All in Southern CA

  1. Hikes to Clear Your Mind

    Our thoughts are with everybody affected by wildfires across California. It's not easy right now. While these meditative hikes may not clear the air, they may help clear your mind. "The Love in the Air Is Thicker Than the Smoke."

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  2. Down by the River

    We make the most of our rivers here in SoCal. Even if they’re not quite long and mighty, exploring their footpaths and bike trails leads to sights that may be artsy, gritty, or just plain pretty. Discoveries guaranteed!

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  3. Five Hikes to Rock Your World

    Are you ready to rock? From Ladder Canyon Trail to the "holey" grail of Mojave, even some Griffith Park granite, here are five hikes featuring rock formations that let you climb to new heights or wind through the depths. November's off to a rocky start!

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  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  5. Trek and Treat!

    You don’t have to don Justin and Hailey costumes or go full-on Abba this Halloween season to earn a treat. (In fact, we’d prefer you didn’t.) Our suggestion: Burn a few kilocals on these treks, then indulge in a treat at a legendary dessert parlor. Win-win!

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  6. Six Fall Adventures in SoCal

    What's your adventure go-to? From easy beach exploring to peak hikes and redwood groves, we've got some ideas to fill your fall weekends. Here are six great ways to spend your days outside.

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  7. Harvest Fun-for-Fall

    Pick a peck of apples, pluck your perfect pumpkin, pet a goat, watch a pig race, nab a trophy zucchini—yep, it’s harvest season, and we’ve got the scoop on the best places to have fun for all and fun for fall!

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  8. Redwood Hikes & Sleeps

    In case you didn't hear, October was just declared California Redwoods Month, honoring our iconic trees from the coast to the Sierra Nevada. Celebrate by hiking, relaxing, and lodging among these behemoth beauties. Here are 7 of the best places to make it happen!

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  9. Welcome Back, Idyllwild!

    One of our favorite mountain hamlets, Idyllwild, is in full swing again, now that last summer’s Cranston Fire is a receding memory. Camp, hike, relax at a lake ... here's how to go Idyllwild!

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  10. Outdoors, Amigos!

    We just celebrated Mexican Independence Day (September 16, 1810), but the ¡Viva México! sentiment can go on year round in SoCal with these outdoor adventures, followed by some authentic comida de México!

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  11. Reno Tahoe Trifecta

    Ready for the Reno Tahoe Trifecta? If you can knock out all three, you'll bag one of Tahoe's tallest peaks, paddle the lake in a clear kayak, and sample craft beers by way of a human-powered bike trolley. Ready, set, Reno Tahoe!

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  12. Sea Caves, Beaches!

    Feeling fried by the late-summer sun? Find refuge in a sea cave! We have a few in mind that are suitably cool, plus they add a dash of adventure to your beach outing. Just keep an eye on the tides!

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  13. Wild Wanders

    Looking to go wild before summer runs out? Take a hike! From coastal peaks to Sierra hot springs and foggy redwoods, you'll be wildin' all right!

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  14. Easy Summer Outings

    Getting outdoors doesn't have to be epic or challenging. Sometimes the easiest adventures are the most fun! From hitting the beach to hitting the trails, here are a few ways to take it easy this summer.

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  15. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  16. Tidal Ways

    Don’t let the heat wave drive you indoors! Tide pools are the cool place to be right now, where you can ogle colorful creatures and refresh yourself in sea breezes. Good tidings to you!

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  17. Camp on the Beach, Baby!

    If fun in the sun is a blast, making the beach your home for a few days is a dream come true. Catch a Pacific sunset, nod off to the sound of crashing waves, sip your coffee by the sea—at these campgrounds, you own a little slice of California paradise.

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  18. Secret Lakes

    Nothing against powerboats or jet skis, but there’s much to be said for lakes where we can go for tranquility. Maybe a little paddling, a little fishing. See some cool birds. Definitely relax. We’ve got three in mind, each distinct, each ideal for a quiet summer day … sans water skis.

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  19. Midsummer Classics

    Swimsuit for water holes, shoes for coastal hikes, a fleece for overnighting in a mountain cabin ... what's on your summer checklist? Here are some classic ways to soak in and soak up the rest of summer.

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  20. Summer Swimming Holes

    When the heat is on, lower the thermostat! Seek out hidden pools where you can swim, splash, picnic, and relax. Naturally, we’re talking au naturel—swimming holes in beautiful natural settings. Where the cool get cool!

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  21. Coastal View Hikes

    Folks pay a fortune for ocean views, but the best ones belong to all of us. And they’re free! Here are three hikes that reveal some of the best of our amazing coastline, ranging from dramatic perches to rocky shores.

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  22. Keep Your Cool

    Play things cool on these adventures through redwoods, to a waterfall, along a coast-hugging trail of the Channel Islands, and to a hike-in cabin in a canyon. Oh yeah, wave the adventure flag!

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

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  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

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  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

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  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

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  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

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  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

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