All Stories from Northern CA

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  Savor Summer in Paso Robles

  Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  Your Mission Is Less Crowded

  Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

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  Bear Hug

  This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

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  Tram to Cool Treks

  Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

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  Reno Tahoe Summer Bucket List

  There’s no place quite like it - a perfect intersection where the Truckee River meets the creative enclaves that inspire Burning Man. A landscape with lakes throughout and a downtown that glows with casino resorts, art light exhibits, and an acclaimed food scene.

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  Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

  Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

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  Roaring Good Time

  There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

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  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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  Peaceful at Pyramid

  About 40 minutes beyond downtown Reno, Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway leads to one of the world’s largest oases. Pyramid Lake is the end point of the Truckee River, and it’s an absolute marvel.

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  Huffaker for Huge Views

  As the sun goes down, the iconic lights come up in the Biggest Little City in the World. And there’s a perfect place to witness both on a short sunset hike to an outcropping offering a brilliant panorama. South Reno’s Huffaker Hills is a grass prairie open space teeming with wildlife and seasonal wildflowers.

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  Key to the Biking Kingdom

  It’s not often that you get amazing mountain biking trails within city limits. Hello, Keystone Canyon in Reno! Keystone Canyon feels like a wilderness world away with its vast network of trails ranging from beginner-friendly to truly challenging.

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  Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

  Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

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  This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

  Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

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  Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

  Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

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  Light This Way

  Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

  Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

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  Downtown Delights

  Behold Paso Robles’ historic-meets-modern downtown. At the center of it all: Downtown City Park, surrounded by chic and down-to-earth food + drink establishments, beautiful mural art, and stores unique to Paso's creative roots.

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  Eat, Drink, E-bike!

  No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

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  Hike the Rainbow

  Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

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  Serene Las Gallinas

  A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

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