Bishop in winter offers the perfect family getaway. Get out of the big city and into the mountains where the snowy peaks rise up on either side of this broad, beautiful valley. The nights are chilly, the days are often warm, the air is clear and crisp, and our big backyard is a natural playground. We’ve created a suggested 5-Day adventure itinerary so you don’t need to figure it out. Just follow the links in this blog and make your bookings for your 5 days of fun.
Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. Especially the love shared with a cherished partner. It’s a day to set aside time to spend with your partner and indulge a little, or a lot, in things that make you both happy. Bishop offers a unique experience for locals and visitors from near and far a chance to reconnect. It’s a wintertime playground for lovers of all ages and abilities to connect, not only with each other, but with nature. We’ve put together a Valentine’s Day itinerary for leisurely lovers and amorous adventurers of food, activity, relaxation, and gift giving. Take a look. You’ll love it!
Maybe because it’s situated within a hundred miles of the highest AND lowest points in the contiguous points. Or that Bishop is in one of the least populated counties in the Golden State. For whatever reason, Bishop has one-of-a kind attractions that most zip by. Take a tour of the giant telescopes from the movie Arrival at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. Learn about a chapter in the nation’s history unknown by many at the Manzanar National Historic Site. See the natural phenomena of the “sailing stones” in Death Valley that kept scientists baffled until 2014.
Do you remember “Choose Your Own Adventure” books? That’s what visiting Bishop is like in the winter. You are the leading character. And the choices you make in the morning and throughout the day will determine what kind of fun you’ll have and the outcome. From...
From the peak of Mount Whitney to the depths of Death Valley—that’s how many options there are for things to do near Bishop, California. If that’s a bit extreme, here are a few more ideas: birding and fishing, cool rocks and hot springs, 4-wheel drive and all-star skies. Written by Visit USA Parks. Story also available in French and German.
Death Valley is one of the most unique and beautiful places in all of America. This park blew us away as each area felt like a completely different world from the last. Making it in our opinion, one of most underrated parks in all of the US, and one you need to have on your bucket list.
State Route 190 over Towne Pass is now open to all vehicles following a two-month-long closure. The stretch of highway originally closed in September after heavy rains caused flash floods and debris flows that washed out sections of the pavement. With this opening, travelers will now be able to reach the heart of Death Valley National Park using the western entrance from U.S. 395.
No matter how you look at it, fall is a transitory season. It’s where summer finally concedes, and winter hasn’t won just yet. A battle of wills climate-wise. Animals become restless and birds have begun their migration to warmer climates. If you love nature, this is...
Notes on Home Shoot the Landing: War and Planes in Owens Valley Kendra Atleework It is June 1 of 1943, a warm and cloudless morning, when three young women, nine suitcases, and one box of shoes get off a bus in Independence, California. The women have come to learn to...
Have you ever wondered where the giant radio telescopes in the 1996 movie The Arrival are located? Well, it’s HERE in Bishop’s Big Backyard at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory or OVRO for short. It’s also where Jodie Foster’s character Dr. Eleanor...
Are you looking for camping that’s near the world-class recreation of Bishop? Look no further than the Pleasant Valley Pit Campground. Just north of Bishop and only a half mile off Highway 395, this gorgeous and friendly campground is the perfect spot to base yourself...
Alongside the serene beauty of the Sierra Nevada landscape, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter wildlife of some kind when visiting Bishop’s big backyard. In fact, the mountain range although only taking up a quarter up of the Golden State’s land, contains more...
When talking about California’s history, the Gold Rush casts a mighty big shadow and rightly so. It caused the biggest migration and brought wealth to the Golden State. The topography also showcases our natural history. And yet one piece of tragic history is sadly...
The best part about fall is how perfect the weather is for outdoor fun. Normally when you think of September, October, or even November, it’s all about cold rainy days. Not here around Bishop. Many have affectionally called it “sumtumn.” The summer’s triple digits are gone. The sun is still shining, and evenings are cool, but the days are still warm. It can be argued that the weather is the best season for outdoor activities.
The Eastern Sierra experience is about contrasts. Tall peaks that seem to pierce the sky. Deep valleys filled with alpine lakes teeming with trout. Impossibly blue horizons. Unspeakably beautiful sunrises and jaw-dropping sunsets. THE gateway to all this and more is...
When I was a kid, I still remember trips to my grandparents’ lakeside cabin. My grandfather would sit out on the porch looking at all the birds flying around their bird feeder. And next to him, a handy Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of America. Suddenly a big smile...
Even if your destination is the same, road trips are like snowflakes. No two are alike. This is especially true when it includes exploring Highway 395. Located just east of the mighty Sierra, it follows these mighty peaks rewarding you with vistas and views you won’t...
What do fathers want more than anything? It’s not another tool or a golf club. And definitely not a tie. Who wears those anymore? Every mountain man dad wants the same thing. To spend time with their family outdoors. So, instead of getting a gift that creates another...
Road Trip! Pick your path along US Highway 395, from Los Angeles to Bishop and little beyond, where you will see some of the most curious, grotesque, mysterious and awe-inspiring features of nature and feats of humankind. The Eastern Sierra is often referred to as “the other side of California,” and these places might also make it “the weird side of California.”
The Eastern Sierra is one of the most photographed regions in California. It’s a land of contrasts and opportunity. There are obvious and well-known scenes and settings, and there are hidden gems. If a photograph is worth a thousand words, here’s a challenge to create a visual story worth 20,000 words.
The challenge is #2days20photos
Whether you’re a regular visitor or a traveler, you might find yourself in Bishop with a morning or an afternoon to yourself and wonder, “What should I do?”
Maybe you’d like to find something new or maybe you need to find out what you can do. We’ve created four short adventure possibilities – one for each season. So you get to try four fantastic experiences that could be the start a beautiful relationship with our big backyard.
When it’s time to get the girlfriends together for a long weekend of play and pampering, head for the hills. The mountains … actually!
Bishop, California is located in the heart of the Eastern Sierra in a deep valley known as the Owens Valley. It is bounded to two magnificent mountain ranges, the Sierra Nevada and the White and Inyo Mountains. We call this incredible space in and around our sweet town our ‘big backyard’ and a women’s winter weekend getaway is wildly wonderful. Take a look at this!
