All Stories from "Northern CA"

All Stories from Northern CA

Break Out the China Camp
Close to San Francisco, close to the shores of San Pablo Bay, China Camp State Park is also a beautiful place for a mountain bike, even if you’re a beginner (yes, there’s a trail for you!). In spring, wildflowers bloom along the trailsides.
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Santa Maria Is Magical
Ready to find a beach to call your own? Make a visit to Santa Maria Beach in Point Reyes. What makes Santa Maria so quiet and peaceful? The 3-mile bike (or hike) in!
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Swimming Holes and Natural Waterslides!
Little Backbone Creek Little Backbone Creek is known as nature’s waterpark for good reason. It’s a 20-minute hike up a creek in a canyon, passing boulders and ponds before arriving
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White Tank Campground
Heaven for star buffs: the best campground in Joshua Tree National Park for night-sky viewing, in a place named an International Dark Sky Park, with a full-on observatory just minutes away! White Tank Campground is at 3,800 feet in the eastern part of the park.
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Dam Tam!
Hike in the Sierra without leaving the Bay Area! Well, at least it seems that way. The sparkling reservoirs on the north side of Mount Tamalpais offer miles of hiking trails and the kind of peaceful forest sensation that could be a stand-in for low elevation Sierra Nevada.
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Explore Wayyy Northern California!
Gondola Through the Redwoods Where else can you take a gondola through a redwood forest? Hop on board the Trees of Mystery “Sky Trail” gondola for a bird’s-eye view of giant redwoo
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Crystal Clear
Sitting juxtaposed to busy Highway 280 on the Peninsula, Crystal Springs Reservoir is a big, glistening, two-lake treasure worthy of more than a drive-by affair. Fed by High Sierra
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Pulgas Party
If your idea of a good summer party is hitting the trails, then Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve makes a very festive venue. Bursting with colorful wildflowers and exuberant wildli
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Tram Good Hiking!
There’s one way to hit the hiking “high note” this summer: Take the scenic route—the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway! The world’s largest rotating tramcar whisks you from the desert fl
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Del Valle Daytrippin'
Livermore is popular for its tasty wines, but it has another liquid asset for a triple-play summer day. Head to the East Bay’s Del Valle Regional Park for a reservoir-to-ridge hike
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Waterfall Loop!
We have a waterfall idea—make that five waterfall ideas, when you do the Waterfall Loop. Visit five waterfalls located in the Redding Shasta Cascade region. Redding is centrally lo
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Midtown Magnificent
Stunning murals, outstanding craft beer, a lively industrial district, and farmers markets filled with tasty fare and artisan flair ... it's all happening in Sacramento! Take a str
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Oakland Beat & Beer Garden
Oakland walks to the beat of its own drum with a super vibrant arts scene. One of the easiest places to check some of it out is in the Northgate neighborhood—home of the “Art Murmu
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Believe It!
A hidden speakeasy, loads of extraordinary murals and sculptures, and fabulous outdoor beer gardens … where? Reno! We’ve said it before; we’ll say it again: The biggest little city
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Hidden Lodge
When you’re the only property in California that’s a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World, you’re doing something special. Dubbed the Yosemite of Orange County, The Ranch
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Hike Napa's Skyline!
Bottles of wine aren't the only things popping in Napa. Right now the wildflowers are popping, too! Get in a 4-mile (round-trip) hike packed with wildflowers and wonderful views. S
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Meditative Woodlands Hike
Relaxation apps and calming soundtracks are nice, but stepping outdoors for this meditation hike in the redwoods is better! This 2-mile (round-trip) hike on the Dean Trail at Hudda
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From Neon to Nature: Discover Reno Tahoe
Bike the Arts Scene & Craft Brew Pubs Reno’s known for its artistic edge and creativity (hello, Burning Man), so hop on two wheels and pedal around downtown. Roll past vibrant mura
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It's Flowing, So Get Going!
Adventure Rafting! A rollicking rafting trip on the Merced River goes only in spring and early summer—and this is a year not to be missed! Combine a rafting adventure with visiting
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Cheers to Chimney
If you’re looking for all that Point Reyes has to offer in spring, Chimney Rock is the place to be. The 1.75-mile (round-trip) hike to Chimney may be short, but it packs a visual punch, quadrupling the viewing thrills during spring.
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