All in Southern CA

  1. Shhh...Hikes and Walks and Super Scenic Spots

    Happy holidays. Find some merry outdoors with a less known hike, urban walk, and a super scenic hilltop spot.

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  2. Quiet Hikes

    This holiday season find a little peace in nature. These quieter hikes feature forest, lakes, and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Check the forecast and if the weather outside isn’t frightful, you’ll find these adventures delightful.

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  3. Get Some Holiday Space

    It's okay to ask for a little space this holiday season, including open space! From a secluded hike-in beach to an LA hill with big and bold views, plus a trail for your dog to roam alongside you, here are three great ways to space out ... outdoors!

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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. Cinematic Coast

    Mendocino County has been the location for more than 50 movies, including classics like James Dean’s “East of Eden.” It’s not hard to see why, with its small-town charms, redwood forests, blue-green bays, rocky headlands, and sublime beaches (with hidden stairways!). Here are some easy ways to make Mendocino the backdrop of your next great escape.

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  6. Happy Ho-LA-Days

    Who's talking turkey? Not us. We're talking the great outdoors! Whether you want to sweat first on some stairways, then indulge in the pie, or are looking for casual hikes the whole family can enjoy, here are a few great ways to enjoy the holidays in Los Angeles. County

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  7. Hooray for These Holiday Hikes

    We're not talking turkey. We're talking what to do before or after the main event. Grab your favorite folks and head out for an autumn adventure, including some where you can bring your dog. Check out these hikes for some holiday spice.

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  8. Woman hiking in California desert

    Reopened and Ready

    After Tropical Storm Hilary, some of our national parks in desert locations were closed due to intense damage. The good news is they've recently re-opened, and fall brings cooler temps. From less-known canyons to perfect peaks for sunset, here are three unique desert hiking experiences open to you! --

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  9. Made for Fall Adventures

    Some hikes are best paired with fall. From fewer people to colorful foliage and formations, here are three great parks for autumn-matic consideration.

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  10. Hiking Cobb Estate Haunted Forest

    Hikes for Halloween Spirit(s)

    Spirits and ghosts and phantoms, oh my ... this Halloween weekend, go on any of these five boo-tiful hikes with hints of hauntings and creepy crawly ambience.

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  11. Falling for Paso

    Take a trip to real California this fall … the California you might not know but truly should! Paso Robles's wine country, beautiful backroads, and unfussy outdoors is an absolute revelation. Relish the bucolic landscapes, rolling vineyards, pristine lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, and spirited small town brimming with cuisine, art, and culture. Just a few hours from San Francisco or Los Angeles, here’s a road trip itinerary to see this hidden gem.

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  12. Monterey's Many Hidden Gems

    Monterey is not only stunningly beautiful by nature, it's an historical and ecological cornerstone of California. Experience its less-known state parks, hidden gem hikes, a coastal trail to a lighthouse, marvelous food and culture, and the brilliance of Monterey Bay Aquarium's newest exhibit and special guided tours.

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  13. Oktober Hikes

    Something about Oktober just brings out the beer in us. But maybe do a hike first. Here are three fantastic hikes with nearby breweries for a little seasonal Prost!

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  14. This Hidden Beach ...

    The term "secret beach" is a bit of a relative one for SoCal. Still, there are a few you can escape to and find a bit of serenity. From a hidden gem to secret strands and pocket sands, don't let others beach you to it!

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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. Hi Cherry Canyon Park to the Ultimate Destination in LA County

    On This Harvest Moon

    It's glow time! Here are some amazing places to watch the sun set and enjoy the Harvest moon rising as you make your way back. Bring a flashlight or headlamp for extra measure ... and shine on.

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  17. Sunsets and Night Hikes

    Sundown on summer is here ... so say goodbye to the season as it sinks below the horizon on these classic outings ideal for sunsets and night hikes. Fall's morning glory is up next!

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  18. Secret Stairways of LA

    We always hear it: gotta get in those steps. A way to do it? Take the stairs! But not just any stairs. Do the ones that lead to nature, tranquility, and hidden gems. Here are three stairway hikes worth stepping up—and down—to!

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  19. Hike Elysian Park in Los Angeles

    Autumn Inspiration

    Let us be the first to wish you Happy Halloween. Too soon? We agree! Autumn’s barely touching down, so go gently into the season with these adventures offering inspiring views for a change-in-season perspective. Costume not included!

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  20. The Secluded Sierra

    Travel to the very northern part of the Sierra Nevada and discover a vast wilderness with only three traffic lights and more nature than people. Plumas County is a tranquil haven of high mountain recreation lakes, hiking and biking trails galore, plentiful small-town charms, and a national park that's still a hidden treasure.

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  21. Now Open: These Camping Adventures

    Better late than never. Winter's historic precipitation meant delays in some backcountry and high Sierra camping adventures due to road repairs and too much snow! Here are a few places you can go now, some recently re-opened (and first-come, first-served!).

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  22. Tahoe Easy Rollers

    How do you escape the crowds at Tahoe? Try a bike ride along one of the region’s beautiful (car-free!) bike trails paralleling the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe. Here are some great rides (that can also be hikes or walks) for getting a little space.

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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. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

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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. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    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
  4. 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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