Where's Huell? California's Parks -- Week 2

June 12, 2012

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What's a week without the continued adventures of KCET's Golden State-trotting hero, Huell Howser? It's like a summer without sunshine, that's what. This week, Huell crisscrosses the state, hitting the best and most beautiful of our state's parks.

Monday, June 11 @ 7:30 PM -- Doheny State Beach

It's a famous enough SoCal beach that it has warranted mentions in wave-crashing anthems as "Surfin' Safari," "Surfin' USA" and "Surfer Joe." And while Huell doesn't hang ten, his 2006 visit does have him partaking in the 75th anniversary of California's first-ever state beach.

Watch a preview here:

Tuesday, June 12 @ 7:30 PM -- The California State Railroad Museum

Do you like trains? Then ride the iron horse with Huell in this Sacramento destination for all things railway-related. This state park offers 21 locomotives and cars that date back all the way to 1862.

Have a look at some of the trains on display:

Wednesday, June 13 @ 7:30 PM -- China Camp

Did you know that Chinese fishing villages once dotted the California coast? Now a state park, China Camp near San Francisco offers Huell a chance to tour one of these villages. And then Huell rides a Chinese junk, which -- admit it -- is something you need to see.

Sure, she's not Huell, but who can be? Have a look a tour of China Camp:

Thursday, June 14 @ 7:30 PM -- Paramount Ranch

It has hosted characters as varied as Wyatt Earp, Dr. Quinn and Marco Polo, so why not add Huell Howser's name to the list of people who have visited the Paramount Ranch? Just of the 101, north of Calabasas and south of Thousand Oaks, this National Recreation Area offers a bit of California history through the lens of Hollywood.

Watch a preview here:

Friday, June 15 @ 7:30 PM -- Pio Pico

Here's one you really should watch, because unless you act quickly, you may not get a chance to see this park in person anytime soon. Tucked away in Whittier, Pio Pico State Historical Park is famous for featuring the grand adobe abode of Pio Pico, the last governor of Mexican California. However, due to American California's budgetary woes, the park will close to the public on July 1. So maybe this Huell Howser outing should be motivation to see this bit of California history while you still can?

Check out this video of Pio Pico during more financially solvent times:

Saturday, June 16 @ 5 PM -- "Hetch Hetchy"

Huell spends a full hour at the spot that John Muir once said was the rival of Yosemite in terms of natural beauty. But then, of course, the Tuolumne River was damned and all that scenic beauty was filled with what is now the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. So it goes, right?

Watch this video about Hetch Hetchy starring another famous "H," Harrison Ford: