Long Weekend, Local Outdoor Adventures

Need a little outdoor inspiration for a long weekend? How about hiking up to Inspiration Point, or to the top of a Palm Springs peak, or to waterfalls! Here are a few ways to let off a little steam and enjoy the outdoors.

Week: 02.16.2017
Regions: Southern CA

Trail to the Falls

Hike to Trail Canyon Waterfalls in Los Angeles County

Named for the trail of gold dust that once dominated this area, Trail Canyon Falls just outside of Burbank is now rich with a liquid asset: a gorgeous 30-foot waterfall. Reach it on a 5.2-mile (round-trip) hike.
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Notch One for Baldy

Snowshoe hiking on Mount Baldy in Los Angeles County

In a great winter, Mount Baldy’s lower slopes become one of SoCal’s most accessible snow playgrounds—skiing and boarding up top, sledding and building snowpersons at the bottom. In between is a virtual highway for snowshoers—snowed-over Falls Road and Baldy Road, from Manker Flat
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Earnest in Ernest

Hiking in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles

Finding peace of mind in the middle of Los Angeles? Hey, it does happen every now and zen. Northeast of downtown is the 300-acre oasis of Ernest E. Debs Regional Park and a 5-mile loop hike with a solitary spot for surveying the city and finding serenity. Park at the beautiful an
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Romancing the Snow

Snowy Valentines Day in North Lake Tahoe

We know a dozen roses is romantic. But to really impress? Uncork a weekend escape with some serious champagne powder! North Lake Tahoe is experiencing record-breaking snowfall this season—over 500 inches have fallen across the Sierra. Choose from 12 resorts, all of which have a w
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Inspiration Point

Hiking to Inspiration Point in Los Angeles

With a name like Inspiration Point, expectations are high … and high you’ll go, as in above the clouds on this beautiful 10-mile (round-trip) hike located 2 miles north of popular Echo Mountain. While the Sam Merrill Trail to Echo Mountain is well paved and snakes its way up the
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Millard Time

Hike to Millard Waterfall in Los Angeles County

Lace up the waterproof boots for this short hike to one sweet waterfall! The 1.5-mile out-and-back trek to roaring Millard Canyon Falls also makes a splash with stunning panoramas of the San Gabriel Valley.
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Murray Up!

Hiking to Murray Hill in Palm Springs

Palm Springs’ highest summit, Murray Hill, is unfairly named. It’s not a hill: It’s a pyramid-shaped peak poking into the sky above the Coachella Valley. And it’s a demanding 2,200-foot hike to the top! Cool winter days are ideal for an ascent, though you’ll still want sunscreen
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    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

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    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

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    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?...

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  3. 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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