All in Southern CA

  1. Hiking to Old Ruins in Southern California Mountains

    Lovin' the Ruins

    California has always been a land of dreamers, and some of them have left traces of those dreams behind for us to explore. Discover ruins in remote mountain canyons and high on desert cliffs.

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  2. Full Moon Hike in Southern California

    Full Moon Hikes for Lunatics

    Bright lunar light makes some folks a little wiggy—hence the word “lunatic.” Our feeling: You’d have to be crazy NOT to get out and hike under a big full moon from time to time!

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  3. Encinitas Brewery Hike

    Brewery Hikes

    In North San Diego County, all trails lead to beers! At least, if you take any of these three routes where four breweries are on standby, ready to quench your post-hike thirst.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-08-20

    Let's Go to Paso!

    Paso Robles is a good idea in all seasons, but one season brings a special bounty: harvest season! Road-trip ready and teeming with fall colors and fun events, Paso Robles is the ultimate destination for unique autumn experiences.

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  5. Hike Pinnacles National Park California

    Reach for the Pinnacles

    Rugged rock spires, deep caves, volcanic formations… Pinnacles National Park packs an adventurous punch, and—bonus—you might even get to see the famous, endangered California condor.

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  6. Three Cool Canyons

    Not all canyons can be grand, but we think these three are pretty cool. Give you summer a proper sendoff and plunge into these!

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  7. Urban Art Walks

    Get your art fix without stepping into a museum (not that there's anything wrong with that). These three urban walks have everything from colorful murals and creative installations to LA’s first World Heritage Site landmark, plus food and drink bonuses. Walk this way …

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  8. Ride a Little, Drink a Latte

    All great bike paths lead to coffee—well, at least these three do. Steer your two-wheeler to Riverside, Newport Beach, or Long Beach, and get the wind in your hair while happily caffeinated!

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  9. Labor Day Outside

    The last thing we want for you to do is labor over plans to get outdoors this long weekend. So we've put together a short list of things to try, from a coastal hike to a sunset spot and a campground for stargazing, even an easygoing bike ride. And away you go ...

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  10. True Ocean Adventures

    Who needs air-conditioning when we have an ocean to play in? Our height-of-summer stay-cool plan is to go full flippers-and-face-mask in Abalone Cove; kayak past sea lions into La Jolla’s sea caves; and blaze a SUP trail in beautiful Newport Bay.

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  11. Yosemite Anew

    It’s easy to think you’ve seen Yosemite’s best stuff. But this national park just keeps giving us different ways to experience its wonders. From new cabins to an upgraded hike among giant sequoias, or taking a trail less-known, here’s a guide to keep exploring Yosemite’s adventurous side.

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  12. Summer Sensations

    Whoa, summer—slow down already! Get outside to savor the best of the season with some peak hikes, cave explorations, canoe paddles, and ... don't forget some beer tasting!

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  13. Orange Is the New Adventure

    There’s a lot more than sand and surf in Orange County. Discover the diverse landscape of LA’s close neighbor with these scenic hikes and a do-it-yourself SUP Seven Bridges Tour challenge in Newport.

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  14. Canyon Hikes, Beach Dips

    Who cares how sweaty you get hiking up that beautiful coastal canyon? When you get back, the beach is just across the road. Dive in!

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-08-20

    Let's Go to Paso!

    Paso Robles is a good idea in all seasons, but one season brings a special bounty: harvest season! Road-trip ready and teeming with fall colors and fun events, Paso Robles is the ultimate destination for unique autumn experiences.

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  16. Hole Up for a While!

    Relax, sometimes it's okay to cave in! These three hikes have caves to explore that don't require tight squeezes.

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  17. Bag an Eighter!

    You know about fourteeners, but let’s talk about “eighters”—peaks over 8,000 feet high where you don’t have to battle oxygen deprivation to savor a satisfying summit view. You’ll get a challenging hike, of course, on any of these three favorites. You just won’t need supplemental O2!

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  18. The Fourth is With You: Outside

    How do you go fourth? Maybe a bike ride with a beer break, or some great local hikes. Paddling a canoe on one of SoCal's most famous lakes is pretty relaxing. So are trails where you can take your dog! Here are a few suggestions to get the outdoors inspiration going for the fourth-coming weekend!

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  19. Stargazing Campgrounds

    Falling stars, full moons, and a bevy of celestial events this year ... summer camping is full on fantastic when you 'set your sites' on these cool campgrounds featuring dark skies and famous observatories. Bonus: There's first-come, first-served options, too.

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  20. Like Summer Camp—Only Better!

    Does the start of summer conjure memories of camp? Indulge a bit of nostalgia adult-style, with archery, hiking, canoeing, and a not-just-for-kids waterpark!

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  21. Take Dad Outdoors!

    What's your Father's day plan? How about a peak hike and some beers? Or teaming up to snag a first-come, first-served campsite? There's always a bike ride and some brunch! Here are three great way to celebrate your dad with a little help from nature.

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  22. Hurray for Long Days!

    Cure for the common cubicle? Get outdoors! Whether you get out on one of these hikes this weekend or after work, right now is a great time to savor longer sunny SoCal days.

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

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  2. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

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  3. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

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  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

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  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

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  3. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

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  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

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