All Stories from Southern CA

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  Yes Sur!

  A hidden coastal hike in Big Sur, a beautiful beach, and maybe a little wine-tasting afterwards? Sounds like a plan! First, the hike. Big Sur's Garrapata State Park is a coast-hugg

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  Carmel's Calming Effect

  SUNSET: Sunsets in Carmel just go better when paired with its flagship beach (and some wine, which is allowed on the beach!). Carmel Beach (pictured) is a locals' favorite for many

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  Home Sweet Mountain Home

  Score solitude on a little-used trail in two scenic canyons on the lower flanks of the San Bernardino Mountains south of Angelus Oaks. The 3-mile (round-trip) hike on Mountain Home

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  Pines and Panoramas

  Ponderosa pines sighing with mountain breezes set the stage for this 3-mile out-and-back hike that serves up outstanding views of the Santa Ana River Valley. Start at Barton Flats

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  High Low There!

  A happy hiker's checklist for a good fall hike: crisp fresh air, a forest mix of hardwood and fragrant conifer, flowing trail with scattered boulders, ridgelines, mountain views, a

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  Coastal Walks of Monterey County

  Taking a walk has proven health benefits. And taking a walk along the coast of Monterey County—well, that will add years to your life … and life to your years! Here are a few to ke

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  Dunes of Death Valley

  You won't find a body of water here, but you will find big waves … of sand! Bring snacks and a beverage to enjoy at one of the world's premier picnic spots—the Mesquite Flat Sand D

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  Yosemite Sands

  Dip your toes in the refreshing waters of the Merced River at one of the best picnic spots in Yosemite Valley, Cathedral Beach. This day-use area on the western end of the valley d

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  Channel Island Smuggler

  One of the best hikes in Channel Islands National Park traverses Santa Cruz Island, offering panoramic vistas and leading to a secluded cove. The 7.5-mile (round-trip) hike to Smug

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  All Wrightwood!

  Fall is a beautiful time to be in the mountains, and one of the best places to go that's still close to home? Wrightwood. Called the "best kept secret in Southern California," Wrig

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  Strolling Stornetta

  Big Sur has some competition. Located along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, the 1,665-acre Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands is a spectacular place to meander for miles along bluffs overlooking small coves, sea caves, dunes, and clusters of offshore islands.

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  Sundowner Plan

  Getting a little coastal R&R means several good things when you stay at Mendocino's Brewery Gulch Inn. Reclaimed redwoods, for starters. That's the material that was used to constr

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  Towsley Tramp

  Kickstart the season with a workout hike featuring outstanding panoramas, meaty switchbacks, shaded sections for cooling breaks, bizarre rock formations, and miniature tar pits. Th

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  Supermoon Sunday

  This Sunday evening (September 27) a total lunar eclipse will coincide with a "Supermoon." Why is this a big deal? Well, it hasn't happened in 32 years and won't happen again for a

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  Beverly Hills 9021 Oh-yeah!

  Beverly Hills has its famous palm trees, but take a stroll through Beverly Gardens Park and get a little more cultured … horticultured, that is. This surprisingly verdant strip str

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  Your Guide to New Zealand

  Okay, let's cut to the chase: New Zealand has been at the top of your travel list, and you've just been waiting for the right opportunity to make it happen. Well, here's your oppor

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  June in September

  Fall may be June's best season. At least, when it comes to lakeside lounging. Set beneath the spiky mountain backdrop of the Ansel Adams Wilderness and looming Carson Mountain, Jun

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  Drama-ramic Hike

  It's not just the granite peaks—including famous Mount Morrison—encircling Convict Lake that make it such a dramatic place. Carved by glaciers from the Ice Age, this giant canyon f

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  Mammothly Epic Hike

  You're going to need your hiking game-face for this adventure. Trekking in the Sierra high country at any time of year requires common sense and a check of the weather; doing it du

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  Your Guide to Islands of Adventure

  Okay, let's cut to the chase: New Zealand has been at the top of your travel list, and you've just been waiting for the right opportunity to make it happen. Well, here's your oppor

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