A woman stands on green grass overlooking the skyline of downtown Los Angeles from Ernest E Debs Regional Park

That Green Glow

Okay, rain did its thing. The hills are glowing. Now’s your window for vivid greens, sweeping views, and maybe even a few early wildflowers. Hit these urban and wild hikes and bike rides while the shamrock shine lasts.

Week: 02.25.2026
Regions: Southern CA

Urban Oasis Loop

Explore Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles

A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.
Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.
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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

Verdant Victory

Hiking Upper Las Virgenes Canyon in Los Angeles County

A woman looks out to the green hills at Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Los Angeles County
A woman is hiking a trail surrounded by greenery at Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Los Angeles County
Browns and beiges are out of season in lush Woodland Hills, where Victory Trailhead launches you into a sea of rolling green on a spectacular 3.6-mile loop hike or bike ride in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve.
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If Jack Sparrow Had a Lagoon

Exploring Batiquitos Lagoon

A woman sits at a bench overlooking the lush greenery of Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad
Nothing goes together better than bird-watching and buried treasure, right? Never connected the two? Consider 610-acre Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad—perhaps the most bird-friendly and certainly the most pirate-friendly of California’s remaining coastal wetlands. Check out their u
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. 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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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. People on ice learning to curl at Hollywood Curling

    You Go, Curl!

    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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  2. 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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  3. Fall for These Falls

    Chase waterfalls in Redding’s Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. This 42,000 acres of wilderness park is home to four waterfalls. Hike to the tallest, the three-tiered, 220-foot Whiskeytown Falls.

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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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