All Stories from Northern CA

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  Next Trip: New Zealand

  Top Reasons to Book your trip to New Zealand this fall with locally owned and operated Active Adventures: All-Star Guides: Ever met a New Zealander? Fun, friendly, adventurous … an

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  Mesa's Magical

  If the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands views don’t take your breath away, these 242 steps will. Mesa Lane boasts Santa Barbara’s longest and most aesthetic staircase, descending

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  Thousand Steps Beach

  Okay, the name is a bit of an exaggeration—it takes only 154 steps to reach Santa Barbara's Thousand Steps Beach (also known as Camino al Mar, Spanish for “the way to the sea”). Bu

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  Give Me More Mesa

  A typical beach routine: Drive to a parking lot, haul out your cooler, traipse across the asphalt to the sand. Want more out of the experience? Then head to More Mesa and its view-

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  Simply Putah-ful

  Immortalized in Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Green River,” Yolo County’s Putah Creek is proof that some legends never dry! Its snaking banks still teem with underrated bayou cha

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  Cool Pool Party

  Spending the day at the Garden of Eden in Santa Cruz is accepting an invitation to nature’s most popular pool party. Bring a picnic and pool floats, and swim and lounge in the sun—

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  Best Bootfit You Can Get

  Hiking, backpacking, travel vacation—whatever you’re doing outdoors, your outfit matters! By that, we mean properly fitting hiking boots and backpacks. Visit the premiere outfitter

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  Cull Canyon Cooldown

  Home to shaded trails, shallow creek crossings, ridge-top breezes, and a 1.5-acre white sand swimming lagoon, Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a local’s summer playground. T

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  Lighthouse at the end of the Tunnel

  Round up the best of the Marin Headlands on this 8-mile loop alongside dramatic coastline, jutting cliffs, and iconic Golden Gate vistas to 160-year-old Point Bonita Lighthouse. Be

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  Summer Lakes

  If you haven’t hit the lake yet this summer then you might be experiencing WWS (water-withdrawal syndrome). Symptoms include crankiness and complaints about hot weather. Luckily th

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  Best Time to Visit New Zealand

  Your vacation time is valuable. So don’t waste it! New Zealand is a glorious vacation destination, and the award-winning local guides at Active Adventures will make sure you see th

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  Gaviota Wind Caves

  Gaviota State Park is home to the 3-mile out-and-back Gaviota Wind Caves Trail, with over 600 feet in elevation gain, unique topography, seasonal wildflowers, and incredible ocean views.

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  Sea Life

  Hundreds of dolphins and whales have been sighted in Monterey Bay since mid-June, and with huge populations of California sea lions, southern sea otters, and harbor seals frequenti

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  Gaviota Hidden Hot Springs

  Whether you need to relax after summiting Gaviota Peak in Gaviota State Park, or just prefer a quick, scenic destination hike, Gaviota Hot Springs is well worth the $2 parking fee.

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  Gaviota Peak

  Some of the best coastal views in the Golden State don’t come easy, but the payoff makes up for the challenge! Head for Gaviota State Park’s headlining hike, Gaviota Peak. It’s a 6

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  Take a Ride on the Wilder Side

  For those who demand diverse scenery on their mountain bike ride—old-growth redwood groves, coast-side cliffs and sandy coves, rolling and terraced cliffs—one park has it all! Wild

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  Beerland

  Looking for true hoppiness? The Santa Cruz Beer Trail has microbrews popping up all over town, and makes a great thirst-quencher post outdoor adventure. (For the best savings and d

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  The Original Mountain Town

  Thinking of trying something new for a summer vacation? Ever been to Sun Valley? It’s the Original Mountain Town! Yeah, it’s pretty much got everything for the perfect summer vacat

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  On Cloud 9

  With a name like Clouds Rest you expect this hike to rise pretty darn high. And boy does it deliver! Yosemite's Clouds Rest sits at 9,926 feet, 1,000 feet higher than Half Dome’s t

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  Taftastic Perspective

  Not many hikes offer mile-high views in just a mile of hiking. But point your boots towards Yosemite's Taft Point: While the 1.1-mile hike from the trailhead is moderate, the views

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