All Stories from Northern CA

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  Saddle Up for Ancient Peaks

  Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

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  Downtown Delights

  Behold Paso Robles’ historic-meets-modern downtown. At the center of it all: Downtown City Park, surrounded by chic and down-to-earth food + drink establishments, beautiful mural art, and stores unique to Paso's creative roots.

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  Light This Way

  Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. Sensorio is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields of Paso Robles.

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  Eat, Drink, E-bike!

  No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

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  Hike the Rainbow

  Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

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  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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  Weekend in Reno Tahoe

  Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

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  Paint Brushy

  This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

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  2025 POST Wildflower Walks

  Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

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  Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

  Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.

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  All right, Almaden!

  Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

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  Savor Spring in Paso Robles

  Take a classic California road trip this spring and find all the treasures of the season in Paso Robles. Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this laid-back slice of California country combines with the Central Coast for an absolutely spring-loaded getaway.

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  Sonoma for Film, Food, Wine, and Fun

  Food, wine, film, fun: Spring into Sonoma March 19 - 23 for the fabulous Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF). See everything from travel documentaries to feature films with stars like Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, and Gabriel Garcia Bernal. Journey with Meg Ray, founder of the Bay Area’s famed patisserie, Miette, to Sweden’s remote and magical island of Rödlöga, where you'll be immersed in a 'Sweet Störy' about love, letting go, and sourdough!

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  Up and Umunhum

  Early risers can experience one of the Bay Area’s best morning glory hikes on this 7.4-mile out-and-back up beautiful Mount Umunhum. In early spring if you arrive at the parking area right before sunrise, you’ll get a beautiful eastern view of the sun coming up between Bald Mountain and the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains. On days when fog settles into the valley, the colorful view is nothing short of magical.

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  From Alpine Wildflowers to Turquoise Coves

  North Lake Tahoe is where nature, culture, and authentic experiences let you connect to something deeper. Spring is an ode to the region’s harmonious dual nature, where you can mix

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  Locals' Feature: Jesse James Ziegler, Reno's Poet Laureate

  Meet Jesse James Ziegler, Reno's Poet Laureate. Jesse is also the Creative Director of Reno’s Monday Night Poetry (at Shim's Tavern) and True Colors Poetry.

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  Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

  Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

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  This Coyote

  Combine a workout with rewarding vistas by hiking or biking Coyote Peak in San Jose’s Santa Teresa County Park. The 4.1-mile loop up Coyote Peak is spring green with rewarding vistas of both the Diablo Range and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

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  Mini Guide to Reno Tahoe’s Lodging and Dining

  So, you’re going to Reno Tahoe for some time in nature, and some time in nurture? Excellent choice. The fun and wonder of Reno Tahoe is the easy part.

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  Mile-Long Cataract Club

  In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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