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  1. Northern CA

    Fall for These Views

    The weather’s still good, the leaves are just starting to turn, and daylight still lingers until after 6pm … Autumn hikes are awesome. From a peak-bagging hike in Napa, to a short trek to one of Lake Tahoe’s best lookouts, and an East Bay ridge with a reservoir vista, here are three hikes with views to fall for.

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  2. Southern CA

    Welcome Back, Idyllwild!

    One of our favorite mountain hamlets, Idyllwild, is in full swing again, now that last summer’s Cranston Fire is a receding memory. Camp, hike, relax at a lake ... here's how to go Idyllwild!

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  3. Southern CA

    Outdoors, Amigos!

    We just celebrated Mexican Independence Day (September 16, 1810), but the ¡Viva México! sentiment can go on year round in SoCal with these outdoor adventures, followed by some authentic comida de México!

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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

    Lake Wanders

    Give summer a peaceful sendoff with a simple wander where trails are quieter and lakes take center stage.

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  6. Southern CA & Northern CA

    Reno Tahoe Trifecta

    Ready for the Reno Tahoe Trifecta? If you can knock out all three, you'll bag one of Tahoe's tallest peaks, paddle the lake in a clear kayak, and sample craft beers by way of a human-powered bike trolley. Ready, set, Reno Tahoe!

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  7. Southern CA

    Sea Caves, Beaches!

    Feeling fried by the late-summer sun? Find refuge in a sea cave! We have a few in mind that are suitably cool, plus they add a dash of adventure to your beach outing. Just keep an eye on the tides!

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  8. Northern CA

    Bike Rides & Breweries

    Celebrate the start of autumn and the season of Oktoberfest with some bike rides with brew pub bonuses. Here are five pedals where you can go for a spin and enjoy some craft brews. The flavors of fall are flowing.

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  9. Northern CA

    Hikes Outside the Box

    Getting outside this long weekend? As in, outside the Bay Area? From a swim hole in Tahoe and a hike-in campsite in Mendocino to a calming coastal trail in Carmel, here are some top hikes outside the Bay Area but still within our great golden state!

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  10. Southern CA

    Wild Wanders

    Looking to go wild before summer runs out? Take a hike! From coastal peaks to Sierra hot springs and foggy redwoods, you'll be wildin' all right!

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  11. Northern CA

    Hidden Beaches

    Looking for some off-the-radar beach time? We’ve rounded up three hidden favorites across the North Bay. Bonus: Two are dog-friendly. Beach you to it!

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  12. Southern CA

    Easy Summer Outings

    Getting outdoors doesn't have to be epic or challenging. Sometimes the easiest adventures are the most fun! From hitting the beach to hitting the trails, here are a few ways to take it easy this summer.

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  13. Southern CA

    Tidal Ways

    Don’t let the heat wave drive you indoors! Tide pools are the cool place to be right now, where you can ogle colorful creatures and refresh yourself in sea breezes. Good tidings to you!

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  14. Northern CA

    Peninsula Pleasures

    Hike under the redwoods, bike ride by the sea, lounge in the soft sands of a hidden beach … the pleasures just keep on keeping on when you fill your weekend with the beauty of the San Mateo Coast.

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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.

    View
  16. Northern CA

    Sleeping Under the Stars

    Slept under the stars lately? It’s a summer rite of passage! And backpacking makes it all the more fun. From beginner-friendly short and sweet overnights to a multi-day epic trek that’s a classic, here are three ways to see the stars before summer says goodbye.

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  17. Southern CA

    Camp on the Beach, Baby!

    If fun in the sun is a blast, making the beach your home for a few days is a dream come true. Catch a Pacific sunset, nod off to the sound of crashing waves, sip your coffee by the sea—at these campgrounds, you own a little slice of California paradise.

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  18. Northern CA

    Find Your Quiet Hike

    Summer's a bustling time in the Bay Area, but you can still find trails with a quieter vibe. From redwood groves to sunset views, lakes, and panoramas, here are some hikes that see fewer folks and abundant beauty.

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  19. Southern CA

    Secret Lakes

    Nothing against powerboats or jet skis, but there’s much to be said for lakes where we can go for tranquility. Maybe a little paddling, a little fishing. See some cool birds. Definitely relax. We’ve got three in mind, each distinct, each ideal for a quiet summer day … sans water skis.

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  20. Northern CA

    Beer Adventures

    Bottoms up, beer drinkers! Napa, Berkeley, and San Francisco are on a roll with new craft breweries located close to car-free bike trails offering pure pedaling pleasure.

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  21. Southern CA

    Midsummer Classics

    Swimsuit for water holes, shoes for coastal hikes, a fleece for overnighting in a mountain cabin ... what's on your summer checklist? Here are some classic ways to soak in and soak up the rest of summer.

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  22. Northern CA

    Yoga With Goats and Other Wild Ideas

    You like wild ideas? Then goat wild, you won't egret it! From farm yoga with baby goats in Half Moon Bay to spying tule elk on a classic coastal hike, or biking among egrets in the East Bay, here are some terrific ways to stretch your legs and your sense of wonder.

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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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