Gary was very accommodating and did everything he said he would do and beyond. He told us what to…read morebring, showed us where to park, took us to see the sea lions up close, brought fish food so the fish would swim around us while he took videos for us. Once in a lifetime experience. Thank You Gary!

Some people can afford to go to the South of France or some extravagant location for adventure but…read morewhy would I do that when there are so many beautiful places to explore here in Southern California. I grew up here in Los Angeles county, always just a few minutes away from the beach but every time I made it out to the water all I ever did was sit out on the sand or occasionally dip my feet. I didn't want my family to do the same. I want my kids to take full advantage of their surroundings. Enter Gary Golding. He is a human encyclopedia of this environment and how to navigate it. I felt more at ease with him as our tour guide And much more open about exploring and trying new things. I would have never gone out to Zuma beach on my own but there I was with my family having the time of our lives snorkeling and mingling with nature. Now keep in mind you can come to him with an idea of what you want to do or give him a general idea and let him plan it out. I would suggest a kayaking adventure which can be done at different locations. Since we have such great weather here in So Cal it's a year round opportunity. He is very knowledgable and enthusiastic and you'll be surprised how much you learn when the day is done. I can't wait until our next adventure.

This review is of the HQ office. If you are coming for a pass make sure you call to confirm they…read morehave it in stock. I've come here twice to purchase on short notice when it's sold out at other retailers. Interior is very nice. If you buy an America the beautiful annual pass it is good until the end of the next same month the following year so best to buy at the beginning of a month. Only issue was when I went to do tap to pay it didn't work with my iPhone and I had to use my physical card

Known for their expansive hikes and gorgeous views, the Los Angeles National Forest is my go-to for…read morescenic walks and morning exercise! I love choosing between trail heads to try out, and seeing all the sweet dogs on the trail!

We took a little walk on the wild side to Murphy Ranch. This areas has a lot of history as was…read moresuspected to be a hide out for those individuals who sympathize with Nazis. The ranch was later raided after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Afterwards became a place for artists and then the buildings were deserted and left to rot away. Give that these buildings draw people who like to party and graffiti, some of the structures have been destroyed. As you can see from the pictures there are still some structures that draw people in. Beyond these buildings there are some gorgeous views on the four mile loop. The loop consist of views of the mountains and a stream that is sometimes dry. Note the trail has a lot of steps: and they are short and narrow. The area not only draws hikers but a lot of mountain bikers. Hikers be careful on the trails as many bikers were not using bells. Lastly, there is not parking at the trailhead. You have to walk in about a half mile to trailhead. Available parking is limited as most areas say do not park.

This is more an interesting journey than an actual difficult hike, and I truly hope they never tear…read morethe structures down (but sounds like it'll eventually happen. The first time I came out here I passed Adam Sandler in his golf cart and thought "what are the odds that I'm going to a 'Hitler-linked' property and I just happened to pass one of the most famous Jews in Hollywood!" The hike is fine and a decent workout, but obviously the attraction itself is the history of the property. This 3.8 mile loop trail takes you down into the ruins of Murphy Ranch - a small parcel of land with an almost legendary history. This hike takes you from a popular fire road hike in view of the Pacific Ocean and peaks of the Santa Monica Mountains down long and winding sets of staircases to land that has been the home of Nazi sympathizers, an unusually uptight artists' colony, and the Boy Scouts. This hike can be easy to moderate, depending on the season and your level of adventure.

Consider this hike when you need a fun, low-impact, and nature-ous experience! However, parking is…read morequite aways from the actual entrance; there are some hills and dips, but it is a great full body workout for everyone and anyone. The waterfall at the end of the hike is so pretty and it has a bench for you and others to enjoy the view.

Place is open. Fun hour of walking and hiking. Parking is the only issue as you have to park down…read moreoff of PCH unless you get one of the lot spots. Watch out for parking in no parking zones. Saw cars being ticketed. The walk wise, I counted 4 light easy streams you have to walk through on branches and rocks. The trail is fairly easy and moderate to do. About 30min to get down to waterfall. Fun way to spend time with family.

What an amazing morning in our public lands right here in Los Angeles! Catching the sunrise was…read morephenomenal and there were beautiful vistas in every direction. The Bird Sanctuary Trail is only a mile and a half trail with a bit of elevation, but so worth the visit. Good tread on your trail shoes help especially on the descent. Two thumbs up!

The beginning of the trail is very steep but it's worth the climb. Great access to connect to…read moredifferent parts of the trail and choose your own adventure.

This was definitely a medium to hard trail in the summer because of the heat and some of the areas…read morethat require one's attention as there is a hillside next to you. We started at 9am ish and I would definitely start at 7am in the future because of the heat in august. The water fall was still there! People got in and the water was refreshing and cool. We found that tadpoles were transforming into frogs in the water so I recommend mindfulness to not step on them as they learn how to properly swim! Tips from our hike and waterfall visit: - we had sufficient water and first aid kit - we took various water breaks - we added mosquito repellent as are some - we had all trails gps to help us navigate trail first time - bring shoes with good ankle support - I would bring electrolytes next time - I would do 3-4-snacks vs. 1-2 next time

Birthday Shaynanigans at Tujunga Falls !!…read more Decided to go on a little adventure on my birthday and got out of San Diego to explore Tujunga Falls. Don't forget to get an adventure pass if you plan to park alongside the road or you'll get a ticket ! It's October so the falls were DRY. Boo. I would love to go back when we get a bit more rainfall, because the waterfalls were non-existent at this time. We ended up calling it 'invisible' falls. Other than that, the hike was great ! It's about 6 miles round trip and took us about 3 hours including taking pictures and testing out a friend's drone ! He's sooo cool ! LOL. Plenty of breathtaking views and the trails were wide enough for a group of hikers. Things to note: Start early so you can avoid the heat ! This will determine how long the hike will take you ! The sun was unforgiving so be prepared ! 'Trail' and 'waterfall' signs will help guide your way ! You'll also notice cabins at the beginning of the trail. After about a mile, you'll experience more of an incline so make sure to stay hydrated. There's barely any shade on this trail so bring a hat and sunscreen as well ! Poison ivy everywhere ! I had a traumatic experience in 6th grade camp when I got poison ivy. I made sure to cover my arms and legs this time just to take precaution. Rattlesnakes !!! We spotted one !!! Eek !! Be cautious of your surroundings. Unstable log bridges !! There was barely any water so hopping on the logs was an option, but do be careful because some are barely stable. Good to have some proper hiking shoes for this. Overall, most of the crossings and lack of water made it easy to traverse. As we got closer to the falls, we found a major descent and a climbing rope which guided us towards the waterfall (or invisible fall). The rope helped aid us up and down the mountain which was great ! Once you reach the waterfall (invisible falls) you'll enjoy the much needed shade and it was a perfect spot to take a fruit break ! We packed some oranges and apples with us ! There's plenty of spots to sit, relax, and enjoy nature ! Overall, it was a pretty good workout for moderate and advanced hikers ! We definitely made a few stops to take pictures and videos of our surroundings ! It was so calm and peaceful ! Perfect time to enjoy mother nature ! We will definitely come back to experience the REAL DEAL of the waterfalls ! Go out there and hike friends !!

Never been here but all trees deserve 5 stars, respect, and love as members of our planet.read more

In this world where technology was developed to better connect us, it unfortunately sometimes seems…read moreto bring us further apart ...except here on Yelp ;) of course. Please know and believe that someone will always be there for you even though you feel like you're alone ...hope this tree reminds and inspires you of such, being true. As the book "The Giving Tree" (written by Shel Silverstein in 1964) is about a little boy and a tree that was there for him, through out his lifetime ... Hiked to the Wisdom/Giving tree via the Wonder View Trailhead. If you aren't use to hiking this could be a challenging, uphill, less than 1 mile hike. Not much shade this route. Bring water wear a hat and sunblock, especially in this summer heat. Limited free parking. Stay safe and healthy (mind, body and soul) Yelping out there :)

A buddy traveled to Bhutan with The Travel Yogi and loved it. But when she suggested their Peru…read moretrip, I was hesitant. Seeing Machu Picchu has been on my bucket list for 20+ years, but this would be a bit dear to the wallet. Then she mentioned staying there. Wait, what?!? Did that mean we'd stay at a bucket list hotel of mine? Emails were sent and Jennifer confirmed. Yes, staying at the Sanctuary Lodge was a highlight of this trip. WooHoo! So, arrangements were made, permissions asked, the passport placed on expedited renewal and the deposit placed. Subsequent payments in installments were very helpful. The itinerary is very well planned. The yoga instructor changed and ended up being Kilty who also led my buddy in Bhutan. She is very lovely inside and out and was a joy to practice with. Their partner in Peru took care of everything and more. Phenomenal hotels, fantastic food, and loads of peeks into the Peruvian culture. And you can't ask for a better guide than Miguel Pacsi. Good guides "will know when to slow down or quicken the pace as they are actively reading the client's demeanor," and Miguel did just that. He's hyper-aware of the group, observed us on a hike early in the trip and was able to make our one day hike on the Inca Trail doable within our limits. And you can tell Miguel loves his country as he happily shared his knowledge of the local culture, history, and geography.  Thanks to this trip, I've checked off two items on my bucket list and have fabulous memories that will last.

In 2023, I had the opportunity to visit Panama with this exceptional travel and yoga company. I…read morereceived phenomenal, top-notch service from everyone who works there. This company could give lessons to corporations on the meaning and value of "customer service" because no one does it better than The Travel Yogi. Everyone on the team made me feel welcome, as if I were part of a family. Before departing for Panama, everyone at the company replied almost immediately and thoroughly to my email messages and many questions. Everyone kept me informed and safe at all times during my travels to, from, and within Panama. The places visited and the experiences offered during this trip felt customized to my group's interests. The Travel Yogi is in a class by itself when it comes to customer service--unbelievable in the best possible way! Furthermore, the yoga instructors are highly knowledgeable, welcoming, and friendly to all. Among the members of my Panama group, the amount of yoga experience greatly varied. No matter--both yoga instructors made all of us feel comfortable; inspired and encouraged everyone; and adjusted their morning and evening yoga classes according to everyone's energy levels each day. These days, it's rare to get what you pay for. The Travel Yogi, however, provides much more than what you'll pay at every level, from trip preparation to travel experiences and excursions to the yoga classes, etc. Highly recommend!