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  1. Southern CA

    Welcome Back, Idyllwild!

    One of our favorite mountain hamlets, Idyllwild, is in full swing again, now that last summer’s Cranston Fire is a receding memory. Camp, hike, relax at a lake ... here's how to go Idyllwild!

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  2. Southern CA

    Outdoors, Amigos!

    We just celebrated Mexican Independence Day (September 16, 1810), but the ¡Viva México! sentiment can go on year round in SoCal with these outdoor adventures, followed by some authentic comida de México!

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  3. Northern CA

    Lake Wanders

    Give summer a peaceful sendoff with a simple wander where trails are quieter and lakes take center stage.

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  4. Sponsored
    2024-10-30

    Redding for You

    You may think you’ve checked off all the marquee adventure destinations in the Golden State, but have you been to the outdoors mecca that’s the second sunniest city in the country?

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  5. Southern CA & Northern CA

    Reno Tahoe Trifecta

    Ready for the Reno Tahoe Trifecta? If you can knock out all three, you'll bag one of Tahoe's tallest peaks, paddle the lake in a clear kayak, and sample craft beers by way of a human-powered bike trolley. Ready, set, Reno Tahoe!

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  6. Southern CA

    Sea Caves, Beaches!

    Feeling fried by the late-summer sun? Find refuge in a sea cave! We have a few in mind that are suitably cool, plus they add a dash of adventure to your beach outing. Just keep an eye on the tides!

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  7. Northern CA

    Bike Rides & Breweries

    Celebrate the start of autumn and the season of Oktoberfest with some bike rides with brew pub bonuses. Here are five pedals where you can go for a spin and enjoy some craft brews. The flavors of fall are flowing.

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  8. Northern CA

    Hikes Outside the Box

    Getting outside this long weekend? As in, outside the Bay Area? From a swim hole in Tahoe and a hike-in campsite in Mendocino to a calming coastal trail in Carmel, here are some top hikes outside the Bay Area but still within our great golden state!

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  9. Southern CA

    Wild Wanders

    Looking to go wild before summer runs out? Take a hike! From coastal peaks to Sierra hot springs and foggy redwoods, you'll be wildin' all right!

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  10. Northern CA

    Hidden Beaches

    Looking for some off-the-radar beach time? We’ve rounded up three hidden favorites across the North Bay. Bonus: Two are dog-friendly. Beach you to it!

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  11. Southern CA

    Easy Summer Outings

    Getting outdoors doesn't have to be epic or challenging. Sometimes the easiest adventures are the most fun! From hitting the beach to hitting the trails, here are a few ways to take it easy this summer.

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  12. Southern CA

    Tidal Ways

    Don’t let the heat wave drive you indoors! Tide pools are the cool place to be right now, where you can ogle colorful creatures and refresh yourself in sea breezes. Good tidings to you!

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  13. Northern CA

    Peninsula Pleasures

    Hike under the redwoods, bike ride by the sea, lounge in the soft sands of a hidden beach … the pleasures just keep on keeping on when you fill your weekend with the beauty of the San Mateo Coast.

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  14. Northern CA

    Sleeping Under the Stars

    Slept under the stars lately? It’s a summer rite of passage! And backpacking makes it all the more fun. From beginner-friendly short and sweet overnights to a multi-day epic trek that’s a classic, here are three ways to see the stars before summer says goodbye.

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  15. Sponsored
    2024-10-30

    Redding for You

    You may think you’ve checked off all the marquee adventure destinations in the Golden State, but have you been to the outdoors mecca that’s the second sunniest city in the country?

    View
  16. Southern CA

    Camp on the Beach, Baby!

    If fun in the sun is a blast, making the beach your home for a few days is a dream come true. Catch a Pacific sunset, nod off to the sound of crashing waves, sip your coffee by the sea—at these campgrounds, you own a little slice of California paradise.

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  17. Northern CA

    Find Your Quiet Hike

    Summer's a bustling time in the Bay Area, but you can still find trails with a quieter vibe. From redwood groves to sunset views, lakes, and panoramas, here are some hikes that see fewer folks and abundant beauty.

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  18. Southern CA

    Secret Lakes

    Nothing against powerboats or jet skis, but there’s much to be said for lakes where we can go for tranquility. Maybe a little paddling, a little fishing. See some cool birds. Definitely relax. We’ve got three in mind, each distinct, each ideal for a quiet summer day … sans water skis.

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  19. Northern CA

    Beer Adventures

    Bottoms up, beer drinkers! Napa, Berkeley, and San Francisco are on a roll with new craft breweries located close to car-free bike trails offering pure pedaling pleasure.

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  20. Southern CA

    Midsummer Classics

    Swimsuit for water holes, shoes for coastal hikes, a fleece for overnighting in a mountain cabin ... what's on your summer checklist? Here are some classic ways to soak in and soak up the rest of summer.

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  21. Northern CA

    Yoga With Goats and Other Wild Ideas

    You like wild ideas? Then goat wild, you won't egret it! From farm yoga with baby goats in Half Moon Bay to spying tule elk on a classic coastal hike, or biking among egrets in the East Bay, here are some terrific ways to stretch your legs and your sense of wonder.

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  22. Southern CA

    Summer Swimming Holes

    When the heat is on, lower the thermostat! Seek out hidden pools where you can swim, splash, picnic, and relax. Naturally, we’re talking au naturel—swimming holes in beautiful natural settings. Where the cool get cool!

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

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  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

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  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

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  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

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  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

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  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

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  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

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