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  1. Southern CA

    Caffeinated Adventures

    We love our wild spaces, but we also love a great coffee drink! From mountain biking to hiking, here are three explorations, each with a tasty payoff—the nearby presence of a very cool coffee house.

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  2. Northern CA

    Oh, Santa!

    Oh, Santa ... Rosa! Want to support the North Bay after October’s devastating wildfires? Get up there and visit! Whether it’s going on a hike, visiting a winery, or picking up your Christmas tree, we have a few ways to celebrate the season in Santa Rosa!

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  3. Southern CA

    Secret Gardens

    We’d be surprised if you’ve heard of, let alone visited, all three of the “secret” gardens we highlight this week. Such is the beauty of SoCal, where natives and exotics grow in abundance, and fantastic preserves showcase them for our walking and viewing pleasure. Secret's out!

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  4. Sponsored

    Boo-tifall Reno Tahoe

    Fall goes fast. Good thing Reno Tahoe knows how to make the good times last, with some of the West’s best harvest fairs, haunted happenings, and only-in-Reno celebrations.

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  5. Northern CA

    6 Thanksgiving Walks in the Bay Area

    Put down the pumpkin pie… okay, just one more slice. Now, grab a fleece and take a walk! Whether it’s with the whole family or getting some headspace of your own, we’ve got six walks in the Bay Area to ease into the weekend.

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  6. Southern CA

    6 SoCal Thanksgiving Hikes

    When you've hit your max on turkey and pumpkin pie, it's time to make a pilgrimage to the outdoors. From Los Angeles to the desert, here are some good adventures to work up another appetite. Grateful for the great outdoors.

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  7. Northern CA

    New To You

    A new peak to bag, a crab feast after a coastal hike, and a better way to spend Black Friday, by seeing redwoods ... here are three ways to liven up your adventure list for the next few weeks. Certified fresh!

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  8. Southern CA

    Rock Your World!

    Big rocks have a way of making you feel bold. Or boulder, if you will. We’re not talking technical climbs here, but rather stony summits and rocky routes that invite a bit of scrambling and bring out your inner explorer. Why just stroll when you can rock ’n’ roll?

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  9. Southern CA

    Winter Wanderlands

    Winter brings all kinds of adventures to Southern California: photogenic desert rambles, snowy Sierra outings, chilling in Griffith Park... Here are some winter classics!

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  10. Southern CA

    Stranger Flings

    Remnants of faded dreams and nefarious schemes can make for pretty compelling journeys. Here are three hikes into history that also serve up some nifty vistas.

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  11. Northern CA

    Easy in Mendocino

    Shorter days, crisper air, and the ocean’s moodier side … from headland hiking and whale watching to hidden beaches and a stunning lighthouse, here are three ways to explore, relax, and max out on gorgeous coastal scenery in a few of Mendocino’s state parks.

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  12. Southern CA

    Gamboling in the Slots

    You don’t have to journey to Utah for the slithery fun of exploring slot canyons. We have some stellar examples of our own, where nature has sculpted solid rock into tight but passable corridors. Challenging? Sometimes. Fun? Always.

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  13. Northern CA

    No Stress November

    It happens. Holidays kick in and stress would like to RSVP to the party. Clear your head and stretch your legs on these easy adventures.

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  14. Northern CA

    Holiday Hikes

    Deck the halls? How about deck the trails! Whether you're hankering to bag a peak or just want to watch for whales on a Pacific hugging stroll, here are some holly-jolly adventures for you. Ho ho hike!

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  15. Sponsored

    Boo-tifall Reno Tahoe

    Fall goes fast. Good thing Reno Tahoe knows how to make the good times last, with some of the West’s best harvest fairs, haunted happenings, and only-in-Reno celebrations.

    View
  16. Northern CA

    Redwood Reunion

    Seeing the devastation of the North Bay fires, we're reminded that it's all too easy to take for granted some of the amazing natural beauty we have in the Bay Area. These three South Bay hikes through redwoods are worth appreciating right now.

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  17. Southern CA

    Walkin' LA!

    Los Angeles is one of the world’s most diverse cities, a beautiful confluence of local and global influences, including in the great outdoors. Here are some great ways to combine stepping outside and exploring the art, culture, even the coffees (!) of LA.

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  18. Northern CA

    Finding Fall

    Northern California is a truly special place. And no wildfire can take that away. Find fall in all its colorful glory and crispness on these hikes, bike rides, and paddles.

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  19. Southern CA

    Spirited Adventures

    Time to get weird! Yes, it’s the season for visiting the undead in a living ghost town, getting lost in a corn maze, and hiking to an iconic jack-o’-lantern atop a local mountain. Nothing too creepy—just good weird fun in the spirit of Halloween!

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  20. Northern CA

    Haunting Hikes

    It’s the Halloween season. From mystery walls to haunted woods and hidden tombstones, we’ve scared up some Bay Area hikes to put you in the spirit. Who ghosts there?!

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  21. Southern CA

    Rocky Picture Shows

    What a show to behold! The strangest forces of SoCal geology could star in their very own cult movie. Crazy uplift, bizarre evidence of faulting, massive lava flows, weird underwater formations risen to the desert surface—they’re all ripe for exploring if you know where to look. And we do!

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  22. Northern CA

    Fall For These Views

    Feel like you need a fresh perspective? Hiking's always good for that, especially when you're treated to sweeping vistas. Fall for some good views that include our iconic bridges, too, on these three East Bay ramblers.

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A Hiker looking over a mountain range

Your Inbox to the Outdoors

Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.

Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Woman with her arms outstretched to the rolling hills scenery while on a rock outcrop at Barnabe Peak in Samuel P Taylor Sate Park in Marin

    Barnabe Bonanza

    Sure, there are higher mountains in Marin (Mount Tam) and easier ascents (Mount Burdell), but is there a more expansive North Bay view? Barnabe Peak in Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers a glorious panorama including Mount Tam, Mount Diablo, and Mount St. Helena.

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  2. Hiker on the SCA trail in Marin Headlands with view of the Golden Gate Bridge

    Headlands Over Heels

    People come from all over the world to get a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. Get a dramatic and novel view of the bridge without all the people on this moderate 6-mile hike in the Marin Headlands.

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  3. Barbary Coast Trail medallion hike in San Francisco

    Medallion Walk SF

    The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile historical walk and treasure hunt through San Francisco. Be on the lookout for hubcap-sized bronze medallions placed on the city sidewalks with arrows pointing you in the right direction.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Woman hiking the San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail to San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County

    Bluffing Good!

    Lovely coastline, beautiful beaches, unique geological history, and picturesque sandstone cliffs with limited foot traffic in San Diego County? Head to San Onofre State Beach and the 5-mile San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail.

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  2. Can We Get a Whoop Whoop!

    City, mountain, and ocean views all in one hike? Whoop whoop! It’s no surprise the the Kenter Fire Road and Whoop-de-Doos Trail (a combo of fire road and singletrack) is a favorite among local mountain bikers and hikers alike.

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  3. The Big Chill

    In LA, finding a place to chill can be the ultimate flex. So flex, in Franklin Canyon! This unexpected oasis has plenty of shade, cool lake breezes, and ample picnicking spots. Enjoy it on an easy-going 1-mile stroll along its reservoir and duck pond.

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