Hidden Valley

Vast ranchos, adobe mansions, a thriving mission—the San Fernando Valley that was, still is. You just need to know where to look. Here’s our take on three hidden treasures where the past springs to life in the sprawling 818.

Week: 02.21.2019
Regions: Southern CA

Mission Tranquility

A Tour of Mission San Fernando

Mission San Fernando Rey de España is both a tranquil retreat from modernity and the best place in the SFV to grasp the fascinating, if troubling, legacy of the Spanish missions in California. The grounds hold restored adobe buildings, including a convent with a colonnade of Roma
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Epic Winter Gets Even Better

Epic Winter Adventures in Reno Tahoe

1) Ski Free From plane to powder in less than an hour? Present your same-day boarding pass and photo ID in exchange for a complimentary lift ticket to either Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows, or get other great ticket and gear deals from different resorts. 2) Stay in Reno Get from
Visit our sponsor Reno Tahoe

Hail the King of Calabasas!

A Tour of the Leonis Adobe in Calabasas

A walk through the Leonis Adobe Museum and its grounds in Calabasas will give you a more invigorating, hands-on, and authentic taste of the San Fernando Valley’s ranching past than anywhere else in the 818. Here, nestled on roughly half an acre just south of the 101 Freeway, are
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Encino's Encinos

A Tour of Los Encinos State Historic Park

Tour and dine outdoors at Los Encinos State Historic Park
Los Encinos State Historic Park captivates as an authentic vestige of the San Fernando Valley’s ranching past. The five-acre park, just off Ventura and Balboa Boulevards in Encino, includes 19th-century ranch structures, beautiful grounds, and a patio restaurant overlooking the s
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

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  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

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  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

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  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

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  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

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  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

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  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

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