Spirited Away Hikes

With the holidays in full gear, add some festive fun to your next hike. From Big Bear to Cherry Valley, here are three places to enjoy hikes with big views, wildlife, and a little peace and quiet. They’re also near to towns, farms, stores, and food spots that are fully in the spirit!

Week: 12.11.2024
Regions: Southern CA

Boardwalking Bliss

Stroll the Boardwalk at Stanfield Marsh Wildlife and Waterfowl Preserve in Big Bear

The Stanfield Preserve Boardwalk Trail traverses 1.6 miles of beautiful Big Bear Lake, giving you a chance to get up close to the lake without needing a boat. You’ll also enjoy some peaceful wildlife watching.
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Magic Trip

Fly Nonstop to Telluride this Winter

winter in telluride
winter in telluride
christmas in telluride
skiing in telluride
Ready for a magic trip? It doesn’t get more magical than a luxurious winter vacation where you’re surrounded by enchanting 14,000-foot mountains in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Telluride is a storybook winter escape.
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The Wilds of this Wildwood

Hike in Wildwood Canyon Park near Yucaipa

The Wildwood Canyon Trail is a 2.5-mile lollipop loop near Yucaipa, in the Wildwood Canyon Park Property—meaning, this area is owned by the State Park system, but it’s not very developed. No entrance fees, no facilities, no maps at the trailhead (take note!) … just miles of beautiful trails through forests of oak trees, chaparral, and sage scrub in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.
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This Out-and-Back Circle

Hike Circle Mountain Trail Near Wrightwood

The 2.9-mile (round-trip) Circle Mountain Trail near Wrightwood may seem short, but this out-and-back trail packs a punch.
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  1. Cinematic Sonoma

    Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.

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  2. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

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  3. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

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  4. Big Burdell!

    If you’re gonna go big on a hike, make it at Marin County’s biggest open space preserve, Mount Burdell. And go to the summit. You’ll be sharing the trail with grazing cows, seasonal poppies, and beautiful birds on this 5-mile (round-trip) adventure.

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  1. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

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  2. Eat, Sleep, Beach, Repeat

    For an ultra-relaxing getaway where you can sit back and soak in some nature and nurture, head to Mendocino and follow this eat, beach, sleep, repeat itinerary (you won't regret it!) ...

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  3. This Skunk Doesn’t Stink!

    All aboard for a ride through history—and through air scented with redwood, dewy ferns, forest-fresh breeze, and a bonus snack and beverage bar, fire pit, and short hike. The World-Famous Skunk Train delivers in every category: scenery, greenery, and towering redwoods.

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  4. A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

    Urban Oasis Loop

    Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.

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