A Good Ol’ American Weekend
The American River is another hot summer spot that’s close enough to the Bay to make it the perfect weekend excursion. We headed to the American River Resort – and don’t let the name fool you… we camped… again. They do have cabins, but it’s not quite ‘resort’ status I would say. I definitely had one of the most fun weekends I’ve had in awhile, so what’s in a name anyway, I say. This part of
[caption id="attachment_273" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The American River"]
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the American River is perfect for not only camping, but also rafting and sun bathing. I know it’s not PC to encourage lounging out in the sun, but damn it feels nice! It doesn’t feel like summer without that familiar Banana Boat Sunscreen smell (see, use Sunscreen. PC cred. = achieved!) The River, while fast (class 3, in fact) at times, has shallow pools sprinkled throughout, making it perfect for river-centric activities of all kinds. Tanning was on the agenda to start – sun like this is different from our sun here in the City, making the wearing of a bikini all day without thought of a cover-up completely possible. Nice.
The view in this part of California is like something out of an old John Wayne film – you can still see gold in the banks of the river, making those old Gold Rush stories come to life. The steep golden brown hills, vast boulders, and patches of forest green Oak trees are so peaceful, yet powerful from their extreme history. One length of the riverbank has a trail still standing from the 1800s that is made from the mountain of rocks above.
Wanting to see this beauty first hand, we decided to go river rafting with River Otter Adventures. For $70, you get an experienced guide showing you breathtaking beauty for 4 hours, all while raising your adrenaline level. What a pairing. Completely worth every penny, and you get a picture to top it off if you want.
I have become quite the camping connoisseur these days, and I find that it actually is more fun than you would think (well maybe not you, but me definitely). It’s surprisingly easy to be dirty and ok with the fact that you smell worse than the animals that live just outside the campsite area. Who would have thought? And if you add in water activities, it’s almost like bathing, right?! I’ve certainly come to think so, at least during the summertime.
Peace and love Xo
