All Stories from Northern CA

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  Mather, May I?

  Reading that a whole bunch of friendly giants are hiding behind an unassuming gate sounds a bit like a storybook beginning. In this case, it’s a redwood fairy-trail. Across the str

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  The Occidental Tourist

  When logging threatened a rare stand of residential ridgetop redwoods just a few miles west of Occidental, the neighbors of Fitzpatrick Lane banded together. The result: the Grove

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  Hidden Long Ridge

  After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

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  Dawn Ho!

  Tucked at the end of a sleepy residential street in Larkspur, it's easy to miss the narrow path that drops into Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, where serene redwoods resemble

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  Wicked Waterworks

  Despite its devilish hot name, Mount Diablo has a cooler, splashier side. Heavy winter rains create a collection of six scenic waterfalls encircling the mountain's rugged northern

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  Getaway Time

  Isn't it time you took things SLO? It's actually much easier than you think. San Luis Obispo (SLO) is centrally located just a few hours from San Francisco and Los Angeles. It's a

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  Cupid's Cascade

  Most Tahoe fans know Cascade Falls' silvery drop as it appears in early summer, when melting snow forms a billowy cataract that plummets more than 200 feet into Cascade Lake. But i

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  Baby You Can Light My Fire

  Want to go on a date that will really get your heart pumping? Strap on your snowshoes and hoof it to Angora Ridge Fire Lookout. You’ll climb for nearly 2 miles in this workout that

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  Snow Way!

  Thanks to El Niño, things are oh snow good in California’s Outdoor Playground (aka San Bernardino County). Here are some of the best ways to adventure outdoors this winter. Big Bea

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  Harmony's Edge

  Blink-and-you'll-miss-it Harmony Headlands State Park is small but mighty. This coastal swath of land between Cayucos and Cambria has only one trail, the Headlands Trail. But don't

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  Stroll and Sip

  Picking a beach on the Central Coast is like deciding which flavor to go with at a homemade ice cream shop: There are so many good choices! You really can't go wrong, but if you're

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  California's Heart and Soul

  The perfect weekend trip: a little outdoors, a little wine, and a little relaxation. If you haven't experienced the heart of California, right now is the best time to visit San Lui

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  California's Heart and Soul

  The perfect weekend trip: a little outdoors, a little wine, and a little relaxation. If you haven't experienced the heart of California, right now is the best time to visit San Lui

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  Give Me Morro!

  Like a Half Dome of the Central Coast, Morro Rock is an iconic fixture of San Luis Obispo County's shoreline. It's especially beautiful to see at sunset, from secluded sand dunes t

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  Give Me Morro!

  Like a Half Dome of the Central Coast, Morro Rock is an iconic fixture of San Luis Obispo County's shoreline. It's especially beautiful to see at sunset, from secluded sand dunes t

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  Harmony's Edge

  Blink-and-you'll-miss-it Harmony Headlands State Park is small but mighty. This coastal swath of land between Cayucos and Cambria has only one trail, the Headlands Trail. But don't

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  Stroll and Sip

  Picking a beach on the Central Coast is like deciding which flavor to go with at a homemade ice cream shop: There are so many good choices! You really can't go wrong, but if you're

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  McClures Marks the Spot

  With over 80 miles of preserved shoreline, Point Reyes National Seashore has plenty of sandy stretches for strolling. Those who like wandering in near solitude should head to the northernmost accessible coastline here, McClures Beach.

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  Winter Rush

  Where do the wild things go? Well, if you're a bird, you might head to Rush Creek Open Space in Novato. This 522-acre preserve just east of Highway 101 has one of the densest bird

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  Secret Summit

  Marin's Mount Tam is one of the Bay Area's most traveled mountains, yet even this icon of the North Bay holds some secrets … including a summit! The less-traversed West Peak is act

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