All in Northern CA

  1. Two hikers at Bear Creek Redwoods Regional Preserve on a new trail.

    Tranquility in the Trees

    If you find yourself in overdrive during the season of holly jolly, take a tree break. These three Bay Area hikes, including a new trail, offer tranquility amid oaks, redwoods, and mixed forest.

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  2. Take a Break from Turkey Talk

    Hey! We're here too. Ready for some fresh air? We think these outings are really great, and that's not the turkey talking....

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  3. Reno Tahoe Care Package

    This season give someone (and yourself!) the ultimate care package. Experience Reno Tahoe in a whole new light. This Biggest Little City in the World combines tranquility in mountainous nature with sizzling entertainment, vibrant art, and a stellar food and drink culture. It’s where sunset hikes and soothing natural hot springs intersect with disco tubing and fireside après. And then there’s this giant indoor Ferris wheel….

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    Extra-Celestial Central Oregon

    Some trips promise you the moon and the stars. And this one delivers in a big way, plus throws in some extra planets for your viewing pleasure. From Bend, Sunriver, and Sisters to Antelope Basecamp in the remote high desert.

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  5. Simply Ahhhtumn

    Take a breather with some easy and tranquil autumn hikes. See the changing colors, absorb beautiful views, and find tranquility at these three parks and preserves across the Bay Area.

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  6. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    Hikes to Clear the Cobwebs

    Who needs some fresh air? Thanks to various organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, these hikes are a vital part of lands saved from development and turned into nature havens for people and wildlife.

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  7. Spidey Senses!

    Happy Halloween. We’re debunking the myth of one creepie crawly, the tarantula. Often called the gentle giants of the arachnid world, tarantulas are important to the ecosystem, and this time of year you have a good chance of seeing some on any of these three autumn-filled hikes with beautiful views.

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  8. State of Bliss

    Take a trip to the high desert this fall … the high desert you might not know but truly should! Washington State’s sunny and arid eastern side—from Wenatchee through Lake Chelan to the Methow Valley, bordered by North Cascades National Park—is an absolute revelation. Relish the apple capital of the world, the mountainous landscapes, rolling vineyards, pristine lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, and spirited small towns brimming with cuisine, art, and culture. Just a few hours east of Seattle, here’s a road trip itinerary to see this hidden gem of Washington State.

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  9. Fall-filling Bike Rides in the Bay Area

    Rolling with the fall season is eye candy for those who like earthy neutrals and crisp air. From redwood grove picnic stops, to wineries, farmstands, and restaurants, these three bike rides in the Bay Area are absolutely fall-filling.

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  10. Woman and her dog walking by Lake Lagunitas

    Quiet Hikes

    A quiet walk in nature is always a good idea. Clear your head and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors on any of these three hikes.

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  11. Woman Walking down stairs to a beach called Cowell Ranch State Beach

    Nature's Stairways

    We're stair-ing at you! The San Francisco Bay Area has an abundance of beautiful hikes with natural stairways built into nature, to help us all step up to brilliant panoramas. Here are three that look out to the sea...

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  12. Hike Olompali State Historic Park

    First Fall Hikes

    Summer has felt like a long goodbye and now autumn yields beautiful light and changing colors. Here are three suggestions on where to go for that first hike of the fall season.

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  13. Panoramas and SF's Great Artdoors

    Next time you want an art and culture fix, step outside. There are some beautiful parks in San Francisco with interesting, inspiring, and thoughtful works, from murals to sculptures (including at a new public park) well worth a visit to see. The great artdoors awaits.

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  14. To the Lighthouse!

    To the lighthouse! But not just any lighthouse. These three lighthouses have everything from unique histories and spectacular whale watching spots, to beautifully appointed overnight accommodations, live music concerts, and paranormal activity. Lights are on!

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    Extra-Celestial Central Oregon

    Some trips promise you the moon and the stars. And this one delivers in a big way, plus throws in some extra planets for your viewing pleasure. From Bend, Sunriver, and Sisters to Antelope Basecamp in the remote high desert.

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  16. Sky Shows

    Look up! Starry nights bring a bright side to the days’ getting shorter. And these local hikes and prominent parks shine as places to celebrate the wonders of space, stars, the moon, and planets.

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  17. Long Live Summer!

    As we approach the final stretch of summer, savor the good stuff. These popular summer adventures made a lasting impression, and can help make your summer last just a little bit longer...

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  18. Whale What Do We Have Here?

    Usually it’s migrating gray whales that are the star sightings on the California coast, but recently humpback whales are appearing quite close to shore here in the Bay Area, as they feast on fish. Who knows how much longer the buffet will last, but there are some great hikes where you might get bonus humpback whale sightings in the next week or so… go big!

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  19. No Reservations Camping and Backpacking

    Some camping and backpacking spots hit their stride in later summer, and don't require a reservation, just good timing, planning, and a little luck. From a backpacking adventure to a shimmering lake in Tahoe National Forest, to walk-in gems on the Sonoma Coast and a few first-come, first-served sites under a canopy of redwoods in Anderson Valley, these camp spots are ready if you are. Campface!

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  20. Picnic With a View

    Room with a view, table with a view... picnic with a view! These three picnic (and BBQ) spots in the North Bay will elevate your charcuterie game.

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  21. Sunsets & Stargazing

    Look up! Summer nights are some of the best for lingering sunsets and stargazing glories. We've rounded up a backpacking beach trip, an observatory star party, and a prime city-to-sea vantage for observing sunsets and celestial events, including the Perseid meteor shower (peaking August 11).

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  22. Wild Wonders of California

    Desert, forest, city, coast—four of the Golden State’s most wild, dynamic, and resilient ecosystems—are featured in California: State of Nature, a new exhibition at the California Academy of Sciences. We’re sharing some of the best places for outdoor adventures in these ecosystems, and providing a peek inside the exhibition. Plus enter for a complimentary 2-Night Getaway on California’s “secret coast" and 4 tickets to the CA Academy of Sciences!

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A Hiker looking over a mountain range

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

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  1. Hike Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve Mystery Walls

    Mystery Walls

    Crop circles, Stonehenge, California’s Mystery Walls … You don’t have to travel the world to see enigmas, including these stone walls within the South Bay's Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve.

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  2. Woman walking down the stairs overlooking the ocean on the Coastal Trail in San Francisco

    America's Best Urban Hike

    Long ago we dubbed it the “Grand Walk” and said it was one of the most scenic and stunning trails in the West. We were wrong. This is the most scenic urban hike in America!

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  3. Hike or Bike the Skyline

    A new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail is open for biking, hiking, or horseback riding along the 12-mile (out-and-back) Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail.

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  1. Sponsored

    Extra-Celestial Central Oregon

    Some trips promise you the moon and the stars. And this one delivers in a big way, plus throws in some extra planets for your viewing pleasure. From Bend, Sunriver, and Sisters to Antelope Basecamp in the remote high desert.

    View
  2. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

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  3. Tahoe's Trio of Lake Vistas

    They say good things come in threes, and it’s true when you embark on this 8-mile (round-trip) hike in Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness. It gives you three excellent lake vistas: Eagl

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