Road Trip with Huell Howser
Huell Howser takes a trip of discovery on California highways and byways to see where the road leads. His many destinations include small towns, fascinating geography and historic locales with many amazing sights and people along the way.
- 2001-2011
- 1 season
- PBS
- Documentary
Huell Howser takes a trip of discovery on California highways and byways to see where the road leads. His many destinations include small towns, fascinating geography and historic locales with many amazing sights and people along the way.
Season 1 Episode Guide
56 Episodes 2001 - 2011
Episode 1
Barstow
Fri, Jan 12, 2001 58 mins
In Huell's first "Road Trip," he travels to Barstow and the desert that borders I-15 east of town. Most people think of the Interstate as a desolate stretch of highway, the quickest way to get from L.A. to Las Vegas. But on this road trip, Huell discovers that if you just slow down and explore a little, its full of colorful and interesting people, places, and things. Starting at the California Welcome Center in Barstow, Huell enlists the help of a guide who takes him to some historic sites in town including El Rancho Motel on Route 66, the Barstow Harvey House and Rail Depot, and one of the oldest Del Taco locations. He's then introduced to author and tour guide Bill "Short Fuse" Mann who takes him to some ancient geoglyph rock art markings on the desert floor, past the Marine Corps Logistics Base, and through Yermo on the way to the Calico Ghost Town. After getting immersed in mining and Old West history, Huell stops at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner. He then ends his road trip at Calico Mountains Early Man Archaeological Site, well short of his goal of reaching the Nevada state line, but satisfied by the surprises he found along the way.
Episode 2
Fillmore
Thu, Feb 1, 2001
Join Huell's second Road Trip to Route 126, as he explores the quiet and quaint towns of Piru and Fillmore.
Episode 3
Figueroa Corridor
Thu, Mar 1, 2001
Instead of hitting the open road, Huell takes a more urban Road Trip exploring Figueroa Street in Los Angeles.
Episode 4
Tehachapi
Sun, Apr 1, 2001
Huell road trips to Tehachapi and along the way visits the Antelope Valley Indian Museum, the Word War II-era Mojave Airport, the Mourning Cloak Ranch and Botanical Gardens, and the Tehachapi Loop railroad spiral.
Episode 5
Avenue of the Giants
Tue, May 1, 2001 56 mins
Huell road trips north to the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park to see some of the biggest trees in the world. In addition to the natural beauty, he also meets a great bunch of people from all over our state.
Episode 6
Coast Highway
Fri, Jun 1, 2001 57 mins
Huell travels from Oceanside south to La Jolla on a Road Trip that includes stops at the California Surf Museum, Del Mar Racetrack, Torrey Pines State Reserve and the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute.
Episode 7
Newberry Springs
Sun, Jul 1, 2001 56 mins
Huell finds a website devoted to sights along old Route 66 near Newberry Springs, prints the map and eagerly starts his next road trip. Except for the famous Bagdad Cafe, the driving tour doesn't pan out, but he meets many friendly locals.
Episode 8
San Marcos Pass
Sun, Jul 22, 2001
Huell road trips on San Marcos Pass Road, a 32-mile section of State Highway 154 from Santa Barbara to Los Olivos. It winds along an old stagecoach route through the Los Padres National Forest, the Santa Ynez Valley, and past Lake Cachuma.
Episode 9
Orange County
Mon, Sep 10, 2001 59 mins
From the coast to the county seat, Huell drives across Orange County on his latest Road Trip. He learns about conservation efforts at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and why Huntington Beach is called "Surf City, U.S.A." Heading inland, he discovers a vibrant, Latino community in Santa Ana as he strolls along Fourth Street visiting markets, clothing stores and restaurants.
Episode 10
Julian
Sun, Nov 4, 2001
Huell road trips to rustic Julian in northern San Diego County. Settled as a gold mining town in 1869, it survived after the mines were depleted because residents planted apple orchards that are still the backbone of the local economy.
Episode 11
Riverside
Thu, Feb 21, 2002 58 mins
Join Huell as he takes a walk on his newest Road Trip in Riverside. From the world famous Mission Inn to a few little known spots, this Road Trip has got it all.
Episode 12
Bakersfield
Sun, May 12, 2002 58 mins
Bakersfield is Huell's next Road Trip where he samples Basque food, visits a Tule Elk reserve and tours country music legend Buck Owen's Crystal Palace.
Episode 13
Solvang
Sun, May 19, 2002 54 mins
For a little bit of Denmark in California, Huell takes a road trip to Solvang, 35 miles northwest of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley. He gets a taste of authentic Danish food and drink with homemade aebleskivers at Solvang Restaurant, kringles at Olsen's Danish Village Bakery, cashew clusters at Ingeborg's Danish Chocolates, and a shot of aquavit at Royal Copenhagen Shop. Exploring the town's history, Huell also makes stops at Jensen's Copenhagen Square, Bit O'Denmark Restaurant, Solvang Park, Bethania Lutheran Church, and the world-famous big red clog outside Solvang Shoe Store. He ends by learning about Danish heritage at the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art.
Episode 14
Liquid Art
Sun, Sep 15, 2002 56 mins
Huell gets more than his feet wet as he visits artists honored by the Metropolitian Water District for their creative depictions of water in public spaces. Stops include: Blue Line Oasis in Compton, Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon, Wall Gazing Gallery in Fullerton, and Music Center Fountain in Los Angeles.
Episode 15
Central Coast
Sun, Oct 27, 2002 58 mins
Huell travels to California's beautiful Central Coast as he visits picturesque Port San Luis lighthouse, travels to the beach community of Cayucos and ends up in the artist community of Harmony (population 18).
Episode 16
Cotati
Sun, Nov 10, 2002 53 mins
Huell Howser travels to the city of Cotati in Sonoma County and takes in the festivities at the 12th annual Cotati Accordion Festival, Johnny Otis' radio show and Luther Burbank's garden.
Episode 17
Bodega
Wed, Dec 18, 2002 56 mins
Join Huell as he travels to the village of Bodega Bay, located just 68 miles north of San Francisco. The sights are breathtaking with low coastal bluffs and slender sandy beaches. Huell then heads inland to the tiny town with the same name, Bodega. He learns about the history of both locations, which includes the filming of Alfred Hitchcock's unforgettable film "The Birds."
Episode 18
Placerville
Wed, Dec 25, 2002
Huell road trips to Placerville, founded after the gold discovery in 1848 ten miles away at Sutter's Mill in Coloma. The resulting influx of thousands of fortune seekers established Placerville as a supply center for the mining camps.
Episode 19
Auburn
Wed, Jan 1, 2003 54 mins
Join Huell Howser as he travels to Auburn, one of California's earliest mining towns founded in 1848 and situated in the heart of the Gold Country.
Episode 20
Mariposa
Thu, Mar 6, 2003 57 mins
Huell travels to Mariposa County, home to a rich mining history. Stops include California's oldest Courthouse (1854), and the colorful mining town of Coulterville.
Episode 21
Half Moon Bay
Sun, Apr 6, 2003
Huell road trips to the charming community of Half Moon Bay located about 25 miles south of San Francisco on the central coast, nestled between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastline in California.
Episode 22
Ridge Route
Sun, Jun 15, 2003 56 mins
Completed in 1915, the Ridge Route was carved from the Sierra Pelona Mountains by workers using mule-drawn dirt scrapers. From ridge top to ridge top, they cleared a 20 foot-wide roadway which was the first direct route between Los Angeles and Bakersfield, uniting northern and southern California. The road fell into disuse when the straighter and safer U.S. Highway 99 opened in 1933, which itself was supplanted when Interstate 5 was completed in 1970. Today, a 30-mile portion of the abandoned Ridge Route can be found hidden in the mountains between Castaic and Gorman just east of I-5. Huell is joined by Harrison Scott, a retired Pacific Bell engineer, who, with the help of U.S. Forest Service archaeologists, was largely responsible for landing at 17.6-mile stretch of this engineering marvel on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. With help from members of the Model T Ford Club of Kern County and their classic cars, they re-create a road trip from a bygone era along the Ridge Route, complete with stops at the remnants of the inns, cafes, and service stations that once dotted its many twists and curves.
Episode 23
Big Bear
Sun, Jul 20, 2003 57 mins
Huell discovers things to do in the Southern California mountain town of Big Bear Lake including the Discovery Center, Butler Peak Fire Lookout, Snow Summit Ski Resort and Bike Park, Moonridge Animal Park and Historical Society Museum.
Episode 24
Gilroy
Mon, Sep 8, 2003
Huell travels to Gilroy for their 25th Annual Garlic Festival where he samples garlic ice cream, garlic kettle corn, roasted garlic and other mouth-watering garlic delicacies.
Episode 25
Seabiscuit
Sun, Nov 2, 2003 52 mins
Huell travels to Willits in Mendocino County to learn about the California legacy of the famous racehorse Seabiscuit. The trip includes a tour of Ridgewood Ranch, a special exhibit at the county museum, and BBQ at the Redwood Empire Fair.
Episode 26
Ukiah
Tue, Feb 17, 2004
Huell road trips to Mendocino County where he visits Vichy Springs, the Grace Hudson Museum and the City of 10,000 Buddhas.
Episode 27
Volcano
Tue, Apr 27, 2004
Huell road trips to Volcano, one of the Mother Lode's most picturesque towns. Located in Amador County, some say it's named for its setting in a bowl-shaped valley, which early miners thought was caused by a volcano.
Episode 28
Eureka
Fri, Aug 13, 2004 57 mins
Huell travels to Humboldt County, on the rugged North Coast, known for its natural beauty, lavish Victorian architecture, and history in timber, fishing, and dairy. He tours Eureka's historic Old Town and makes stops in Loleta and Fortuna.
Episode 29
California Corners: Northwest
Wed, Sep 29, 2004 56 mins
Huell begins his journey to the far reaches of California as he locates the exact northwest corner of the state and visits nearby attractions including Samoa Cookhouse, Battery Point Lighthouse, Ship Ashore Resort, and an Easter lily farm.
Episode 30
California Corners: Northeast
Wed, Oct 27, 2004 58 mins
Huell continues his trip to the far reaches of California as he finds the state's exact northeast corner and visits sights in Modoc County including Lava Beds National Monument, historic spots in Alturas, Fandango Pass and Surprise Valley.
Episode 31
California Corners: Southeast
Fri, Jan 7, 2005 55 mins
Huell continues his journey to the far reaches of California as he locates the exact Southeast corner of the state and visits nearby attractions.
Episode 32
California Corners: Tahoe
Fri, Jan 14, 2005
Huell boats out onto Lake Tahoe and finds another corner of California. He also visits Camp Richardson, Tallac Historic Site, Taylor Creek stream profile chamber, Red Hut Cafe and learns about the mission of The League to Save Lake Tahoe.
Episode 33
California Corners: Southwest
Fri, Jan 21, 2005
Huell finishes his journey to the far reaches of California as he locates the exact Southwest corner of the state and visits nearby attractions.
Episode 34
Encinitas
Sun, Oct 2, 2005 58 mins
Huell travels to the beautiful coast city Encinitas in San Diego County and visits botanic gardens, parks, beaches, museums and boat-shaped houses. He feeds body and soul at Raul's Mexican Food and the Self-Realization Fellowship Gardens.
Episode 35
Oak Glen
Wed, Nov 2, 2005
It's apple season and Huell road trips to Oak Glen, 60 miles east of Los Angeles, to take part in a popular fall tradition.
Episode 36
Paso Robles
Mon, Jan 2, 2006
Huell's off to the Central Coast with a road trip to popular Paso Robles complete with wine tasting.
Episode 37
Oildorado
Thu, Feb 2, 2006
Huell road trips to Taft as it celebrates its 95th anniversary with food, parades, and dances.
Episode 38
Tucson
Thu, May 18, 2006
Go way down deep inside an old Titan Missile site, see a huge airplane graveyard, the Pima Air and Space Museum and the historic San Xavier del Bac Mission on this road trip to Tucson.
Episode 39
Chico
Fri, Sep 15, 2006
Huell visits Bidwell Mansion, The Orient Flume Glass Studio, the Sierra Nevada Brewery and the National Yo-Yo Museum on this road trip to Chico.
Episode 40
City of Orange
Sun, May 27, 2007 56 mins
Huell tours Orange with city historian Phil Brigandi. The city maintains a small-town charm with its central Plaza Square, multi-generational family businesses, historic homes with diverse architecture and links to its citrus growing past.
Episode 41
UC Davis
Thu, Jul 12, 2007
Huell road trips to UC Davis and visits several campus spots open to the public including the Bike Barn, Museum of Entomology, the arboretum, Segundo Dining Commons, the Coffeehouse, the Horse Barn, Gorman Museum and Raptor Center.
Episode 42
Stockton
Thu, Jul 19, 2007 59 mins
Huell road trips to the San Joaquin Delta port city of Stockton.
Episode 43
State of Jefferson
Thu, Feb 7, 2008 57 mins
Huell learns about past attempts at forming a new state comprised of northern California and southern Oregon.
Episode 44
Lodi
Sun, Feb 10, 2008 57 mins
Lodi is known as the "Zinfandel Capital of the World" and not only has a wonderful "wine" community, but is filled with all sorts of things for visitors to enjoy. Huell visits the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center, to get the lay of the land and then it's off to Michael-David Vineyards to see how this 5th generation family-run business works. Huell then travels to Micke Grove Park, which has everything from a zoo to a Japanese tea garden. There is a tour of the historic downtown district and a visit to the very first A&W Root Beer in the nation. We end our visit with a trip to see the annual return of the Cranes to Lodi. These majestic birds come back every year and are a real treat to behold.
Episode 45
San Juan Capistrano
Sun, May 18, 2008 57 mins
Huell road trips to Orange County for a day in historic San Juan Capistrano. He begins at the town's Mission for an up-close look at The Great Stone Church, the largest stone structure west of the Mississippi, as well as the building's magnificent gardens and gold-leaf altar. Next, it's off to Los Rios Street, the oldest residential street in California. Los Rios is a place where its people both live and work. The entire street, and every home on it, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Huell enjoys lunch with the Rios family, who have occupied a 1794 adobe house for 10 generations and counting. He takes a tour of ZOOMARS Petting Zoo, a family-friendly stop that acknowledges the town's ranch history, and finally ends up at the town's historical society, the O'Neill Museum.
Episode 46
Hanford
Sun, Jun 8, 2008
Huell road trips to Hanford where he spends two days learning about its wonderful history and visiting with friendly locals.
Episode 47
Fort Hunter Liggett
Thu, Jul 9, 2009 56 mins
Huell road trips to Fort Hunter Liggett, a 167,000-acre army base on the central coast. Sites on base open to the public include the 1771 Mission San Antonio and William Randolph Hearst's 1930 Julia Morgan-designed Hacienda ranch house.
Episode 48
Anza-Borrego
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 55 mins
Huell road trips to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest California state park. Then he gets to know the locals and businesses in the town of Borrego Springs finishing with the amazing outdoor metal sculptures of Ricardo Breceda.
Episode 49
Ferndale
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 57 mins
Huell steps back in time in Humboldt County's Victorian Village of Ferndale. It has the distinction of the entire town being California Historic Landmark #883. A side trip stops at Clendenen's Cider Works in Fortuna for fresh apple cider.
Episode 50
Confusion Hill
Sun, Jul 18, 2010 55 mins
Huell visits an old-fashioned roadside attraction featuring a 'gravity house' where water flows uphill, a mini train ride through an ancient forest, the world's largest freestanding redwood chainsaw carving, and the redwood shoe house.
Episode 51
Sanger
Sun, Jul 25, 2010 58 mins
Huell stops at a few of the family-owned fruit stands on the 80-mile Fresno County Fruit Trail; spends a night at the Blossom Trail BnB; and at the Sanger Depot Museum learns about the 62-mile Kings River Flume used to transport lumber.
Episode 52
Orchid Trail
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 52 mins
Huell road trips to Santa Barbara and Carpinteria to attend the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show and visit a few nurseries to learn why this area is a mecca for orchid hobbyists.
Episode 53
Jamestown
Thu, Nov 4, 2010 57 mins
Huell travels to historic Jamestown in Tuolumne County gold country. This beautiful town is known for amazing buildings that preserve the 1800s character and for Railtown 1897 State Historic Park which keeps Sierra Railway history alive.
Episode 54
Weaverville
Sun, Nov 7, 2010
Huell road trips to the small historic town of Weaverville in Trinity County with stops at Joss House State Historic Park, Highland Art Center, Jake Jackson Memorial Museum, Weaverville Community Forest, La Grange Cafe, and Trinity River.
Episode 55
Mother Lode
Thu, Feb 17, 2011
Huell road trips to Gold Country to see Moaning Caverns; a historic pipe organ; a wonderful museum in Angels Camp; a giant gold nugget housed in a winery; a very historic hotel in Murphy's; and the Calaveras Jumping Frog Jubilee.
Episode 56
Las Vegas
Fri, Sep 30, 2011
Huell heads for the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas to find some of the "hidden" gold in this historic town. From the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park to the Atomic Testing Museum, there's a lot to see and do.