Deep in the Stanislaus National Forest, the Cal Alumni Association family camps are known by their school colors -- blue for the Pacific and gold for the ore that dazzled California's earliest settlers.

 

Orange in the fall, white in winter snows and rich greens in the summer sun, these trees surround a huge campground of family-oriented recreational facilities and chalets. When they saw me doing this painting, young kids playing baseball here invited me to join their team. I stayed several hours! It was years ago, but the memory remains.... You don't have to be a Cal alum to love this place, but be advised: Cal's golden bear mascot is a direct descendant of California's grizzly bear emblem. This is also known as "The Lair of the Golden Bear!"