All "Relaxing" Stories in Southern CA

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  Montebello Mission

  Adorable animal feeding, peaceful bird watching, and delicious beer drinking? Hello, Montebello! This northeastern city has fantastic views of the hulking San Gabriels and a variety of green spaces, not to mention great spots for beer(s)!

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  Oh So Whittier

  Best way to explore a city? The greenway! Check out the charming town of Whittier, along with its picturesque college, by walking (or biking) its scenic 4.8-mile Greenway Trail. Bonus: Perfect post-walk brews included at Whittier Brewing Co.

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  Huntington Bell Hops

  In the metropolis of the northeastern cities of LA, the neighboring sprawls of Huntington Park and Bell have less-visited hidden green spaces and some cool breweries worthy of a city hop!

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  Top Dog Destination

  Redding is a pawsitively ideal destination for you and your four-legged pal. Surrounded by Shasta and Lassen and mountainous Whiskeytown, with year-round sunny days and the gleaming Sacramento River running right through it, Redding is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.

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  Best in Snow

  There’s snow better destination for outdoor fun and events. Plumas County is a northern Sierra Nevada dreamland, with vast outdoor spaces, places, and races! Snowshoe Lassen Volcanic National Park, downhill ski at charming Coppervale Resort, and have a blast at the quirky Longboard Races.

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  Good Will Huntington

  Trying to get your fill of art and culture can be tricky. Do you visit the science center, an art museum, or some botanical gardens? Visit all three at Huntington Library, a sprawling Pasadena-area estate that includes 120 acres of botanical beauty ranging from jungle to desert to Japanese and Chinese gardens with bridges, patios, and waterfalls.

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  Pierce Scribes

  A writer’s words can last forever, but where do the writers themselves go to be immortalized? LA’s Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park is the final resting spot for many great authors (and movie stars). A stroll around the hidden 2.5-acre park lets you pay your respects to lit greats.

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  The Holiday Spirit of San Ramon

  From a holiday ice rink and mistletoe hikes to outdoor fire pits for cozy winter nights, here’s your San Ramon holiday getaway guide

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  Best of Shasta

  When you book just a two-night stay in Redding, you’ll get complimentary tickets to Lake Shasta Caverns National Natural Landmark

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  Wine O'Clock

  You’ll find no attitude, no fuss, and no wine tasting fee when visiting some of the down-to-earth wineries just outside Redding. Take Dakaro Cellars, beautifully set amid the Shasta Cascade countryside with charming deck and grounds for tasting.

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  Hidden Gems of San Ramon

  Slow down, get rejuvenated, and find some cheer (make that “cheers!”) in San Ramon.

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  Unexpected Hiking Vacation

  Ready for a local hiking vacation—one that’s unexpected, hassle-free, and comes with bonuses like spas and delicious nearby dining?

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  Secrets of San Ramon

  Sometimes the best secrets are right under your nose, or at least where you might not be looking! San Ramon is close enough to travel without hassle yet takes you far from the daily grind.

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  Historic Hidden Gem

  Smack in the middle of Monterey, and featuring a phenomenal view of the bay and the harbor, Lower Presidio Historic Park is truly an undiscovered gem. In fact, some historians have called it “the most historically significant site on the West Coast of America.”

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  Beauty and the Beach

  Sweeping, romantic, and vast, Garrapata State Park has all the stuff of swoon-worthy scenery. There’s a magical beach backed by hulking cliffs with a hiking trail we like best in the later afternoon, when the beach can be blissfully deserted.

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  Going Deep

  Mesmerized, educated, and inspired are just a few of things you can’t help but feel while visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium and its spellbinding new exhibition, Into the Deep.

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  Enter to Win this Central Oregon Vacation

  Enter to Win the Central Oregon Fall Sweepstakes: Winner gets a $500 gift card toward a stay at the luxury Sunriver Resort plus $500 in gift cards for local dining spots.

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  Best of the Summer Fests!

  Outdoor winery events featuring films, food, wine, live music, and Sonoma’s cinematic scenery in the background: now that’s a blockbuster summer weekend!

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  Heavenly Elysian

  Founded in 1886, Elysian Park is LA’s oldest park, and one of its biggest. Spanning 600 acres, this urban playground has multiple attractive features that will keep you coming back for more.

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  Bald Statement

  If you’re going to have a rite of passage hiking in Sun Valley, the hike to the summit of Bald Mountain is one to check off your list. This 5-mile (one-way) trek requires some stamina, yet richly rewards with a variety of views and vantages, abundant wildflowers, and the chance to combine a free chairlift and gondola ride back down.

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