Hiking to Potato Harbor and Snorkeling in the Channel Islands - Santa Cruz Island
When I think of California National Parks, I tend to think of Yosemite, or Sequoia, or the Redwoods. I never even knew that there was a park so close to Los Angeles, and so completely different than any other national park I've ever been to. Channel Islands National Park is located just off the coast of Ventura, about 90 minutes away from Los Angeles. The park consists of 5 islands and their surrounding waters. Between the land adventures and the sea, this is one amazing and unique park.
National Park 100 - For the Newcomer...
National parks were not super on my radar yet. My dad and I planned a long road trip for the move to California and THAT’S where I started to get it. We stopped in Moab and took pictures at Arches National Park, we took back roads to drive through part of Rocky Mountain National Park, we stopped at the Grand Canyon to take in all of the wonder and man did it spark something in me!
Horseback Riding to the Hollywood Sign
Mighty Mongoose features some amazing adventures in some of America’s biggest cities. And they take things one step further and create entire packages like Catalina Island and Zipline excursions, airplane tours over Malibu Canyon, sunrise Hot Air Balloon rides, 2-day Niagara Falls tour from NYC, and more! So when I was coming up with unique things to do in L.A., a horseback ride to the hollywood sign seemed like a pretty epic adventure!
Kayaking and Whale Watching in Newport Beach
Looking for an epic day of adventures in Southern California? Head to Newport Beach and spend the day on the water. I spent the morning kayaking and then we did a whale watching tour in the afternoon. Here’s what it was like!
Ziplining Near Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Ziplines and Adventures is a family-owned and operated ziplining ranch and is about 1 hour away from the east entrance of Yosemite off Highway 140 near the town of Mariposa. It was a perfect way to escape the busy summer Saturday Yosemite crowd.
Hiking to Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
The Half Dome hike has amazing scenery with up close views of Vernal and Nevada Fall. Whatever your level or desire, there are multiple hikes and stopping points along the Mist Trail and you can turn around at any time. So here is a breakdown of the hike up to Half Dome and some facts you'll need if you're lucky enough to get to the summit!
Bridge to Nowhere Hike
The Bridge to Nowhere hike was one of those mysterious, must-do hikes that I seemed to hear about as soon as I moved to Los Angeles. This hike is epic for a reason! It's beautiful, rugged, filled with river crossings, bungee jumpers, a beautiful bridge and even some waterfalls and swimming holes! I never thought I could find this type of terrain so close to LA!
Hidden Valley Hike - Joshua Tree National Park
The next stop was the popular Hidden Valley Trail. This hike is a popular one for many reasons, it's surrounded by picnic areas and a nearby campground, it's right off the main road, it's only a one mile loop, and it's a gorgeous nature walk that is well maintained and easy for all levels.
49 Palms Oasis Hike at Joshua Tree National Park
49 Palms Oasis is a 3-mile roundtrip hike to a fan palm oasis and takes between 2-3 hours to complete. It's considered moderately strenuous and ascends 300 feet each way. This hike has it's own access road off Park Boulevard and therefore does not require an entrance fee.
Emerald Pools Hike- Zion National Park
The Emerald Pools hike is an easy and quick hike that is great for all ages and hiking abilities. There are three stops along the way; the lower, middle, and upper pools so you can plan your hike accordingly or hit all three for a 3 mile roundtrip hike. This is one of the parks most popular hikes so it gets very crowded on the narrow parts of the trail, but it is worth every busy step.
Hiking The Narrows - Zion National Park
The Narrows is one of the most unique and beautiful hikes in America. It was ranked #5 in National Geographic's America's Best 100 Adventures. This gorge runs along the Virgin River in Zion National Park. The entire trail is 16 miles in length and goes from the Temple of Sinawava to Chamberlains Ranch where there is a campground for two-day hikers.
Sturtevant Falls - The Best Hike Near Los Angeles
Who knew that a gorgeous 50-foot waterfall existed within 30 minutes of LA? This girl! Sturtevant Falls was my favorite hiking discovery when I moved to Los Angeles. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have to drive hours or spend an entire day hiking to find it! Chantry Flats is just north of Pasadena.
Hiking La Jolla Valley to Point Mugu
Point Mugu is one of the best hikes in Malibu, California. It runs through La Jolla Valley and ends at Point Mugu State Park. Just beware of the Malibu mountain lions!