All in Southern CA

  1. We've Got a Winter!

    We’re just a week shy of “spring,” but winter is going strong around Mammoth, thanks to recent Sierra storms. Not a downhiller? Go shoeing, tubing, or XC skiing.

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  2. Spirit Quests

    Looking for a different kind of spirit-ual awakening? Here are three new craft distilleries where you can tour, sip, and explore some very cool corners of our metropolis.

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  3. Oscar-Buzz Outings

    Roll out the red carpet for some local adventures. We’ve opened the envelope to reveal three sure winners—supercool day outings inspired by three of our favorite Oscar-nominated films.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-02-26

    Mini Guide to Reno Tahoe’s Lodging and Dining

    So, you’re going to Reno Tahoe for some time in nature, and some time in nurture? Excellent choice. The fun and wonder of Reno Tahoe is the easy part.

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  5. Hidden Mojave

    The Mojave Desert is so vast that some of its most magical places get overlooked in lieu of the tried and true. Here are three off-the-beaten-path hikes in the high Mojave. Go now!

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  6. Very Presidential!

    It's not fake news! From high desert hiking to trying your hand at curling, these adventures are tops for President's Day weekend. Go bigly!

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  7. Sweet Escapes

    Roses and chocolates are cool, but how about a hike and a cabin escape? Here are a few ways to get your engine going outdoors over Valentine’s Day!

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  8. Westside Rides

    Traffic-free bike rides on LA’s westside? You bet. We’ve got two premier mountain bike routes that lead right into the wilds of the Santa Monicas from their stoop in Brentwood. One is fairly gentle; the other takes some thigh grease. Or you can opt for a classic strip of flat paved path along the coast that keeps the Pacific Ocean in view all the way. Look, Ma—no cars!

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  9. The Outlook Is Bright!

    The crisp, sunny days of a SoCal winter are the perfect time to hike high and be dazzled. Here’s a lineup of choice views to pursue—great workouts, each with a memorable payoff.

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  10. Mountain Town With the Most

    They say that Mt. Bachelor just outside of Bend, Oregon, is a volcano. But we could swear it's a magnet, attracting outdoor enthusiasts from all across the West. The glorious mountain town of Bend offers every kind of adventure in winter: ski, hike, snowshoe, river surf (!) .... And with 24 craft breweries, your thirst for more adventure is easily quenched.

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  11. Howling Good Hikes

    You don’t have to own a dog to love these hikes, but if you do, you’ll definitely make your furry friend happy. Each of these trails is super accessible and serves up great views. (Your dog does savor brilliant vistas, right?) These are also hikes that might be a tad warm in summer or fall, so now is the perfect time to pack up the pooch and go frolic together.

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  12. From the Desert to the Sea

    San Diego County is Southern California’s Southern California, which is to say it has magnificent deserts, rugged mountains, and a storied coastline all in close proximity. Here’s a taste of all three geographies—legstretcher walks to start off your year in true SoCal style.

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  13. SoCal's Top 10 Adventures of 2017

    A wise man once said looking back is looking forward. Actually, we just made that up. But we do enjoy looking back at some of your favorite adventures from 2017. Here's to getting outside even more in 2018!

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  14. Easy Holiday Outings

    We've had a rough couple of months, from the wine country wildfires in Northern California to the current fires in Southern California. But no fire can snuff out the California spirit. If you're looking for ways to find some comfort and a little adventure this season, here are three outings to please kids from 1 to 92.

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-02-26

    Mini Guide to Reno Tahoe’s Lodging and Dining

    So, you’re going to Reno Tahoe for some time in nature, and some time in nurture? Excellent choice. The fun and wonder of Reno Tahoe is the easy part.

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  16. Caffeinated Adventures

    We love our wild spaces, but we also love a great coffee drink! From mountain biking to hiking, here are three explorations, each with a tasty payoff—the nearby presence of a very cool coffee house.

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  17. Secret Gardens

    We’d be surprised if you’ve heard of, let alone visited, all three of the “secret” gardens we highlight this week. Such is the beauty of SoCal, where natives and exotics grow in abundance, and fantastic preserves showcase them for our walking and viewing pleasure. Secret's out!

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  18. 6 SoCal Thanksgiving Hikes

    When you've hit your max on turkey and pumpkin pie, it's time to make a pilgrimage to the outdoors. From Los Angeles to the desert, here are some good adventures to work up another appetite. Grateful for the great outdoors.

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  19. Rock Your World!

    Big rocks have a way of making you feel bold. Or boulder, if you will. We’re not talking technical climbs here, but rather stony summits and rocky routes that invite a bit of scrambling and bring out your inner explorer. Why just stroll when you can rock ’n’ roll?

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  20. Winter Wanderlands

    Winter brings all kinds of adventures to Southern California: photogenic desert rambles, snowy Sierra outings, chilling in Griffith Park... Here are some winter classics!

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  21. Stranger Flings

    Remnants of faded dreams and nefarious schemes can make for pretty compelling journeys. Here are three hikes into history that also serve up some nifty vistas.

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  22. Gamboling in the Slots

    You don’t have to journey to Utah for the slithery fun of exploring slot canyons. We have some stellar examples of our own, where nature has sculpted solid rock into tight but passable corridors. Challenging? Sometimes. Fun? Always.

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  1. Napa's Art of the Matter

    Downtown Napa uncorks more than just excellent wine. Art has firmly established itself along the walkways and parkways in the area, punctuated by an annual ArtWalk (year-round) and a temporary Lighted Art Festival.

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  2. Hidden Long Ridge

    After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

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  3. True Star Power

    Here's a truly enlightening way to spend an evening: head to Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for a "star party." At dusk, the observatory opens, giving the public access to celestial viewing via three powerful telescopes.

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  4. Hike Artdoors

    Add a little color to your new year. This 3-mile loop through the Montalvo Arts Center mixes the beauty of the natural world with local artists’ creations.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. 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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  2. Sponsored

    Mini Guide to Reno Tahoe’s Lodging and Dining

    So, you’re going to Reno Tahoe for some time in nature, and some time in nurture? Excellent choice. The fun and wonder of Reno Tahoe is the easy part.

    View
  3. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. On clear days you get views of both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S. 

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  4. White Tank Campground for Stargazing

    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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