The Fourth is With You: Outside

How do you go fourth? Maybe a bike ride with a beer break, or some great local hikes. Paddling a canoe on one of SoCal's most famous lakes is pretty relaxing. So are trails where you can take your dog! Here are a few suggestions to get the outdoors inspiration going for the fourth-coming weekend!

Week: 07.04.2019
Regions: Southern CA

Bolsa and a Nano Brewery

Hike Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach

Whether you’re a bird nerd or just like beautiful views, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach is a must-do in these parts. Its 1,341 acres of coastal estuary are home to over 200 avian species. Wander the 3.3-mile lollipop loop trail to explore the varying habit
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Grin and Big Bear It!

Canoeing Big Bear Lake

Summer in Big Bear means only one thing: Get out on the lake! The best way, of course, is to rent a canoe, so you can paddle, sightsee, and rekindle summer camp memories all at the same time. If you pick up your canoe at Captain John’s Marina in Grout Bay, you’re near Stanfield M
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Hidden Lodge

Getaway to The Ranch at Laguna Beach

When you’re the only property in California that’s a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World, you’re doing something special. Dubbed the Yosemite of Orange County, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is pure coastal boutique, with sustainability as a pillar of its ethos and plenty of
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Bonelli By Golly!

Hiking the Bonelli Park Loop Trail

The 6.3-mile Bonelli Park Loop Trail is proof you don’t have to go far to escape the city. It’s in the heart of the metro area in San Dimas, freeway-close to a gazillion people. But the park’s nearly 2,000 acres of rolling hills give you a sense of distance from the cares of the
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Jive on the Hive

Hiking to Bee Rock in Griffith Park

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 scrambling—and this ticket is free! Park at the iconic merry-go-round and take the Fern Canyon Trail, i
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On the Woof of the City

Hiking Scholl Canyon Trail in Glendale

Pooch-friendly Scholl Canyon Trail in Glendale packs a hilly punch in its 2-mile length, perfect for a quick nature fix or fast workout. The trailhead is just a few minutes from the 134 Freeway, meaning easy access for scores of office dwellers. The trail boasts 400 feet of eleva
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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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  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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