All Stories from Southern CA
Grape Connections
Stroll, sip, and swirl, in whatever order you please. Temecula’s wineries are best explored by foot in the fall, when temperatures are warm but not sizzling and autumn paints the l
ViewPhantom of Brand Park
Culture. Beauty. Paranormal activity. Just your standard expectations when you visit Brand Park in Glendale. The 31-acre spot located at the base of the Verdugo Mountains is not only one of the most unique parks in Los Angeles, it’s also one of the most storied.
ViewBe-Witching Forest
Though the name is very Lord of the Rings, you won’t find Legolas in Escondido’s Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, but you might see a ghostly spirit on this 3.5-mile (round-trip) hike.
ViewHaunted in Huntington
How about a creepy coastal crawl this Halloween? The 1,449-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach is the largest saltwater marsh between Monterey Bay and Tijuana,
ViewFall-filling Yosemite
A cool thing is happening in Yosemite National Park right now. The summer crowds are gone and the valley is alive with waterfalls ... and the colors of fall. Time to get out of you
ViewRiver of Bicycle Dreams
Cycling without having to worry about cars? Hooray! Cycling beside a gently flowing river through fall foliage? Double hooray! The Sacramento River Trail in Redding lives up to its
ViewEl Lobo
Embark on a 13-mile hike that takes you across part of Santa Rosa Island’s interior, down a canyon, and along a spectacular coastline of cliffs, coves, and tide pools.
ViewThis Skunk Doesn't Stink
On Santa Rosa Island, an all-day hiking expedition to Skunk Point unfolds like chapters of a geographic fairy tale. You’ll cross several distinct terrains on a 11-mile lollipop loo
ViewThe Comeback Pine
The Torrey pine is now the rarest pine in the United States. On Santa Rosa Island, you can visit one of its last seaside groves—with some trees dating back 250 years—on a 4.5-mile
ViewThree Falling
Three waterfalls, and fewer people. McCloud Falls might be the best waterfall hike in Northern California. There are bigger waterfalls in the state, but it’s the whole package that makes this 4-mile (round-trip) hike truly memorable.
ViewA Shot of Whiskey
Whiskeytown Falls is a relative newcomer. While a few locals knew of its existence, it wasn’t largely shared, and there wasn’t a trail—until 2004. That’s when park biologist Russ W
ViewBurney Man!
Upon first seeing Burney Falls, President Theodore Roosevelt called it one of the wonders of the world: a 129-foot waterfall gushing 100 million gallons every single day. This baby
ViewFisherman's Friend!
Finding a secret hike and hidden campsite in one outing? Get outta here! No seriously, get outta here. Head to the southern part of Orange County’s Cleveland National Forest, where
ViewA Little Birdie Told You
Bordering Orange and Riverside counties, the El Cariso Nature Trail  in Cleveland National Forest is like the Twitter of hikes: It packs a lot within its limits. The trail gains 15
ViewNobody's Beer!
Isn’t it great when popular ski mountains are free of crowds? It actually happens! All you have to do is go before it snows. Big Bear’s Snow Summit is still open to hikers, so befo
ViewCamp Right Beer!
Camping + beer = better together! Pineknot Campground at Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest closes for the season at the end of this month, so make haste and pitch
ViewBeers to You!
First comes hiking, then comes beer! Good news, the hiking leads to the beer at Big Bear Lake, where its annual Oktoberfest stays open until midnight on Saturdays and until 5:30 p.
ViewCulture Club
San Diego is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and you get to travel through 100 years of its history on a modern- day 5.5-mile urban loop hike that’s filled with food, art, culture, and epic natural beauty!
ViewSlide on Down
Glass-bottom observation decks were supposed to be all the rage ... that is until California’s tallest building—the US Bank Tower—upped the ante by cashing in on an open-air observ
ViewBig on a Bay View
Newport Beach is well known for having the biggest of things: homes, boats, egos (oh come on, you know we love you, Newport Beach!) … and the largest estuary in the area, which hap
View
Yes, Seattle!
Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...
Visit Seattle
Your Inbox to the Outdoors
Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.
