Come join me for a guided weekend around the Carrizo Plain National Monument!

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Step into a sea of wildflowers in California’s last great grassland.

When conditions align, the Carrizo Plain National Monument - “California’s Serengeti” - transforms into one of the most visually striking landscapes in the West — a 204,000-acre expanse where goldfields, tidy tips, phacelia, and silver lupine blanket the valley floor in sweeping color.

Throughout the weekend, we’ll explore the monument’s biodiversity and wide-open terrain through guided hikes, immersive observation experiences, and optional nature journaling sessions designed to slow perception and deepen attention.

Using sketching as a way to engage more fully with native plants, geological formations, and expansive vistas, these sessions emphasize curiosity and presence rather than artistic skill — inviting participants to connect more deeply with the rhythms of the landscape.

Our journey includes a guided visit to Painted Rock, a sacred site of the Emigdiano Chumash and home to some of the most significant rock art in North America.

Wildlife sightings may include tule elk, pronghorn antelope, barn owls, and — with luck — the elusive San Joaquin kit fox, one of the endangered species that depend on this intact grassland ecosystem.

REI will provide camping equipment, and art supplies will also be included. Participants are welcome to bring personal journals or sketchbooks if preferred. REI basecamp includes shared tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and camp chairs, ensuring a comfortable stay.