Limekiln State Park is on the southern end of Big Sur but it is worth the drive. There’s not a lot of camping, but when we arrived, the rangers carved out a spot behind one of their work trucks for our SUV, so we could enter. Thanks guys! This is a full redwood to waves park with three do-able but fun hikes that will wow you and impress visitors…and dates. Get Limekiln State Park details here. Beach Hike A quick trot over the bridge gets you and your picnic to a beautiful s

The Sierra Buttes are a great day trip from Donner Bliss. At the foot of the Buttes, you'll find a trio of lakes: Sardine Lake (pictured here), Packer Lake and Sand Pond. You can hike to the fire lookout station at the top of the mountain buttes for a once-in-a-lifetime stunning, challenging but truly rewarding hike. It's a perfect day trip to snag a primo spot at Sand Pond, hike to the lookout, then relax by the pond or fish on Sardine Lake, and top it off with drinks and d

Donner Lake is a Northern California recreational mecca on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas. It is a magnet for all water sports, including swimming, stand-up paddle-boarding, boating, wake boarding, water skiing, and fishing. Some of the biggest lake trout in California are caught here. This side of Truckee is know as "Donner." It is the first Truckee neighborhood that you get to when driving from the San Francisco Bay Area and once you take the Donner Pass Road exit