All Stories from Southern CA
Vantage Point
What’s the secret for spying gray whales during winter’s migration season? Location, location, location! And location doesn’t get any better than from the top of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. The historic 115-foot Lighthouse Tower at Point Arena Light Station in…
ViewGray Area
Honking, quacking, whistling … we’re not talking about a raucous night in the city. We’re talking about an absolute bonanza of bird species when you visit Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 50 miles north of Sacramento in the heart of the Pacific Flyway. Every winter more than a million…
ViewAye Aye Capitan
It’s the world’s largest granite monolith: gray and hulking and a spectacle for visitors who marvel at its massiveness (3,000 vertical feet of sheer rock!) and at the pro climbers who conquer it. El Capitan has been in the headlines a lot recently since Tommy Caldwell and Kevin…
ViewOcean Sunrise
Catch a sunrise at Point Dume Nature Preserve's vantage in Malibu. Watch the sky and ocean's transformation from grey to pink.
ViewTop of the Morning
Secluded at 1,500 feet in the Santa Monica Mountains, Tuna Canyon Park in Malibu is quiet even on a gorgeous Saturday afternon, its stunning ocean views shared by few hikers. But visit at sunrise and the park feels truly wild: Rustling trees, singing birds, and scampering animals…
ViewEcho Friendly
Music, art, hills, and hipsters. Get in on the scene—and the scenery—with an urban hike in Echo Park. This casual stroll features the Clinton Street Stairway, a stately mural-cloaked set of concrete steps leading you from Glendale Avenue up to Belmont Avenue. The din of traffic…
ViewUrban Gone Wild
A cardio climb up a mountain. Check. Stunning views. Check. And located right in LA? How very chic! Urban hiking has a wild side and the proof is on Mount Washington just northeast of downtown LA. This 4-mile loop traverses Mount Washington and its up-and-coming neighborhood…
ViewBlue Looks Good on You
Has anybody ever told you that you look really good in blue? Like deep dark blue … North Lake Tahoe blue, to be exact! This winter try something new by heading north to big blue: North Lake Tahoe is home to 11 ski resorts and one amazing High Sierra lake. Ski and snowplay…
ViewCoast Is Crystal Clear
Captivating coastline, charming cottages, clear waters, and quaint wooden staircases: It’s just another day at the beach on this 6-mile (round-trip) seaside stroll in Crystal Cove State Park. Located between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, this wild and beautiful state park has…
ViewBlue Looks Good on You
Has anybody ever told you that you look really good in blue? Like deep dark blue … North Lake Tahoe blue, to be exact! This winter try something new by heading north to big blue: North Lake Tahoe is home to 11 ski resorts and one amazing High Sierra lake. Ski and snowplay…
ViewGorge-ous View
“Over the meadow and through the woods” … no this isn’t the start of a fairy tale … it’s the start of a fairy trail! Tahoe’s Royal Gorge is North America’s largest cross-country ski resort. One of the routes we like leads to Snow Mountain Hut (3.5 miles one-way) and a grand view…
ViewSolitary Bliss
Visit D.L. Bliss State Park on the western shore of Lake Tahoe in the summer and it’s bustling with people. But if you visit in the winter, the entrance gate is closed and the only bustle you’ll hear is the wind through the sugar pines. Strap on snowshoes, hop the gate (it’s only…
ViewHot Saucer!
Among six-pack chairlifts, supersized gondolas, and gnarly terrain parks, sometimes it’s refreshing to experience something old-skool and quaint. Hello Granlibakken! In Norwegian, the name means a hill sheltered by trees. In Tahoe, it means a family-owned “resort” hideaway within…
ViewSolitary Bliss
Visit D.L. Bliss State Park on the western shore of Lake Tahoe in the summer and it’s bustling with people. But if you visit in the winter, the entrance gate is closed and the only bustle you’ll hear is the wind through the sugar pines. Strap on snowshoes, hop the gate (it’s only…
ViewButte Wait, There's More!
Hiking to a mountain peak in the desert? And you don’t even have to leave Los Angeles County? No special effects here—it’s all natural at 2,955-acre Saddleback Butte State Park. Here you can get a taste of the Mojave Desert from Saddleback Butte, a solitary mountain rising 3,65…
ViewHollywood High (and Long)
Make 2015 the year you actually hike to the Hollywood Sign, that iconic LA landmark that every Angelino knows so well, yet few actually take the time to visit. There are a couple of routes to get to the sign, including this cardio-length 7-mile (round-trip) option that starts at…
ViewNew Year Fling
Smart, good looking, and loves the outdoors. Yes, Seattle is your perfect match. And it’s not looking for a major commitment, just a little fun. But beware: you might fall in love. If you only have a few days to get to know Seattle, here are a few ways to ignite a spark…
ViewBear Necessity
Some hiking secrets are a bear to keep! With nothing to mark the start of the Bear Divide Trail on the west side of the San Gabriel Mountains, few people know that this secluded trail leads toward a stellar 4,000-foot summit. The peak’s elusiveness may be because it was part of…
ViewDowntown, Straight Up
Explore downtown LA's architecturally spectacular area by foot. Take on the sidewalks of downtown’s Bunker Hill for a mile-and-a-half urban walk
ViewDowntown, Straight Up
Hike the sidewalks of downtown LA's Bunker Hill for a mile-and-a-half urban walk
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