Oh My Monterey!

Autumn on the Monterey Coast can’t be beat. From hiking in Big Sur to wine tasting in Carmel, with beach strolls, bike rolls, and oceanview fire-pit patios in between, here are some excellent ways to spend your days (and nights) in Monterey.

Week: 10.13.2015
Regions: Northern CA

Yes Sur!

Hike Big Sur Garrapata State Park

A hidden coastal hike in Big Sur, a beautiful beach, and maybe a little wine-tasting afterwards? Sounds like a plan! First, the hike. Big Sur's Garrapata State Park is a coast-hugging beauty with little-known trails leading to a Big Sur_plus_ of vistas. Located just 7 miles from
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Falling for Redding

Redding Adventures in the Fall

School's back in, the summer crowds are gone … who's ready for a fall getaway?! With 225+ miles of hiking trails and premier national parks, Redding is your year-round go-to for adventures. Here are a few fantastic ways to get you going. Volcanic Hot Springs: What is this—Califor
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Pebble Beach Hopping

Bike Ride from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach

Ready to hop on a two-wheeler for one of the most scenic coastal cruiser rides on earth … featuring a string of beautiful beaches and a fire-pit respite overlooking the ocean? Gear up for this easygoing 13-mile (round-trip) ride along the Monterey coast.
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Carmel's Calming Effect

Carmel Beach and Overnight Getaway

SUNSET: Sunsets in Carmel just go better when paired with its flagship beach (and some wine, which is allowed on the beach!). Carmel Beach (pictured) is a locals' favorite for many reasons, including that it's dog-friendly, libation-friendly, and shines brightest at sunset. Stake
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

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  2. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

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  3. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

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  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop

    If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.

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  2. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

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  3. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

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  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

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