Santa Ana, California

Laguna Beach is famous for its beautiful beaches, beautiful people, and bohemian chic, but in addition to an array of water sports, it has also built a reputation for having an excellent network of trails that afford numerous hiking, biking, and running options in 20,000+ acres of protected land....

It’s summertime which means the days are longer, the weather is warmer, and life is just a little more fun. This is true for most places, but we’d argue that Laguna Beach puts them to shame when it comes to covering all the most important factors of a summer spent outside. Let’s start with the mo...

If you have a love for the ocean and marine wildlife, Laguna Beach is one of the best places you could choose to visit. With amazing tide pools located up and down the city's coast, you can spend hours getting an up-close view of ocean life. There are even docents who can give you an introduction...

Most people think of Laguna Beach as an idyllic, sun-swept, coastal town in SoCal with endless pristine beaches, but what is less known is that Laguna Beach is surrounded by more than twenty-thousand acres of pristine Coastal Wilderness, state parks, and designated county wilderness areas, all of...

Far beyond being a sun-drenched mecca of LA fashionistas getting their photo shoot on, Laguna Beach has long been home to fantastic surf, epic mountain biking, skimboarding (including where it was invented), sea kayaking, glorious dive sites, and awesome hiking and running trails. Did we mention ...

Surrounded by rolling hills, winding canyons, and the Pacific Ocean, Laguna Beach sure is easy on the eyes. Whether you're looking out over the city from a stunning vantage point or gazing across the water at one of the many gorgeous beaches, the memories will stick with you for days to come. Che...

I’ve done some big hikes. Mt. Whitney, Catalina, and Mauna Kea are the biggest ones I’ve written about here, and I’ve even done some big hikes that I haven’t written about (Sand Gorgonio, San Jacinto, and down-and-up the Grand Canyon). With this kind of history and success can come an eery degr...

Don’t get me wrong. Runyon Canyon can be a great hike. Accessible trailhead. Sweeping views. Clearly marked trails. DOGS. But if celebrity sightings aren’t the primary goal for your trek, trade out that crowded jaunt for something a bit more off the beaten path. You will be rewarded with even bet...

...way too late to snag a campsite anywhere. Planning ahead isn’t exactly my strong suit [read: definitely, absolutely isn’t] but finding loopholes in the system is. Stick with me, fair reader, and you’ll be cracking open a cold one with the boys [and girls] in your very own campsite this weeken...

Work and conflicting schedules continue to limit what is possible for us... if we let it. With only a weekend to spare, we drove from Los Angeles to the Yosemite Valley for a satisfying two day road trip adventure.On Wednesday she told me she had never visited Yosemite and we decided to go that s...

Presented in partnership with Coleman. On Saturday, April 29th, City Project LA Founding Member Kat Calvin met up with Coleman Collective member Paulina Dao to make tacos on camp stoves at Switzer Falls Trail in Tujunga, CA.  We were stoked to see enthusiastic attendees ready to pickle, chop, s...

There are more than enough great bars and restaurants in the greater LA area to have that awkward first date, get to know your current crush a little better, or just as important, catch up with your already special someone. But, sometimes it’s better to skip these places and try something off-the...

This simple yet staggeringly divisive question has split adventurers into polarized camps for centuries (or so I imagine). Some groups swear by the burger, fries, and beer combo. Others gravitate toward protein shakes or fully loaded salads. A large cult of outdoorsy people in Los Angeles swear b...

I’ve probably spent more time on my couch in the last 4 weeks than in the previous 4 months combined. My hard-earned rock climbing calluses have disappeared, my tent is sitting unused in the basement, and my Bedrock Sandals tan line is nowhere to be seen. I want nothing more than to escape the mo...

Everyone needs an occasional break from the rat race and traffic that comes with living in Los Angeles and we have just the escape you need. Celebrate the coming of spring with these short but rewarding hikes, all within an hour of downtown. From exploring hidden caves on the beach, to strolling ...

In two weeks I’ll be heading to the great Pacific Northwest to backpack the legendary Wonderland Trail—a 9 day, 93 mile jaunt around Mt. Rainier with tons (and tons) of elevation change.  Naturally, it wasn’t until about a week ago I started thinking, “huh... maybe I should start preparing for th...