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Hiking

11 BEST Ice Packs for Coolers [2023]: Ice & Gel Packs

August 6, 2023May 22, 2023 by Mimi McFadden
A freezer full of stacked turquoise, orange, and white plastic ice packs.

Use this list of the best ice packs for coolers to make sure the contents in your cooler stay cold, no matter where you go.

Categories Gear Tags Camping Gear, Hiking, Lifestyle Leave a comment

11 BEST Summer Hiking Socks for Hot Days on the Trail [2023]

May 5, 2023May 2, 2023 by Mimi McFadden
A pair of feet seen from behind wearing brown leather hiking boots and grey hiking socks walking through tall grass in warm sunlight.

Find the best summer hiking socks to keep your feet cool on hot outdoor adventures.

Categories Gear Tags Camping Gear, Hiking Leave a comment

15 BEST Campfire Cooking Kits for Tasty Outdoor Meals [2023]

May 4, 2023April 24, 2023 by Mimi McFadden
Best Campfire Cooking Kits

Find the best campfire cooking kits for an authentic camping experience.

Categories Gear Tags Camping Gear, Hiking Leave a comment

15 BEST Minimalist Hiking Sandals & Barefoot Sandals [2023]

July 24, 2023April 20, 2023 by Mimi McFadden
A pair of muscular legs and feet wearing black zero-drop sandals walking over rough volcanic rock covered in seaweed.

We’ve tracked down the best minimalist hiking and barefoot sandals for outdoor adventures.

Categories Gear Tags Camping Gear, Hiking Leave a comment

15 BEST Malibu Hikes in 2023 [Waterfalls to Ocean Views] 

July 5, 2023March 15, 2023 by Mimi McFadden
The view of the Pacific Ocean from one of the best Malibu hikes in Malibu, California during a slightly overcast sunset.

The best Malibu hikes! From waterfalls to coastal views, tackle these trails to explore another side of Malibu, California.

Categories Los Angeles Tags Hiking, Malibu, Southern California Leave a comment

9 Best Places to See Redwoods Near San Francisco in 2023

March 10, 2023March 10, 2023 by Mimi McFadden
places to see redwoods near san francisco

The best places to see redwoods near San Francisco, from a local who grew up hiking through them.

Categories Bay Area Tags Hiking, Northern California, San Francisco County 3 Comments

Torrey Pines Hiking Guide: Best Trails & What to Know Before You Go

April 6, 2023February 24, 2023 by Mimi McFadden
Torrey Pines Hike | San Diego, California

Your Torrey Pines hiking guide, including the best trails and how to get the most out of the park.

Categories San Diego Tags Hiking, Southern California, State Parks Leave a comment

18 Best Lake Tahoe Hikes for Stunning Views & Mountain Scenery

December 27, 2022October 21, 2022 by Mimi McFadden
lake tahoe hikes

The best Lake Tahoe hikes to help you make the most of your trip to this beautiful spot in California.

Categories High Sierra Tags El Dorado County, Hiking, Lake Tahoe, Northern California, Placer County Leave a comment

21 Best Hikes in Sequoia National Park & Kings Canyon

August 3, 2022August 2, 2022 by Mimi McFadden
best hikes in sequoia national park

The best hikes in Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon to help you make the most of your trip to these national parks.

Categories High Sierra Tags Hiking, National Parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Tulare County Leave a comment

24 Best Big Sur Hikes to Explore One of the Most Beautiful Areas in California

June 29, 2023June 6, 2022 by Mimi McFadden
best big sur hikes

The best Big Sur hikes that showcase the natural beauty of this unique coastal paradise in California. 

Categories Central Coast Tags Big Sur, Central California, Hiking, Monterey County Leave a comment
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✨SAVE this rooftop bar for the next time you’r ✨SAVE this rooftop bar for the next time you’re looking for good views in San Francisco✨ 

🏙️ Rising 120 feet above Market Street, Charmaine’s is located in the San Francisco Proper Hotel.

It’s right around the corner from the Orpheum Theatre and a great spot for a drink looking over the city on a nice day.

We went to Charmaine’s after seeing The Book of Mormon and it was the perfect way to end a relaxing Sunday afternoon in the city. Plus, it’s right near BART for easy transport!

Tip: Besides their delicious cocktails, I highly recommend ordering the pretzel rolls with the smoked pimento cheese dip. Yum. 

🍸What’s the best rooftop bar you’ve been to? 

Follow @theatlasheart for more bucket list ideas, local tips, and outdoor adventures in California. 
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#charmaines #rooftopbars #sanfrancisco #bayarea #northerncalifornia
✨SAVE this hike for your next trip to San Jose✨ 

🥾Mt Umunhum Peak Trail - 8 miles, 1188 elevation gain, 3.25 hours to complete
Trailhead: Start from Mt Umunhum Trail (37.159130, -121.876230)

Located in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, this hike features an 84.5-foot radar tower at the top that was used by the US Air Force during the Cold War. Before that, the Amah Mutsun tribal band inhabited the region. 

This was my 2nd of six peaks I’m hiking this year in the Bay Area. 

The trail had more tree coverage than I expected but it’s still a good idea to start as early as possible if you’re hiking in the summer or fall because San Jose gets HOT. 

Another tip: The trailhead is small and fills up quickly, by around 9 am on weekends. 

⛰️Have you hiked to the top of Mt. Umunhum? If you haven’t, are you adding it to your bucket list? 

Follow @theatlasheart for more bucket list ideas, local tips, and outdoor adventures in California. 
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#mtumunhum #sanjosehikes #sanjose #bayareahikes #bayarea #southbay #northerncalifornia
✨Anyone else craving some beautiful hikes near t ✨Anyone else craving some beautiful hikes near the water this summer?✨ 
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Here are my favorite hikes near the water that are around the Bay Area: 
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🥾Bodega Head Trail [1.7 miles] - The hike pictured here! Beautiful any time of the year, but I especially love this hike during spring and summer. Such a scenic and relaxing place to go for an easy hike. 
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🥾Lands End Trail [3.4 miles] - This easy coastal hike is fairly flat and gives you stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as one of San Francisco’s most unique sights, the Sutro Baths.
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🥾Alamere Falls [13.8 miles] - One of the most popular hikes in Point Reyes National Seashore that features a waterfall that flows into the ocean. 
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🥾Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Loop [4.1 miles] - One of those tucked-away gems that offers beautiful viewpoints of the bay. 
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🥾Alpine Lake Loop Hike [10 miles] - One of my all-time favorite hikes near the water. This trail has a little bit of everything—calf-burning inclines, waterfalls, shade, lakes, and wide-open grasslands. If you’re looking for a shorter alternative, go for the Cataract Falls Trail [4.8 miles].
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🥾Mori Point Loop Trail [2.5 miles] - For unbeatable cliffside ocean views, Mori Point is the most popular lookout point in Pacifica.
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🥾Coastside Trail in Half Moon Bay [9.4 miles] - This flat trail takes you through four beaches in Half Moon Bay and provides ample coastal views throughout most of the journey. 
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🥾Old Landing Cove Trail [2.3 miles] - One of my favorite coastal hikes in Santa Cruz. Takes you past stunning viewpoints and hidden coves. Afterward, take in the sunset from West Cliff Drive nearby. 
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🥾Rubicon Trail in D.L. Bliss State Park [10 miles] - A little further in Lake Tahoe, but one of the prettiest hikes near the water in California and the best one to take in those lakeside views.
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Send this to the person you want to go hiking with this summer!☀️
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#coastalhikes #waterfallhikes #californiahikes #bayareahikes #sanfranciscohikes #sanfrancisco #bayarea #northerncalifornia
✨Looking for an alternative waterfall hike in Yo ✨Looking for an alternative waterfall hike in Yosemite?✨
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You’ve probably heard of Yosemite Falls, but Chilnualna Falls is a great alternative if you’re looking for a hike with fewer crowds.
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The nice thing about this hike is that the waterfall is at the start of the hike, so once you get past it, there’s significantly fewer people. And the rest of the hike is just as beautiful. There’s even a natural water slide towards the end of the hike! 
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What’s your favorite lesser known hike in Yosemite? 
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🥾Chilnualna Falls hike—7.7 miles, 2201 ft elevation gain, out-and-back 
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#chilnualnafalls #chilnualnafallshike #yosemitehikes #yosemitewaterfalls #yosemite #nationalparks #california
✨Looking for a fun and relaxing day trip from Sa ✨Looking for a fun and relaxing day trip from San Francisco this summer?✨
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Let me introduce you to CALISTOGA! 
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Only about an hour and a half from SF, Calistoga is part of the Napa Valley and feels far away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area. 
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Besides wine tasting, It’s also known for its geothermal activity and mud baths. Suneel and I, of course, experienced all of that and more while we were in town. Here’s my full itinerary:
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🧇Grab breakfast: For a casual diner feel that’s right in downtown, head to Cafe Sarafornia. If you’re looking for something more upscale and Instagrammable, head to Sam’s Social Club. We liked both, but have more of a soft spot for local diners. 
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📍Head over to Calistoga’s Old Faithful Geyser to watch it blow. When I was there, it erupted close to every 30-45 minutes. While you wait for it to erupt, there’s a farm with cute animals on the property where you can go say hi to the goats. 
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🍷Go wine tasting! This is Napa Valley, after all. I highly recommend Tedeschi Family Winery for the delicious wine and beautiful property that isn’t as busy as some other Napa Wineries. For a place closer to town, you can’t go wrong with Tank Garage Winery. Grab some sandwiches from Palisades Eatery afterward. 
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💆‍♀Experience a mud bath and soak in a hot spring. We booked our mud baths at Golden Haven Spa and then soaked in their hot spring-fed pool, but there are plenty of places around town to book this experience. The best way to describe the mud bath was...weird, but also fun and a very unique experience. Make sure to book this well in advance or look for last-minute cancellations. 
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🍝End the night with a romantic dinner at Lovina. This is such a cozy place that has delicious food with a gorgeous outdoor patio, perfect for summer. 
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🍺If you’re looking to keep the night going, head to Susie’s Bar. We love a good dive bar, and Susie’s did not disappoint. 
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#calistoga #napa #napavalley #hotsprings #northerncalifornia #bayarea
✨I still can’t get over those Mt. Tam views✨ ✨I still can’t get over those Mt. Tam views✨

If you want this view without the work, there’s a parking lot near the summit of Mt. Tam. Just put in Mt. Tamalpais State Park Visitor Center into your GPS, near the East Peak. It’s $8 to park and you’ll want to bring that in exact cash. 
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There’s also a cute museum at the Visitor Center that talks about the railroad that used to operate up there, as well as the Gravity Car Barn if you want to see how people used to ride down the mountain. 
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If you’re looking for more of an adventure to add on to the view, I highly recommend hiking to the peak of Mt Tam from Stinson Beach area instead of driving. 
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This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Bay Area, and will take you past lush forests as well as expansive views like this along the way. 
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The hike we did was just over 15 miles roundtrip and worth every step. And honestly, it made the view at the top that much more worth it. 
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#mttam #mttamalpais #bayarea #sanfrancisco #northbay #californiahikes
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