Interns Know Best

This week we're handing the car keys to our interns: Alex, Kyle, and Morgan. They got after it all summer, exploring the Bay Area and beyond, then writing about it. Here are three of their favorite adventures. Thanks, guys—you were outstanding! Now, get us some coffee. (Totally kidding! Unless you have a minute …).

Week: 09.15.2015
Regions: Northern CA

Waterfall Way to Spend the Day

Hike McCloud River Falls

Three waterfalls, two swimming holes, and a beautiful hike to boot: That's some H2-Oh! And September's a good time to visit McCloud River falls for a 3.8-mile (round-trip) hike. Located north of Redding, this adventure begins at a trailhead 10 minutes west of the tiny town of McC
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Your Guide to Islands of Adventure

New Zealand and Active Adventures

Okay, let's cut to the chase: New Zealand has been at the top of your travel list, and you've just been waiting for the right opportunity to make it happen. Well, here's your opportunity: Active Adventures. The legendary local guides at this small-group outfitter can take you whe
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Ferry Trail Bike Ride

Tiburon Ferry and Bike Ride

You don't need a car for this three-part Tiburon adventure to a hidden beach. But you will need a boat, a bike, and picnic provisions! Starting from San Francisco's Pier 41, hop aboard the Tiburon-bound ferry with your bike and cruise across the bay. After docking, jump on your t
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Beach Access Sorta Granted

Martins Beach

Martins Beach San Mateo Coast
There's a secluded and scenic beach on the San Mateo Coast that's been kept under wraps for years. The reason? A homeowner has kept this beach to himself, and the Surfrider Foundation, San Mateo County Chapter, hasn't been happy about it. After a long battle in the courtroom, the
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

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  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

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  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

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  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

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  2. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

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  3. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

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  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

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