California
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First there was an algae-based surfboard. Now we have El Portobello—a sustainable board you can grow yourself.
An overview of the weather and climate patterns contributing to the dry conditions
The famous rock climber put away the trad gear for a research project with UC Berkeley on the California coast in which he pulled samples from the 700-year-old trunk of a giant redwood
From $6-a-night secrets to splurge-worthy resorts (and a few free urban oases), here’s where to escape the grind in a hammock.
Beat the crowds and head for fresh climbing, mountain-biking, and chill-out spots within easy driving distance of eight burgs
Smell like the great outdoors, no matter where you are.
Can’t fit two to five months into your schedule to hike the PCT? No worries. These monthlong thru-hikes are just as good.
This month, Insight Editions released “The Finest Line,” by big-wave surfer Rusty Long. The coffee table book chronicles all the best big-wave spots and surfers in the world with large, brilliant pictures by some of the top surf photographers.
We've cut the fat (and circumnavigated the crowds) so you can enjoy any of these thrilling parks in just one day
Wildfire season is getting longer, scarier, and more dangerous. Here's what you need to know and how to prepare.
With trail traffic increasing following the release of 'Wild,' the association overseeing the PCT wants to block new races. The move has prompted a Change.org petition from some very angry runners.
You’ll recognize at least a few of the names on American Rivers’ annual Endangered Rivers list—but what will you do to ensure they remain pristine?
Don't plan any vacations before reading this year's Best of Travel winners.
Think Cheryl Strayed is tough? Meet these guys.
This year, go beyond Daytona Beach to surf Puerto Rico, fish the Bahamas, or explore an Ecuadorean rainforest. (Don't worry, skiers—there's neck-deep powder here for you, too.)
Test your inner compass in these six labyrinthine gardens!
After a day in the snow, melt into one of these six natural hot springs.
If you love sleeping under the sky, you should try it in the coziest way possible—within the snug confines of a plush outdoor bed.
Regional airports put you closer to the action and feature great perks. Their biggest downside? Cost. So stop booking with money. And start saving.
A cooler that does double duty as an air conditioner.
Surround your teens with furniture inspired by the 11-time world champ
If lingering holiday malaise and winter's cold, short days are knocking you off your game, look no further. One of these trips is sure to recharge you.
These backcountry lodges welcome dedicated skiers with warm bedding, home-cooked food, and sometimes even a sauna.
Who needs an après ski scene when there's one happening right on the slope?
When a longtime triathlete took on a Kokoro camp—a beyond-extreme fitness challenge modeled on the Navy's Hell Week for SEAL candidates—his first question was purely about the pain: Can I survive this? The second was more metaphysical: Should I even want to?
More pain quest than workout, misogi is the secret, punishing ritual that has revolutionized Atlanta Hawks supershooter Kyle Korver's game. You have time for this—if it doesn't kill you first.
There are changes afoot on the mountains. Learn them and own the slopes.
No two ski resorts are alike. But which one is right for you? We break down more than 30 of North America's best to find the perfect fit.
The movie version of Cheryl Strayed's hit book features Reese Witherspoon like you've rarely seen her—tangled hair, ratty clothes, and dirt under her fingernails. But the backpacking film has a secret: it's actually a brutal story about loss and love.
As investigators piece together the details, Douglas Messier—who witnessed the crash from the desert floor—reports on the warning signs that preceded the disaster, the already rampant finger-pointing, and the viability of space tourism.
Every winter, the ski and snowboard world lets its hair down at a few marquee events. Here are the ones we're stoked for this season.
Jack Kerouac spent the summer of 1956 manning a fire tower on Washington's Desolation Peak, in the northern Cascades. He didn't do much writing there, apparently, despite being alone with pencil and paper. But he stayed for 63 days. The views were good.
California’s rule requiring cars to give cyclists a three-foot berth went into effect last week. Too bad it doesn't actually keep riders safe.
Do cell phones, satellite messengers, and personal locator beacons create more false alarms in the backcountry?
I'd love to haul my kids up the railings to Half Dome, but don't want to risk accidents—or turning them off of hiking forever. How can we have fun while staying safe in the national park?
Those Big Sur views were big money to begin with, but they're even richer paired with amenities like these.
Some people might be built for speed and others for distance, but everyone benefits from running faster. This is how you do it.
An epic, 10,000-mile road trip across America to find the best place to live in the country.
One man and his canine pal cover 13,000 miles in 32 states to discover just how strong our relationship is with man's best friend.
As climate change threatens snowpack, ski areas are adopting a new survival strategy: Beefing up the summer fun.
Heavier athletes run 10 percent slower in hot conditions
An injured runner supports his teammates during the most competitive Western States in history
These oases of relaxation, adventure, mindful eating, and awe-inspiring views are going to be very popular once it's safe travel again. Until then, we can dream.
With a little help from Make-A-Wish, Yosemite’s first honorary park ranger earns his keep and proves his strength
When you enter the Western States 100—a day-and-night endurance run in the Sierra Nevada—you can "mature a lot."
It's been more than 50 years since the Colorado River regularly reached the sea. But this spring, the U.S. and Mexico let the water storm through its natural delta for a grand experiment in ecological restoration. As the dam gates opened, a small band of river rats caught a once-in-a-lifetime ride.
It used to be that people would go on vacation to relax, drink cocktails from coconut shells, and sit by the beach with a trashy paperback. But more and more now, people are shelling out big bucks to travel to posh resorts and get their butts kicked exercising…
According to AVP Pro and Olympian April Ross
Fun for the whole family doesn't have to mean boring for you. These high-adrenaline festivals will keep everyone going all day.
The good news is that a rapidly growing number of cities across the country are becoming more bike-commuter friendly because of rising gas prices, growing alarm over global warming, and Americans’ desire to stay fit. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, biking to work has…
A 38-mile trip from the Marin Headlands to Point Reyes is the best cure for runner's block.
Yosemite National Park offers arguably the most scenic hiking in the country. The only challenge? Picking which trail to hike.
It’s not necessarily the facility that counts when you’re waking up at ungodly hours of the morning to clean and jerk—it’s the quality of the instructors, and the camaraderie of the friends who join you there. In fact, each CrossFit gym is supposed to be uniquely inviting, whether it's…
Reduced-oxygen training room Air Fit opens in Bay Area
Growing up in Hollywood prepared Torres for the biggest red carpet event of all: the Olympics.
The California Coastal National Monument extends from south of San Diego to the Oregon state line and is composed of 20,000 islands, rocks, and reefs that extend 20 nautical miles from the shore. These features make up the scenic views that travelers enjoy along the coast, but few…
The Sonora Pass Café—and its chef—takes trail magic to new heights.
Three proven formulas for a different kind of Turkey Day
Want to get your children hooked on the active life? In these five family-friendly towns, adventure is right outside the front door.
Who needs headlamps? From a bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico to a Japanese trail lined with glowing mushrooms, these ten hikes are at their best when it's dark out. Pack your camera (leave the flash at home) and prepare to be amazed.
The first bike highway was born in car city, U.S.A.: Los Angeles. What can we learn from a vision of bike-centric transportation that never materialized?
Can't wait for the weather to warm up? With balmy temperatures year-round, miles of world-class trails, and a laid-back, kid-friendly atmosphere, L.A.'s southern neighbor has you covered.
Axie Navas takes a look at a new sport that's figuring out its place—on the snow and in the air
My college roommates and I are planning a last-minute spring break ski trip, but we don’t know where to go yet. Which resort has the après ski scene for the college or post-college crowd? It has to be somewhere in North America, preferably out West.
No one said your New Year’s resolutions had to feel like punishment. Jump-start 2013 with one of these seven spirit-recharging escapes.
Axie Navas takes a look at the controversy behind California's recent ban
The outbreak, which killed three, didn’t only attack the lungs of its victims. It messed with the psyche of the rest of us, too.
We know what our readers look for in any kind of experience: adventure, grit, sweat, a worthy struggle, tested endurance, goosebump-inducing views, wide-open skies, maybe some roiling water. So why should college be any different? The correct answer is: It shouldn’t.
Why the crisis in California’s state parks could foretell turmoil for public playgrounds everywhere
Forget the necktie. He doesn’t need another one. Want to let dad know you care? This year, send him on one of these adventures. Don’t have a dad—or don’t care for the one you’ve got? Send yourself.
Make the most of the warmer months with these weekend itineraries
The wildest two-wheeled events on the planet feature both world-class racing and world-class carousing
The only thing more epic than that monster attack or spleen-bruising crash? Reliving it all with friends over an adult recovery drink at an establishment that loves your kind.
The rankest mountain roads for testing your cycling mettle