Banff National Park: A Great Summer Adventure Vacation! Part 1 — The Immediate Banff Vicinity

May 28, 2013
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For those into hiking and outdoor activities, the Banff area of Canada is the perfect vacation spot. Whether you seeking a romantic adventure vacation like Jeff and I wanted for our honeymoon, or you are bringing kids and teens along, Banff offers enough activity and beauty to meet everyone’s vacation expectations. Canada’s most visited national park is a spot that every outdoors lover must visit at least once in his or her lifetime.

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Hiking Skull Rock & Jumbo Rocks Loop in Joshua Tree

May 21, 2013
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Skull Rock and Jumbo Rocks are two more highly popular scenic attractions in Joshua Tree National Park. This super short 1.7 mile hike (2 miles if you wander through the campground like we did), is another must-do hike for anyone wanting to soak in the majesty of Joshua Tree. It’s easily reachable from the park’s northern Loop Road, and is engaging enough even for young kids — particularly with all the cool rocks to climb.

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Lost Palms Oasis in Joshua Tree National Park — The Longest Day Hike in the Park

April 26, 2013
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Lost Palms Oasis is the longest listed day hike (7.1 miles) in Joshua Tree National Park, taking you from one palm oasis to another, only 9 miles from I-10.

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Mastodon Peak — The Most Convenient Hike in Joshua Tree National Park

March 21, 2013
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If you’re coming to Joshua Tree National Park from the I-10 and don’t have much time, Mastodon Loop Trail has old mines, great views, and cool rocks to climb. Pretty much everything but the Joshua Trees!

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Split Rock to Face Rock Loop: A Short But Iconic Joshua Tree Hike

February 28, 2013
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A 2.64 mile loop hike to one of Joshua Tree’s most popular rock formations. Perfect for novice hikers and those with young kids. But even seasoned hikers will want to explore this famous iconic hiking spot.

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Ryan Ranch Trail: An Easy Historic Joshua Tree Hike

February 23, 2013
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This little one mile trail is flat and easy enough for people who physically can’t do much hiking. And it’s short enough, with some cool old artifacts at the end, to keep the attention of even the youngest hikers. The views are beautiful, and the destination provides some of the only abandoned structures in the park through which visitors can walk.

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Santa Rosa Plateau’s Sylvan Meadows — An easy hike for kids and dogs alike!

January 19, 2013
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Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve is home to a huge variety of birds and endangered species as well as the two oldest structures in Riverside County. Dogs, bikes, and horses are only allowed in the Sylvan Meadows portion of the Reserve, where this short scenic hike is located.

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Charging up San Juan Hill — The Highest Point in Chino Hills State Park

January 6, 2013
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San Juan Hill is the highest point in Chino Hills State Park offering 360 degree views of Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

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Hollywood Sign and the Bat Cave in Griffith Park — A classic hike for SoCal natives and tourists!

November 21, 2012
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A great scenic hike for locals and tourists takes you to the top of the famous Hollywood Sign and to Bronson Canyon, site of the “Bat Cave” and hundreds of other movies. Excellent views of the Los Angeles Basin on a clear day.

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Powder Canyon’s Schabarum Trail Loop: Hiking in a Suburban Habitat Preserve

November 11, 2012
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The Powder Canyon-Schabarum Trail Loop is a nice 4.5 mile hike right on the OC/LA border. Not a wilderness hike, but nice, natural stretches of trail with views from Mt. Baldy to Catalina Island.

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Giving iNaturalist a try on our hikes and outdoors adventures

August 8, 2012
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iNaturalist is a citizen science website that crowdsources images and data about wildlife and flora from all over the world. The mobile apps, in particular, make it an excellent tool to look -up, and to document, species while out on the trail.

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Hiking Scenic San Onofre State Beach — From Nukes to Nudes!

July 31, 2012
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San Onofre State Beach is a great beach hike above and below the bluffs on the San Diego-Orange County line. Perfect on a hot summer day, but a good hike year-round. Nuclear plant to the north and a marine base (and an illegal nude beach!) to the south, but a beautiful hike in between.

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The Light My Fire Survival Knife — Can it meet my high knife standards?

July 23, 2012
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A clever and colorful lightweight knife with an integrated fire starter in the pommel from Light My Fire, a Swedish company specializing in outdoor gear.

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Salt Creek Trail: A short easy south Orange County hike from beach to canyon

July 21, 2012
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Despite being entirely paved, this 6 mile hike in south Orange County is a great trail option for hot summer days, with beach views and a cool ocean breeze.

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Hiking from Cabrillo Beach to the Point Fermin Sunken City and White Point Preserve

July 13, 2012
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This 4.88 mile hike along the beach on Palos Verdes Peninsula is packed with spectacular views, geological wonders, and fascinating history. Visit tide pools, the infamous Sunken City, and aWorld War II missile site!

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