Once prevalent with glittering gold during the California Gold Rush, these fertile shores echo with the remembrance of days long gone with the fragrant blooms of the golden water iris. The trees and brush bustle with birds sings natures harmony, and the silky, slow waters mirror the clouds dancing on high. The area known as Horseshoe bend, located on the Stanislaus River, is a haven to more than 300 species of flora and fauna. To walk the trails along this river one can almost feel the ancestors of the indigenous people who once fished these shores reminding of a time when the Earth was slow and the sounds of nature dominated the airways. This place is a small fragment of eden still thriving today.

From the vantage point of more than six thousand feet above sea level one can see as the eagle sees — flying over the lush fertile, basin shaped by the meandering currents of the Walker River. Located near the peak of Sonora Pass on highway 108, this small window into the wilderness might give you a glimpse of a black bear going for a swim to catch a tasty meal. Sit for a while and watch marvelous forms of nimbus clouds building over the granite peaks while a cold breeze builds from the waters below moving up the mountain and the sound of Leavitt Falls cascades near by.

This lesser known California gem known as the Dardanelle Cones, rest high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yosemite National Forest and the Tahoe National Forest. Sculpted by Mother Nature Herself more than 9 million years agos, to gaze upon the Dardanelles is akin to gazing through time itself.

This modern impressionistic piece captures the phenomenon of iridescent clouds dancing in the sky over a well worn hiking path surrounded by blooming deer brush and the first sprouting flowers of spring. Located in the heart of California’s central foothills. The nature reserve known as Red Hills, is a cherished retreat for hikers, bikers and nature enthusiasts.

Near Bodega Bay, California, rest a small stretch of beach known as Dillion Beach. Its high winds, moving sand dunes, foggy encapsulation and low tides abundant with wondrous sea life are just some of its most known characteristics. Close to Alfred Hitchcock’s set for the filming of “The Birds” as well as a scattering of timeless and nostalgic early American fishing towns, this little gem is a must see for adventure seekers traversing California’s beautiful beaches.

Perhaps not as well known as its close neighbor, Half Dome, located in the Yosemite Valley, stand North Dome. Marking the entrance to the trail of Vernal Falls this beautiful Granite Dome welcomes hikers from all over the planet to embark on a new adventure.