All in Northern CA

  1. Love in the Great Outdoors

    Some of the best dates happen in the outdoors. Whale watching, wine tasting, walking among murals or down to a restored lighthouse … whatever your outdoor loves may be, here are some options!

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  2. Table Rock hike Robert Louis Stevenson Napa

    Winter Hikes in Napa

    Before hitting the big Cabs, hit the big views! The cooler months are a fantastic time to do any of these three vista hikes that lead to huge panoramas.

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  3. Winter Wildlife Wonders

    Elephant seals, birds of all feathers, combine a wildlife hike and a beer for a wild weekend!

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  4. Lake Nacimiento
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    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  5. Airstream at Joshua Tree

    Desert Dream Trip

    Joshua Tree National Park is stunning in winter. Our top recommendations on exploring this dreamy desertscape in two days.

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  6. Where to Whale Watch: 3 Top Spots

    Whale hello there! Here are three of the top spots for combining hikes and wine tasting with amazing vantages for spying gray whales.

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  7. Easy Does It

    Ease into 2020 by trying something new, from a new wine country hike to a new trail in the South Bay.

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  8. New Year Peak Hikes

    Kick off the decade with a classic peak hike in the Bay Area. Cheers to these views!

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  9. Top 10 2019 Adventures (Readers Favorites)

    The 2019 outdoor adventures Weekend Sherpa readers most liked in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.

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  10. Just in Time for the Holidays

    Get into the holiday spirit on these classic Bay Area outings that are like a yule log for your soul.

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  11. The Coast Is Clear

    Go hike the hills, paddle to a lighthouse, and explore coastal caves near the classic beach town of Avila Beach.

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  12. Griswolding Outdoors!

    Rule #1 this holiday season: Getting outdoors is a great way to clear the air, and the head, after too much spiked eggnog and turkey talk. And hell-yeah, bring the whole family—you’re all in this together, merry and bright! Here are three ways to hike, drink, and birdsong your way to holiday bliss.

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  13. Reservoir Hikes

    If cabin fever has you thirsting for the outdoors, these three hikes are short (3 miles or less) and go straight to the source with excellent views of reservoirs.

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  14. Beaches & Hikes for the Weekend

    After all that turkey, pie, and political discussion, it’s time to take a break outside. We have just the ticket—from a dog-friendly beach in Marin to a hidden bench overlooking the San Mateo Coast, be thankful for the great outdoors.

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  15. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  16. Thanksgiving Hikes

    There’s lots to be thankful for this season, including our great outdoors, with fall colors on full display. Ready for a turkey trot? From the bounties of Briones to the thrills of a volcano, and a lesser-known trail on protected ranch land, here are three East Bay hikes prime for the season.

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  17. Beaches & Hikes for the Weekend

    After all that turkey, pie, and political discussion, it’s time to take a break outside. We have just the ticket—from a dog-friendly beach in Marin to a hidden bench overlooking the San Mateo Coast, be thankful for the great outdoors.

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  18. Wonder-Fall Hikes & Bike Rides

    Autumn’s hues are beginning to deepen. And we’d like to help put the wonder in your fall, from redwoods to rolling golden hills and leaves crisp for foot-crunching. Here are some hikes and bike rides that make for a wonder-fall afternoon.

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  19. Limantour Beach

    Autumn Beaches

    Think summer’s the only time to hit the beach? Fog-etaboutit! Autumn is when beaches in Marin can really shine—sunny, warm(ish) and—fingers crossed—with only a tad of the misty stuff.

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  20. Hikes in the Meantime

    It’s been a challenging week. We’re thinking about everyone affected by the wildfires, evacuations, and power outages. California is resilient and the smoke will clear. If you’re hankering for some nature this weekend, we’ve got a few suggestions. #californiastrong

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  21. Wilburs Watch Trail San Mateo Coast

    Short Coastal Hikes

    San Mateo may just be the coast with the most this time of year. Sunny afternoons can clear the skies, sweeping ocean vistas beckon, and autumn charms like pumpkin patches abound.

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  22. Hiking Petaluma

    Hidden Hikes in Wine Country

    What’s better than wine country hikes in autumn? Wine country hikes that aren’t as well known! From a new regional park south of Petaluma, to a tiny hidden gem in Napa.

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  1. 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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  2. 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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  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

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  4. Hike top Angel Island Mount Livermore San Francisco Bay

    Good Heavens

    The 4-mile hike to the top of Angel Island offers Bay-mazing scenery. Some people claim you get a five-bridge view: Richmond-San Rafael, Bay, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward, and Dumbarton bridges.

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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. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

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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. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

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