Dip your toe into Clear Lake, both metaphorically and literally, at Clear Lake State Park (parks.ca.gov/?page_id=473; per vehicle $8), which has a sampling of what makes the area great. Four miles from Kelseyville, on the lake’s western shore, this park is idyllic and gorgeous, with hiking trails, fishing, boating, swimming and camping. The bird-watching is extraordinary (up to 300 species!).
Get a feel for the lake’s Indigenous history by following the moderate half-mile Indian Nature Trail, which gives an overview of how the Pomo people used the area’s resources. The trail passes through what was once a Pomo village.
The visitor center (open May to September) has natural history and cultural diorama exhibits.
