Going for Gold in the Golden State

The Winter Olympics don’t have to be a spectator sport. Snow or no snow, California has all the right stuff for chasing your own golden moments. From learning to curl to lacing up skates with Half Dome as your backdrop, these winter sports celebrate the spirit of the Golden State.

Week: 02.04.2026
Regions: Southern CA

You Go, Curl!

Learn to Curl at Hollywood Curling

People on ice learning to curl at Hollywood Curling
Hollywood Curling’s Learn to Curl classes make the perfect setting for newcomers. Take the ice, and friendly curling instructors will teach you the basics.
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Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

Winter Outdoors and Relaxation in Reno Tahoe

2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. Go for Soak! Reno Tahoe is filled with warm vibes, including its abundant natural hot springs. The r
Winter's Best Activities in Reno Tahoe

Blades of Glory!

Ice Skating at Curry Village Ice Rink in Yosemite National Park

Ice skaters make their way around Curry Village Ice Rink with Half Dome in the background.
It might be the best place this side of Canada to lace up the skates and put one blade in front of the other. The Curry Village Ice Skating Rink in Yosemite National Park offers a brilliant view of Yosemite’s iconic Half Dome.
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Peace and Pistes

Go Cross-Country Skiing at Lakes Basin in Mammoth

A cross-country skier gliding across a bridge at Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Resort in Mammoth Lakes.
Downhill not your cup of cocoa? Go Nordic! Mammoth’s stunning Lakes Basin has miles of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails where you won’t find thick crowds or expensive lift tickets. What you will find is a serene wonderland of frozen lakes and pine forests.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

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  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

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  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

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  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

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  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

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  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

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  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

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