Five Faves for the Long Weekend

Ahhh the long weekend. The end of summer is near, but you still have a few weeks to complete our Adventure Challenge. Get outdoors and send us some photos in exchange for a custom WS t-shirt, a mountain accessory bag from Topo Designs, and a chance to win a trip for 2 to Reno Tahoe. Need some inspiration? Check out these five fun outdoor escapes.

Week: 08.27.2025
Regions: Southern CA

Charmed, We're Sure!

Hike Charmlee Wilderness Park in Malibu

Looking for a walk that will charm your hiking socks off? Head to Charmlee Wilderness Park, a serene 532-acre oasis tucked in Malibu’s Santa Monica Mountains. With its vibrant wildflowers, rocky outcrops, and lovely ocean views, this beginner-friendly hike has spellbinding scenery at every turn. 
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Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

Family Fall Getaway to Reno Tahoe

Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.
Find Fall Colors in Reno Tahoe

Peace of Eastvale

Hike the Eastvale Trail section of the Santa Ana River Trail in Riverside

If you’re looking for an easy spot to hike, the Eastvale Trail in Eastvale/Norco is the perfect choice. The Eastvale Trail is a 2.6-mile section (5.2 miles out and back) of the much longer Santa Ana River Trail.
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Mosaic of Mugu

Hike to Mugu Peak at Point Mugu State Park

Point Mugu State Park in spring is at its peak, literally. Experience verdant landscapes, prime ocean views, and wildflowers blooming on a 5-mile hike winding through La Jolla Valley Preserve and topping off at Mugu Peak. 
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Amir's Art

Amir's Garden in Griffith Park Los Angeles

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At 4,210 acres, Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, home to a huge variety of trails, recreation, and hidden gems. Among the most inspiring of its better kept secrets is Amir’s Garden, a beautiful, heavily-shaded spot that’s literally a work of natur
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Bell of a Beautiful Sunset

Korean Friendship Bell in Los Angeles

It’s always good to end a day in the right light, and this hike will help make that happen. It’s a double feature starting from Point Fermin Park at the south end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in San Pedro. The park is home to the 19th-century Point Fermin Lighthouse, set at the
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) standing in front of his wood-fire oven at the Sonoma Valley Farmers' Market

    NEW! Walkin' and Talkin': Break Bread, Go On a Panoramic Hike

    What’s a world-traveling, medal-winning baker’s favorite local hike? Weekend Sherpa co-founder Brad Day caught up with Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) at Sonoma’s Friday farmers' market, where his wood-fired loaves draw loyal crowds. Between bites of fresh-baked bread, they talk baking, travel, and why Sonoma's Overlook Trail is one of his favorite quick, panoramic hikes.

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  2. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

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  3. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

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  4. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter 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. G

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  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

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  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

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  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

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