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Santa Monica, California

Top Stories in and near Santa Monica

  • Los Angeles, California

    The 10 Best LA Hikes That Aren't Runyon Canyon

    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...
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  • Los Angeles, California

    How to Find Last Minute Camping in Los Angeles

    ...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...
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  • Los Angeles, California

    How To Weekend Warrior: Los Angeles To Yosemite

    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...
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  • Cooking with Coleman: Camp stove tacos with Paulina Dao and the City Project

    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...
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  • Los Angeles, California

    Break Away From The Norm: 7 Outdoor Date Ideas For Los Angeles

    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...
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  • The Best Post-Adventure Food

    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...
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  • Los Angeles, California

    The Dawn Mine Loop Trail (or how to train for backpacking last minute)

    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...
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  • The Mountains Are Calling, and I Let It Go to Voicemail

    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...
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  • Los Angeles, California

    The 7 Best Spring Hikes In Los Angeles

    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 ...
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  • #LAsucksforcycling -but- #LAsucksfordrivingmore

    In college I drove nearly 2 hours each way from Orange County to an internship in Pasadena. I hated it. Upon further reflection, I didn’t hate the internship so much as I hated getting to the internship. Earlier this year I (re)discovered my love of the bicycle and started bike commuting a few d...
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  • Cub House Birthday Ride

    Up until Saturday this was an activity I primarily did solo, but it turns out there are a bunch of other people who think grinding up fire roads in the Angeles National Forest is a good way to spend a Saturday too. Bikes bikes bikes I’ve lived just up the street from The Cub House (@itsnotabikesh...
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  • Reservation Permits Needed To Reopen Trails Responsibly, Says Steve Gerhardt

    I got the chance to chat with Steve Gerhardt of Walk Long Beach this week. Steve’s passion for the outdoors is undeniable when you hear the way he talks about trails, hiking, and accessibility. His nonprofit is dedicated to increasing the walkability of Long Beach, and he’s one of the most knowle...
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  • The Wild West of Los Angeles: Bikepacking Catalina Island

    It’s all I can do to keep my mind off my burning legs on the grueling climb out of Avalon to the East Summit—consider the bison. An underwhelming sequel to David Foster Wallace’s literary masterpiece. Sweat drips into my eyes. Do bison eat anything other than grass? Quads are surely becoming acid...
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  • Ventura, California

    Velo Ventura: The 5 Best Cycling and Mountain Biking Trails in the Heart of the Central Coast

    While more widely known as the gateway to the Channel Islands National Park and home to some of the finest surfing on the Central Coast, Ventura, CA has quickly become a popular destination for its ever-increasing network of cycling and mountain biking trails. Its profile is only going to increas...
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