Mushroom hunting is the one type of hunting that is on my bucket list. So, when a foraging excursion was offered through the Napa Truffle Festival I immediately signed up for a memorable fungi adventure.
Much like an underground rave, the location was not disclosed until the day before the hunt. On the down low.
We woke in the wee hours of the morning and drove to the town of Angwin in Northern California, a few miles East of St. Helena. The instructions said to meet at the discreet “dirt parking lot where the road doglegs sharply to the right”. This mushroom hunting site must be on the deep down low.
Three mycologists, fungi gurus, would be leading the wild mushroom hunt.
They started with brief introductions to what fungus may be awaiting in the woods, some edible, some poisonous, some neither.
Though the biggest warning was that the most dangerous thing about mushroom hunting was getting lost, not eating a poisonous one. This is because mushroom foragers should always use the rule, “when in doubt, throw it out.”
With the Wild Mushroom Hunting lesson complete, the guides let us on the loose to forage through the Northern California forest.
And, at first, we found nothing. Even Rico, the truffle dog, was coming up empty.
But then, deep in the pines, things started to turn around. This is where I spotted my very first mushroom, a Lactarius Xanthogalactus. Huh? In layman’s terms, a really cute brown mushroom.
There may have been a girlish shrill come from my mouth at my fungus find.
Then, it was a mushroom hunting frenzy as we scoured the forest hillsides for the next two hours.
My competitive nature got the best of me as I frantically searched for the biggest, best and most unique. And, I found all of that until…
…Peter hit the mushroom hunting jackpot with this granddaddy, one that even the experts couldn’t identify.
A two foot shroom trumps my dozen one inchers. Size matters.
We walked away from the mushroom adventure with a basketful of bounty.
Even though some of the shrooms could be used to create a delicious meal, I opted to put them on the counter where they could be viewed for the next few days, reminding me of the experience.
Have you ever been wild mushroom hunting?
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
You Might Also Enjoy
Getting Reservations at Napa’s The French Laundry & What to Expect
A Guide to the Fort Bragg Glass Beach in Northern California
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Vineyards of Northern California
San Francisco Bucket List: 24 Things To Do
California Dreaming: 9 Incredible Winter Stops in the Yosemite Valley
California: 25 Photos to Inspire Your Point Reyes Bucket List
Have A Very White Christmas in Yosemite Valley
Spend An Afternoon at Hog Island Oyster Farm in Tomales Bay
Drive the 72 Miles Around Lake Tahoe
Amazing! I would love to do this some day. Apparently when my Mom was a child, my grandfather used to pick their own mushrooms all the time. I'm not sure he stuck with the "when it doubt, throw it out" slogan, though – my Mom recalls eating a few he was "only 90%" sure about. But, she's alive! :)
With so many varieties of mushrooms I would be a bit frightened to go mushroom hunting on my own! But, my mom said that she used to go all the time too. And she’s still alive too :)
How funny! I didn't know you could do something like that!sounds like fun :) I would have kept them out too, in stead of cooking them. I like mushrooms but have you read my post about eating black truffles…you would appreciate with your "foodie" background.
I also think its so sweet that your husband does so much of you list items with you!
I want to read your truffle post! I’ll have to head over to your site and check it out.
I am lucky that my husband will do just about anything with me, even though he sometimes will roll his eyes :)
Though he will NOT do anything related to dancing. He hates it!
Fun! I really wanted to participate in the truffle festival in some way but had too many things going on these last couple of weeks. I have never gone mushroom hunting but it is very popular in the Czech Republic, and when I lived there, I always heard people talk about it. Seems like a nice way to spend some quality time outdoors.
The Mushroom Hunting event was the only thing I participated in this year, but it made we want to attend a lot more of the events next year!