All in Southern CA

  1. Starry Adventures You'll Moon Over

    With Artemis in the headlines, now’s the time to head out and look up. From star parties to moonlight hikes and ranger-led night programs, here are a few ways to celebrate all things cosmic.

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  2. Fresh and Up!

    Great hikes aren’t just about reaching the summit. Along the way you also get some sweeping views, coastal overlooks, and iconic vantage points. Here are three with fresh perspectives.

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  3. A young man opens his arms out in appreciation of the beautiful scenery of Malibu Lagoon

    Beach Time!

    When the heat’s cranked, these beach-based outdoor adventures deliver coastal chill, camping, and beautiful scenery.

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  4. Sponsored
    2026-02-02

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

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  5. Getting Figgy With It

    Tree’s company on these three urban walks in L.A.—each featuring an impressive Moreton Bay fig tree, historic and cultural perks, and refreshing extras like a waterfall, ice cream, and beer. Fig yeah!

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  6. LA’s Urban High Ground

    L.A.’s urban hikes are showing off right now—green hillsides, sweeping views, and trails just high enough to deliver a fresh perspective. Here are three that deliver higher-ground views.

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  7. Longer Days for Classic Peaks

    The clocks are about to spring forward. You go up. Chase the longer light on these classic peak hikes.

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  8. A woman stands on green grass overlooking the skyline of downtown Los Angeles from Ernest E Debs Regional Park

    That Green Glow

    Okay, rain did its thing. The hills are glowing. Now’s your window for vivid greens, sweeping views, and maybe even a few early wildflowers. Hit these urban and wild hikes and bike rides while the shamrock shine lasts.

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  9. All Aboard the Mendocino Coast

    Where dramatic—and secret—headlands meet a rollicking sea and a historic train winds through fragrant forest, Mendocino invites you to slow down, stay awhile. Ride the rails to a redwood grove with a beverage bar and bonus hike, wander wild bluffs and windswept beaches, then toast the day in a postcard-perfect village with a thriving culinary scene. This is Mendo-time.

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  10. Romance Right Quick!

    Caught without a Valentine's plan? Oof. We don’t have all the answers, but we do have a few suggestions for a fun date in the great outdoors. Get sweet on them. 

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  11. Going for Gold in the Golden State

    The Winter Olympics don’t have to be a spectator sport. California has all the right stuff for chasing your own golden moments. From learning to curl to lacing up skates with Half Dome as your backdrop, these winter sports celebrate the spirit of the Golden State.

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  12. Sealed with a Kiss

    You don’t need to head out on the water to see Southern California’s seals and sea lions. These three coastal spots invite you to bike, wander, and explore while catching close-up views of these big beauties, with plenty of nearby parks and places to stroll by the shore. Sea, yeah— see ya there!

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  13. A woman sits on a beach overlooking the Los Angeles landscape as the sun sets

    Cozy Sunlight Hikes

    Go get your sun glow. Winter's combination of sunlight sifting through clouds or beaming in a crisp and cleansed sky makes for some inspiring scenery. Here are three places to go for a hike and to bask in the comfort of cinematic winter sunlight.

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  14. Parks In Their Prime

    Snow, sun, seasonal temperatures … it’s all culminating in a winter of wide and wild adventure options—from sunrise desert hikes and snowy sequoias to waterfalls and dune-scapes, these four mystical wanders in national parks, preserves, and recreation areas are some of the best for the season.

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  15. Sponsored
    2026-02-02

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  16. A person stands and is looking at Tahquiz Falls in Palm Springs

    Post Rain Adventure Perks

    It's been wet and wild, so go be wet and wild. With skies scrubbed clean and the H2O flowing, discover the best place to witness a sunset viewing of a "now you see it, now you don't" desert lake, plus have a couple of waterfall experiences. Here are some ways to soak in the start of 2026.

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  17. Wild Willy's Hotsprings near Mammoth Lakes California

    Hot Soaks to Start the New Year!

    Happy New Year! Warm up to 2026 with these great places to find hot soaks at natural springs both rugged and spa-some.

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  18. Merry Wetness

    Merry Christmas! We're not sure who ordered the Pineapple Express but as we all try to go with the flow, there's a new podcast episode of "Take It Outside" and some ideas on things to do that let you be inside, too (in case of rain). Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season. See you in 2026!  

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  19. Top 10 Outdoor Stories of the Year

    Less scroll time, more soul time...that's how it goes when you get out to explore our great Golden State. Jingle all the way to the end of the year by checking out our Top 10 stories of 2025.

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  20. A woman walks along the boardwalk next to San Dieguito Lagoon in Del Mar San Diego

    Boardwalks to Beautiful Things

    Bored over the holidays? Get board walking! These three boardwalks meander alongside lakes, lagoons, and a dam, with mountains and birds and beers as bonuses!

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  21. Lots of people walking around the Mission Inn in Riverside California looking at all the red and white and purple holiday lights.

    Seeing the Lights

    All light, all light, all light. This season make your way to any of these places featuring botanical gardens glowing, food and drinks flowing, fields of illumination, and strolls and hikes to help you see the lights. 

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  22. A woman hiker in a light blue shirt points out at the mountains on a hike called Lawson Peak in Southern California

    Fresh Air Saturday

    Thanksgiving Thursday, Black Friday, Weekend Sherpa Saturday? We're sharing some ideas for exploring locally over the holiday. You can also check out our latest podcast episode, talking turkey and Türkiye. Learn about the relatively unknown world-class hiking adventure overlooking Türkiye's incredible Turquoise Coast and passing ancient ruins. 

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Perles Beach Angel Island San Francisco Bay

    Secret Beach

    A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.

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  2. Cinematic Sonoma

    Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.

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  3. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

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  4. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

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  2. A Better Way to Baldwin

    The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.

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  3. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  4. A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

    Urban Oasis Loop

    Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.

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