Betsy's California Travel Blog

After the winter rains end, the grass on California hillsides turns a golden color that intensifies in the late afternoon, giving credence to the theory that California's nickname "The Golden State" comes from the color of its hills. There's plenty to do on a California vacation during this golden season, and you can use our guide to California in summer to check them out.

One of the pleasures of living in California is taking in a summer outdoor concert, and if your summer travel plans take you near one, it's a great way to live like local for an afternoon or evening. Our favorite places include the Hollywood Bowl, San Francisco's Stern Grove, Mountain Winery near San Jose and Humphreys by the Bay down in San Diego.

If you plan to travel to Yosemite this summer, discover what's open, where to keep cool and the best picnic spots (with no crowds!). We even know where to find wildflowers, which keep blooming through most of the summer.

On California's Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, some baby eagles are putting on their own webcam reality show this spring. Right now, they're four weeks old and about one-third their adult size. In just a month, they will be fully grown, with a six-foot wingspan.

To tell you about this, I have to be sure you know what a Segway is. The "human transporter" as it's called is a two-wheeled contraption that looks a little bit like a skinny vacuum cleaner with two big wheels. The Segway is just as much fun to ride as it looks like, and surprisingly easy. These days, a lot of companies are offering Segway tours, including San Francisco Electric Tours.

Angel Island is one of our favorite places and among those that offer a Segway tour. It's a great way to see the island. The island and a Segway ride alone make for a really fun day.

This summer (2008), Angel Island Segway Tours is offering special tours whose topic changes monthly. On Mondays and Wednesdays in May, you can take a special wildflower tour. June and August tours feature the island's military history and in July, it's the "Five Bridges" tour which includes a hike to the top of the island's only mountain.

The guided tours costs $70 ($5 of that helps support Angel Island State Park) and last three hours. The fee includes a box lunch. Reserve online or call 415-897-0715.

A relative newcomer to the California public market scene, Napa's Oxbow Public Market, Napa is another step in downtown Napa's revival. Tenants include many local favorites such as Taylor's Automatic Refresher (burgers), Model Bakery and The Olive Press, along with other artisan food shops. Seasonal farm stands located outside offer fresh produce, and you'll find plenty of choices for a meal, or to enjoy a glass of wine and a snack.

When I think of things I like best about San Francisco, the Ferry Building immediately springs to mind. When I sublet an apartment in the city, it was the destination of almost every Saturday morning walk, and it's the place I often meet friends for a meal or snack.

Once the hub of ferry travel on San Francisco Bay and sadly neglected in the mid-twentieth century, the Ferry Building is filled with a variety of local food boutiques and restaurants.

Since 1917, there's been an open air market in this location which is now smack in the middle of downtown LA. You'll find lots of inexpensive (and yummy-smelling) food at the Grand Central Market, with vendors and small stalls selling a startling variety of dried chili peppers under restored, classic neon signs that hang overhead.

Yosemite's venerable Ahwahnee Hotel hosts three signature events each year: Vintners' Holidays (wine tasting), Bracebridge Dinner (Old-fashioned Christmas celebration) and Chefs' Holidays (cooking demonstrations and dinner).

Dates for 2008/2009 have been set. Vintner's Holidays will take place November 2 through December 4, the Bracebridge runs December 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24 and 26 and Chef's Holidays run January 11 through February 5, 2009. People with out-of-date information may try to tell you that it's impossible to get reservations for the Bracebridge Dinner, but they're wrong. However, it's a popular event and you'll be better off to reserve as early as you can.

If you're a jazz music lover, it's not too early to start thinking about the Monterey Jazz Festival, either. It's held on the third weekend of September, but tickets are on sale already and they sell out earlier every year.