I regain my equilibrium through travel, so the timing was ideal this last weekend to throw my trusty Lonely Planet in the car and drive 4 hours north to do some exploring in Mount Shasta. In the middle of our first winter storm, natch. Spoiler alert: I never saw the damn mountain.
24 hours in Mount Shasta:
-Pulling into town at Mount Shasta Pastry and picking out something savory and something sweet for the next day's breakfast: a pesto tomato tart and a generous slice of blueberry coffee cake.
-Lunch at Wassayaks: a rockin' basil tomato panini with a view of the clouds covering the mountain.
-Crystals for days at "metaphysical emporium" Soul Connections.
-Dipping my toe in local climbing culture at The Fifth Season.
-A fascinating peek at local history at the Sisson Museum (including a special exhibit on grizzlies!) before feeding a whole lot of hungry trout at the neighboring fish hatchery.
-A tromp through the rainy forest to Big Springs Creek on the Elsa Rupp Nature Trail.
-Warming back up with a black widow mocha in the snug environs of Seven Suns Coffee.
-Getting overly excited about seeing a glimpse of the snow on the base of the mountain while checking in at Mount Shasta Resort.
-Settling into my amazing Arts and Crafts-style forest chalet before running across the "street" to check out Lake Siskiyou and to take numerous restorative breaths.
-Dinner at Lily's: veggie Mediterranean pasta in an adorable clapboard house.
-Another try before sunset: Still no mountain? Still no mountain.
-Waking up to the sound of steady rain on the chalet skylight and the scent of coffee percolating in my kitchen.
-Lazy morning reading on the couch in front of my gas fireplace.
-Lunch at the Berryvale Grocery cafe: Asian greens and tofu soup + excellent eavesdropping.
-A chai for the road and one last plaintive look at where the mountain should be. Next time!