(CNN) — To Matthew Adams, Ansel Adams was simply his grandpa. Growing up in Fresno, California, Matthew would spend time with him during short summer vacations in Yosemite National Park, where his grandfather taught photography workshops. “He was definitely a part of our lives, but I actually didn’t really grasp his national importance until after…

(CNN) — Five esteemed women chefs and restaurateurs — four at present and one with a rich industry history — sat down in Alice Waters’ Berkeley kitchen to eat and drink and discuss their journeys as females in an industry once fully dominated by men. Alice Waters of the renowned Chez Panisse opened her home…

(CNN) — Will it be cioppino, chop suey or a simply steamed Dungeness crab with butter, lemon and a hunk of sourdough bread? With so many tempting specialties to choose from — many reflecting diverse immigrant communities — it’s hard to decide where a culinary journey through San Francisco should begin and what exactly it…

San Francisco (CNN) — “You know what goes well with Chinese food?” Cecilia Chiang asked as the small group gathered around to marvel at the sweet-smelling red pork simmering in a pot on her stove. The meat had begun to caramelize, its lovely aroma acting like a gentle (and silent) dinner bell. “What’s that?” we…

(CNN) — Being cooped up at home is no fun for humans, but bears are making the most of the extra space at California’s shuttered Yosemite National Park. “The bears are just literally walking down the road to get to where they need to go,” Ranger Katie Patrick said during a Facebook Live event on…

(CNN) — California, lake country? While known for its Pacific Ocean beaches and chic coastal towns, the Golden State is also home to many pristine lakes and reservoirs where visitors can soak up the sun and cool off. Shasta Lake Shasta Lake is located just north of Redding, California. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images…

(CNN) — Jenny Leveille is still planning to “chase the powder” this year. In spite of numerous Covid-19 related restrictions at ski resorts around the world, the most avid skiers and riders like Leveille might be able to scale the coronavirus obstacles. But passion for the sport by itself won’t be enough to power you…

(CNN) — For all the world, it looks like dangerous hot lava streaming down the side of a cliff. But no, that’s not volcanic activity in Yosemite National Park in California. It’s water — a benign and beautiful waterfall experience known as “firefall.” Because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the dramatically growing popularity of firefall,…

(CNN) — Summer is unofficially here, and many people in the United States are ready to get back to flying, driving cross-country and soaking up the sun after the pandemic hammered travel plans for basically all of 2020. If you’re looking to make your travel debut at the top beach in America, the island of…

Anaheim, California (CNN) — Delayed but not daunted, Spider-Man, Black Panther and other superheroes from Marvel Comics will debut their new land this week — mere days before California loosens almost all Covid-19 restrictions. The Avengers Campus is scheduled to open Friday at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim — almost one year after its…