All "Relaxing" Stories in Southern CA

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  How Do You Like Them Pumpkins?

  If it weren't for pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks, we Angelenos might never know that fall has arrived. Unless you know about Oak Glen’s good old fashioned u-pick pumpkin and hik

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  Yes Sur!

  A hidden coastal hike in Big Sur, a beautiful beach, and maybe a little wine-tasting afterwards? Sounds like a plan! First, the hike. Big Sur's Garrapata State Park is a coast-hugg

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  Carmel's Calming Effect

  SUNSET: Sunsets in Carmel just go better when paired with its flagship beach (and some wine, which is allowed on the beach!). Carmel Beach (pictured) is a locals' favorite for many

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  Dunes of Death Valley

  You won't find a body of water here, but you will find big waves … of sand! Bring snacks and a beverage to enjoy at one of the world's premier picnic spots—the Mesquite Flat Sand D

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  Yosemite Sands

  Dip your toes in the refreshing waters of the Merced River at one of the best picnic spots in Yosemite Valley, Cathedral Beach. This day-use area on the western end of the valley d

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  Strolling Stornetta

  Big Sur has some competition. Located along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, the 1,665-acre Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands is a spectacular place to meander for miles along bluffs overlooking small coves, sea caves, dunes, and clusters of offshore islands.

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  Supermoon Sunday

  This Sunday evening (September 27) a total lunar eclipse will coincide with a "Supermoon." Why is this a big deal? Well, it hasn't happened in 32 years and won't happen again for a

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  Beverly Hills 9021 Oh-yeah!

  Beverly Hills has its famous palm trees, but take a stroll through Beverly Gardens Park and get a little more cultured … horticultured, that is. This surprisingly verdant strip str

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  June in September

  Fall may be June's best season. At least, when it comes to lakeside lounging. Set beneath the spiky mountain backdrop of the Ansel Adams Wilderness and looming Carson Mountain, Jun

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  LA Story

  Like a good Hollywood story, the Barnsdall Art Park made a great comeback. Once an overlooked urban space in LA, this 36-acre East Hollywood hillside park is now a burgeoning center of art and local history.

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  Stair Master!

  In Culver City, take Jefferson Blvd. to Hetzler Rd. Park along Jefferson Blvd. before or after Hetzler Rd., and find the dirt trail heading east from the bottom of Hetzler. Hike a

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  Wilmington Wanderland

  Most people know the Port of Los Angeles as the place with all the smoky factories and huge barges, but this industrial area added some glitter to its grittier side when Wilmington

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  Wine Safari

  Did we have you at wine safari? Buckle up—you're about to go wild, with wine! Malibu Wine Safaris is the adult field trip you've been dreaming about, a 90-minute expedition combini

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  Bike to Bellinis

  Hidden within the Malibu Hills, tiny Rocky Oaks Park is ideally suited for those who like to keep their weekend cruising short and simple (because hey, brunch!). Despite its small

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  Palomar's Star Power

  Palomar Mountain State Park in northern San Diego is like having a friend in a high place. There are perks to be had! The 6,138-foot namesake mountain offers cooler climates during the hot summer, and a way-up-there campground brings you even closer to the stars—and closer to one of the most famous observatories in the world!

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  Sycamore's Star Parties

  Sunset hikes are beautiful, but they shine naturally brighter when paired with stargazing afterwards. Make it happen in Sycamore Canyon, which hosts a Star Party every other month

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  Victoria Lap

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  Victoria Lap

  Known as North America's most English city, Victoria is so much more than high tea and crumpets. This energetic and stylish seaside city on Vancouver Island is home to the globally

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  Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens

  Lost in Translation? It happens. Here's how to take a breather. Right in the heart of the city is the Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens, a relaxing retreat hidden in the histor

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  Go Ghostbust!

  Located in the high desert of the Eastern Sierra, Bodie State Historic Park looks like a Hollywood set for a Western movie. But this isn't Hollywood magic—it's a gold-mining ghost

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