All Stories from "Greater California"

All Stories from Greater California

Bucks Up!
Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.
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Hot As (Bumpass) Hell
So you like going to all the hot spots when you visit places? Well, in Lassen Volcanic National Park there’s a place so hot it gets downright steamy. Bumpass Hell is the largest hydrothermal area in the park, with sputtering mud pots, sulfur vents, and boiling pools. It’s California’s Yellowstone.
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Lunch at the Lakes
Pack your own picnic and head for a lakeside lunch at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Then take your pick from a lovely trio of lakes accessed from the same trailhead. Follow it all up with a visit to Manzanita Lake on the other side of the park.
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The Secret Big Blue
Set at 4,500 feet, surrounded by 52 miles of shoreline, and with sparkling sapphire hue, Lake Almanor is the other big blue. The secret one. This huge lake—idyllic in spring through fall for all kinds of water adventures—is a gem of Plumas County where you can relax without crowds.
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Mill About Lakeside
Bucks Lake Recreation Area near Quincy in Plumas County has plenty of beautiful hiking trails. For an easy hike with beautiful spots for sunning, swimming, and lounging on sand beaches or giant rock slabs, do the Mill Creek Trail.
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Shore Thing
Called “America’s Most Beautiful Bikeway," the Tahoe East Shore Trail lives up to the hype with unparalleled views of Lake Tahoe on the Nevada shoreline, with access points to beach enclaves and coves.
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Keep on Truckee!
An easygoing ride along the paved Truckee River Bike Trail in Tahoe City rolls out a steady stream of good times, and scenery.
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Flume Shot
Skirting high above the east shore, Lake Tahoe’s famed Flume Trail is one of the most scenic trails in the West—an intermediate 13-mile high-mountain traverse with amazing views of that big blue lake.
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Taste of Monterey (the Sustainable Way!)
Food for thought: Get a taste of Monterey this fall! And do it the sustainable way, with the Monterey Bay Aquarium as your basecamp.
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Into the Wilder
Cool summer breezes, stunning seaside cliffs, sweeping coastal views, and sandy beaches—this 8-mile hike or bike ride at Wilder Ranch is the perfect summertime treat, with a craft brewery bonus for extra refreshment.
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Bike, Beach, Craft Brew
This 12-mile (round-trip) gravel trail leads cyclists from Watsonville to the sandy shores of Sunset State Beach, with a brewpub bonus for a post-ride thirst quencher.
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Forest Bathing By Land & Sea
Spend time in nature at and around the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Surround yourself with the tranquility of the Aquarium’s swaying Kelp Forest exhibit; then soak in more serenity hiking in a magical redwood forest in Carmel Valley or Big Sur.
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Mono Mystique
Mark Twain called it “one of the strangest freaks of nature in any land.” We call it a high-desert sea. Mysterious Mono Lake is famed for its bizarre “tufa” towers. Go on a guided canoe or kayak tour here.
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Water You Doing This Summer?
It’s a best-kept secret in the northern Sierra and we’re gushing about it. Fun and friendly Plumas County has only three traffic stops, more wildlife than people, and over 1,000 lakes, rivers, and creeks!
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Tram Ticket to Hiker's Paradise
Ready to elevate your next outdoor adventure? The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is your ticket to Mount Jacinto State Park and over 50 miles of scenic hiking trails.
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Yuba Dubba Do!
The Buttermilk Bend Trail in South Yuba River State Park is a classic, 3-mile out-and-back canyon trail that parallels the bank of the beautiful rough-and-tumble Yuba River.
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Sea It All This Spring!
Go deeper on your next adventure! Monterey Bay Aquarium allows you to go Into the Deep. Be mesmerized by the flashy, iridescent, and adorable creatures in the ever-evolving, fully bilingual exhibit
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Waterfalls, Wildflowers, Wildlife
Talk about good timing! When waterfalls and wildflowers begin fading in other places, there’s an outdoors mecca that’ll be freshly blooming—and H2O booming: Plumas County!
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Spring for a New Adventure
North Lake Tahoe is having a spring for the ages, with historic snow levels. This season has always been special: There are great mid-week deals, and this year the snow is going to stick around for a while—skiing until July! Make a week of it!
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Top Dog Destination
Redding is a pawsitively ideal destination for you and your four-legged pal. Surrounded by Shasta and Lassen and mountainous Whiskeytown, with year-round sunny days and the gleaming Sacramento River running right through it, Redding is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.
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