All Stories from Southern CA
Tae Go Sah Temple
A startling vision greets you deep in Sand Canyon outside Tehachapi. Like an ancient Oriental woodblock print come to life, a Buddhist temple sits at the confluence of two narrow w
ViewRamakrishna Monastery
The Ramakrishna Monastery, perched on a foothill above Trabuco Canyon, accepts all religions as divinely inspired. For this reason, monks created the Shrine Trail, a mile-long loop
ViewGreat Is an Understatement!
Tucked against the Utah border in eastern Nevada, Great Basin is a hiking wonderland of 13,000-foot peaks, ancient forests, sub-alpine lakes, and marble limestone caves.
ViewSlot Canyon Cathedral
Ready to play the slots? We’re not talking the casino kind. We mean exploring the only slot canyons found in Nevada! Located right off Great Basin Highway (aka Highway 93), Cathedr
ViewDam Good Canoe Adventure
Bring your swimsuit to Vegas—but not for the pools. A self-guided canoe trip down the Black Canyon portion of the Colorado River is way better than renting a cabana by the pool. Th
ViewThanks, Annie!
Annie’s Canyon Trail in the 1,000-acre San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve in Solana Beach includes the most unique quarter-mile you’ve ever maneuvered—through a sandstone slot canyon!
ViewThe Secret of Bear Canyon
Here's a cool secret: The best water holes on the Arroyo Seco River are past ever-popular Switzer Falls. To end at the 50-foot plunge is to miss the best of Bear Canyon. In other words, keep going!
ViewThe Soul of Upper Solstice
The lush beauty and hushed tranquility of Upper Solstice Canyon is one reason why the Backbone Trail is such a local treasure. Heck, it’s a national treasure! This segment, a 7-mil
ViewStranded 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.
ViewMalibu in Your Pocket
La Piedra, one of Malibu’s “pocket beaches,” is the perfect sanctuary for beachgoers who don’t care to rub beach blankets with the crowds at Zuma or Paradise Cove. It’s less than 10 minutes up the coast from Zuma, but a world away from the all the frenzy.
ViewBurrito Beach
Not all hidden treasures are silver and gold. Sometimes a breakfast burrito on the beach will do just fine. X marks the spot at Buccaneer Beach in Oceanside, a city known for its c
ViewBag 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.
ViewIsland Traverse
As the largest of the Channel Islands, Santa Cruz also has bragging rights to two mountain ranges. For a grand (and grandly scenic) tour, lace up the boots and go on a 15-mile (one-way) backpacking trek that traverses the eastern side of the island.
ViewPotato Chip Topper
If you associate potato chips with unwanted calories, get ready for a re-education. You’ll burn a lot of energy on the hike to Potato Chip Rock—a one-of-a-kind boulder jutting out
ViewRad SUP in Malibu
Stand-up paddleboarding and Malibu go together like sun and surf, like sugary sand and beach blankets, like Gidget and Moondoggie, like … well, you get the idea. Whether you’re new
ViewGlam Paddling in Long Beach
Sea kayaking doesn’t get any more glamorous than paddling the storybook canals around Long Beach’s Naples Island! You thread your way through calm waterways surrounded by luxury ho
ViewLA Whitewater!
As soon as you experience the thrilling whoosh of navigating Class II rapids in a whitewater kayak on the Los Angeles River, you know it for sure—LA truly has it all! Just minutes
ViewHigh in the Angeles
Yes, Angeleno—you can camp in beauty and solitude without having to leave LA County! Buckhorn Campground, high in the Angeles National Forest just 36 miles up the Angeles Crest Hig
ViewPretty View Campground
Chula vista means “pretty view,” and whoever named Chula Vista Campground in the Los Padres National Forest was right on the mark. The views extend all around and even upward to th
ViewHolcomb We Haven't Camped Here?
Holcomb Valley is just a few miles north of Big Bear Lake, but this broad expanse of meadows and ponderosa pines feels far removed from all the lakeside hubbub. It’s the perfect pe
View
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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