Tennessee Valley trailhead in the Marin Headlands is rightly popular for its classic coastal scenery and variety of trail options, like this 5.5-mile loop.

Reno Tahoe’s got a lot more going on than your average mountain town, from kayaking on the Truckee River to the world’s tallest climbing gym wall, to peak-bagging hikes and a walk among the growing urban arts scene. Hop into an inflatable kayak and take your pick of mild or wild…

So you’d like to camp on the wild Mendocino coast … except for—you know—that whole pitching a tent and sleeping on the ground thing? A-OK! Actually, it’s KOA! Yes, Manchester Beach KOA surprises with simple, clean, A-frame log cabins that include the basic creature comforts: beds…

Looking for some bragging rights? Tell your friends that you kayaked Mavericks. OK, so you may not have kayaked the actual surf spot, but you’ll have come within a few miles of it. Half Moon Bay Kayak Company has a variety of ways to explore the waters off Pillar Point, which…