All Stories from Northern CA

• 

  Hot As (Bumpass) Hell

  So you like going to all the hot spots when you visit places? Well, in Lassen Volcanic National Park there’s a place so hot it gets downright steamy. Bumpass Hell is the largest hydrothermal area in the park, with sputtering mud pots, sulfur vents, and boiling pools. It’s California’s Yellowstone.

  View
• 

  Lunch at the Lakes

  Pack your own picnic and head for a lakeside lunch at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Then take your pick from a lovely trio of lakes accessed from the same trailhead. Follow it all up with a visit to Manzanita Lake on the other side of the park.

  View
• 

  The Secret Big Blue

  Set at 4,500 feet, surrounded by 52 miles of shoreline, and with sparkling sapphire hue, Lake Almanor is the other big blue. The secret one. This huge lake—idyllic in spring through fall for all kinds of water adventures—is a gem of Plumas County where you can relax without crowds.

  View
• 

  Mill About Lakeside

  Bucks Lake Recreation Area near Quincy in Plumas County has plenty of beautiful hiking trails. For an easy hike with beautiful spots for sunning, swimming, and lounging on sand beaches or giant rock slabs, do the Mill Creek Trail.

  View
• 

  Shore Thing

  Called “America’s Most Beautiful Bikeway," the Tahoe East Shore Trail lives up to the hype with unparalleled views of Lake Tahoe on the Nevada shoreline, with access points to beach enclaves and coves.

  View
• 

  Keep on Truckee!

  An easygoing ride along the paved Truckee River Bike Trail in Tahoe City rolls out a steady stream of good times, and scenery.

  View
• 

  Flume Shot

  Skirting high above the east shore, Lake Tahoe’s famed Flume Trail is one of the most scenic trails in the West—an intermediate 13-mile high-mountain traverse with amazing views of that big blue lake.

  View
• 
  Sponsored

  Taste of Monterey (the Sustainable Way!)

  Food for thought: Get a taste of Monterey this fall! And do it the sustainable way, with the Monterey Bay Aquarium as your basecamp.

  View
• 

  Into the Wilder

  Cool summer breezes, stunning seaside cliffs, sweeping coastal views, and sandy beaches—this 8-mile hike or bike ride at Wilder Ranch is the perfect summertime treat, with a craft brewery bonus for extra refreshment.

  View
• 

  Bike, Beach, Craft Brew

  This 12-mile (round-trip) gravel trail leads cyclists from Watsonville to the sandy shores of Sunset State Beach, with a brewpub bonus for a post-ride thirst quencher.

  View
• 
  Sponsored

  Medford's Made for Summer

  Located in the heart of Southern Oregon’s sublime Rogue Valley, Medford is a road-trip basecamp made for summer getaways!

  View
• 

  Dillon Dollar Stay

  Proving that tiny concepts pair well with big nature, Marin’s Dillon Beach Resort has refreshed overnight stays with their new and charming tiny cottage additions. Complementing the tiny? Huge coastal views, sweeping from Tomales Point to Bodega Bay.

  View
• 
  Sponsored

  Forest Bathing By Land & Sea

  Spend time in nature at and around the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Surround yourself with the tranquility of the Aquarium’s swaying Kelp Forest exhibit; then soak in more serenity hiking in a magical redwood forest in Carmel Valley or Big Sur.

  View
• 

  Island Vibes

  Our own piece of island paradise does exist here in the Bay Area! Enjoy a slice of island life on this 8-mile coastal bike ride through Alameda that ends with a tropical cocktail at Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge.

  View
• 

  Mono Mystique

  Mark Twain called it “one of the strangest freaks of nature in any land.” We call it a high-desert sea. Mysterious Mono Lake is famed for its bizarre “tufa” towers. Go on a guided canoe or kayak tour here.

  View
• 
  Sponsored

  Water You Doing This Summer?

  It’s a best-kept secret in the northern Sierra and we’re gushing about it. Fun and friendly Plumas County has only three traffic stops, more wildlife than people, and over 1,000 lakes, rivers, and creeks!

  View
• 

  Sippin’ on the Dock of the Bay

  Definition of a relaxing summer day? Sipping bubbly and sampling wines right on the bay! Riggers Loft is a hidden gem located in the historic Richmond Shipyard.

  View
• 

  Keller Hike-in

  Hike in to Keller Beach Park in the East Bay on this this 3.5-mile adventure through Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline.

  View
• 
  Sponsored

  We Dream of Ashland

  Dreaming of your next amazing getaway? Dream like a local—an Ashland, Oregon local! This beautiful mountain town is a vacation dream come true, with outdoor adventures right in town and all around.

  View
• 
  Sponsored

  Grants Your Wish

  Enchanted Forest, Cathedral Hills, the Lavender Trail, Supernatural Chocolates … sounds like storybook material, but it comes to life in Southern Oregon’s beautiful Grants Pass.

  View