All Stories from Northern CA

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  Life Aquinas

  Reach a new height and gain a round-the-compass panorama at El Sereno Open Space Preserve. Just off Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Los Gatos, the preserve’s 7.5-mile (

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  Hike to a Swim Hole

  Long hikes on a summer day call for a cooling-off period. Dip in! This 10-miler (round-trip) rewards with a mid-hike swimming hole. Located in the South Bay’s vast and scenic Henry

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  Seaside Summit in a State Park

  With tangled trails and unmarked spurs lawlessly winding up the rugged 1,898-foot Montara Mountain, McNee Ranch State Park feels like the Wild West Coast. Even wilder? Its endless

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  Swinging Views

  San Francisco is a city of high expectations, and that includes its lofty parks offering incredible panoramas. So what makes the 360-degree views all the more fun? Enjoying them fr

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  Go Wilder

  Hot summer day? Ride on! Beat the South Bay heat and get some beautiful scenery on this beginner-friendly 10-mile (round-trip) seaside ride in Santa Cruz. You’ll roll from West Cli

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  Bavarian Brunch Paddle

  Set right on the Oakland Estuary, Brotzeit Lokal Boathaus & Biergarten is what it sounds like: a Bavarian restaurant and boathouse, with an impressively stocked rotation of craft G

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  Trail Stories

  In the Bay Area we love ambition. Whether it’s technology or nature, we think big. The San Francisco Bay Trail is one of our most ambitious ideas: 500 miles, 47 cities, 9 counties,

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  Tamorama!

  Wide-open coastal views, wildflowers, and a waterfall—get spring-loaded on a 6.5-mile (round-trip) hike that links together Mount Tam's Matt Davis, Bolinas Ridge, and Cataract trails.

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  Half Moon Highroller

  For an easy bike ride with enormous coastal views, head a few miles south of Half Moon Bay. The Cowell-Purisima Trail stretches for 3 sea-breezy miles along high coastal bluffs.

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  Point Reyes Grand Slam

  Wildflowers, hidden beaches, coastal forests, babbling creeks and awesome Pacific views are just a few of the things that make Point Reyes a world-class hiking destination. With so

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  Glen's a Ten

  The big wild right in our backyard? You bet! San Francisco’s Glen Canyon Park is 62 acres of dramatic rock formations, whimsical tree tunnels, and calming views amid constant city motion. Go on a 1.6-mile loop hike here and enjoy a piece of the wild, with a little urban flair too.

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  Loch In!

  Tucked in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Loch Lomond Recreation Area is known for its gorgeous reservoir, less known for its charming Clar Innis Island (reached only by kayak or canoe)

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  Tilden Topoff

  With a name like Seaview Trail, expectations run high. And this 3.5-mile loop in Tilden Regional Park delivers. You won’t have to find the viewpoints; they find you … in abundant p

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  All the Wright Stuff

  Avoiding drama? That’s a good thing. Unless you’re talking about campsites. In that case, the more dramatic the better! And Wright’s Beach on the Sonoma Coast is quite the drama queen—27 campsites sitting smack dab in the middle of the wild and raging Sonoma Coast State Beach.

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  Her Name Is Monte Rio

  You’ve heard of Throwback Thursday; how about Old-School Saturday (or Sunday!). For a scene that’s a pure summer classic, head to the Russian River’s Monte Rio Beach. Enjoy loungin

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  Bluff Hugging Hike

  For a superb 8-mile (round-trip) beach-to-beach ramble along a bluffside trail, Kortum Trail on the Sonoma Coast is tops. Crags, coves, cliffs, and amazing views of the Pacific are

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  Park it in Nevada

  Ready to go big this summer? We’re talking road-tripping the most mountainous region in the Lower 48: Nevada! This place is made for adventurers who prefer their pit stops to be na

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  Marshall's in Town

  Everyone has a favorite view of the Golden Gate Bridge. And ours? With respect to all the great options, we’ve got to say it’s from San Francisco’s Marshall’s Beach. What makes thi

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  Beer Island

  Did we have you at beer? Island? Both?! Why not toss in a brilliant view of the Bay Bridge too? Treasure Island has just the beach for bringing this terrific trifecta together! Tha

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  Hidden Perles

  You're gonna need a boat to get to one of the best beaches in the Bay Area. Fortunately, ferries leave on a regular schedule to the tranquil state park in the middle of the Bay, An

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