Where YOU Adventured This Summer!
Wow-weeeee! You understood the assignment! For our 20th Anniversary Adventure Challenge, you went near, far, and whoa, that far?! You explored secret stairways, Sierra lakes, riverside bike rides (and beers!). You ventured to the mountains and lakes of Reno Tahoe, the redwood groves and granite wonders of Yosemite, the dunes of Oregon, the shores of Washington State, and even Whistler, British Columbia. Here’s a roundup of just some of the adventures that got you going this summer. The Challenge ends this Sunday, so it’s last call to get your commemorative tee!
Week: 10.07.2026
Regions: Northern & Southern CA
Tahoe's Trio of Lake Vistas
Hike to Middle Velma Lake in Tahoe
They say good things come in threes, and it’s true when you embark on this 8-mile (round-trip) hike in Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness. It gives you three excellent lake vistas: Eagle Lake, Middle Velma Lake, and Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe. From the trailhead, follow signs to Eagle
Read the full storyBoo-tifall Reno Tahoe
Reno's best harvest fairs, haunted happenings, and only-in-Reno celebrations
Fall goes fast. Good thing Reno Tahoe knows how to make the good times last, with some of the West’s best harvest fairs, haunted happenings, and only-in-Reno celebrations.
See What's Happening This Fall in Reno TahoeRancho Style
Explore Vicente Bluffs Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes
Vicente Bluffs Reserve dazzles anytime, but during the golden hour it’s an absolute knockout. Majestic rocky bluffs, dreamy ocean views, and a picturesque lighthouse are just a few of the reasons.
Read the full storySecret Stairway Hike
Secret Stairway Hike in Oakland
Secret passageways aren’t just found in the movies. The East Bay has over 400 of them winding unseen through the hillsides. Explore Oakland’s hidden passages on a 6-mile urban loop hike using shortcuts originally built to help an influx of residents reach streetcars post-1906 ear
Read the full storyDesolation Drama
Hike to Dick Lake in Tahoe
Oval-shaped Dicks Lake is one of the scenic gems of the Desolation Wilderness. Set in a dramatic glacial cirque with 9,974-foot Dicks Peak soaring behind it, the lake makes a perfect day-long trek or quickie overnight backpacking trip. Don’t be daunted by the first 2 miles, which
Read the full storyBig Time Hike
Hike Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park
Big on the scene in Yosemite National Park? About 500 giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove. We recommend this grand tour hike at 7.5 miles which includes a spectacular overlook.
Read the full storyA Better Way to Baldwin
Hike the Park to Playa Trail in Culver City
The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.
Read the full storySurreal Sandscape
Hike to the Biggest Dunes at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
It’s a stunning landscape that inspired the sci-fi classic Dune (and hence its recent blockbuster adaptation), but no special effects are needed to enhance the scenery of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This 42 miles of sand, forest, rivers, and lakes is both ethereal and surreal.
Read the full storyAll the Ride Stuff
Biking the easygoing American River Parkway
Car-free, paved, picnic-friendly, and paralleling the river, the American River Parkway–Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail is the perfect place for exploring on two wheels. The multi-use trail stretches 32 miles from Sacramento to Folsom, hugging the river most of the way and offering
Read the full storyCan't Top This
Visit Presidio Tunnel Tops park in San Francisco
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.
Read the full storyThe Beauty of Bellingham
Get Away to the Seaside City of Bellingham, Washington
Located in northwest Washington State, the seaside city of Bellingham feels remote, yet it’s just 90 minutes north of Seattle. Outdoorsy, creative, and laid back, with a distinct farm-to-table culture, craft drinks, and outstanding art and shopping, Bellingham ticks all the boxes for your next getaway.
Experience BellinghamTake Me Home to Tennessee
Hiking Tennessee Valley in the Marin Headlands
Tennessee Valley trailhead in the Marin Headlands is rightly popular for its classic coastal scenery and variety of trail options, like this 5.5-mile loop.
Read the full storyHidden Gems of Reno Tahoe
Discover Secret Outdoors and Vibrant City Life in Reno Tahoe
Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.
Discover Your Reno Tahoe Adventure
