California
California glamping: 5 fantastic camping options an easy drive from the Bay Area
It may feel like summer is over, if there’s anyone school-aged in your household. But it would be a shame to waste these gorgeous days ahead just because our weekday mornings are starting a little earlier.
Why not plan an “it’s not over yet” glamping getaway, with just enough adventure mixed with some cushy ease? There are so many cool spots up and down this vast state of ours where you can rough it without really sleeping on the ground.
Here are a few pockets worth visiting next time you feel like camping … very, very comfortably.
On the Mendocino coast
Mendocino Grove offers the perfect combination of real camping spiffed up with some comfort and class. Your site has all the camping necessities — a picnic table, fire pit, lock boxes for food (there’s a lot of wildlife here), sliding door trash bins and the campground vibe that we all remember, with kids gathering at the swing set and playing tag.
But instead of sore backs and muddy feet, you’ll be sleeping in luxe canvas tents on decks, complete with leather scoop chairs, heated blankets, fresh linens, fresh-cut flowers and electricity. The bath house is stocked with organic body products, and there’s a full-service spa, sauna and yoga deck.
Add ons, including a s’mores kit and a cook box with enamelware, glass tumblers, salt and pepper grinder, olive oil, knives and a cast iron skillet, make things even easier.
Head for the Meadow Commons, a central gathering space, to enjoy the oatmeal bar, tea and coffee each morning. (That tea bar is open 24 hours a day.) And the commons hosts dinner on certain nights, a live music series and a beer, wine and espresso bar.
While there’s pretty much everything you might need at Mendocino Grove, civilization is so close, you can actually see the cozy town of Mendocino from some of the tent sites. Head into town, if you don’t feel like cooking in camp, or drive a couple of miles in the other direction for a meal at Terra Farm Kitchen.
This newly opened restaurant is part of the SCP Mendocino Inn & Farm. There are 10 locations in this distinctive hotel chain — the initials stand for soul, community and planet. Meander the property, visit the flock of chickens — there’s a table in the lobby with chicken food, if you’d like to take the ladies a snack — and say hello to the llamas, Mo, Larry and Curly. Then head for the main lodge for wine, pizza ($20-$25) and salads ($15) made with locally grown produce.
Russian River sojourn
Guerneville may be a small town, but it’s something of a glamping epicenter. You can find at least three awesome spots to glamp here near the main attraction, the Russian River.
AutoCamp is all about the Airstreams. This luxe camping company has nine locations, including sites near Joshua Tree, Yosemite and Sequoia national parks. Each one features clusters of the retro silver bullet trailers set around a central, modern hub with a little store full of provisions ranging from great local beer and wine to whiskey, picnic fare and grilling essentials for your fire pit. Complimentary breakfast includes granola blends plus coffee, tea and cocoa. And you can borrow one of their cool cruiser bikes for a spin around the riverside-meets-redwoods neighborhood.
Dawn Ranch is like a rustic fairy land, complete with full-service spa, upscale restaurant and private river access. Tucked in the heritage orchard, you’ll find glamping tents, canvas structures with fire pits, Adirondack chairs, free snacks and coffee set ups, plus luxe bedding and decor. The modern bath house is nearby, complete with redwood and brass finishing touches, plus irresistible Le Labo 33 bath products. This is camping for those who do not prefer camping.
Highlands Resort was recently purchased and renovated by Basecamp Hotels founder Christian Strobel and chef Crista Luedtke, who has pretty much revitalized Guerneville with her dazzling array of food and hospitality projects, including boon eat + drink, BROT and boon hotel + spa. Highlands is known for its cabins and rooms, but glampers will want to check out the seasonal Coyote Camp, complete with king size beds tucked inside canvas scout tents in a redwood grove. The adults-only Coyote Camp is open from May 1 through Sept. 30.
Paso Robles wine country
The Trailer Pond just may be the cutest candy-colored cluster of vintage trailers you’ll ever find. Five adorable trailers sit on the rim of an irrigation pond at Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery, where founders Bob and Lynn Tillman first planted 31 acres of organically and regeneratively farmed Rhône varieties in 2003. This is a spiffed-up campground, with enough country rusticity (lizards of every size, limited cell service and original fixtures from the 1950s and ’60s) paired with amenities that will make you stay and unplug for awhile, including a wine fridge/honor bar, Turkish towels and a communal fire pit.
Take a sunrise hike through the grenache vineyards. Come sunset, you’ll want to linger on the pond deck with a glass of delicious grenache blanc. You can also book more comprehensive tastings at the winery, including a Summit Vineyard Tasting that brings you up to the stunning Sundowner Deck with views as far as the eye can see. These five trailers are also bookable as one pod for special events and occasions.
If You Go
Mendocino Grove: Tent rates start at $239 per night. 9601 Highway 1in Mendocino; https://mendocinogrove.com/
Terra Farm Kitchen: Terra Farm Kitchen is open from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday-Monday at the SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm, 3790 Highway 1 in Albion; https://scphotel.com.
Autocamp: Trailer rentals start at $247 per night. 14120 Old Cazadero Road in Guerneville; https://autocamp.com
Dawn Ranch: Glamping tents start at $197. 16467 Highway 116 in Guerneville; https://dawnranch.com
Highlands Resort: Coyote Camp tents are $199. 14000 Woodland Drive in Guerneville; www.highlandsresort.com
Trailer Pond: Trailers are $225. Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery, 2825 Adelaida Road in Paso Robles; www.thetrailerpond.com
And still more …
Occidental: Sonoma Treehouse Adventures; www.sonomacanopytours.com/treehouse
Yosemite: Under Canvas; www.undercanvas.com/
Pescadero: Costanoa; https://costanoa.com
Big Sur: Alila Ventana; www.ventanabigsur.com/glamping
Big Sur: Treebones; www.treebonesresort.com
A California man was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd acts and exploiting minors through online platforms.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Edward “Eddie” Alessandro Zarate, 20, of Santa Maria.
On May 28, authorities began investigating Zarate over allegations that he was communicating with underage girls online and exchanging sexually explicit material with them.
Detectives later learned that Zarate allegedly communicated with minor victims through mobile phone apps such as Whipd, Purp, Wizz and Snapchat, along with exchanging text messages.
Zarate’s profiles appeared to portray him as a juvenile.
“Once he established communication with minors, he would often encourage them to move conversations off the platform and continue communicating via text message,” the sheriff’s department said. “During these conversations, Zarate would disclose his true age and identity.”
So far, authorities are aware of two female juveniles who have met with Zarate in person and reportedly engaged in lewd acts.
He is accused of communicating with minors in multiple states including California, Florida and Illinois. In California alone, detectives believe Zarate contacted minors from Los Angeles, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Paso Robles, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande and San Francisco.
“Based on the scope of the investigation, detectives believe there may be additional survivors who have not yet been identified,” authorities said.
On June 10, Zarate was arrested and booked on multiple felony charges including oral copulation with a person under 18 years of age, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, sending harmful matter to a minor, and two counts of possession of obscene material depicting a minor.
Anyone who may be a victim, has communicated with Zarate online or through text or has information on the case is asked to call Sheriff’s Detectives at 805-681-4150. Anonymous tips can be provided to the SBSD’s tipline at 805-681-4171 or online at SBSheriff.org.
Top universities reject Trump’s ‘compact’ over academic freedom
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California rejected Trump’s “compact.”
To the surprise of perhaps no Californians, several California universities appeared in the top rankings of the world’s best universities in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings released on June 16.
Of the more than 2,250 worldwide research institutions that U.S. News & World Report evaluated for this list, six California universities ranked in the top 50 globally, with an even split among Northern and Southern California institutions.
The 2026 list includes universities from more than 100 countries, with the following countries receiving the most schools in the overall rankings:
- China: 409
- United States: 275
- India: 123
- United Kingdom: 93
- Japan: 86
Did your California alma mater appear among the top global universities?
U.S. News and World Report methodology
When determining a university’s placement on the list, U.S. News & World Report considered factors more relevant to research-oriented institutions than to undergraduate-focused metrics like bachelor’s degree graduation rates.
It focused on aspects like academic institutions’ research and reputation, number of publications, the quality of publications and citations. It considers other factors, including location, campus culture, the strength of particular programs, and cost, which are also very important.
“For students seeking universities with strong academic excellence and global recognition, the Best Global Universities rankings offer an essential comparative resource,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News.
“Our methodology focuses on a school’s research mission and scholarly impact, helping students identify institutions that are truly at the forefront of global knowledge creation.”
Out of the top 10 global universities, two California institutions made the list:
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Stanford University
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Tsinghua University
- University of California Berkeley
- Yale University
- University College London
- Columbia University
How did California colleges rank in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities 2026 list?
Outside of the top 10 universities, California saw a handful of other institutions rank highly on U.S. News & World Report list.
Notably, the University of California – Los Angeles just missed the top 10 list, ultimately ranking as the 11th-best global university and the second-best public institution on the list. It was beaten out as the best public institution by its academic counterpart, the University of California, Berkeley, which was ranked the 7th-best global university.
Additionally, a number of University of California schools made the top of the list, ultimately reaffirming the quality of the institutions’ public campuses across the state.
“Research from the University of California is vital to work that benefits all Americans, from breakthroughs in the treatment of Parkinson’s to the science behind previously unimagined successes in fighting cancer and the development of quantum computers that will enable the critical advances of the 21st century,” the University of California said in a press release about its rankings.
Here’s the list of California universities that made the top 100 list:
- 3. Stanford University
- 7. University of California Berkeley
- 11. University of California – Los Angeles
- 22. University of California – San Francisco
- 23. (Tied) California Institute of Technology
- 23. (Tied) University of California – San Diego
- 74. University of Southern California
- 95. University of California – Davis
- 99. University of California – Irvine
- 100. University of California – Santa Barbara
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
The most significant seismic event in California’s history – an earthquake of 7.9 magnitude – occurred in 1857 and ruptured about 225 miles on the San Andreas Fault. That earthquake, dubbed the last “Big One,” killed two people and produced shaking that lasted between one and three minutes.
Since then, California has exploded in population and been has been rattled by many major earthquakes. But Californians have also grown familiar with the existential dread of another “Big One” looming.
Researchers have long warned there will be another massive earthquake in Southern California. They just don’t know when.
A recent study says warning signs continue to grow in 2026. The San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems have reached the highest stress levels seen in the past 1,000 years, according to a study conducted at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
The San Andreas fault runs throughout the state, passing through San Francisco and San Bernardino, while the San Jacinto fault is in Southern California and runs through Riverside, San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.
Why the San Andreas Fault is so risky
Faults rupture on the San Andreas Fault approximately every 150 years, according to UCLA professor Jonathan Stewart, who studies earthquake engineering.
But it’s been over 300 years since the last “large rupture” occurred south of the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake, Stewart said. “As far we know it didn’t produce a large rupture since around 1690. To the present that’s a lot more than 150 years, so there’s a lot of build-up. That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen immediately, it just means there is more stress built-up.”
When the earthquake happens, it is likely to cause a lot of damage. One major concern is the state’s water systems.
“An earthquake like this would rupture most, if not all of the major aqueducts bringing water into Southern California,” Stewart said. “Most people will not be in a collapsed structure after this earthquake, but everybody’s going to be affected by water problems.”
Study highlights longstanding risk
To investigate the probability of an earthquake occurring, researchers built a physics-based simulation and fed it the earthquake history from the region. By doing so, they were able to estimate how much stress has built up along the southern San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems.
The results suggest that catastrophe may be near.
“Right now, with stress at historically high levels across the region and more than 160 years elapsed since the last major rupture, the system is in a critically loaded state,” lead author Liliane Burkhard said.
Most importantly, the Cajon Pass, at the junction of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults, could facilitate a joint rupture of the two faults. This scenario, according to the study, would probably be “significantly more damaging” than a single-fault event.
How is earthquake safety considered?
Seismic hazard assessments are critical for the safety of the millions of residents in California’s densely-populated and earthquake-prone areas.
Seismic Hazard maps show the relative hazard associated with earthquakes using information on past faults, the behavior of seismic waves and the near-surface conditions of specific locations, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Larger values indicate a stronger level of earthquake shaking. A peak ground velocity of 269 cm/sec would correspond to extreme shaking and heavy damage. For reference, the largest ground velocity recorded in Taiwan’s 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake reached 318 cm/sec and had a magnitude of 6.7.
That earthquake killed more than 2,000 people and incurred approximately $14 billion in damage.
How do the fault lines rupture?
The San Andreas and San Jacinto faults are strike-slip faults, which typically cause horizontal displacement. Both faults comprise the geologic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
If a major earthquake occurs on the San Andreas fault, it is likely to produce surface rupture, which occurs when a fault breaks through to the surface. Most earthquakes, however, do not produce surface rupture, according to USGS.
In a major rupture, strong shaking could cause severe damage near the fault and in areas built on soft or water-saturated soils, which can amplify shaking. Rupture can directly offset roads, buildings, and other structures that span the fault trace.
Although the study helps explain the risk associated with the California fault lines, Burkhard emphasized that it shouldn’t serve as a forecast.
“This is not a prediction of when an earthquake will happen,” Burkhard said. “However, studies like this are important contributions to national and global earthquake hazard research in that we are using rigorous, quantitative science to better understand the risk facing millions of people.”
Contributing: Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORK
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