Once Upon a Trail
In California, the great outdoors can be downright enchanting after dark. Wander among towering redwoods magically illuminated in rainbow hues, follow a landscape aglow with thousands of technicolor lights, hike beneath the moon with music floating through the trees, or paddle across an estuary as bioluminescent plankton make the water sparkle. These adventures are the stuff of fairy trails.
Week: 08.12.2026
Regions: Northern & Southern CA
Roaring Redwoods
Walk among rainbow-lit redwoods at Roaring Camp’s Sequoias at Night
Tucked next to brilliant Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz, the folks at Roaring Camp Railroads had a bright idea: When the sun goes down, the rainbow lights come up. Sequoias at Night brings big magic to some of the tallest trees in the world.
Read the full storyHowl of a Good Hike
Celestial Hikes With TreePeople in Los Angeles
Dedicated to urban forestation and conservation in LA, the nonprofit organization TreePeople brings people and trees together, and that includes guided moonlight hikes, music events, and plenty more.
Read the full storyShimmering Paddle
Kayaking at Sunset, Under a Full Moon, or during Bioluminescence in Jenner.
Uniquely situated where the Russian River meets the rugged Pacific coast, Jenner is a shining star of kayaking destinations. It’s even better on a guided paddle at sunset, under a full moon, or during peak bioluminescent season.
Read the full storyGood Will Huntington
Visit the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in Pasedena
Trying to get your fill of art and culture can be tricky. Do you visit the science center, an art museum, or some botanical gardens? Visit all three at Huntington Library, a sprawling Pasadena-area estate that includes 120 acres of botanical beauty ranging from jungle to desert to Japanese and Chinese gardens with bridges, patios, and waterfalls. Bonus: Twilight Garden Strolls in summer!
Read the full storyLight This Way
Experience the Extraordinary Sensorio Lighted Art Exhibition in Paso Robles
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.
Read the full storyTake the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula
The Quintessential NorCal Experience: All in One Place
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.
Find Your San Francisco Peninsula Adventure
