All Stories from Northern CA

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  Cave Culture

  Cave Landing, a craggy headland between Avila Beach and Pismo Beach, is a storied stretch of the Central Coast that stirs potent reveries in the beholder.

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  Small Craft Morning

  San Luis Obispo Bay is a lovely place to kayak. The highlands backing the bay and a jetty at its western end protect the harbor from tough paddling.

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  Old SLO Hills

  Hike Johnson Ranch, a sprawling 242-acre open space south of San Luis Obispo and north of Avila Beach where vistas seem to ever unfold in new directions. 

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  From Beer to Buena Vista

  What’s brewing? How about some tasty German beers and some famous Irish Coffee! Get into the holiday spirit(s) with a classic leisurely stroll connecting the modern Radhaus Bavarian biergarten in Fort Mason with the classic Buena Vista Café near Fisherman’s Wharf.

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  Find Your Oasis

  Don’t let the name fool you. Death Valley has a completely new lodging experience that’s all about being alive! Here are five amazing ways to find your oasis in the Lower 48’s largest national park.

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  Wine O'Clock

  Wine may be Napa’s most famous liquid, but there’s a way you can just stick with water and still enjoy yourself (really!). Do a 3-mile out-and-back hike at Rector Reservoir Wildlife Area northeast of Yountville.

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  Banner Briones

  There’s a challenging 3.9-mile hike at Briones Regional Park where the reward is some of the East Bay’s best views.

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  Easy Does It, East Bay

  Lafayette Reservoir is an East Bay classic and this time of year we recommend simply stretching your legs on the trail around the reservoir.

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  Fernandez Fabulous

  There’s a lesser known hiking haven located in the northern range of the East Bay Hills. Fernandez Ranch has beautiful trails through the park’s golden hills and under oak savannahs. This 4-mile recommended loop hike bonuses with glorious view of San Francisco Bay.

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  Sibley Sensations

  Make your way to Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland Hills for a 3.5-mile (round-trip) hike alongside the East Bay’s 10-million-year-old volcano.

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  Love You Some Limantour

  A lot of places in Point Reyes National Seashore don’t allow dogs, but Limantour Beach has split the difference, offering ample dog-friendly space that’s bluffing beautiful.

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  Dillon Darling

  Often overlooked, Dillon Beach in Marin can be magical in fall when the mist lifts to reveal a 1-mile swath of wide and sandy terrain backed by dunes and dotted with picnic tables.

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  Not Your First Rodeo

  Marin’s Rodeo Beach has a lot going on. It’s the starting point for sweeping headland hikes, and it’s home to the world-renowned Marine Mammal Center. Head south for more seclusion!

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  Superb in the Burbs

  Tucked behind a suburb on the Peninsula, Pillar Point Bluff County Park is a slice of coastal paradise, with its 220 acres of ocean-bluff beauty. Hike the 1.4-mile Jean Lauer Trail loop for some sweet coastal views.

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  Golden Valley

  Crisp fall days can bring out the best in the rolling hills of Pacifica. And the Valley View Trail at San Pedro Valley County Park is particularly fetching with autumn’s warm lighting making the scenery glow on a 2-mile loop hike.

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  Sponsored

  Find Your Oasis

  Don’t let the name fool you. Death Valley has a completely new lodging experience that’s all about being alive! Here are five amazing ways to find your oasis in the Lower 48’s largest national park.

  View
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  Sweeping Beauty

  If you like edgy, windswept, impossibly romantic coastal vistas, then do the short hike on Wilbur’s Watch Trail near Pescadero. The goal: Find the lone bench at the end of the continent.

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  Make Time for Tolay

  Hidden in the hills south of Petaluma, Tolay Lake Regional Park is 3,400 acres of wide-open space, with a fantastic network of hiking and biking trails, wildflower walks in spring, grazing cattle, and sweet farm animals.

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  Sponsored

  Sonoma's 5 Fall Wonders

  You hear it from all the locals who live in Sonoma Valley: Fall is the best time of year. Here are some ideas to get you going.

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  Stranger Things, Sonoma

  Explore the historic plaza of Sonoma on a Haunted Walking Tour and hear stories of those who ghost there!

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