All Stories from Orange County

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  Stranded in Dana Point

  The key to finding an uncrowded beach in Orange County? Be willing to hike! Dana Point’s Strand lies beneath a protected coastal promontory called the Headlands, surrounded by rocky bluffs and elegant homes.

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  Bag Los Pinos

  Bag Los Pinos! This 4,500-foot peak in southeastern Orange County’s Cleveland National Forest can be pleasantly private. Reaching it on a 5-mile (round-trip) hike is a grind, with grand rewards.

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  Hugging the Coast in San Clemente

  San Clemente is always a treat, but never more so than on this 4.6-mile (round-trip) stroll on the town’s lovely Beach Trail, with a stairway to beautiful coastal views.

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  A Thousand Steps to Paradise

  A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps dow

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  Black Star Canyon

  A hike to the roaring Black Star Canyon Falls in the heart of the Santa Ana Mountains is not for the faint of heart nor the weak of ankle. This waterfall in the Santa Ana River is

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  Lake Forest Footwork

  Want to try something new, just for kicks this holiday season? Try a game of foot golf at Orange County’s first and only foot golf offering, Lake Forest Golf and Practice Center ju

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  Mountains to Sea Trail

  Orange County’s Mountains to Sea Trail is no hyperbole. This stunning 44-mile route (round-trip) stitches together trails from the Santa Ana Mountains to Newport Beach, hugging con

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  Electric Company

  New tech meets pedal power for a jazzy boost to your next scenic bike ride with family and friends. Rent an electric bike from family-owned Pedego Irvine Electric Bikes and tour Ir

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  Down by the River

  The Santa Ana River Trail (SART) is SoCal’s premier multi-use recreation path. When completed, this coast-to-crest trail will offer 110 miles of traffic-free riding from Big Bear L

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  Oso Lovely

  Murals, mosaics, and a charming maze meet fall colors on a 2-mile loop hike in Orange County’s Oso Viejo Community Park.

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  Haunted in Huntington

  How about a creepy coastal crawl this Halloween? The 1,449-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach is the largest saltwater marsh between Monterey Bay and Tijuana,

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  Fisherman's Friend!

  Finding a secret hike and hidden campsite in one outing? Get outta here! No seriously, get outta here. Head to the southern part of Orange County’s Cleveland National Forest, where

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  A Little Birdie Told You

  Bordering Orange and Riverside counties, the El Cariso Nature Trail  in Cleveland National Forest is like the Twitter of hikes: It packs a lot within its limits. The trail gains 15

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  Big on a Bay View

  Newport Beach is well known for having the biggest of things: homes, boats, egos (oh come on, you know we love you, Newport Beach!) … and the largest estuary in the area, which hap

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  River Rambler

  Whatever your speed, this bike ride's for every type of pedal-head, from cushy cruisers to fast tracking with buddies. The Santa Ana River Trail (SART) is SoCal's premier multi-use

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  Snap, Crackle, Crystal Cove

  Legendary California author John Steinbeck once noted "it is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool again." And there might be no place be

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  Green Space to Sea Space

  Green space meets sea space at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach. Spanning 32 acres, the park meanders with pathways and greenery fanned with palms and a statue of a humpback whale. It'

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  Epic Aliso

  Get ready for a highlight reel of all that's wild and wondrous in Southern California: This 11-mile (round-trip) loop hike in Orange County's Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

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  Crystal Ball

  Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County is prized for its glistening beaches, but there's also 2,400 acres of backcountry, including a 9-mile hike (or mountain bike) to a high poi

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  Enchanted Forest

  The towering, fog-enshrouded coastal redwoods of the northern coast feel like a world away from LA, but did you know you can find them in Orange County? Carbon Canyon Regional Park

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