Destination: Siskiyou County

The American Heritage Dictionary describes vacation as: “a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation.”
And with all of the current financial “misfortunes,” that exotic getaway to Cancun, Bali, Tahiti – or even Redding –  might be more than a world away for those on a tight budget, not to mention putting aside the worries of any financial uncertainties.
Fore some, travel, even short distances, has become a luxury of the past. With gas prices flirting with the $5 a gallon mark and airline tickets soaring, more and more, people are choosing to stay close to home for vacation.
But there are plenty of opportunities for pleasure, rest, and relaxation here in Siskiyou County, says Weed Chamber of Commerce president Ronda Gubetta.
“I think that when people live in a certain place for a long time they can easily overlook many of the exciting activities right in their backyards,” Gubetta said. “Staying close to home for vacation is a great way to get to know friends and family better, as well as the area you live.”
Siskiyou County draws tourists from around the world for its outdoor recreation activities. “People come from all over for what we have here,” said Gubetta. “We have hiking, fishing, water activities, skiing, as well as places like parks, bowling alleys and skateboard parks. There is everything from extreme to simple.”
The abundance of diverse  scenery and low population density make Siskiyou County the “center of the recreation universe,” according to Leif Voeltz, owner of The Fifth Season.
“The cycling in this area is phenomenal; the mountain biking is endless and the low auto density make this area a Mecca for road biking,” he said. “We’re seeing more people staying here for their vacations. So many people are coming here for recreation, and for many locals it just doesn’t make sense to go anywhere else.”
Voeltz said one of the main activities that draws people to the area is its world-class hiking/mountaineering.
“There are so many different hikes around here that any skill level can be accommodated,” he said. “The great hikes aren’t  just on Mt. Shasta, they’re all over the place. It just takes a little research or exploring to find them.”
People who don’t own the necessary equipment for certain activities can rent from The Fifth Season. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an expert, you can get just about anything you need for cycling, mountain biking, hiking, mountaineering and winter sports,” Voeltz said.
In a column for the Mount Shasta Herald published June 25, Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce executive director Marie Mills offered tips to help people with their stay-home-vacation.
“Tour your town: Spend some time touring your own city by visiting places you have driven by many times but never ventured into,” she stated. “Take photos of your home town from the perspective of a visitor.”
A possible upcoming stay-home-vacation destination, the Siskiyou Golden Fair, is scheduled for August 6-10 at the fairgrounds in Yreka.
The “mountain fair with country flair” will offer children’s activities, a fine arts gallery, animals to pet, carnival rides, music, the Budweiser Clydesdales, shopping, and a live Indian tiger show.
Admission is $6 for adults. Pre-sale tickets are $20 for five adult tickets.
Pre-sale carnival wristbands are $15. One wristband is good to ride all rides in the carnival all day and night on any one day of the fair.
Tickets are on sale now at the fair office or at www.sisqfair.com.
Other Siskiyou County  community events include:
July
• Annual Mount Shasta 4th of July Celebration;
• 10-13 Annual Weed Carnevale;
 August
• Butte Valley Art in the Park;
• McCloud Heritage Days;
• Mount Shasta Yama Music Festival, Summit Century Bike Ride, Cool Mountain Nights.
September
• Dunsmuir Upper Sacramento River Clean-Up and Barbecue, Dunsmuir Art Walk;
• Montague Balloon Fair;
• Abner Weed Days.
October
• McCloud Oktoberfest;
• Mount shasta International Film Festival;
November
• Dunsmuir Holiday Craft Fair, Candles in the Canyon Craft Fair;
• Mount Shasta Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Merchant Open House.
December
• McCloud Olde Fashion Christmas;
• Weed Olde Fashioned Christmas.