Northern California's Greatest Hits

In this special episode of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson looks back at some of the most memorable Northern California highlights from previous episodes.

Join Johnson as he starts his journey with a tour of some of the trendiest boutiques in San Francisco and the East Bay before heading north to visit the farms that comprise the mouthwatering destinations along the California Cheese Trail.

Subsequent stops include some farm-to-table dining in Sacramento, a bit of historical hiking in Butte County, and some fresh and flavorful seafood on the Mendocino coast. The episode wraps with a conversation about the spiritual side of Mount Shasta.

Guests

• Erica Chan Coffman, blogger and creator of HonestlyWTF
• Vivien Straus, founder of the California Cheese Trail
• Kate Washington, dining critic for The Sacramento Bee
• Tracy Salcedo, author of multiple Falcon guidebooks
• Jessica Wright, editor of Bon Traveler
• Andrew Oser, Mt. Shasta Retreats tour guide

Resources

Lifestyle blogger Erica Chan Coffman highlights the Bay Area's must-visit boutiques.

• Bryr
• Freda Salvador
• Metier
• Esqueleto
• Dopp
• The Vintage Rug Shop
• Crimson Horticulture Rarities
• Tail of the Yak

California Cheese Trail founder Vivien Straus knows her curds—and she also knows the best creameries to visit.

• California Cheese Trail
• Ramini Mozzarella
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.
• Cowgirl Creamery
• Tomales Farmstead Creamery
• Jollity Farm Goat Dairy
• Long Dream Farm
• Orland Farmstead
• Gioia Cheese

Sacramento Bee dining critic Kate Washington discusses where to go and what to order in Sacramento.

• Mulvaney’s B&L
• Canon
• Little Saigon
• Com Tam Dat Thanh
• Mediterranean Bakery & Cuisine
• Babylon City Market

Tracy Salcedo delivers tips on exploring and hiking in Butte County, including the town of Chico.

• Feather River Scenic Byway
• Feather Falls Trail
• Oroville
• North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
• Deer Creek Trail
• Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
• Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes

Jessica Wright’s Bon Traveler blog is a treasure trove of information and inspiration, and she has lots to say about California’s Wild North Coast.

• Mendocino
• Russian Gulch State Park
• Catch a Canoe & Bicycles Too
• Glendeven Inn & Lodge
• Café Beaujolais
• Princess Seafood
• Avenue of the Giants
• Founder’s Grove
• Lost Coast Brewery
• Moonstone Grill
• Larrupin Cafe

Tour guide Andrew Oser of Mt. Shasta Retreats discusses the mountain's spiritual power and natural beauty.

• Mount Shasta
• Siskiyou County
• Shasta Trinity National Forest

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 just getting to know 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.