All in Southern CA

1. 

   Haunted Hikes

   It's Halloween weekend, so get after it on any of these three hikes that'll take you from searching for ghosts to finding a hidden grotto. Boo-yeah!

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2. 

   Giant Escape

   Fires devastated large areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks this past summer, but things are clearing up for their 125th anniversary and there's still plenty to see and do. From spooky spelunking and stargazing beneath giant sequoias to hikes less traveled and lovely lodges, here's a day-and-night itinerary.

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3. 

   Harvest and Hike Combos

   Farm fresh to you: Combining a hike with a u-pick farm, a farmer’s market, and a farm sanctuary for animals.

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4. 
   Sponsored

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   Sublime San Juan Islands

   Well, well, this wellness action plan takes you to the San Juan Islands! Easily reached by ferry yet worlds away in tranquility and unique adventures, this Washington State jewel of the Salish Sea nurtures through nature.

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5. 

   Wild Hikes

   The San Bernardino National Forest is an 800,000-acre playground of deep canyons, soaring peaks, and five separate wilderness areas. Here are three day-hikes worth going wild for!

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6. 

   National Parks: Sand-Seeker

   Some of California's best sandy havens are found in our national parks! Here are three worth an autumn visit.

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7. 

   Fall Forward

   It's official: Autumn's up! Here are three ways to ease out of summer to enjoy a wander-fall season in LA.

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8. 

   Lake Expectations

   Summer's not over yet. There's still time to escape to the Eastern Sierra with autumn colors starting to show and plenty of ways to combine adventure and relaxation. From Mono County to Mammoth Lakes, here are ways to have a bounti-fall time!

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9. 

   Eyes Wild Open

   Get off the beaten path to explore San Diego County's wild side, where endangered birds and panoramas bring the full picture into view. Eyes wild open—what will you see?

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10. 

    Go Long!

    Inside Out: The Cave of Munits is an awe-inspiring cavern of impressive heights. And it's located just outside suburbia. Get to it on a 2.7-mile loop hike through the rolling hills of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. Get lost in LA! Right in the heart of the city is the Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens, a relaxing retreat hidden in the historic West Adams district. Wander Wilmington: Most people know the Port of Los Angeles as the place with all the smoky factories and huge barges, but this industrial area added some glitter—and greenspace!—to its grittier side when Wilmington Waterfront Park opened. Do you Deukmejian? Nestled in the San Gabriel foothills, Deukmejian Wilderness Park is a gem. Explore it on a 4.2-mile (round-trip) foothills hike in the park's Dunsmore and Cook's canyons. Mile Oh Mile: Reaching a stunning peak vista in under a mile? If it sounds too good to be true, you haven't been to Camarillo Grove Park where the 1-mile (round-trip) Upper Loop Trail is your peek into a world of chaparral growth, wildlife, and a magnificent bucolic view that sweeps across Ventura County.

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11. 

    Orange Punch

    Great views go better with sunsets. Here are three LA parks that give you both. Glow for it!

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12. 

    Coastal Sleeps

    One of the best ways to experience California's famed coast with the most? Camp out on the beaches and bluffsides that overlook the ocean. From hidden sands to spending the night in a nest, here are three great ways to enjoy some salty-air rest.

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13. 

    Go Wild West!

    Long before palm trees were planted, native grassland, chaparral, and oaks ruled the Southern California landscape. Hike, bike, explore, and journey back in time on three western-style adventures that recall a bygone era.

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14. 

    Summer Action

    Got a couple of spare weekends this summer? There's one month left for you to complete the Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge! Here's some inspiration from some of the most popular activities readers have done so far! #weekendsherpa.

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15. 
    Sponsored

    2024-12-18

    Sublime San Juan Islands

    Well, well, this wellness action plan takes you to the San Juan Islands! Easily reached by ferry yet worlds away in tranquility and unique adventures, this Washington State jewel of the Salish Sea nurtures through nature.

    View
16. 

    Malibu and the Grape Outdoors

    Malibu, wine, and the great outdoors. That sounds like a weekend! Here are a few ways to sip, swirl, and stretch your legs on this prime coastline.

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17. 

    Night Light

    Want to see a shooting star this summer? Thanks to the low humidity of northeastern San Diego County, and with the Perseids meteor showers coming in August, you're in for a spectacular light show at any of these three stargazing destinations. Plan for an out of this world adventure!

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18. 

    Discover New ABCs

    Do you know your ABCs? We're not talking about the alphabet. We're talking about Adventures in British Columbia! The westernmost Canadian province is filled with rainforests, glacier-fed lakes, wildlife, massive peaks, rugged coastline, and sublime places for combining recreation and relaxation.

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19. 

    Bill Murray Adventures

    Bill Murray seems to be everywhere these days (have you seen the T-shirts and stickers lately?). He definitely marches to the beat of his own drum, and we dig it. Here are a few adventures inspired by his movies.

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20. 

    Must-do Deukmejian

    Deukmejian Wilderness Park in the San Gabriel foothills has no crowds, no entrance fee, and no shortage of stunning scenery. Explore this accessible wilderness and learn a little local lore too!

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21. 

    Jurassic Outdoors

    Clomp, stomp, chomp, yowza! Dinosaurs have gone wild in Hollywood! You can go wild too, on these outdoor adventures selected in the spirit of Jurassic World.

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22. 

    Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge 2015

    How It Works: 1. Choose any 3 adventures from Weekend Sherpa (hikes, bike rides, picnic spots, camping, etc.), and do those adventures this summer! 2. Take a photo of yourself doing each of your 3 adventures and upload them to Weekend Sherpa’s Facebook page or your Instagram and be sure to tag #weekendsherpa. You can upload one photo at a time or all three at once. 3. Email adventure@weekendsherpa.com naming the 3 adventures you’ve completed, and you’ll receive an email back with a Certificate of Completion. 4. Present your Certificate of Completion via printout or mobile device at any of the following The North Face stores: San Francisco (180 Post St.), Village at Corte Madera (1602 Redwood Hwy.), Palo Alto (217 Alma St.)—and receive your free Weekend Sherpa wicking shirt by The North Face, plus a limited-edition tote bag, and other cool stuff from our partners. GRAND PRIZE: When you finish the Adventure Challenge, you're automatically entered to win two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies from California, including Hawaii, Mexico, and Costa Rica! Only one T-shirt and tote bag per person for the duration of the challenge while supplies last. Ends September 14.

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