance, a golf tournament... I guess it really is more than just a rodeo!
Round-up events begin April 19th with the Open 4D Barrel Race, and end with the final Wild Horse Race on April 21st, with a chock-full cowboy-good-ole-time in between!
(CowPersons??? - NAAAH!!!)
For more about the Red Bluff area, visit Discover Tehama County. To see photos of Tehama County, check out our Facebook album, Tehama County.
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April Event: Arcata
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Godwits are long-billed, long-legged, migratory wading birds that were once popular British tablefare. While we don't eat them much here in Northern California, we do love to spot them on our birding trips!
But there's more than Godwits to the Godwit Days Bird Festival in Arcata, which runs from April 18th through the 24th - with over 100 field trips, lectures, workshops and boat excursions to choose from, covering such diverse ecosystems as coastal redwoods, bays, marshes, and mudflats, you'll have the opportunity to see a wide range of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, vultures, hawks and falcons, owls, ground birds... the possibilities are endless!
Some of the not-to-be-missed events: the Dawn Chorus - Arcata Marsh Field Trip; the Humboldt Bay Boat Tour; the Godwit Mystery Tour; and the Big Lagoon Kayak Bird and Wildlife Watching Tour!
For more about Humboldt County - where Arcata is located, visit Discover Humboldt County.
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April Event: Quincy
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Do you adore charming, small-town, community affairs? Then A Taste of Plumas is your cup of tea!
Drawing from Quincy, Chester, Graeagle, Lake Almanor, Portola, and more, this Sierra Nevada county is presenting the best of its best at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy on Saturday, April 13.
The festivities include culinary samplings from local establishments, the sipping of wines and microbrew beers from around the North State, and voting for your favorites in the People's Choice Awards contest.
National Scenic Byway (SR 70) for a weekend getaway in the Sierras!
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April Event: Redding
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What's buzzin, cuzzin? It's Kool April Nites, Daddy-O! So grab your Cats and your Dolly and burn rubber on up to Redding April 14-22 for chrome-plated cruisin' with the Hotties!
Old fashioned burgers... bobby sox and ponytails... classic hotrods and show and shines... you'll find all that and more including a true-blue, genuine Cruise, plus concerts every nite!
at Kool April Nights!
For more about Redding and Shasta County, visit Discover Shasta County.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
April Event: Sonoma
16th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival!
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Starting out with the Opening Night Reception on Wednesday, April 10th, the Sonoma International Film Fest gets underway, offering more Receptions and After Parties and Kick-off Parties than a Hollywood Premier!
"Sonoma International Film Festival comes of age as they celebrate their 16th edition!
"The Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) is proud to announce the line-up for the upcoming 16th edition, which runs Wednesday, April 10, through Sunday, April 14. Considered one of the nation's top destination film festivals, SIFF presents over 100 films, including 7 Premiere films, shown at 8 venues, all within walking distance of Sonoma's historic plaza, in the heart of California Wine Country.
"'This year's program marks a great achievement for the Festival. Our sensational selection of films will challenge and inspire our audiences. Now add delicious food, wine and music and attendees will thoroughly enjoy our unique film festival,' says Kevin W. McNeely, SIFF's Executive Director. 'This year's program ... features films that will transport audiences all over the world from Russia to Italy, Venezuela to Nepal, Iran to Iceland, and more, with such themes as Music & Arts, Environmental, LGBT, Sports & Action, Spanish-language Vamos al Cine and, of course, Food & Wine.'"
there's bound to be something YOU will LOVE!
For more about Sonoma, visit Discover Sonoma. To see photos of NAME OF PLACE, check out our Facebook album, Sonoma.
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Things To Do in Northern California
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Known for it's outdoor activities, Trinity County is many a Northern California fisherman's insider secret fishing hole! And the fishing is positively fabulous this time of year - for quality, quantity, and variety! You've got your rainbows, browns, and brook trout; there's bass and blue gill, catfish and steelhead; not to even mention the salmon!
Here are some of the best spots for fishing in Trinity County:
Lewiston Lake - A major destination for Fly-Fishing via boat, canoe, pram, and float tube. Trollers and bait anglers also love Lewiston Lake!
Ruth Lake - Early Spring is ideal for trollers and bait anglers to get in some surface trout fishing!
Trinity Lake - Best know for Tim Brady's 1976 record smallmouth bass, you'll also discover largemouth bass and trout fishing!
Trinity River - You won't find better steelhead or salmon fishing anywhere than the Trinity River, but you'll also find a wild population of trophy-sized brown trout!
For more Trinity: Discover Trinity County and Trinity County Attractions.
Sonoma Plaza History
There's a lot of California packed into Sonoma Plaza history: the Mission, General Vallejo, the Bear Flag Revolt, Kit Carson, Lotta Crabtree... The plaza itself was designed by General Vallejo!
April Event: Oakland
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In an effort to support young/new filmmakers while enhancing and promoting the image of the city of Oakland, the Oakland International Film Festival was born eleven years ago. The 11th Annual takes place this weekend, April 5th through the 7th, at various locations in the East Bay.
Did you know Oakland was voted the 5th best city in the world to visit in the New York Times? Hot things have been happening in Oakland in the last few years.
With its Broadway Historic District, burgeoning restaurants and trendy bars, captivating arts and culture activities, and historic waterfront centered around Jack London Square...
For more about the Bay Area's East Bay, visit Discover Alameda County.
To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June
#TravelTuesday #Photo-of-the-Week
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Wolf and I never get tired of visiting the historic parts of old Monterey, especially the Monterey State Historic Park/Old Fisherman's Wharf area. The hustle and bustle from both tourists and locals is always colorful and intriquing.
It's hard to pick our favorite spot in the area (the wharf with its seafood vendors, restuarants, and shops; the historic buildings around the plaza; the adobe house museums with their beautiful gardens along the Path of History), but one of our favorites has to be Custom House Plaza.
The plaza is a beautifully designed massive brick structure with artfully-placed hardscape features, sculptures, and plantings and an upper level of expansive lawns, shady trees, and Bocce Ball courts. It's a lovely place to explore and visit the historic buildings, museums, or shops; hang out for a little people watching; or just breathe in the ambiance of one of California's oldest and most successful settlements.
All of that would be enough to draw us back time and again, but add the myriad of theatrical performances, events and festivals, car shows, and cultural events that utilize number One Custom House Plaza as a backdrop, and we should never be surprised when we stumble upon one more in a long list of happenings on the plaza!
Nonetheless, our reaction is always one of surprise and delight. "Oh look, what's going on here?" "Looks like arts and crafts booths. Let's check it out!" "Be sure to get lots of pictures - it's very colorful!"
That was our conversation during our latest visit to Monterey in search of the usually illusive Blue Whales that were haunting Monterey Bay in greater numbers than usual recently. In addition to the beautifully kaleidoscopic and kinetic wind machines pictured above. we discovered chromatic clothing and scarves, purses and handbags, works of art crafted from pieces of wood and seashells, jewelry, Redwood signs made to order, metal scultures of transformer images, and wood slat artwork. It was a wonderful way to spend some time before our Princess Monterey Whale Watching tour!
discover your own surprises!
Travel Adventures
Over the years, through our own travel adventures and those of others, we have come across some excellent websites that we'd love to share with you!
April Event: Gualala
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I'm not really sure what whales and jazz have to do with one another in terms of coming together in a festival, but this is one heck of an excuse to spend quality time at one of my favorite places - the Mendocino Coast.
Gualala (pronounced "wa-LA-la" by "the natives") is one of those little, unincorporated communities that spring up serendipitously for no other reason than that someone liked the spot, decided to stick around, and others soon followed suit. If you're watching whales out to sea as you drive along Highway 1, you might just miss the town.
So make sure you're on the lookout - you really don't want to miss out on Gualala!
The festival runs March 28th through May 4th and it's chock full of jazzy and artsy things to do. Try Saturday night's "Body and Soul" - A Jazz (and Life) Tapestry, or April 13th's Zydeco Flames, or the main event: Jamie Davis & Quintet in Concert on the 20th. Nineteen events in all - truly "something for everyone!"
And, of course, whale watching opportunities abound as the Gray Whale cows escort their "little ones" North for the summer!
Probably not, but definitely a rockin' event!
For more about the Mendocino Coast, visit Discover Mendocino County.
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By Suzi Rosenberg, Copyright © 2007-2013 DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com
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