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  1. Northern CA

    Hike, Bike, and Beer!

    One of spring's best destinations is much closer than you might imagine. Set in the shadow of Mount Diablo, Concord and the surrounding area is home to colorful spring hikes, waterside bike trails, and plenty of craft brew pubs. Time to hit the trails, and the ales!

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  2. Southern CA

    Hydrated Hikes

    Warming weather after a wet winter: what a great combo! Streams are flowing, lakes are filled...everything is primed for water(ish) adventuring. Check out a cool streamside hike, a secret little fishing lake, and a lush desert oasis. H2O to go!

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  3. Southern CA & Northern CA

    Yosemite Waterfalls Galore!

    The waterfalls are raging, the wildflowers are popping, and the snow-capped granite scenery is epic! This spring, make your way to Yosemite by way of charming Mariposa. Hit the trails to see supercharged waterfalls, or bike around the valley floor, stopping at highlights along the way. Just get to Yosemite!

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  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  5. Northern CA

    Don't Pass Over These Hikes!

    What's more fun than a Cadbury Creme Egg? How about eye candy on trails? Here are some great Bay Area outdoor adventures in colorful spring bloom right now. Hop to it!

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  6. Southern CA

    Technicolor Hikes

    Spring for an Easter hike this weekend: From waterfalls to wildflowers and an adventure on Catalina Island, here are some hikes to get you hopping!

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  7. Northern CA

    Bloomin' Hikes

    Wait for it, wait for it … now! Spring is finally starting to shine with all the silver linings of a wet winter: Wildflowers are blooming, waterfalls and streams are flowing strong, and the landscape is lush, green, and clean! So here are three of the best hikes to do this spring.

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  8. Southern CA

    Flower Power

    Wildflower superblooms have gotten super publicity—and super mobbed. But there are ways to enjoy our flower displays a bit more quietly. Here’s a bouquet of three super sites for flower power where you can go on a quiet hike without big crowds. Have a bloomiful time!

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  9. Southern CA

    Parade of Cascades

    We've had a lot of rain, and now it’s time to cash in! Old streams have new life, and waterfalls that were once a trickle are roaring down our mountain canyons. Here are a few you may not have heard of (in fact, one doesn’t even have a name). Go to the flows!

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  10. Northern CA

    Redwoods in the Rain

    Hike, bike, camp ... do it all even if the weather's drizzly. Our iconic redwoods are your protective canopy for spring camping, pedals and picnics, and of course, sublime hikes. Here are three ways to get your outdoors fix "weather or not."

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  11. Northern CA

    Wander Falls

    Clear skies one minute, gray the next … hey, no one’s gonna rain on your waterfall parade! From a splash of wine country to a dash of the Santa Cruz Mountains, even some Tahoe flow, here are three short hikes to waterfalls that pack a good punch after wet weather.

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  12. Southern CA

    Waterside Hikes for Spring

    Thirsty for some outdoors? We've got some water for that! From strolling the shoreline of an ethereal desert lake to hiking seaside to spy some whales, here are some amazing waterside wanders perfect for spring. H2-Omg!

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  13. Northern CA

    Beach Hikes!

    Bluffs, beaches, bluffside hikes to beaches: Have it all! Here are three bluffside hikes with spectacular ocean vistas and a bonus—they lead to beautiful beaches.

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  14. Southern CA

    Joshua Tree Art Hikes

    Joshua Tree National Park is itself a work of natural art, so it’s no surprise that this gorgeous desert is a magnet for artsy individuals. Here are three hikes in the northern part of the park that are close to surprising art venues where music, movie sets, sculpture, and even crochet (!) are on display.

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  15. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  16. Northern CA

    Where to Watch Whales from Shore

    Gray days ahead, and for once we're not talking about the weather this winter! We're talking about gray whales, making their migration north. March is prime time to spy these behemoth beauties on the coast, but you don't have to get out on a boat to do it. Here are some great ways to spot whales from land. For shore!

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  17. Southern CA

    Ancient Wanders

    Hiking is a fantastic way to walk in the footsteps of Native Americans who thrived in Southern California long before the Spanish arrived. From Chumash villages in the Santa Monicas to Luiseño rock art in Perris, explore the vestiges of Native American culture on these three beautiful hikes.

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  18. Southern CA

    Wild & Weird Salton Sea

    The strange, weirdly beautiful Salton Sea is the largest lake in California (sorry, Tahoe) and among the lowest in the world. Yes, a sea below sea level. It’s also the centerpiece of some of the state’s quirkiest scenery and most oddball attractions. You’ve got to see Salton at least once, and early spring is the best time to do it.

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  19. Northern CA

    Wetland Walks

    What’s not to like about post-rain hikes? With all the lush greenery and busy birds, these wetland walks (with rain-scrubbed views of the bay) are short and sweet for this wild weather. No need for any rain dances!

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  20. Southern CA

    Hot Soaks

    Don't let the winter chill be a buzzkill. Sink into some warmth and soak yourself silly at hot springs. Here are a few to visit in SoCal and the Sierra.

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  21. Northern CA

    Short Hikes to Waterfalls

    The rain this winter has kept everyone on their toes. And the silver lining: waterfall flows! Here are three short hikes to under-the-radar waterfalls that are in best form during winter, after heavy rain.

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  22. Northern CA

    Wildlife Hikes for Winter

    Word to the wild! Winter’s one of the best times for spotting seals, whales, and birds on a hike. From Año Nuevo to Palo Alto, here are three hikes for seeing wildlife in winter.

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

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  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

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  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

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  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

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  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

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  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

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