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Big Sur Travel / Hiking / State Parks / Adventure Travel / → All Tags

Waterfalls, Redwoods and More at California's Pfeiffer Burns State Park

In Big Sur, you practically trip over hiking trails that bring you to gorgeous coastline views. But one place to definitely put on your must-hike list is Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

Pfeiffer is probably the most well known among the Big Sur parks, since it follows the Big Sur River and is filled with trees—including redwoods, conifers, oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, maples, alders and willows—and wildlife—including black-tail deer, raccoons, skunks and various birds.

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Camping / State Parks / California Travel / → All Tags

Orange County Opens a Fancy Schmancy $15 Million Dollar Campsite

If you can't afford to shack up in one of the swanky Orange County hotels during your travels there, now you have another option: Crystal Cove State Park in the Laguna Beach/Newport Beach area just opened its year-round campground today.

The $15 million Moro Campground offers 60 new campsites. Unfortunately, you won't be on the beach, but you'll have a nice view of it from the hilly area. The park has three miles of Pacific coastline, plus wooded canyons, open bluffs, and offshore waters designated as an underwater park.

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Rock Slides / Water Sports / Active Travel / Georgia Travel / State Parks / → All Tags

A Hike Into A Georgia Gorge Awards You With A Water Slide

If you're not into the water park scene, then it seems like Georgia is the place to cool off in the summer. We’ve already told you how to get down in The Hooch, and now we’ve found another rock water slide to entertain on a warm summer afternoon. The two sites are actually pretty close to one another, so if you’re really into water sports, you can go for a double-header.

Tallulah Gorge State Park has a lot to offer. There’s campsites, hiking trails, and waterfalls to help fill your day with fresh air and sunshine. Just try to keep your cool when you cross over the rickety suspension bridge as it sways above the bottom of the gorge. All that other stuff is fine and dandy, but the best part of the park is the natural rock water slide.

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Rock Slides / Water Sports / Active Travel / Arizona Travel / State Parks / → All Tags

Slide Yourself Silly At Sedona's Natural Rock Waterslide

If you need to beat the summer heat of the Phoenix desert, hop in your car and head north towards Sedona. Not only will the weather be slightly cooler, but you’ll also be able to take a trip down a waterslide custom built by Mother Nature. Slide Rock State Park will entertain you with beautiful views of the area’s red rocks as well as provide a little thrill as you slide down the stream.

In the olden days, the park and surrounding area served as an apple farm, but now it greets visitors daily. Right next to the original homestead sits Slide Rock, a slippery bottom creek that serves as a water chute for those looking to get wet. Remember to tell your grandparents that you checked out this place; they’ll love hearing that James Stewart, Rock Hudson, and John Wayne all shot moves here in the 1950s.

For most of the year the fee for carloads to enter the park is $8, but until Labor Day the summer fee will set you back $10. It seems like a pretty good deal to enjoy an afternoon of hiking, sightseeing, and splashing around. Just remember to start your day here early, otherwise you’ll be hovering around looking for a parking spot. They often have to close the lot on weekends, because it’s just so darn popular.

Related Stories:
· Slide Rock State Park [Official Site]
· Cool Off In North Carolina With Nature's Own Water Slide [Jaunted]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: edwindavila]

Beaches / State Parks / Nude Travel / → All Tags

Beach Travel: Don't Know What You've Got Till Its Gone

One particular stretch of sand at San Onofre State Beach, outside of San Clemente, California, has a clothing optional policy--though swimming au naturel is technically illegal. Until now, the law would only be enforced if someone were to have a problem with naked bathers.

Well, according to an editorial in today's edition of the LA Times, some people have started to complain: the park rangers. Apparently, they just don't have time to patrol the area known as Trail 6, where beach goers roam free. But nudity there, it seems, has gotten a little too frisky, and there have been some reports of public sex in the park.

Recently, a judge ruled in favor of the clothing optional individuals, though all that was decided was that they can continue to frolic through the fall. (The parks service can still change the official policy at any time.) Long story short, if you get your kicks from going to the beach in your birthday suit, time may be running out!

Related Stories:
· Saving San Onofre's Naked Beach [LAT]
· Beaches coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: satanoid]

Active Travel / State Parks / Outdoor Travel / Camping / Hiking / → All Tags

Humboldt Redwoods No Longer Doomed

Looks like you'll soon be able to scratch Northern California's redwoods off your "Tourism of Doom" list. But that doesn't mean you should miss camping among the old growth trees or cruising along the Avenue of the Giants--a winding 32-mile stretch of pavement that snakes through a stunning forest landscape.

Last week a coalition of private investors and environmentalists proposed a plan that would take over 200,000 acres of redwood forest in Humboldt County from a bankrupt logging firm, turning most of it over to state parks. (Parts would be left for sustainable logging practices.) The deal has yet to go through, but things look hopeful.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park is a perfect place for travelers journeying down scenic Highway 101 to stop and spend a night. Light up a campfire and marvel at how the trunks stretch into the inky black of night--few things in the world can give you perspective like standing next to a tree that's been alive for 2,000 years.

Related Stories:
· Groups Aim to Save Redwood Forest [San Jose MN]
· Humboldt Redwoods State Park [Official Site]
· World's Best National Parks coverage [Jaunted]

Diving / State Parks / → All Tags

Go Ahead, Skip South Beach

The OC isn't the only place to go urban SCUBA diving. If you're jetting down to Miami to try overrated restaurants, build in some time to scoot south to Key Largo and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Best known as the country's first underwater park, it also has easy diving and snorkeling trips.

Most dives are in the 30-45 feet range, so there's plenty of time to poke around the reefs. (Shallower dives mean more bottom time.) The mandatory dive/snorkel site is Key Largo Dry Rocks, where a Rio-style Christ statue swims with the fishes. More advanced divers will want to check out two sunken Coast Guard cutters complete with swim-throughs. There are plenty of independent dive shops in Key Largo who can take you out, or stick with the park concessionaire.

[Photo: pdxjeff/a.phasia]

Related Stories:
· John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park [Official Site]
· In-park diving [Official Site]