Easy Adventures for the Fourth

No big plans for the Fourth? No worries. Whether you'd like to go on a hike, lounge at the beach, check out some redwoods, or just soak in vitamin D, we have you covered.

Week: 06.30.2016
Regions: Northern CA

You Walk, Miwok

Hike the Marin Headlands and Hill 88

So close, yet far enough to get swept up in iconic coastal scenery ... that pretty much defines this classic hike in the Marin Headlands. Just over the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge is an expanse of wild open space and a winding 5-mile loop hike that brings together the be
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Bavarian Brunch Paddle

Paddle to a Beer Garden in Oakland

Set right on the Oakland Estuary, Brotzeit Lokal Boathaus & Biergarten is what it sounds like: a Bavarian restaurant and boathouse, with an impressively stocked rotation of craft German beers, amazing brunch, and a fabulous waterfront setting. Be the envy of Brotzeit’s patrons by
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Bike & Hike Classic

Bike and Hike at Bear Valley in Point Reyes

The popular Bear Valley Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the best places to enjoy a good bike-and-hike trail, with a peaceful ride and ramble that leads to beautiful coastal vistas. Get a jumpstart on hikers by biking the first 3 mellow miles along the creekside f
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Easy Rolling on Angel Island

Segway Tour Angel Island

Admit it, you’ve always wanted to try a Segway. And one of the most beautiful places to take a spin? Angel Island State Park! Smack in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Angel Island has nonstop views and no cars or crowds (yeah, that’s important!). And right now you can take the A
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Goat for It!

Goat Rock Beach in Jenner on the Sonoma Coast and at Sonoma Coast State Beach

Behold the glorious Sonoma Coast, underrated sibling to Big Sur. Dozens of accessible pocket beaches pop up all along this dramatic stretch of northern California that's perfect for pictures. Most photogenic of them all? Goat Rock Beach, a sub-unit of Sonoma Coast State Park in J
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Russian Ridge Rambler

Hike the New Ancient Oaks Trail in Russian Ridge

If you've driven the Peninsula's Skyline Boulevard, you know there are acres of open space just waiting to be explored. And now, thanks to the efforts of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, you can hike through some stunning canyons studded with ancient oaks and openin
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Los Altos High

Redwood Grove Nature Preserve in Los Altos

Big things come in small packages. Tucked in an upscale neighborhood in Los Altos, Redwood Grove Nature Preserve is just 6 acres, but it sure packs in those redwoods! This little sanctuary is a locals' favorite, with several spur trails, observation decks, and picnic tables. Wand
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Mile Rock Club

Chill at Mile Rock Beach in San Francisco

Solitude in San Francisco is a just a Mile Rock away. This small and secluded cove tucked beneath wild and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, the Marin Headlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge is easy to reach if you don't mind lots of steps. From the Lands End parking lot by the
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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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