All Stories from Northern CA

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  Haulin’ Oat!

  No offense to hot air balloons, but we have a better way to get a bird’s-eye view of Napa Valley. The Oat Hill Mine Trail out of Calistoga climbs up into the Palisades on an old stage coach route. And in spring, wildflowers come out in flying colors!

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  Bedazzled Ridge

  Glitter, sparkles, bright paint … there are all kinds of ways to add a little color to your life. Nature’s version? Wildflowers! And they pop up all over the East Slope Sonoma Moun

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  Has Anyone Ever Said You Look Like ...

  UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Much of this area burned during the August 2020 Walbridge Fire, and while the park recently re-opened the valley floor, the two main trails of East Ridge and

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  Just Your Type

  We’re thinking of setting you up. We think we know your type … Outdoorsy. A stunning natural beauty. And super easygoing. Meet Mendocino County! It’s home to 90+ miles of pure coas

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  Secret Stairways Hike

  There are over 400 little-known staircases and pathways that wind quietly unnoticed up the East Bay landscape. Originally built as shortcuts for an influx of hillside residents to

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  Urban Wine Wheel

  Waterfront warehouses pouring outstanding wines, buzzing freeways in the distance … Oakland’s Urban Wine Trail has uncorked a thoroughly modern era of wine, with ten tasting rooms

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  Bright. Bold. Bloomiful!

  Thanks to winter’s weather, we all know how magnificent California’s wildflowers are this spring. So why not go to the place that’s best in bloom! Monterey County’s miles of stunni

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  Jonesing For It

  Tucked just shy of the South Bay’s urban domains, the 270-acre St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve in Los Gatos isn’t bashful about showcasing great scenery. Go on a 4-mile (roun

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  The Big Short

  Size matters. So if you’re looking for a short and sweet hike that has the payoff of climbing a tall peak, head to San Jose’s Bald Mountain summit, located in the Sierra Azul Open

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  Mission Possible

  The Old Mission is a popular visitor spot in Santa Barbara, but many visitors are unaware of what lies beyond this stately historic landmark, on the east side. The 10-acre Mission

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  Knapp Time

  For a little taste of Pompeii in Southern California, head for Knapp’s Castle in the Los Padres National Forest above Santa Barbara. It’s a delightful oddity with stunning panorami

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  The Most Magical Redwoods of Them All

  What’s giant and ancient and red all over? Why, only the most magical redwoods you’ll ever see! Just a few hours from San Francisco, Humboldt Redwoods State Park is home to the lar

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  Wilder Times

  Stunning redwoods, huge ocean views, rolling hills, and gorgeous beaches … Santa Cruz has epic scenery! So how do you enjoy it all in one jaunt? Go Wilder! A 5-mile (round-trip) hi

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  The Occidental Tourist

  The Grove of Old Trees in Occidental is 33 hidden acres of towering redwoods and the only privately owned preserve in Sonoma County that's free to the public. Hike one of two flat loop trails shaped like an upside-down peace sign.

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  Los Altos High

  Big things come in small packages. Tucked in an upscale neighborhood in Los Altos, Redwood Grove Nature Preserve is just 6 acres, but it sure packs in those redwoods! This little s

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  Mather, May I?

  Reading that a whole bunch of friendly giants are hiding behind an unassuming gate sounds a bit like a storybook beginning. In this case, it’s a redwood fairy-trail. Across the str

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  Dawn Ho!

  Tucked at the end of a sleepy residential street in Larkspur, it's easy to miss the narrow path that drops into Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, where serene redwoods resemble

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  Wicked Waterworks

  Despite its devilish hot name, Mount Diablo has a cooler, splashier side. Heavy winter rains create a collection of six scenic waterfalls encircling the mountain's rugged northern

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  Getaway Time

  Isn't it time you took things SLO? It's actually much easier than you think. San Luis Obispo (SLO) is centrally located just a few hours from San Francisco and Los Angeles. It's a

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  Cupid's Cascade

  Most Tahoe fans know Cascade Falls' silvery drop as it appears in early summer, when melting snow forms a billowy cataract that plummets more than 200 feet into Cascade Lake. But i

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