All Stories from Southern CA

Whale Watching from Shore
Gray-whale season is upon us. The best way to see our majestic Baja-bound friends is, of course, by boat, but sharp eyes can spot them from shore too. Get in a good hike while admiring this great migration.
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Bald and Beautiful
Who's ready to go bald? Head to Silverwood Lake in the San Bernardinos, one of the best bald-eagle-spotting spots in SoCal, for this breathtaking experience. In the winter months,
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Winter’s Just a Tram Away
Snowshoeing in Mount San Jacinto State Park atop the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one of those quintessential SoCal experiences. One minute you’re basking in desert sunshine; 10
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Echo Yeah!
In summer, the bustling resort of Echo Lakes—10 miles from South Lake Tahoe—is a popular gateway into Desolation Wilderness and stopover for Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers. In win
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Gallivant in Galena
Get your fill of winter thrills just a few miles from downtown Reno in Galena Creek Regional Park. The park is full of trails, but Jones Creek Loop makes an easy 1.7-mile route, se
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Woods Lake in Winter
Powder up for a snow-filled adventure to frozen Woods Lake. This 4-mile (round-trip) out-and-back in the Carson Pass takes you through gently rolling hills, across snow-covered mea
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Sester-Centennial Peregrination
This year, 2019, marks 250 years since the founding of San Diego—an anniversary some call a sestercentennial. By any name, it’s a great excuse for exploring the history, culture, a
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A Lot o’ Tecolote
“Tecolote” is the Spanish word for owl, perhaps suggesting that you would be wise to visit Tecolote Canyon, a secluded nature preserve near Mission Bay. The best way to enjoy it is
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Hike to Hidden Falls
Rain, sun, rain, wind, partial sun, rain … what’s a hiker to do? Go with the flow! Or rather, go to the flow. Hidden Falls Regional Park in the Sierra foothills near Auburn has 30
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Baywalk!
A sunset stroll, a beachside bike ride, a frolic with Fido, or a picnic in the park—whatever mission you choose to accept is waiting for you at Mission Bay. The bay per se is the l
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Howl of a Good Hike
Dedicated to urban forestation and conservation in LA, the nonprofit organization TreePeople brings people and trees together, and that includes occasional moonlight hikes through the ridgetop woodlands in the mountains straddling Beverly Hills and Century City.
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Picnic Paramour
Some hardcore enthusiasts snowshoe the entire Tahoe Rim Trail—all 165 miles of it! Looking for just a good morsel of it? Get a taste of this famous terrain on a 3.6-mile (round-tri
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Switchbacks and Sweeping Views
A fierce workout and killer coastal views—that’s the fabled Rancho Palos Verdes Donut Loop. One of the best road rides in SoCal, this 24-miler is named for its shape—a loop—and not
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Rolling on the River
The San Gabriel River Trail is just as varied as the amazing metropolis it passes through in the course of 35 traffic-free miles between Seal Beach and Azusa, following the path of
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Wheeling the Queen's Avenue
It’s easy to picture bicyclists on the Victoria Avenue bike path in Riverside riding high-wheelers and sporting knickers or bustle skirts. After all, the path follows a scenic park
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Take a Hike, Find the Empire of Light
Riverside’s Mission Inn has one of the most stunning displays of holiday lights in the US, but first things first: To really get in the mood—and earn your holiday treats, calorically speaking—take a quick-escape hike on nearby Two Trees Trail.
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The Champion, My Friends!
If visiting one of the tallest Christmas trees in the world doesn’t put you in the holiday spirit, nothing will! We’re actually talking about Big Bear’s Champion Lodgepole Pine—a w
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Arboretum Season
All is not always calm this time of year, but peace reigns at Fullerton Arboretum, a quiet 26-acre oasis in the middle of urban Orange County. It’s on the campus of Cal State Fulle
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Verdugos on Draft
Test your vitality and revive your energy via a 3-mile (round-trip) out-and-back trek in the Verdugo Mountains and a hoppy reward at nearby Brewyard Beer Company or at a tasty
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Downtown’s Views and Brews
Take a sizable public park and a craft brewery, put them near one another, and what do you have? Well, in this case, a walk through LA’s back pages at Los Angeles State Historic Park and a refreshing beverage afterward at the Highland Park Brewery.
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