Give The Gift Of Birding
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...
Electrify Your Soul, The Community, And The Environment With A Sustainable Bishop Adventure
No matter your beliefs, doing something for someone else feels good. You are being self-less. Putting energy into something positive. That’s what a sustainable vacation in Bishop is all about. You enjoy yourself but leave the region a better place. What Is Sustainable...
Tips On What To Pack For A Highway 395 Road Trip
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...
Life Is Better At Sierra Lakes – 5 You Must Hike To This Summer
When you go out for a hike, it’s nice to have a goal and one of the easiest is to visit a lake. There’s something about an alpine lake with no road access that makes them enchanting. Maybe it’s the price of admission that you need to walk to see them. Or that...
Celebrate Mother’s Day In Bishop’s Big Backyard
Don’t buy another box of chocolates and skip the flowers. So, what should you get Mom on Mother’s Day that she’ll cherish more than anything? Spending time with her family! Make it a full day of fun or better yet a weekend of activities that she’ll remember forever....
The Change Of Season… Rejuvenate, Reenergize, And Restore This Spring In Bishop
Each of your senses come alive from the reawakening of nature. The sound of rushing water and young animals playing. The aromatic smells of wildflowers blooming. The warmth of the sun giving you an important dose of vitamin D. Spring is in the air! This is the time to...
For What It’s “Earth” – Happy Earth Day To Our Planet!
Back on April 22nd, 1970, the very first Earth Day was celebrated as “May Day.” For those around back then, you’ll remember the environment wasn’t even a talking point. A senator from Wisconsin by the name of Gaylord Nelson was so disturbed by this that he...
Connection
We’re driving home. The hills roll out before me, Mono Lake glistens in the distance, a light dusting of snow splatters the tops of the mountains that define the landscape. This drive, this view, is always a little different, but today it feels like something entirely new. I’ve just learned more about the landscape and begun to understand the science behind it. What I used to look at and think of as hills, are now the lateral and terminal moraines of massive glaciers that stretched from Yosemite into Mono Lake. The sudden rise of the Sierra comes from faulting, the erratic boulders are from ancient massive glaciers, the Bishop Tuft is from one of the most immense recorded volcanic explosions. All the little pieces of a view I see so often, come into focus with entire histories behind them.
How a Town Saves its Bookstore: a Pandemic Retrospective from Spellbinder Books
None of us would want to live in a town without a bookstore! In good times, an independent bookstore is living month to month. And in that slow period of the year, you might be living week to week or day to day, wondering, are we gonna have enough money to keep the lights on, literally?
Things To Do In Bishop CA In January AKA Juneuary
The best things to do in Bishop CA in January translates to ALL season fun. Or as we like to call it, “Juneuary” is your chance to have your cake and eat it too in a mountain getaway. Be it snow-free or an all-weather variety vacation, Bishop’s big backyard is THE place to visit in winter.
Relax And Unwind… You’re On Al Fresco Time
Enjoy outdoor dining in Bishop, CA. Here are some breakfast, lunch and dinner suggestions. Bishop’s motto is a “small town with a big backyard.” And what do you need to go along with a fun backyard? A patio to celebrate your day of adventuring with a cold pint of local brew!
A World of Good Food in the Eastern Sierra
Good food prepares us, recharges us, and connects us with our family, friends and a community. Bishop is the “small town with a big backyard” and it also has a pretty impressive kitchen. Actually, we have lots of kitchens and they belong to the many excellent restaurants in and around town. Whether you’re a connoisseur or just plain hungry there’s a world of good food here with a variety and quality that’s a delicious complement to our beautiful backyard.
The Weird and Wonderful Side of California
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.”
Activities During Inyo National Forest Closure
The following represents options to give guests when the Inyo National Forest is closed to visitor use. The list below describes alternative outdoor opportunities which and indoor use when the wind shifts and is too smoky to be outdoors due to wildfire activity. In...
Waterfalls of the Eastern Sierra
The sound and scene of flowing water, particularly when it’s falling over a rocky cliff or cascading down a rocky chute, instills a sense of wonder and peace. We’ve created an extensive guide to show where each of the noteworthy falls is located and how best to see, photograph, and get near them. Some of our beautiful falls can be seen from vista points along mountain roads that will take you well into the alpine and sub-alpine regions of the Sierra Nevada. Many more can only be seen from hiking trails within our national forest and wilderness areas. A visit to a wild and scenic waterfall in the Sierra Nevada is an extraordinary experience.
How a Small Town Survives a Pandemic
On a windy February evening, Lauren Robinson and I donned our winter hats and took a walk on the canals. Lauren is the owner of Sierra Shanti, Bishop’s very own yoga and wellness studio. I’ve been taking classes at Sierra Shanti since it opened in 2013. When classes went online at the start of the first shutdown, I found solace in a familiar ritual. While the cows milled around us and the sun set behind the Sierra, Lauren told me what it’s been like keeping her business afloat, and what the future holds for Sierra Shanti.
Up and Down California in 1860-1864
The Sierra Nevada catches all the rains and clouds from the west—to the east are deserts—so, of course, this valley sees but little rain, but where streams come down from the Sierra they spread out and great meadows of green grass occur. Tens of thousands of the starving cattle of the state have been driven in here this year, and there is feed for twice as many more. Yet these meadows comprise not over one-tenth of the valley—the rest is desert. At the base of the mountains, on either side, the land slopes gradually up as if to meet them. This slope is desert, sand, covered with boulders, and supporting a growth of desert shrub
Dispatch from a Clear Day
Read local writer, Kendra Atleework’s recent writing about living in 2020 in the Eastern Sierra, where smoke and COVID-19 bring challenges, but also inspiration.
Natural (Virtual) History tour of the Eastern Sierra
Our world is a world of wonder. Our big backyard is especially wonderful.
There are few places in the world where evidence of the natural history of a region is more obvious and interesting than in the Eastern Sierra. The forces that have shaped our world have produced an astonishing assortment of observable characteristics that give us insight into the creation of this part of our planet. Visit us virtually. Our Natural History page is an exploration into many of the most fascinating features of the Eastern Sierra landscape.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Somewhere in a season or on the cusp between two seasons is that special moment in time that stirs weather patterns deep inside and fulfills your inner awe. It is unique to you. In Bishop, we call it the 5th Season. Take a virtual tour through pages of unique adventures and find a trail, or stream, a waterfall, a vista, or a road to ride that takes you to the essence of you.
Cycling the Eastern Sierra
We believe there is no other place on earth that offers as much opportunity to cycle year-round in one of the most topographically diverse and beautiful regions in our country. Our paved roads are lightly trafficked and a road cyclist can ride for many, many miles without encountering a traffic light or a stop sign. The abundance of dirt trails and tracks is almost endless with access to mountain biking rides ranging from super easy and leisurely, to highly technical and challenging — and everything in between.
Here’s why!
The 7 Wonders of the High Sierra
California’s High Sierra has some spectacular natural wonders and this article highlights jus a few: Emerald Bay, Yosemite Valley, the Giant Sequoias, KIng’s Canyon, Mono Lake, the Moaning Cavern, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. If you haven’t visited, these might have to go on your bucket list!
Art Matters in Bishop
Art is inherent in everything we do during the holidays. Better yet, it is also part of our daily lives throughout the year and shapes us individuals and a community. Bishop is one of the many small towns across the USA that has come to epitomize cultural coolness with a sense of family values.
There’s always something artistic, creative, and inspiring to enjoy in Bishop. Read the blog and check out our comprehensive Art Guide.
Visual Guided Story Maps
Pick your path along these inspirational story maps that inform and inspire.
FREE INFORMATION GUIDE
Flip through the pages of the new Bishop Information Guide! Or Download a FREE Visitor Guide or request one sent to your home today.