Let There Be Light(houses)

As summer simmers down and days darken faster, we’ve got a few ways to keep the light going.  Just add. lighthouses!  From overnight stays, to guided tours, here are three unique lighthouse adventures. 

Week: 09.13.2023
Regions: Northern CA

Oh, Brother!

Spend the Night at East Brother Light Station on the Bay

Photo of the East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay Area
Close up photo of East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay Area
Young woman on the light deck looking out at the sea from East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay Area
East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay
Spending the night on a tiny island in the Bay? Intriguing. Spending the night in a lighthouse perched on that island? Sound the foghorn! East Brother Light Station Bed & Breakfast sits on a small patch of land in the strait that separates San Francisco and San Pablo Bays.
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Peace-fall in North Lake Tahoe

Fall's Secret Season in North Lake Tahoe

biking by Truckee River north Lake Tahoe
hiker in north tahoe
high camp tahoe
If you’re going to North Lake Tahoe during its secret season, you’re going to want to stay awhile. Fall in North Lake Tahoe equals quieter days, turning leaves, and more open space for you to relax, recharge, and reconnect.
Best of Fall in North Lake Tahoe

Night Light

Catch Sunset at Point Cabrillo Light Station on the Mendocino Coast

hikers at Point Cabrillo Light Station Mendocino coast
hikers at Point Cabrillo Light Station Mendocino Coast
hikers at Point Cabrillo Light Station Mendocino Coast
For over a century Mendocino’s Point Cabrillo Light Station has signaled coast-side danger to passing ships. Time your visit for a spectacular “lightshow” twofer—sunset and the lighthouse’s crowning glory: a 6,800-pound original Chance Brothers classic Fresnel lens producing a flash every 10 seconds.
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Light the Way 2024

Guided Sunset Hikes to Point Bonita Lighthouse in Marin

Point Bonita Lighthouse Marin
view of Golden Gate Bridge from Point Bonita Lighthouse
view of Point Bonita Lighthouse
Point Bonita Lighthouse is remotely perched on the western tip of the Marin Headlands and the entrance to the Golden Gate, 124 feet above the ocean. And lucky for all of us, the National Park Service hosts seasonal sunset tours of the lighthouse.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

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  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

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  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

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  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

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  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

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  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

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