From My Shasta Home

I’ve never tried foraging for mushrooms, and honestly, it’s mostly because I’m a bit anxious about getting it wrong and ending up in trouble! Maybe I should look into a life insurance policy, just to be safe. But I’ve heard there are fantastic tours and guides out there who can teach you all the tricks to stay safe while enjoying the delicious umami flavors mushrooms can add to your cooking. Sounds like a fun adventure to me!

This year, I was excited to visit the charming town of McCloud, right at the foot of Mt. Shasta! When we moved up here 18 years ago, we got to experience our very first Mushroom Festival, and wow, has it really blossomed since then! We had such a great time! The weather was just perfect, in the mid-70s, and it wasn’t overly crowded like some events in big cities can be. There was still a wonderful crowd, making it a fun and enjoyable experience!

Welcome to the McCloud Hotel! Nestled near the stunning Mount Shasta, this charming historic lodge was originally built in 1916 to house the hardworking men of the McCloud River Lumber Company. After a loving restoration, they combined modern amenities with the warm, inviting spirit of their history.

I really enjoyed their outside area – so quaint.

Purple rhododendron

I absolutely love their downtown area, which is so charming! I can’t wait to go back and explore all the beautiful historical buildings and homes. We did manage to check out their local museum, which was a nice treat!

If you’ve ever been curious about what happened to all the Haight-Ashbury hippies from the ’60s, you’ll be happy to know that many of them moved north and inspired two new generations of free-spirited folks!

This is their dance hall.

And since it snows there in the winter, a cute log bus/shuttle stop.

Okay, so what about the Mushrooms?

How mushroom savvy are you?

The festival highlighted the spring harvest of edible mushrooms like morels and chanterelles in Siskiyou County. Attendees participated in guided foraging tours to safely identify mushrooms, as some toxic varieties resemble edible ones. There were hands-on workshops, cooking demos, and a chance to sample dishes like mac ‘n’ cheese, pizza, and mushroom-Swiss cheese burgers, which were delicious. While I skipped the mushroom ice cream, the food was fantastic.

We had such a fun time at the two-day event, even though we could only stay for one day! I enjoy mushrooms, but I have to admit, I wasn’t quite as excited as some of the other attendees. After a delicious lunch, I definitely started feeling a bit tired, and it was time for us to head home. I was so full from lunch that I didn’t even need dinner that night. I was happily stuffed until breakfast the next day!

Proof that you don’t always have to travel far to have a good time. We skipped the airports and big expenses and simply enjoyed good food, music, and the creativity of people right here in our area.

Thanks for stopping by.