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How are you staying fit after 65? Tell us about your unique routine

Want to know the secret to longevity? Hint: It can’t be found at the bottom of a serum bottle or at some luxury doctor’s office. The key is to consistently engage in “multicomponent” physical activities that encompass aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and balance training, according to the national Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. For older

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Tell us: What’s your favorite walk in Los Angeles?

At some point in your time living in L.A. you’ve probably heard someone bemoan it as a city built for cars. I’ve never quite understood that complaint. While it may be true that we spend a fair share of our time on freeways, there are thriving pedestrian-friendly pockets tucked all around our unwieldy city. What’s

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L.A. walking guides to help you explore the city by foot

Walking might not be built into the daily life of your average Angeleno, but our city is still full of fantastic places to explore by foot. Our team of experts is constantly scouting the best ones for you and talking to the people and businesses who are keeping our sidewalks vibrant. Whether you’re looking for

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A walkability ranking of L.A. neighborhoods

Admit it, you’re here because you want to see how walkable your favorite (or least favorite, I suppose) L.A. neighborhood is. You want bragging rights, you want your biases confirmed, you want a totally unscientific, more than a little opinionated ranking of Los Angeles neighborhoods by walkability. And we’re here to give it to you.

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6 things to know about L.A.’s whimsical new Balloon Museum

You won’t find any clowns at the L.A. leg of the traveling Balloon Museum, but there are plenty of other carnival-inspired sights and sounds to be experienced: massive inflated tents, queue lines marked by bright primary colors and concessions fit for the midway. The award-winning contemporary art museum unveiled its “Let’s Fly” show last week

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The ultimate holiday gift guide you need in Los Angeles

Credits Creative Director: Amy KingFeatures Editor: Brittany Levine BeckmanLead Gift Guide editor: Marques HarperProject editors: Jen Doll, Philip Gray (books), Betty Hallock (food), Michelle WooWriters: Lisa Boone, Stephanie Breijo, Kailyn Brown, Cindy Carcamo, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Danielle Dorsey, Betty Hallock, Jenn Harris, Jeanette Marantos, Todd Martens, Deborah Netburn, Bethanne Patrick, Christopher Reynolds, Jessie Schiewe, Adam Tschorn,

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What 22 Dodger fans wore for the World Series

The last time the Dodgers were in the World Series, it was in the thick of the pandemic. So all the games were played at a neutral site in Arlington, Texas, and the capacity was capped at 25% of capacity. The big ‘fit that year was face masks. Which is to say, Dodger fans weren’t

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A definitive yet unserious guide to L.A. for Yankees fans

You’re a Yankees fan headed to Los Angeles for the first time. Of course you have questions. After all, you’ve come west from an old, dense, stinky, shrinking, corruption-plagued city while we wait here in a young, sprawling city that’s — well, OK, also stinky, shrinking and plagued by corruption. But we have In-N-Out. And

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Workers turn to van life amid Eastern Sierra housing crunch

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif.  —  Emily Markstein, a sinewy rock climber and skier who has spent seven years living and working in the Sierra resort town of Mammoth Lakes, opens a large sliding door and welcomes a stranger into her home. One of the gleaming multimillion-dollar mansions nestled among towering pine trees and granite peaks in

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Surfer dies after being pierced by a needlefish in Indonesia

An Italian surfer died last week after being impaled by a needlefish in the waters off Masokut Island in Indonesia. Antara, a local news agency, reported that 36-year-old Giulia Manfrini had been surfing at around 9:30 a.m. when the freak accident occurred. For the record: 9:31 p.m. Oct. 22, 2024An earlier version of this article

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A guide to the Santa Ynez Valley, L.A.’s nearest wine country

When Alexander Payne’s wine-drenched dramedy “Sideways” first came out, Santa Ynez Valley didn’t have the luster of Napa or the breadth of the Russian River Valley. It still doesn’t match the touristic draw of either, but the spunky kid sister of the California wine countries has grown up since 2004, when Paul Giamatti and Thomas

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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Julie Bowen

For Julie Bowen, mom of three teenage boys, a perfect Sunday would include plenty of “me time.” “My whole family calls laundry and dishes my ‘hobbies,’” she said. “No, no, my hobbies are reading, going to museums, hiking and playing pickleball. Those are my hobbies. They’re like, ‘No, it’s not. It’s laundry and dishes, Julie.’”

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Hiking inn-to-inn from Santa Monica to San Diego

Approaching Laguna Beach on the hike from Newport Beach to San Clemente. (Tom Courtney) This charming stroll will transport you back to the 1930s, through popular Laguna Beach, with its throngs of tourists and stylish art galleries, to Dana Point, where fishing tourism is big business, and finally San Clemente, equally known for its regal

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Navigating a world-record corn maze tests the human psyche

DIXON, Calif. —  Deep inside one of the world’s largest corn mazes, where the tri-tip sandwiches and soft-serve ice cream purchased at the concession stand have become but a memory and all that can be seen in any direction are dirt paths and dead-end walls of green plants whispering in the breeze, people tend to reveal

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The ‘Little Women Ballet’ leaps into a historic L.A. site

As contemporary Angelenos, seeing the immersive “Little Women Ballet” might be as close as we’ll ever get to stepping into a time machine. The series of dance works about Louisa May Alcott’s beloved 19th century novel are staged inside the stately Victorian homes of Northeast L.A.’s Heritage Square Museum. Dancers and actors are dressed in

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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Charlie Puth

When pop singer-songwriter Charlie Puth first began visiting Los Angeles in the early 2010s, he remembers landing at a house near Mount Olympus with an incredible view. Though he‘d only recently become a legal adult, he’d already built a following as a YouTuber, posting covers and singing intro songs for popular creators on the platform.

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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Sasheer Zamata

Here’s a shortlist of American cities Sasheer Zamata has called home: Brooklyn, N.Y.; Charlottesville, Va.; Indianapolis; Lexington, Ky.; San Antonio; and Riverside. The actor, comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” star was a self-described military brat, born in Okinawa, Japan, and never staying in one place for more than two years throughout her childhood. The

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Universal Studios rolls out its first all-female monster maze

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, like all major theme park haunt events, hopes to scare its guests. But Universal’s key architect this year wanted to raise a different question: Is it possible to create a haunted maze that’s a tragedy? It’s a challenge, but John Murdy has approached the haunted house as a

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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Tony Hawk

Even though he officially retired from competition more than two decades ago, skateboarding legend and entrepreneur Tony Hawk seems to be everywhere these days. If you’re an avid video game player, you can watch him (or maybe even help him) defy gravity in a long-running series. If you watch TV, you might catch him pitching

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Sunday Funday in Los Angeles with Tinx

From an early age, Christina Najjar, better known by her moniker Tinx, recalls the grip that “Sunday scaries” had on her household. “I remember my dad being kind of stressed out, and it was the day that everybody went to bed early because we were getting ready for the week,” she says. Now that she’s

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Live out your Dungeons & Dragons dreams at downtown L.A. bar

Carlos Leon found himself in a depressed state — a personal relationship was stalling and his career seemed directionless. What he craved was an escape, one inspired by the fantasy worlds he devoured as a child and continued to consume into adulthood. Think those inspired by “The Lord of the Rings” and Dungeons & Dragons,

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Sunday Funday in Los Angeles with Jessica Alba

When Jessica Alba reminisces about her Sundays as a child, the first things that come to mind are sleeping in and having Sunday dinner with her tight knit family. “We would do enchiladas, al pastor or a more elaborate dinner that took more time,” says the Pomona-born actress, adding that one of her fondest memories

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Why some residents of Europe’s hot spots want tourists to stay away

AMSTERDAM —  For people who live in particularly picturesque quarters of charming European cities, the words “Instagrammable” or “Tik-Tok famous” can feel like harbingers of doom. Or harbingers, at the very least, of intense annoyance. Across the continent, this has been a summer of visitor-related discontent. The stresses of over-tourism sometimes spur irate displays directed at

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‘Avatar,’ ‘Coco’ attractions are coming to Disneyland

Walt Disney created it. James Cameron will help add to it. The Disneyland Resort in its seventh decade is getting a new area dedicated to a world of fantasy, this one having originated from the mind of filmmaker Cameron. A long-teased “Avatar”-inspired section is coming to Disney California Adventure. The Walt Disney Co. confirmed the

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5 great campsites near L.A. that are local favorites

Los Angeles is brimming with special slices of nature, tucked high in the mountains or along the coast. So when we put together a guide highlighting some of the best first-come, first-serve campsites in the city, we asked readers to share their favorites too. What we received were notes from nature lovers that waxed poetic

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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Andrew Bird

For Andrew Bird, Sundays hold special meaning. Those were the days when jazz would be etched into his subconscious before sunrise — as a 20-something living in Chicago, he’d doze off to late-night music broadcasts on local radio, listening to greats like Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins. Now, two decades later, Bird’s latest album “Sunday

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2024 Paris Olympics: A close look at the iconic venues

PARIS —  Throngs of tourists flocking to the Eiffel Tower on a warm, humid afternoon cannot help but notice the 2024 Summer Olympics are close at hand. Much of the surrounding gardens have been cordoned off with chain-link fencing, transformed into construction sites with big trucks rumbling in and out. Work crews in hard hats are

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The L.A. resident’s big, wet guide to water in the city

(Photography by Henry Hargreaves; prop styling by Victoria Granof) In L.A., water rules our minds, bodies and yards. That’s why we’re decoding H20 during our city’s most sizzling season. Learn how to filter your tap and optimize your hydration. Discover the best under-the-radar place to buy bottled water in the city. Cool off on a

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Descanso Gardens opens train ride and model railroad garden

All aboard! Starting this week, the Descanso Railroad train ride is open to riders once again. And model trains winding their way around a new railway garden promise to charm a generation of engine-obsessed little kids. Imagine a garden where cedar trunks and fallen branches from nearby oaks uphold an overhead miniature railway, with more

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In defense of Disney adults

There are two words that will strike fear in a grown-up fan of a Disney theme park: Disney adult. While some may wear the designation as a badge of honor, many associate it with a specific form of humiliation. For a Disney adult is typically seen as not an adult at all. Their obsession, detractors

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Tell us: How much did you spend on your summer vacation?

Here in Los Angeles, summer vacation means many different things to many different people. For some it’s a five-week-long trip to Majorca, Spain; for others it’s a long weekend at a Malibu campsite. Some of us will save all year for a big luxurious blowout; others will strategize to minimize costs. According to a recent

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Every Southern California theme park ride, ranked

(Daniel Sulzberg / For The Times) Times theme park critic Todd Martens was handed a wild assignment: Rank every theme park ride in Southern California. The mission was dizzying, literally, as he spent months fastening his seatbelt and zipping through mountains, strapping on AR goggles and floating into fairy tales. He judged each attraction not

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Helpful tips for taking preschoolers to Disneyland

When you figure in the high cost, endless lines, height restrictions and miles of walking, does it ever make sense to take a preschooler to Disneyland? Yes, as long as their adults adjust their expectations, plan carefully and slow waaay down. Because, let’s face it, most preschoolers are too young to understand what Disneyland is

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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Paul Scheer

Paul Scheer’s memoir, “Joyful Recollections of Trauma,” is not just a collection of harrowing — and often humorous confessions — but also a reminder that to persevere, we must strive to maintain our passions. Scheer’s first loves come through in prose, and also on his pair of podcasts — “How Did This Get Made?” with

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Chase Sapphire lounge at LAX: What cardholders should know

While a swanky airport lounge can’t alleviate Los Angeles International Airport’s infamous curbside gridlock, it can make it become a more distant memory. The latest predeparture sanctuary that will land at LAX? It’s from a company best known for its bank branches. Chase announced on Thursday it will open a 9,234-square-foot Sapphire Lounge at Tom

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A roadmap to cannabis tourism spots in Mendocino weed country

Mendocino County, Calif. —  As you drive through some of California’s most storied agricultural land, a few hours north of the Bay Area, you’ll zoom past fields full of plants straining under the weight of their almost-ready-to-harvest bounty. After checking into your boutique hotel, you’ll get to sample some of the local flavor and watch the

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Tell us: What’s your favorite local L.A. campground?

In late November, I prepared myself for one of the most common pastimes of any nature-loving Californian. I got up early and trekked a dozen steps over to my laptop, where I quickly logged onto Recreation.gov to secure a campsite near Yosemite National Park — for Memorial Day weekend. It’s the kind of vacation that

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California climbers use pioneering techniques to summit Mt. Everest

Graham Cooper rejoices after reaching the summit of Mt. Everest. (Alpenglow Expeditions) Sleeping with your head in a bag works. Graham Cooper and Adrian Ballinger, California mountaineers whose acclimatization for Mt. Everest included sleeping at home with their heads in hypoxic tents meant to mimic the agonies of extreme altitude, reached the world’s highest summit

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Splendid day trips you can take from Las Vegas

I have a new system for beating the casinos in Las Vegas: I don’t spend a penny on the slots, the tables or the sports books. Instead, I bet heavily on red and green. Red rocks and green waters, that is. Hiking and kayaking. I tested the system on a series of day trips last

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How to conquer the new Las Vegas

Plan your ultimate trip to always-evolving Las Vegas. Try new immersive experiences and the best places to eat on and off the Strip — including desserts approved by Cake Boss Buddy Valastro. Check out the coolest indie shops and escape the neon lights with fun day trips. Bonus: For relaxing and recovering, find some of

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How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Todd Selby

Skateboarders, creative directors, chefs and hip designers are all captivating subjects for photographer Todd Selby, who has traveled the world for more than 20 years, capturing creatives at home for his blog, the Selby. “I have always been interested in outside-the-box people who live in vibrantly colorful homes,” Selby says. “When I was growing up

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Disneyland’s ‘Fantasmic!’ returns after fire — without a dragon

For more than three decades, Disneyland’s nighttime show “Fantasmic!” has lighted up the Anaheim park’s Rivers of America. A story about our dreams and nightmares centered heavily on Disney’s animated works, “Fantasmic!” has long boasted an assortment of projections, pyrotechnics and fireworks. In 2023, however, a key portion of the show caught fire. A climatic

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The 10 most memorable things to do on the West Coast

I couldn’t help it. In the course of scouting out great adventures for West Coast 101 — our new guide to essential destinations in Baja, California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia — I found myself compiling a personal top 10. I’ll get to that list shortly. But first, an honorable mention. Even if you’ve never

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Las Vegas’ Mirage Resort to close after 34-year run

Once hailed as “Las Vegas’ first 21 Century resort,” The Mirage Hotel & Casino confirmed Wednesday that its iconic volcano outside of its front entrance is going dormant less than a quarter of a century into the new millennium. Owner Hard Rock International announced the hotel will cease operations on July 17, with bookings being

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How to see Yosemite’s moonbows, rainbows that form at night

We met Brian Hawkins, a Redondo Beach mechanical engineer-turned-videographer, in the near-empty lobby of the Yosemite Valley Lodge. It was just after 9 on a Tuesday night in late April. Our hunt was about to begin, but the weather augured poorly. “It’s cloudy, clearing later,” he said. “I would not expect to see anything yet.”

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Meow Wolf announces its Los Angeles venue

Immersive entertainment firm Meow Wolf, whose multiple locations of floor-to-ceiling psychedelic-leaning art have attracted about 10 million visitors across its four venues since 2016, has revealed the location of its in-development Los Angeles-based exhibition. Meow Wolf Los Angeles will be located in a portion of what is currently the Cinemark complex at Howard Hughes L.A.

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Sunday Funday in Los Angeles with Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Since bursting onto the Hollywood scene with memorable performances in shows like “Nurse Jackie” and the critically acclaimed FX drama “Pose,” Michaela Jaé Rodriguez has shown her many dimensions. The Golden Globe winner stars in the Apple TV comedy “Loot,” alongside Maya Rudolph, and “American Horror Story: Delicate,” with Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian; both

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Meow Wolf is coming to Los Angeles. Here’s what to expect

A Meow Wolf exhibition is designed as a dream space, a walk-through floor-to-ceiling collection of psychedelic art with a sci-fi bent and an anything-goes, punk rock spirit. Apples that melodically squeal when squeezed? One can find those in “Omega Mart,” Meow Wolf’s Las Vegas exhibition. A video game that grapples with an uncompromising, impossible-to-please parent?

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Sunday Funday in Los Angeles with singer-songwriter Laufey

Icelandic Chinese vocalist and songwriter Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) has an appreciation for life’s many wonders. It’s apparent in her music, which fuses the sounds of jazz and classical giants past with romantic storytelling, punctuated by a deep vibrato and modern-day references. And it’s apparent in her enthusiasm for her current hometown of Los Angeles. Though

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What to know about California’s newest state park

On June 12, California will open its first new state park in nearly a decade, setting aside 1,600 acres near the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers in the San Joaquin Valley. The park will give visitors a glimpse of what the valley’s waterways were like before the arrival of agriculture, but it

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DisneylandForward: What new attractions will come to Disneyland?

With the city of Anaheim unanimously voting to pass DisneylandForward, the Disneyland Resort will be forever changed. Twice in the last 69 years, Disneyland has been significantly transformed. Four years after the park opened in 1959, Disneyland added its monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and a submarine ride and expanded Autopia. It was a message that

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What to expect on the new TCM tour at Warner Bros. Studios

In 2021, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour created new interactive exhibits focused on the company’s recent history, unveiling areas dedicated to the DC Comics universe and the “Harry Potter” franchise. This week, the popular Studio Tour in Burbank is doubling down on its more distant past. Warner Bros. is now offering a Turner Classic Movies-branded

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What are the wildflowers like in Carrizo Plain right now?

Carrizo Plain National Monument in eastern San Luis Obispo County is one of California’s most iconic wildflower viewing areas, but is this year’s display worth the 150-mile drive from L.A.? If you’re looking for blankets of bright color covering the hills, the answer is no. But if you want a beautiful outing with boundless sky,

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Sunday Funday in Los Angeles with Tia Mowry

Sunday is Tia Mowry’s favorite day of the week because it’s the day that she gets to do whatever she wants. “With my career, there’s always some sort of schedule,” the actor and entrepreneur said. But on Sundays, “it’s just really free-flowing. I mean, yes, there are some routines and traditions that we have on

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Disneyland’s plan to cut down on disability cheats

Disney theme parks have seen the use of their disability services program skyrocket in the last five years. Is it because cheaters are making use of the program to avoid what the majority of park-goers simply endure — the ride queue? For years, park-goers have aired suspicions online about the program being abused. And now

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What to know about Disneyland’s updated Star Tours ride

Disneyland’s Star Tours: The Adventures Continue has proved to be one of the theme park’s most versatile attractions. Though perhaps no longer the groundbreaking technological marvel that it was when it debuted in 1987, the flight simulator ride has shifted with the franchise, withstanding cultural trends and aligning with whichever version of “Star Wars” is

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Old Northern California rail track could become 300-mile hiking trail

More than a century ago, a railroad was constructed to shuttle passengers and redwood logs between San Francisco and Humboldt Bay. Now the since-abandoned train track could be transformed into a 307-mile pathway through remote, wild country along California’s North Coast, a move advocates hope will create a world-class outdoors destination and jump-start the economy.

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What does the future hold for theme parks? 5 trends to look for

The theme park industry is expansive. The catch-all term encompasses your favorite rides, yes, but also an assortment of industries, ranging from architecture to animation to cinema to engineering to writing to game design. And that’s just a surface-level scan. Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s secretive arm devoted to theme park experiences, likes to say

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Anza Borrego: How to see the wildflowers and bighorn sheep

Don’t hold off until summer: March and April are two of the best months for weekend road trips because the wildflowers begin to grow after the winter rain and wildlife can be more active with the abundant greenery and flowing water. I’m glad I didn’t wait. I’m a photographer and longtime nature enthusiast and one

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Walk through this mini-Disneyland in a SoCal backyard

The castle is immaculate, its gold etching regal and its towers a bold shade of sky blue. The band at its gates plays no real instruments, but the musicians look dapper and at the ready. Before it all sits an elongated train station, a mix of Victorian grandeur and small-town affability. Look in the distance

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California libraries may lose free passes to state parks

As California faces a staggering budget deficit, library card holders may soon lose the ability to check out free passes to more than 200 state parks, including popular destinations near Los Angeles. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget for the upcoming year does not include funding for what’s known as the California State Library Parks Pass,

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Sunday Funday with Jay Shetty and Radhi Devlukia

If there was an award for the most wellness-focused couple in Los Angeles, Jay Shetty and Radhi Devlukia would take the cake. In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the

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A slime museum is coming to L.A. this summer

When it comes to healing from grief, there’s often not a simple answer, but there are some recommended standbys. Therapy, of course, is essential, and maintaining close contact with a community also is often recommended. And maybe, perhaps, a bit of slime? Such was the case for Karen Robinovitz, one of the co-founders of the

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12 readers share their favorite trees in L.A.

“At 6601 West 82nd Street, there is the biggest naked coral tree I have ever seen. It’s stunning. Instead of spreading wide, which many do, this tree is both wide and about 50 feet high. In the summer, it’s full of dense green leaves creating beautiful shade, and as the name implies, it is naked

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Inside Bart’s Books, California’s most iconic outdoor bookshop

It’s the open-air bookshelves and palm trees standing sentry in the courtyard. It’s the inventory of more than 100,000 books, including rare finds such as a first American edition of Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey,” It’s the Instagram-famous cats that have dwelled at the shop through the years. It’s the long-standing traditions, like selling some books

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Chris Appleton: How to have the best Sunday in L.A.

In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends. Even if you’ve never heard of Chris Appleton, you’ve definitely seen his work. As a celebrity hair artist, he’s styled the

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Readers share their favorite restaurants and bars in Mexico City

“Everyone has a ‘list.’ That’s your running, messy sheet of restaurants and sightseeing options for your favorite city that you only share with relatives or friends,” writes Times Food editor Daniel Hernandez. After The Times published a series on Mexico City, readers responded to a callout, sharing their favorite places to visit and memories in

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Fall in love with animation at Disneyland’s Pixar Place Hotel

They say you shouldn’t sleep where you work, but Pixar chief Pete Docter means it at as a compliment when he says that Disneyland’s reimagined Paradise Pier Hotel — now branded to the Emeryville-based animation powerhouse — is like “walking into Pixar.” An exaggeration, sure, but the Pixar Place Hotel entryway that greets guests echoes

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Kristen Bell and family kicked out of airport for sleeping

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard were kicked out of an airport — and no, it wasn’t for letting their kids chug some non-alcoholic brewskis. The celebrity couple shared that they dropped $600 buying pillows and blankets so their family could crash in Boston Logan International Airport after flight delays, but they were booted from the

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Disneyland’s Paradise Pier adds Nemo- and Dory-themed features as it converts to Pixar Place

Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Hotel’s long-awaited “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory”-themed slide and splash pad will open Tuesday as the venue continues its transition toward becoming the nation’s first Pixar-themed hotel. Pool patrons can climb three flights of blue stairs to find Crush, the iconic green surfing sea turtle from the “Finding Nemo” movie, directing them

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Blight invades a beloved corner of the San Gabriel Mountains

Moises Rivera and Marisol Medina had a clear vision in mind when they began their summer excursion in the mountains above blistering Los Angeles recently — and that vision definitely included a cooling dip in the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Urged on by images like-minded urbanites have posted to YouTube, Instagram and

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Need a new or renewed U.S. passport? Get ready to wait

A Bay Area family of six had everything arranged for their trip to France at the end of June — except a passport renewal for one of their sons. They’d booked their flights and accommodations in April and gotten a passport appointment in May, paying for expedited service. But one week before the trip, their

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HoloTile Floor, the latest invention by Disney’s Lanny Smoot

Many of Lanny Smoot’s best-known inventions are, at least to nonengineers, more like magic tricks. Floating disembodied heads, a lightsaber that actually expands, retracts and glows and, in his latest sleight-of-hand, a reinvention of the floor. Yes, a floor. Smoot at 68 is the most accomplished modern inventor at the Walt Disney Co., headquartered in

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How the Universal Studios tram tour defined the modern theme park

The Universal Studios tram tour — officially designated as the World-Famous Studio Tour — is today a polished theme park ride, a large-scale attraction bundled with a host of mini attractions within it. From a shark attack referencing Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” to a jaunt through the fake rural amusement park of Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” the

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The greatest trees of Los Angeles

There is a sycamore in the front yard of my grandparents’ house, the house where my father grew up. It is a giant, towering over the home, the yard, the whole neighborhood. Last spring, when my grandmother was fading and the tree was coming into leaf, I stood under the sycamore for a long while,

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Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis put Santa Barbara house on Airbnb

Celebrity power couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have listed their Santa Barbara beach house on Airbnb — for free. The actors announced Tuesday that their oceanfront cottage would soon be available to book for one night only on the home rental website. The listing went up Wednesday, and the booking date is Saturday. “It’s

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Things I wish I could bring with me on my travels

It’s hard to think of a scenario in which being overprepared could be a bad thing. But here’s one: You’re in a foreign country, you have the vocabulary of a 5-year-old in the country’s language and your flight boards in about an hour. The scale at the ticket counter says that your luggage — two

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How to have the best Sunday in LA, according to Kate Berlant

On the stand-up stage, comedian Kate Berlant is a lot — a lot of exaggerated faces, a lot of abrupt free-form physicality and a lot of on-a-dime thematic pivots. She’s brought that same frenetic theatricality to both the small and big screens, including last year’s Emmy-nominated sketch comedy special “Would It Kill You to Laugh?”

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‘Top 100’ best chef: respect Guatemalan Indigenous food

GUATEMALA CITY —  One of Debora Fadul’s earliest childhood memories is traveling in the backseat of her family’s sedan as her father negotiated long, windy roads to far-flung and verdant villages in Guatemala’s interior. In the countryside, her father trained schoolteachers to become better educators while Fadul absorbed knowledge about the richness of Guatemala’s culture, the

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What to do, see and eat at Disneyland’s Lunar New Year celebration

Festival season has begun at the Disneyland Resort, with the annual Lunar New Year celebration landing at Disney California Adventure. Over the past decade, Disneyland’s Lunar New Year festivities have swelled from relatively modest weekend events to extravaganzas spanning multiple weeks and overhauling entertainment and food offerings at the theme park. Running now through Feb.

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Tours Travel

Hundreds are stuck inside Death Valley National Park

Sunday’s tropical storm didn’t just close Death Valley National Park — it also isolated hundreds of residents, visitors and workers when floodwaters shut down California 190 and other park roads. By 12:10 p.m. Monday, park management analyst Abigail Wines said, “We are optimistic we will have an exit route by this evening. Caltrans is amazing.”

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Tours Travel

The ultimate guide to ice climbing in California

Thwack! Thwack! Thud! Oh, thank god, my whole body exclaimed. After a few swings, the razor-sharp pick I clutched lodged firmly into a cascading frozen waterfall. Shards of ice exploded from the point of contact onto my face. A taste of blood. At least the hold seemed solid. I raised one foot and kicked the

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Tours Travel

How to have the best Sunday in LA, according to Charo

Charo has always been larger than life. From her bedazzled, Day-Glo-colored costumes to her signature sky-high ponytail, the multihyphenate performer has always married the gaudy glitz of Vegas showgirls with a sense of humor. “I choose to be like that — a stupid beach with an attitude,” she quipped on our call. “During the day,

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Tours Travel

A guide to hiking and backpacking in the High Sierra

“Have you ever heard of the cowboy straddle?” my partner, Emanuel, asked. Without waiting for a reply, he hoisted himself onto a log suspended above a rushing stream and began using branches on either side — as if clutching the horns of a steer — to leapfrog across. It marked one of many stream crossings

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