All Stories from Southern CA

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  Woof of the Inland Empire

  Box Springs is one of the hidden treasures of the Inland Empire, and, no, we’re not talking about the one beneath your mattress. Box Springs Mountain Park between Moreno Valley and

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  You Call This a Hellhole?

  One person’s hellhole is another’s heavenly desert oasis. Hellhole Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is definitely the latter. Its name comes from cattleman Wid Helm, who said it was “one hell of a hole to get cattle out of.” For you, it’s a moderate to challenging 5.5-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike.

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  Lookout Ahead!

  A 3.7-mile loop hike to Boucher Hill Fire Lookout in Palomar Mountain State Park reminds us that fire, and fire prevention, have long been facts of life in Southern California. We’

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  Be Cabrillo!

  A big year lies ahead. Why not start it off with an explorer’s mind-set? Be Cabrillo! Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, that is, the first foreign visitor (1542) to America’s finest city. H

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  Sand Sledding

  It's not snowing at LA's beaches, but the sledding's still great! Recently erected sand berms up and down the coast—and as high as 15 feet—are intended to protect areas from floodi

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  Baldy View and Candy Canes Too!

  Kids getting restless? Maybe overeager for the big day? Burn off some steam with a family-friendly 0.8-mile stroll on the Joatngna Trail in the Angeles National Forest below Mount

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  North Pole Meets Inland Empire

  Every December night, Greenspot Farms in the tiny town of Mentone becomes a rustic North Pole, complete with live Christmas trees, Santa, holiday movies, cookies, shopping, and fes

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  O Enchanted Night!

  Prepare to be mesmerized! Holiday-season nights in Descanso Gardens are a magical interplay of lights and natural beauty that dazzle as you stroll through the Enchanted Forest of L

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  Yes, A.M.

  It's easy to find good artisan coffee in Echo Park, but it's also a great place to work up a sweat and take in glorious morning views before grabbing that morning pick-me-up. This

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  Topanga Aerie

  You’ll feel like an eagle when you reach the top of Eagle Rock, crown of Topanga State Park. The massive, pockmarked sandstone slab is a blast to hike to, play on, and perch atop o

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  Ride Open Spaces

  This five-mile fat-tire cruise in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve is what mountain bikers call a middle-chainring ride—no extremes, nothing technical, but rather

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  Around the World in San Diego

  Ah, what wonders grow when the weather is perpetually delightful! Such is the case in San Diego, where the San Diego Botanic Garden is able to grow a ridiculous 4,000-plus species of plants in 37 acres across 30 different microclimate gardens.

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  California in 86 Acres

  Sometimes the biggest secrets are, well, big. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is an 86-acre gem, hidden away in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Claremont. In a way, i

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  Mediterranean Diet

  Niguel Botanical Preserve features a variety of vegetation, both native and from the similar climates of Australia, Chile, South Africa. It's also got a cool little labyrinth.

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  At Play on Rocky Peak

  Big views, big boulders, and a great hike are all good reasons to rock out on the Rocky Peak Trail in Simi Valley. This hike gradually ascends for nearly five miles to (surprise!) a rocky peak whose 2,715-foot summit straddles the border between Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

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  Jive on the Hive

  Griffith Park is home to more than one awesome rock venue. Sure, the Greek Theatre stages legendary rock concerts, but Bee Rock provides beautiful wide vistas and some fun rock scr

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  Snaking Your Way Through Joshua Tree

  You don’t have to be a rock climber to enjoy this high-friction frolic in Joshua Tree. All it takes is a sense of adventure—a willingness to plunge into a dramatic canyon that’s de

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  Redwoods Friday

  How’s this for a post-Thanksgiving plan: on Black Friday, you’ll be seeing red … as in magnificent redwoods! Yep, the day after Thanksgiving you can enjoy free day-use admission to

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  Hike-in Hidden Beach

  Blink and you'll miss some hidden beach bliss. Located in the tiny town of Elk on scenic Highway 1, Greenwood State Beach is easy to miss because it's a half-mile walk down to it.

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  Big Horn Full of Gold

  You don’t have to travel to Gold Country to strike gold in California! When it comes to old mines, SoCal has some gems. Big Horn Mine in the San Gabriels is a perfect example. You

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