All in Northern CA

1. 

   Rolling Through Point Reyes

   With craggy coastal cliffs, abundant beaches, and over 80 miles of rolling shoreline, Point Reyes National Seashore is ideal for a casual coastal spin. Here are three easy bike rides that pack a scenic punch and reveal some secret spots, too. Bring your own bike or rent one in Point Reyes. Wheels in motion!

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2. 

   Wild Views & Wildflowers

   Huge views are even better when the surrounding landscape is painted by wildflowers. Here are three Bay Area hikes and bike rides combining beautiful vistas and flower power!

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3. 

   Big Hikes in Wine Country

   Some of the best ridge walks in the Bay Area just go better with a post-hike wine or beer. From Napa to the Russian River, we’ve rounded up a few ridge ramblin’ adventures that pack in the miles, the redwoods, the wildflowers, and the views—with bonus beverages too!

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4. 
   Sponsored

   2024-12-18

   Sublime San Juan Islands

   Well, well, this wellness action plan takes you to the San Juan Islands! Easily reached by ferry yet worlds away in tranquility and unique adventures, this Washington State jewel of the Salish Sea nurtures through nature.

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5. 

   Tasty Adventures

   Kayak to a Bavarian beer garden, bike to cool urban wineries, and hike secret hillside passageways followed by exotic tequila tastings: A day exploring Oakland is better when you bike, hike, and paddle to the good stuff!

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6. 

   Get Outdoors, Then Grab a Drink

   Kicking back with a drink and reveling in your adventure? Well, sometimes that's half the fun. Here are a few adventure and après options to celebrate spring.

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7. 

   Easter Outdoors!

   New Point of View Battery East Vista on the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge celebrated its official opening in late 2015—and is a coastal gem for hikers, bikers, and sightseers. Shhh Summit Marin’s Mount Tam is one of the Bay Area’s most traveled mountains, yet even this icon holds some secrets … including a lesser known peak. Roses & Redwoods Combine a beautiful garden with a hidden redwood grove—right in Berkeley! [sponsored-story] Bean Meaning to Go South of Pescadero sits one of the few dog-friendly beaches along the San Mateo Coast, and a golden place to barbecue and picnic. Majestic Mojave The newly designated Mojave Trails National Monument in Southern California has colorful canyons, epic mountain ranges, and fossil beds with 550-million-year-old trilobite remnants!

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8. 

   Spring Forward Hikes

   From a Santa Cruz state park hike with a beach bonus, to a Midpeninsula Open Space Preserve hidden behind urban scenes, here are three great hikes to help you spring forward!

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9. 

   Wild Weather Adventures

   1) Go With the Flow In winter, Mount Tam’s Cataract Falls transforms into a fast-charging flow, churning and tumbling with such spectacular force. The roar of the falls fills Cataract Canyon, an ideal place to hike, especially when it’s raining. Make Tracks in Tahoe Get an amazing view of Lake Tahoe’s big blue beauty on a 3.6-mile (round-trip) snow-shoe adventure offering 360-degree views. Walk with the Devil The multi-use Devil’s Slide section of the California Coastal Trail just south of Pacifica is usually much less crowded when gray skies and rain are around, and it’s a prime spot for viewing all that’s wild about the weather and the sea. Sink Right In Heat things up at Sierra Hot Springs in Sierraville. Open 24 hours, the property sits on the edge of a golden meadow and 700 acres of National Forest land. Light Up Your Life The 115-foot Lighthouse Tower at Point Arena Light Station in Mendocino County is one of the few lighthouses you can climb to the top of for a brilliant balcony panorama of the Pacific Coast (and possible gray whale sightings)! Wine About It When all else fails, wine-taste in a pretty place! Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley is fast becoming the go-to region, with a down-to-earth vibe and inexpensive tasting fees, even as the awards keep rolling in. The loping sun-drenched vineyards are absolutely stunning (and less crowded!) in winter.

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10. 

    Hidden Redwoods

    The awe-inspiring redwoods in Muir Woods and Big Basin rightfully draw a following, but you can experience the tallest living things on earth in lesser-known spots, too. Here are three hidden redwood groves whose roots run deep in the Bay Area.

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11. 

    Welcome to the New Weekend Sherpa

    Kirby Calling Just west of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin is one of the bay's most secluded beaches for barbecuing and beach lounging.   Peak of the Devil At 2,369 feet, Mount Diablo's Eagle Peak is not as high as its main peak, but the 3-mile (one-way) adventure to reach it is much more enticing.   Whale a Minute! Mori's got mojo for whale watching! Thanks to its exposed promontory, Pacifica's Mori Point is an ideal spot for spying gray whales during migrations.   Nice Ride Ready to stop spinning your wheels with the same old routine in Sonoma and Napa? Shift gears by taking this leisurely 30-mile road ride through the Carneros region.   Hot Tomales! The 9-mile (round-trip) hike to Tomales Point in Point Reyes is a classic, and one of California's best, with outstanding views, wildlife sightings, and an oceanfront setting.   Yes Sur! A hidden coastal hike in Big Sur, a beautiful beach, and maybe a little wine-tasting afterwards? Here's the plan.   Hike & Bike an Island Car-free Angel Island State Park has a rich history, hidden south-facing beach, and ridiculously scenic picnic and campsites. Experience it in a nutshell on an 8-mile bike-and-hike adventure.

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12. 

    Chasing Waterfalls

    The reservoirs are reaching their peak, the hills are electric green, and the waterfalls are in show-off mode. Hit the trail and chase these waterfalls!

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13. 

    H2 Flows!

    With all this wild weather, you've just gotta go with the flow. And go to the flow! Here are three waterfalls to check out after winter rains. H2-Oh!

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14. 

    Spring Classics

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15. 
    Sponsored

    2024-12-18

    Sublime San Juan Islands

    Well, well, this wellness action plan takes you to the San Juan Islands! Easily reached by ferry yet worlds away in tranquility and unique adventures, this Washington State jewel of the Salish Sea nurtures through nature.

    View
16. 

    Romancing the Snow

    Make some snow hearts with your sweetheart in Tahoe this weekend. Here are three snowshoe hikes worth swooning over. Ready, set, snowshoe!

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17. 

    SLO Jam

    Ahhh, winter on the Central Coast. Fewer crowds, amazing outdoors, and some wine to top it all off. Adventure, unwind, and take it SLO.

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18. 

    SLO Jam

    Ahhh, winter on the Central Coast. Fewer crowds, amazing outdoors, and some wine to top it all off. Adventure, unwind, and take it SLO.

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19. 

    Backdoor Marin

    So close, so wild, and sometimes so popular! Marin packs plenty of secrets, you just have to know which door to open. Here are a few less traveled hikes. Knock, knock!

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20. 

    Storm Troopers!

    When El Niño's storms are pounding the coast, don't run for shelter, run for the trails! Here are three trails that offer great vantages of the approaching storms, and are short enough to retreat if there’s a downpour!

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21. 

    Make Your Winter Escape

    Bodega Sunset Sensation! Tiny Bodega Head has long lured visitors to its dramatic cliff-above-ocean setting and excellent vantages for spotting migrating gray whales. Hike here on a winter day right before sunset and you'll be treated to fewer crowds and a glorious technicolor dream show, powered by nature. National Treasure The 1,665-acre Point Arena–Stornetta Public Lands were last year designated as part of the California Coastal National Monument by President Barack Obama. This Mendocino County gem is a spectacular place to hike along bluffs overlooking small coves, sea caves, and offshore islands. It's also a prime whale-watching spot. Beach Stroll with Your Best Friend Long walks on the beach, in the East Bay? Indeed. Alameda's Crown Memorial Beach is a relaxing stretch of sand that's an impressive 2.5 miles long, and it's dog-friendly too! Nice and New Hike through some stunning canyons studded with ancient oaks and opening up to huge views at the newly opened Mindego Gateway trailhead in Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. Warm Bath and a Waterfall Hike What's better than hiking to a waterfall? How about relaxing afterward in a warm mineral bath? Do both at Ukiah's Vichy Springs! BONUS: National Parks are waiving their entrance fees on Monday, January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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22. 

    New Trails and Views

    Happy New Year! Out with the old, in with the new: Here are three adventures throughout the Bay Area that feature something all new, and ready for you!

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