All in Northern CA
Wine Country Camping
Camping in wine country … now that's a pairing! Pitch your tent at any of these wine country campgrounds where nearby wineries bring added cheers to the adventure (and to your beans and BBQ dinner)!
VIEWAdventures Alfresco!
Who's hungry? Some adventures just go better when the focus is food and wine. This summer, pair your outdoors with these three fresh approaches to alfresco fun.
VIEWDiscover New ABCs
Do you know your ABCs? We're not talking about the alphabet. We're talking about Adventures in British Columbia! The westernmost Canadian province is filled with rainforests, glacier-fed lakes, wildlife, massive peaks, rugged coastline, and sublime places for combining recreation and relaxation.
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SponsoredWarm 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
ViewKnow Your ABCs
Do you know your ABCs? We're not talking about the alphabet. We're talking about Adventures in British Columbia! The westernmost Canadian province is filled with rainforests, glacier-fed lakes, wildlife, massive peaks, rugged coastline, and sublime places for combining recreation and relaxation.
VIEWOh Yeah, Open Space!
Long before the tech industry started taking root in the South Bay, huge oaks, bays, alders, and sycamore trees dominated the landscape. Thanks to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, more than 16,000 acres of open space have been preserved for the public, with the newest preserve opening just two weeks ago. Here are three to explore!
VIEWHike to New Heights
Some of Northern California's best summits are just waiting to be hiked! Whether you point your compass north, south, or east—here are three great peaks that'll give you a fresh perspective … and killer views!
VIEWSummer Sleepovers
With so many outdoor adventures in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains, staying overnight is all part of the fun. From mountaintop yurts to a hike-in hut and campsite, here are three great ways to enjoy sweet South Bay dreams.
VIEWWeekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge 2015
How It Works: 1. Choose any 3 adventures from Weekend Sherpa (hikes, bike rides, picnic spots, camping, etc.), and do those adventures this summer! 2. Take a photo of yourself doing each of your 3 adventures and upload them to Weekend Sherpa’s Facebook page or your Instagram and be sure to tag #weekendsherpa. You can upload one photo at a time or all three at once. 3. Email adventure@weekendsherpa.com naming the 3 adventures you’ve completed, and you’ll receive an email back with a Certificate of Completion. 4. Present your Certificate of Completion via printout or mobile device at any of the following The North Face stores: San Francisco (180 Post St.), Village at Corte Madera (1602 Redwood Hwy.), Palo Alto (217 Alma St.)—and receive your free Weekend Sherpa wicking shirt by The North Face, plus a limited-edition tote bag, and other cool stuff from our partners. GRAND PRIZE: When you finish the Adventure Challenge, you're automatically entered to win two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies from California, including Hawaii, Mexico, and Costa Rica! Only one T-shirt and tote bag per person for the duration of the challenge while supplies last. Ends September 14.
VIEWTrail Mix
Marin has all the ingredients for a delicious trail mix: sweet views, salty beaches, and crumbly ground. Go nuts!
VIEWViva Anderson Valley!
Just a few hours north of San Francisco, and measuring only 15 miles in length, Anderson Valley packs in everything you'd want for a glorious weekend getaway: fabulous (affordable!) wineries, hiking in the redwoods, riverside lounging, and a hilltop gem for spending the night.
VIEWHalf Moon Rising
Pacific coastline, tantalizing trails, beaches, bluffs, and shipwrecks beneath the sea … from Pacifica to Half Moon Bay, here are some great ways to camp, hike, and beach-hop on the Peninsula.
VIEWBeer Gardens for Mom
It's that time of year … to thank Mom with beer! And don’t forget lots of flowers. Here are three botanical beauties, with nearby beer spots for relaxing afterwards. Cheers (and beers) to you, Mom!
VIEWState of Play
How many state parks does California have? 279! How many have you explored? Start counting! To celebrate California State Park Foundation’s upcoming Park Advocacy Day, we selected three State Historic Parks well worth a visit.
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SponsoredWarm 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
ViewLet's Be Dorks
Fanny pack: check. Sun visor: check. Ego: leave it at home. It's time to explore your local outdoors the way a tourist might! Here are three great ways to dork-out(doors).
VIEWLess Beaches? Mo Beaches!
If mo money means mo problems, then what do mo beaches give you? Mo bliss! Head to Monterey to do some beach hopping at three of California’s top State Beaches. Mo Monterey, please!
VIEWWhat's New?
A new pair of shoes, that new car smell… We all love new, and the North Bay has some new ways to get outdoors. Who knew?
VIEWRedwoods Rambles
The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to some of the most beautiful redwoods on earth. With wildflowers newly blooming and the region's signature banana slugs making an appearance, spring's a good time to hike among the big reds.
VIEWStrong and Rugged
Do you like the strong rugged types? With all due respect to Big Sur, there’s another stretch of coastline that’s got it going on. Jenner and the Sonoma Coast have big views, beautiful hidden beaches, and a bevy of aquatic adventures.
VIEWSwing Down to the Coast
There's a reason people like hiking to high places in San Luis Obispo. This Central Coast adventureland is surrounded by ancient volcanoes, rolling green hills, and a dramatic coastline. Toss in some tree swings, and see SLO from new heights on any of these three hikes.
VIEWThe Great Artdoors
Next time you want to get your art fix, step outside for a hike. Here are three top places to see cool works of art in the great outdoors.
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Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe
Winter's Best Activities in Reno Tahoe
Your Inbox to the Outdoors
Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.
Trending Stories NorCal
View all Stories![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.
ViewSoaking Up History
When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.
View![woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato]()
Buck Wild!
Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.
ViewState Park Soaker
Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.
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Trending Stories SoCal
View all Stories![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.
ViewHot, Wet, and Wild!
At Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, you can soak up a primeval landscape that’s amazingly close to Mammoth Lakes and Highway 395—it just feels a few geological epochs away.
ViewIt'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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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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