All in Southern CA

  1. Where to Camp in CA: Part 2

    It's not easy getting the good stuff for camping, but with some planning ahead, or some luck with first come, first serves, it can be a magical experience. Here's our recommendations on where to sleep under the stars, and near the water, in California.

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  2. Fourthcoming Outdoors

    Happy 4th! Things are heating up, so your best bet might be to keep things close to the coast. Here are a few WS favorites that'll have you down by the shore.

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  3. Okay, Cool (Hikes, Beaches, Camps)

    When the heat's on in SoCal, nature's air conditioning can help if you know where to go. From camping at the beach, to seaside strolls, and high elevation hiking and bouldering, here are a few ways to help keep your cool and have a lot of fun too!

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-08-27

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

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  5. Waterfall Summer Hikes

    Some waterfall hikes are still spectacles even in early summer, especially after a snow-packing winter. From less known waterworks in the far reaches of both Yosemite and Shasta County, to a stunner in a neighboring state, here are three ways to have a waterfall start to summer.

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  6. Beachy-Keen Hikes

    With summer on the horizon, coastal hikes that include beaches can be a 10 out of 10 experience. Where to go? Beach ya to it! Here are three recommendations...

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  7. Seaside Hikes, Bike Rides, and Camp Spots in SoCal

    Sally sells seashells by the seashore, but where does Sally hike and bike and camp? By the sea, of course! Here are three seaside strolls and rolls that are simply spectacular ... and some have sleeping spot campsites too.

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  8. Lakes Basin Camping and Hiking in the Sierra Nevada

    Where to Camp and Glamp in CA: Part 1

    We feel the camping vibes. Here's our first in a two-part roundup of beautiful destinations that also have camping, cabins, and glamping.

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  9. Your Long Weekend Outdoors

    Disc golf by the lake, peaks less traveled, adorable farm animals, and beautiful biking to food and beer spots ... long May you relax and adventure outdoors this weekend.

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  10. Bluff Yeah!

    We’re not bluffing around! These three bluffside hikes deliver huge Pacific views and on-land charms—from a ranch-style rambler that’s postcard perfection at sunset, to a hidden gem leading to a less known beach. Have a bluffing good time.

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  11. Wellness Waters

    It’s a known health benefit to spend time in nature, and around water. Lucky for us, among the many gems of Southern California’s premier coastal setting are beautiful lagoons for hiking, kayaking, and stopping to smell the wildflowers. Find your awe at these three beautiful oases.

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  12. Flavorful Spring Strolls

    Sometimes a walk in the great outdoors just goes better when food is involved. Actually, almost always. Good thing Southern California has its fill of fresh and tasty eats and drinks. Here are some top places to go this spring for some flavorful strolls with bonus beautiful scenery.

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  13. Washington State of Mind

    It’s one of the West's most nature-nurtured getaways. Washington State shines in spring, and this easy, short-distances road trip explores the region's majestic Kitsap Peninsula and Tacoma. Experience electric green forests, gorgeous gardens, sublime waterfront harbors, iconic mountains, “Little Norway,” and one of the most outstanding urban parks in America.

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  14. Take a Walk on the Wild(flower) Side!

    The real rainbow at the end of a really rainy winter? Wildflowers! They can paint a kaleidoscope of colors across SoCal landscapes. Some are in full form right now, so when the sun’s out, head out to any of these places that can go wild with flowers.

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-08-27

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

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  16. Spring Release Hikes

    Ahhh, spring. With all of winter’s rain, the trails are super-charged. So get out and enjoy these hikes with electric green hills, blooming flowers, plus mountain and sea views.

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  17. Cave In to These Spring Adventures

    Before the deserts get too hot, before the wildflowers dwindle, and before the summer crowds take over, take your explorations deeper with these thrilling cave adventures.

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  18. Coming Soon: Spring?

    Well, let's just call any further rains a spring refresher; which can bring a real pop to the colors of nature, soon-ish. Spring it on!

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  19. Bon-Anza-Borrego!

    At over 640,000 acres and 500 miles of roads, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is easily the biggest in California. And it positively blooms in spring! Get there soon and take in the wild—and wildflower—scenery! These three short hikes to overlooks each offer a different perspective of this vast desert.

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  20. Three Intriguing Canyon Hikes in CA

    There’s just something so intriguing about landscapes formed by all kinds of geologic activity and forces of nature. Before it gets too hot, here are three places to adventure within a lava tube, a surprise canyon, and a canyon hike with a stunning natural bridge … all in California!

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  21. Post Rain Greenery & Scenery

    Some of LA County’s most impressive landscapes beam bright green after rains. Here are three hikes bound to shine for big views with Shamrock colored scenery.

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  22. Just Dune It

    With Dune 2 coming out in theaters, now is a good time to explore some surreal sandscapes. We’ve rounded up some national preserves, parks, and refuges—including the epic landscape that inspired the novel. Dune it right!

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  1. Camp at Goose Lake in the Lakes Basin

    Duck, Duck, Goose!

    Try to get a first-come, first-served campsite at one of the Lakes Basin’s lakeside campgrounds. We love Goose Lake Campground, where there are just 13 sites and no motorized boats.

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  2. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

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  3. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

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  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Let's Go to Paso!

    Paso Robles is a good idea in all seasons, but one season brings a special bounty: harvest season! Road-trip ready and teeming with fall colors and fun events, Paso Robles is the ultimate destination for unique autumn experiences.

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  2. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

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  3. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

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  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

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