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1. 
   Southern CA

   Lake Expectations

   Summer's not over yet. There's still time to escape to the Eastern Sierra with autumn colors starting to show and plenty of ways to combine adventure and relaxation. From Mono County to Mammoth Lakes, here are ways to have a bounti-fall time!

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2. 
   Northern CA

   Interns Know Best

   This week we're handing the car keys to our interns: Alex, Kyle, and Morgan. They got after it all summer, exploring the Bay Area and beyond, then writing about it. Here are three of their favorite adventures. Thanks, guys—you were outstanding! Now, get us some coffee. (Totally kidding! Unless you have a minute …).

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3. 
   Southern CA

   Eyes Wild Open

   Get off the beaten path to explore San Diego County's wild side, where endangered birds and panoramas bring the full picture into view. Eyes wild open—what will you see?

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4. 
   Sponsored

   2026-10-07

   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

   Bountiful Hikes

   The low-slung sun, the golden leaves, the distinct scent … making the transition to fall isn’t so bad, after all. Step into autumn on any of these three South Bay hikes.

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6. 
   Northern CA

   Long Weekend Cheat Sheet

   Mile Oh Mile: Solitude in San Francisco? It's a Mile Rock away. This small and secluded cove tucked beneath wild and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, the Marin Headlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge is easy to reach if you don't mind lots of steps. (Plus read the latest on the labyrinth.) Open Space, Now Open! Ahhh, that new open space smell! Saved from corporate development, Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve recently opened, and shines with new redwood bridges, picnic areas, and a terrific hiking and mountain biking trail with sweeping ridgetop views. Outstanding in the Vineyards: Remember when wine tasting at all the good spots was free or only a few bucks? Anderson Valley never forgot, and it's got outstanding wines and an amazing state park. Shake Your Trail Feathers: Egrets mingling in a maze of marshes, unobstructed views of Mount Burdell to the north and Mount Diablo to the east. Stroll the new 2.7-mile (one-way) section of the Bay Trail and bring binoculars—this is a birding haven. Buzzworthy: What buzzes and can give you a buzz? Heidrun Meadery in Point Reyes Station. They're masters of "honey wine" (aka mead) and beekeeping!

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7. 
   Southern CA

   Go Long!

   Inside Out: The Cave of Munits is an awe-inspiring cavern of impressive heights. And it's located just outside suburbia. Get to it on a 2.7-mile loop hike through the rolling hills of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. Get lost in LA! Right in the heart of the city is the Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens, a relaxing retreat hidden in the historic West Adams district. Wander Wilmington: Most people know the Port of Los Angeles as the place with all the smoky factories and huge barges, but this industrial area added some glitter—and greenspace!—to its grittier side when Wilmington Waterfront Park opened. Do you Deukmejian? Nestled in the San Gabriel foothills, Deukmejian Wilderness Park is a gem. Explore it on a 4.2-mile (round-trip) foothills hike in the park's Dunsmore and Cook's canyons. Mile Oh Mile: Reaching a stunning peak vista in under a mile? If it sounds too good to be true, you haven't been to Camarillo Grove Park where the 1-mile (round-trip) Upper Loop Trail is your peek into a world of chaparral growth, wildlife, and a magnificent bucolic view that sweeps across Ventura County.

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8. 
   Southern CA

   Orange Punch

   Great views go better with sunsets. Here are three LA parks that give you both. Glow for it!

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9. 
   Northern CA

   Bay-utiful

   The San Francisco Bay Trail is on a roll. With over 340 out of 500 miles complete, one day this multi-use path will encircle the entire Bay shoreline. Here are a few ways to explore what's new, and what's classic, on this impressive trail.

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10. 
    Northern CA

    Stepping Out at Stinson

    Good things happen in threes when you start your adventures from Stinson Beach. From a classic hike to a hidden bunker with a nearby tree-swing, here are three good reasons to get to Stinson, stat!

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11. 
    Southern CA

    Coastal Sleeps

    One of the best ways to experience California's famed coast with the most? Camp out on the beaches and bluffsides that overlook the ocean. From hidden sands to spending the night in a nest, here are three great ways to enjoy some salty-air rest.

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12. 
    Northern CA

    Make a Splash

    Feeling a bit hot? Here's a news-splash: Just add water! Get a little wet for some cool fun this summer!

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13. 
    Southern CA

    Go Wild West!

    Long before palm trees were planted, native grassland, chaparral, and oaks ruled the Southern California landscape. Hike, bike, explore, and journey back in time on three western-style adventures that recall a bygone era.

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14. 
    Northern CA

    Adventures for All

    How's your summer going? There's one month left for you to complete the Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge! Here's some inspiration from some of the most popular activities readers have done so far! #weekendsherpa.

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15. 
    Sponsored

    2026-10-07

    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. 
    Southern CA

    Summer Action

    Got a couple of spare weekends this summer? There's one month left for you to complete the Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge! Here's some inspiration from some of the most popular activities readers have done so far! #weekendsherpa.

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17. 
    Northern CA

    Wine Country Camping

    Camping in wine country … now that's a pairing! Pitch your tent at any of these wine country campgrounds where nearby wineries bring added cheers to the adventure (and to your beans and BBQ dinner)!

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18. 
    Southern CA

    Malibu and the Grape Outdoors

    Malibu, wine, and the great outdoors. That sounds like a weekend! Here are a few ways to sip, swirl, and stretch your legs on this prime coastline.

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19. 
    Northern CA

    Adventures Alfresco!

    Who's hungry? Some adventures just go better when the focus is food and wine. This summer, pair your outdoors with these three fresh approaches to alfresco fun.

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20. 
    Southern CA

    Night Light

    Want to see a shooting star this summer? Thanks to the low humidity of northeastern San Diego County, and with the Perseids meteor showers coming in August, you're in for a spectacular light show at any of these three stargazing destinations. Plan for an out of this world adventure!

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21. 
    Southern CA & Northern CA

    Discover New ABCs

    Do you know your ABCs? We're not talking about the alphabet. We're talking about Adventures in British Columbia! The westernmost Canadian province is filled with rainforests, glacier-fed lakes, wildlife, massive peaks, rugged coastline, and sublime places for combining recreation and relaxation.

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22. 
    Northern CA

    Know Your ABCs

    Do you know your ABCs? We're not talking about the alphabet. We're talking about Adventures in British Columbia! The westernmost Canadian province is filled with rainforests, glacier-fed lakes, wildlife, massive peaks, rugged coastline, and sublime places for combining recreation and relaxation.

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