California's Wide-Open Spaces

Do you dream about spelunking your way through a prehistoric cave? Is glamping under the stars more your style? Whatever your outdoor pleasure, you're sure to find it in California.

And no matter how you choose to commune with nature, exploring by RV is a great way to go, according to Dyana Kelley, who heads up the CampCalNOW RV Park & Campground Alliance. On this episode of the California Now Podcast, she provides host Soterios Johnson with insider information about the state’s many campgrounds and RV parks, sharing a few favorites and providing listeners with essential tips.

Next, Johnson talks to Pinnacles National Park Ranger Chris Symons, who discusses his favorite spots in the state's newest national park (minted in 2013). The diverse landscape of the park, he says, makes for some exciting hikes, breathtaking stargazing, and possibly a glimpse of the rare California condor.

Also on this episode, Johnson talks to Matthew Doyle, who runs tours at Lake Shasta Caverns National Landmark. Formed by flowing water about 200 million years ago, this unique network of caves and caverns is an outdoor adventurer’s dream. From hulking stalactites and stalagmites to the glistening majesty of Shasta Lake, the views are unforgettable.

Guests

Dyana Kelley, president of CampCalNOW

Chris Symons, park ranger at Pinnacles National Park

Matthew Doyle, general manager at Lake Shasta Caverns National Natural Landmark

Resources

Exploring California in an RV is one of the best ways to experience the Golden State, according to Dyana Kelley.

CampCalNOW

Blue Heron RV Park

Walker Canyon Ecological Reserve

Bridgeport

Big Sur

Santa Barbara

Pismo Beach

Morro Bay

Santa Cruz

Lava Beds National Monument

Tule Lake National Monument

Westport Beach RV Park

Trans-Catalina Island Trail

Santa Catalina Island

Pacific Crest Trail

Park ranger Chris Symons knows Pinnacles National Park better than most, and he offers insights on the park’s three C’s: caves, climbing, and condors.

Pinnacles National Park

Monterey

California Condors

Camping at Pinnacles

Jawbone Trail

Balcony's Loop Trail

Chalone Peak Trail

Every Kid Outdoors

Tour guide Matthew Doyle says there's no shortage of natural wonders available in the network of caves that make up Lake Shasta Caverns.

Lake Shasta Caverns

Redding

McCloud

Shasta Lake

Lake Shasta Dinner Cruises

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Waterworks Park

Sugarloaf Cottages Resort

Tsasdi Resort

About the Host

Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis, Calif., in 2016 and is in the process of exploring his surroundings. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.