Lassen Volcanic National Park: An epic, underrated road trip

Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of California's most underrated gems. It's just as striking as Yosemite, just as serene as Redwoods, and just as quirky as Joshua Tree, but in its own way. What sets it apart is its volcanic geology; it's one of the only places in the world that has all four kinds of volcanoes in one area. Hike the five-mile trail up and down Lassen Peak, the park's plug dome volcano which happens to be one of only two volcanoes to erupt in the US in the 20th century; check out the Cinder Cone Natural Area, studded with dramatic black cinder cone volcanoes you can hike up; Brokeoff Volcano is a composite volcano with a 7.4 mile trail to its peak; and Prospect Peak is an example of a shield volcano, offering a shady and quiet 6.9 mile hike to the top, with sweeping views from the peak. But the most famous hike in the park is Bumpass Hell Trail, which highlights colorful mudpots, steaming pools, fumerols, and other geothermal oddities.

You'll find the Mt. Lassen / Shingletown KOA Holiday nestled in a shady forest not too far from the park, so it makes a perfect hub for exploring Lassen Volcanic and the surrounding areas. There's no shortage of activities for kids right in the campground. This KOA has tree swings, bike and pedal cart rentals, a heated pool, sports courts, a birdwatching area, a dog park, and a playground. Stay the night in your tent or RV, or rent a Deluxe or Camping Cabin, and then enjoy the Friday night movie screenings, Saturday morning pancake breakfasts and Saturday afternoon ice cream socials (all of which occur weekly in the summer). No matter what's going on at this KOA, you'll feel right at home.

Northern California isn't all volcanoes and geysers. Another geological oddity of this part of the state is its caves. Lake Shasta Caverns, which is a National Natural Landmark, is a great place to experience subterranean beauty. A trip to these caves starts with a boat ride across beautiful Lake Shasta, followed by a scenic bus ride up the mountain to the entrance of the ancient cavern. From there, the tour explores several uncovered rooms in the cave system. The limestone caverns display all sorts of incredible formations, from stalactites and stalagmites to cave coral, flowstone, soda straws, and more. There's also a snack bar, a playground and the Sandy Creek Mining Sluice next to the Lost Cabin Mine, where you can buy gemstones and fossils, perfect souvenirs to commemorate your trip.

Weed is a small town in California that was, in the early 20th century, best known as a lumber town. The plentiful trees and strong winds for drying wood made it an ideal location for the lumber industry. In fact, in the 1940s, it had the world's largest sawmill. Lumber remained a big part of Weed's economy until the 1980s, when tourism took over as the major industry. Make sure to stop by the Weed Historic Lumber Town Museum for a look at the town's past. It displays all kinds of artifacts that show off what life was like during Weed's lumber days. You can see re-creations of an early 1900s kitchen, sewing room, and bedroom; tour the town's old jail cells; learn about Weed's own Charlie Byrd, the first African-American sheriff in California; and see a huge variety of lumber equipment, from old hand tools and snag pushers to bulldozers and tram cars.

There's no shortage of incredible hiking around the route, but one of the best is the trail out to Hedge Creek Falls. It's not a long or particularly strenuous hike, as it's only half a mile roundtrip, but it lets hikers experience the lush forests that make the Mount Shasta area feel so magical. The 35-foot-high waterfall is best seen in the spring or after a rainfall, but even if the cascade isn't at its strongest, you can still enjoy another feature of the falls: the cave behind it. You might get a bit wet from the mist, but it makes for some beautiful pictures.