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How to Become a Poverty Abolitionist

The statistics on poverty in the U.S. are shocking and shameful: one in nine Americans lives in poverty and one in 18 lives in “deep” poverty, defined in 2020 as annual income below roughly $13,000 for a family of four. More than a million public schoolchildren are homeless; more than 2 million Americans live in homes without running water or toilets. In his new book "Poverty, by America,” Matthew Desmond, who won a Pulitzer for his searing book on eviction, strives to figure out why there is so much poverty in the richest nation in the world — and what can be done to eliminate it. The responsibility, he writes, is all of ours: beyond policies and political movements, “it will also require that each of us, in our own way, become poverty abolitionists, unwinding ourselves from our neighbors’ deprivation and refusing to live as unwitting enemies of the poor.” Desmond joins Forum to tell us how. see more
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Outdoor Adventures: State Parks and Beyond

Michael Krasny
at 10:00 AM
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 (Andrew Mace/Flickr)

Planning a summer getaway? With its wealth of national, state, local and regional parks, California is home to a staggering array of recreational opportunities. A panel of experts joins us to share tips on the best hikes, campsites, waterfalls and picnic spots. What's your favorite under-the-radar outdoor destination?

State Park Recommendations By Guests and the Forum Community

Camping

Big Basin State Park – classic redwoods and waterfalls (oldest state park)

Boot Jack Campground – first-come, first-serve camping in Mt. Tam

Butano Park – half hour south from Half Moon Bay and camping in the redwoods

Castle Rock State Park – panoramic views and redwoods

Guests:

Peter Fish, editor-at-large for Sunset Magazine

Ann Marie Brown, author of books including "California Hiking" and "California Waterfalls"

Brad Day, publisher of WeekendSherpa.com, a free weekly e-mail about accessible outdoor adventures in the Bay Area

Sponsored

Henry W. Coe State Park – remote state park in Morgan Hill

Emigrant Wilderness – secluded area north of Yosemite; lots of granite, great for backpacking

The Lakes Basin – hidden gem north of Lake Tahoe; Sardine Lake Resort (great bar)

Lassen Volcanic National Park – Northeastern California

Lost Coast – one of most popular backpacking trails today along the California coast

MacArthur Burney Falls State Park – cabins for overnights and waterfalls; more secluded

Montana de Oro State Park – San Luis Obispo County

Bothe-Napa State Park - Napa; yurts for camping

Natural Hot Springs – hike-in campgrounds in Big Sur

New Brighton Beach Campground – Santa Cruz

Pantoll Campground – first-come, first-serve camping in Mt. Tam

Pinnacles National Park – newest national park; visible signs of the San Andreas Fault run through

Saline Valley Hot Springs – near Death Valley; best September through April

Sierra National Forest – central Sierra Nevada; fewer crowds

Silver Lake Campground – near Kirkwood

Tioga Road (Tuolumne Meadows) Campground - first-come, first-serve camping in the high grounds of Yosemite

Utica Union and Reservoir – little-known free campgrounds in the Sierras

Van Damme State Park and environmental camp ground, Mendocino Coast – light backpacking

Westport-Union Landing State Park – best coastal views up the northern California coast

White Wolf Campground - first-come, first-serve camping in Yosemite with dining lodge

Willow Creek Campground, Sonoma Coast - only state park on Russian River

 

Dog-Friendly

Fort Funston – San Francisco

Limantour Beach - Point Reyes

Little Yosemite Valley – Sunol

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve – near Livermore

Point Isabel – Richmond/Albany

Sunol Regional Wilderness – East Bay; fantastic wildflowers in May

Wild Cat Canyon Regional Park – Richmond

 

Family-Friendly

Ano Nuevo State Park – Pescadero

Panther Meadows – Mount Shasta area; walk-in campground, nice little hikes

Pfeiffer Falls – Big Sur

Star Lake – meteor site in backwoods in Yosemite

 

Hiking Specific

Bay Area Ridge Trail – range of difficulties that spans Bay Area

Carrizo Canyon – San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria

Fort Ross Historic Park – Sonoma Coast

Jack London State Historic Park – Sonoma County; historic buildings and museums run by a non-profit

Montgomery Woods – Ukiah; lots of redwoods

Mount Diablo State Park – Contra Costa County

Mount Eddy - Mount Shasta National Park 

Mount Wanda – John Muir Historic site near John Muir’s Martinez house; guided moonlit hikes

Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve – Oakland

Tilden Regional Park – Orinda

 

Mixed Recreational Activities Parks

Alpine Meadows – Tahoe; lots of recreational activities

Anderson Valley – beautiful, but hilly roads for biking

Mount St. Helena – rock climbing in Napa Valley

Samuel P. Taylor State Park – hike-in/bike-in campgrounds in Lagunitas

Tomales Bay – kayak camping in Point Reyes

 

Weekend Getaway

Mineral King Area, Sequoia National Park – Silver City Mountain Resort

Pacific Grove area – great for spring wildflowers