The North Coast doesn’t really do seasons the way the rest of the world does. We don’t believe in dividing the year into four neat periods, each with their own weather. Instead, mix up our rain and fog, darkness and light in varying quantities and distribute it in ever surprising ways throughout the seasons. Our […]
Amy Cirincione O'Connor
Posted inPerfect Trips
Perfect Spring Trips
Margaret Atwood wrote, “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Spring in Humboldt County gives you plenty of opportunities to do just that. The air is warm(ish) and everything is green and lush. The daylight hours are dramatically longer, so you can explore all day and still have […]
Posted inPerfect Trips
Perfect Winter Trips
Welcome to winter, Humboldt’s unsung hero. The days are shorter this time of year, but we make the most out of them. We venture into the rain, exalt in blustery weather and cozy up in style. Grab your rain boots and your travel mug. You’re just in time. Outdoorsy Type Lacks Creek is one of […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Summer of Baby Love
Last summer was beautiful. I know because I watched each warm, blue-skyed day from the couch in my living room. I have lovely French doors in my living room that open up onto my lovely backyard. On beautiful summer days, hummingbirds visit my jasmine vines and I can catch a glimpse of the bay if […]
Posted inWedding Feature
At the Hitching Post
On August 16 in the heart of Humboldt’s summer, 200 guests gathered on a 40-acre ranch in Carlotta to celebrate Jenna and Cory Sutton’s marriage. While “rustic chic” themed weddings are on trend at the moment, the beauty of Jenna and Cory’s wedding was that its homespun style represented their roots, their community and their […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Stroller Hike
The key to any successful backpacking expedition is good recon: Accurate information about the conditions you will face on your trip will inform your gear selection and meal planning. This goes for becoming a first-time mother, too. When embarking on my third trimester, I found myself exploring kids’ stores, reading parenting books, asking experienced parents […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Hiking for Three
When I found out I was pregnant with twins, my doctor suggested that I stick to “gentle stretching,” walking and swimming for exercise. That sounded like the most boring nine months ever. During my first trimester, the only time I didn’t feel nauseous was when I was eating or being active, so I ran, biked […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Out of Hibernation
Ok, Humboldt. It’s time to get over it. Enough whining about the frost, your shivering and your wool socks. It’s not that cold out. You know what they call crisp air, blue skies and frosty mornings in most parts of this country? Fall. Most of us don’t even own a real winter coat or a […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Catching Air
On a blustery, gray Sunday afternoon, a cluster of trucks parked at the Table Bluff overlook. Undaunted by the chilly wind (in fact, cheered by it), several people hoisted awkwardly sized backpacks to the end of the bluff. From these packs, they unfurled yards of ripstop material and strands of Kevlar. They adjusted their gear […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Masochist, Meet ‘Peak Fun’
I met my husband on the Deschutes River, where we guided a group of (at-risk/delinquent) teens through rapids for a week. We measured the next four years of our courtship in miles of whitewater rafting, hiking and rock climbing. Initially it seemed so romantic, falling in love against a wilderness backdrop. But eventually, the unfortunate […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Call of the Mild: Learning to Hunt My Own Dinner
In the first few pages of Lily Raff McCaulou’s memoir, Call of the Mild: Learning to Hunt my Own Dinner, she quotes the opening line from the cover letter she sent to prospective employers in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana while living in New York City: “I’m not just a city slicker looking for a Western […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Bikes and Booze
There is a fine art to wine and food pairing — the notes and tones of the right wine will bring out the flavors of a dish, and the balance of sensations in a dish will affect the taste of the wine. There is a similar art to pairing the right outdoor activity with the […]