All in Northern CA

  1. The Most Waterfall Time of the Year

    If the weather outside has been frightful, it's waterfall hikes that can be delightful. Here are three to do when heavy rains subside. Happy holidays.

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  2. Peaceful Hikes for the Holidays

    Nature can be a perfect place for a little peace and quiet time. Here are three tranquil hikes to escape the hype of the holiday season and make everyone merry. Joy to the wilds.

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  3. Wide Open for the Holidays

    Getting some space this season is easy when you step outside into some of the Bay Area’s great wide open. Here are three grand ways to find room to roam and huge views for some holiday spirit.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-10-29

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

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  5. Cinematic Coast

    Mendocino County has been the location for more than 50 movies, including classics like James Dean’s “East of Eden.” It’s not hard to see why, with its small-town charms, redwood forests, blue-green bays, rocky headlands, and sublime beaches (with hidden stairways!). Here are some easy ways to make Mendocino the backdrop of your next great escape.

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  6. Woman biking on the El Dorado Trail in Placerville

    Happy Trailsgiving

    Happy holidays! However you spend this time, the outdoors is always a good place to be. Here are some ideas on where to hike, bike, picnic, beach, beer (that's a verb), eat, and enjoy a delicious apple cinnamon donut!

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  7. Happy Holiday Adventures

    However you do your holidays, the outdoors is always in season. So whether you're seeking solo time, or time with that special someone, want to bring the dog, or plan to go full Griswold, here are five good options.

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  8. Woman hiking in California desert

    Reopened and Ready

    After Tropical Storm Hilary, some of our national parks in desert locations were closed due to intense damage. The good news is they've recently re-opened, and fall brings cooler temps. From less-known canyons to perfect peaks for sunset, here are three unique desert hiking experiences open to you! --

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  9. Hikes for Autumn's Best Light

    Fret not about shorter days ahead. Instead, see things in autumn’s new light, where landscapes are illuminated in the brilliance of fall colors and the low sitting sun. Here are three places that glow golden.

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  10. Hike Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland

    Bootiful Fall Hikes

    Get into the Halloween spirit ... make that spirits .... this weekend. These classic outdoor adventures are boo-tiful this time of year. 

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  11. Falling for Paso

    Take a trip to real California this fall … the California you might not know but truly should! Paso Robles's wine country, beautiful backroads, and unfussy outdoors is an absolute revelation. Relish the bucolic landscapes, rolling vineyards, pristine lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, and spirited small town brimming with cuisine, art, and culture. Just a few hours from San Francisco or Los Angeles, here’s a road trip itinerary to see this hidden gem.

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  12. Monterey's Many Hidden Gems

    Monterey is not only stunningly beautiful by nature, it's an historical and ecological cornerstone of California. Experience its less-known state parks, hidden gem hikes, a coastal trail to a lighthouse, marvelous food and culture, and the brilliance of Monterey Bay Aquarium's newest exhibit and special guided tours.

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  13. Go Small For Fall Fun

    It's the little things in life sometimes, even in the great big outdoors. These three parks in the Bay Area have everythign from short and scenic hiking trails to labyrinths, mini-golf fun, and BBQ delights. So go small for big fun.

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  14. Bike Rides to Fall Bounties

    Seasonal farmstands and wineries in the prime of harvest, beautiful fall colors along idyllic paths, park stops and a new brewpub ... get rolling (or strolling) on any of these three Bay Area bike trails leading to a bounty of scenery, seasonal delights, and stops for food and drinks.

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-10-29

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View
  16. Harvest Moon Hikes

    The full moon is this weekend. Here are some prime adventures to watch the sun set and the Harvest moon rise, even sticking around to sip wine and see the stars. Bring a headlamp for good measure and get glowing.

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  17. Woman hiking Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands at Sunset

    As the Sun Sets on Summer

    As the sun sets on summer, here are some sunset spots (and sails!) to savor before we leap into outdoor adventures worth falling for.

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  18. Let There Be Light(houses)

    As summer simmers down and days darken faster, we’ve got a few ways to keep the light going. Just add lighthouses! From overnight stays, to guided tours, here are three unique lighthouse adventures.

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  19. Woman jumping on the beach at Pescadero Marsh

    Autumn Taking Flight

    Autumn brings new light. Ease into the season with these mellow hike and bike adventures at wetlands and beaches across the Bay Area. Savor peaceful trails, see birdlife, and relax waterside.

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  20. The Secluded Sierra

    Travel to the very northern part of the Sierra Nevada and discover a vast wilderness with only three traffic lights and more nature than people. Plumas County is a tranquil haven of high mountain recreation lakes, hiking and biking trails galore, plentiful small-town charms, and a national park that's still a hidden treasure.

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  21. Now Open: These Camping Adventures

    Better late than never. Winter's historic precipitation meant delays in some backcountry and high Sierra camping adventures due to road repairs and too much snow! Here are a few places you can go now, some recently re-opened (and first-come, first-served!).

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  22. Tahoe Easy Rollers

    How do you escape the crowds at Tahoe? Try a bike ride along one of the region’s beautiful (car-free!) bike trails paralleling the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe. Here are some great rides (that can also be hikes or walks) for getting a little space.

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  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

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  2. Sponsored

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View
  3. A Hike to the Past

    This 5.2-mile redwoods hike through El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space combines a relaxing stroll with unique geologic formations and historical artifacts.

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  4. Hike at Olompali State Historic Park in Marin

    Historically Serene

    Olompali State Historic Park is a small park that packs big California history. Go on a mostly easy 3-mile loop hike where oak trees, big-leaf maples, and madrones are stunning in autumn.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    Hot Springs, Naturally

    Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.

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  2. The Undead Ghost Town

    Every Halloween, the worlds of the living and the dead blur together. In the “living ghost town” of Randsburg that condition is permanent. This strange gold-rush town near the El P

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  3. Montebello Mission

    Adorable animal feeding, peaceful bird watching, and delicious beer drinking? Hello, Montebello! This northeastern city has fantastic views of the hulking San Gabriels and a variety of green spaces, not to mention great spots for beer(s)!

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  4. Mulholland's Most Majestic

    Take a leisurely drive along Mulholland Drive to discover beautiful urban scenery and unexpected wild beauty, right in the middle of the city. 

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