Such a beautiful day is always had here. Between the quiet solace of the sun while meandering along trails and the Pacific Ocean at the Torrey Pines State Reserve, and the drop-dead gorgeousness of the naturally occurring nature and its many varieties, your heart and peaceful spirit will always be soothed and satiated after spending a leisurely time here. Bring a friend, loved one, or significant other along to experience the abundance of the amazing beauty that still surrounds us today. read more

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Torrey Pines is a gorgeous park just north of La Jolla. For a small parking fee, they offer beautiful cliff views, beach-side walking and hiking trails, and seasonal blooms. The views are great. Personally, I prefer La Jolla, but this is very suitable for someone looking for a casual walk/hike without the crowds. They have many benches and are far more intimate than surrounding beaches. I'd love to enjoy a sunset here, but unfortunately, cars must be out of the top lot by 7pm. They do, however, have an abundance of port-a-pottys in the lot. Well-preserved and very walkable, Torrey Pines is worth at least one visit. read more

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3/30/26 update: We paid $15 for the entrance fee on a Monday. I believe it would cost more on a holiday or weekend. You have the option to park in the lower parking lot or the upper. We parked in the upper because it's closer to the hiking trails. I would park in the lower parking lot if you wanted to spend more time at the beach. We went on the Razor Point Trail, Beach Trail, and Yucca Point. The Beach Trail has more than 100 stairs that go down to the beach. We spent about 2 hrs in total there. We took pictures and videos. Make sure you wear sneakers, a hat, sunglasses, bring water, and sun tan lotion. read more

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So Cal is full of gems and this is one of them ! Beautiful place , great hikes , beautiful beaches and delicious food . Highly recommend. read more

Torrey Pines State Reserve - Parks Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Honestly, Torrey Pines is just one of those places I never get tired of. The beach trail is my go-to and it takes you all the way down to the beach and the views along the way are just chef's kiss. The hike is pretty chill, just a couple of uphills here and there, nothing crazy. It's the kind of place that genuinely makes you feel good, like actually resets your soul a little. Living in San Diego and being so close to a gem like this? Super grateful for that! The trails are always in great shape and there's usually enough space to spread out, just don't sleep on arriving early on weekends or you'll be fighting for a spot!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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Favorite parking lot is north beach- easy access to the bathroom and shower nozzle. With the new extended ramp down the beach it's much more accessible when bringing down the wagons filled with tents and chairs etc. just noticed the shared toy box by the restroom for those impromptu visit with the kiddos. read more

Torrey Pines State Reserve - Parks Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Beautiful place to hike amongst some of the rarest pine trees on the planet. Also a great place to go the beach. Pricing for parking is not cheap but the fee seems to vary by demand. I drove to the top and was able to pay online for my parking fee ($20.00). Look out for hikers in the road, despite multiple signs telling them to stay out of lanes. Stunning views of the coast and lots of cool native plants to visit. Highly recommended! read more

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3/1/2026 Update: Upper road and Trails open! Yay! Upper parking lot still has Porta-potties. Looks like they just got rid of old restroom building. Trails still nice lovely. Bottom stairs near Flat Rock open. Check the tides before you go. You don't want to get caught by water and cliffs (cliff dangerous if walking under; follow posted warning signs). Sunset and views of La Jolla are awesome as always. Cheers. read more

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Our family enjoyed their first visit to Torrey Pines for an extended hike and walk along the beach. Weekdays the entrance fee is $15 and $20 for the weekend. The trail was well-attended late Monday morning but not so crowded that we felt rushed to move along. Certain areas require more caution due to being slippery or harder to maneuver with rocks and less obvious dedicated areas to place one's feet. The beach was not crowded and allowed us to have a semi-private experience observing sea life and marveling at the landscape. read more

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Iconic beach in La Jolla! Incredible scenery and the crispiest fresh air. Clean. Free parking can be challenging, but be patient or find paid parking. Loved strolling the beach barefoot while feeling the breeze and water. read more

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Beautiful spot. Headed out for a hike along the beach in Oct. Underestimate when high tide was coming in. We got there around 9ish and parked and headed out on the trail. We saw a sign saying High tide was coming at noon. By the time we reached the coast it was 10am, the water was very close to the stairs already. Our plan to walk along the coast back to our car ended shortly. We didn't have water shoes or else that would have been doable. Next time we will check the high tide schedule! And come way before the 2 hour mark. Probably at least 4hours to be safe. Nonetheless it was a nice spot to check out read more

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We came here on a Sunday mid-morning and was pleasantly surprised to find parking. In fact, while there were a lot of people, it wasn't super crowded (and yes, it was still a sunny day). Be aware there is a daily fee based upon demand, so the parking price may change. Today, it was $20. We drove up the cliff to the top parking lots. Today, there was ample parking. We stopped by the information center, and the docents and staff were very helpful. Most importantly is my pic of the trails and trailheads - they don't hand out paper maps. The other notable, is there isn't restroom facilities at the information center. You'll have to cross the street to the other parking lot and use the blue portable outhouses. (They did have separate pump water hand washing stations - not totally roughing it.) The trails were easy to find and stay on - being quite wide and well groomed (its sandy, there are steps and some stairs). Overall, the trails are under a few miles and its easy to reverse course and go back, if you don't want to walk the entire trail. As you can see from my pics, the views were great. The salt air was great. The cliffs were great. And my companion, my wife, was even greater! read more

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A gorgeous, GORGEOUS beach that is only a half hour away from downtown San Diego. Sweeping views of the ocean, easy hikes, and an active rail line only 40 feet from the water, AM I DREAMING? Thankfully, no. This all exists... for now. Erosion is slowly eating away at the park and its gorgeous cliffs. It probably will not happen in most of our lifetimes, but eventually this park and everything around it will be pulled into the ocean. Enjoy it now because this beautiful park should be closely guarded for future generations. It really is a splendor to the human spirit. Make sure you give yourself time to find some parking because it can be difficult in the summer. read more

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Beautiful ocean views & easy trails! PARKING: You can park for free before the State Park entrance OR enter the State Park & pay the fee of $15. There's plenty of parking inside the park but might be crowded during the weekends. TRAIL LEVELS: The majority of the trails you decide to take are fairly easy or moderate! Torrey Pines is the perfect spot for beginner hikers. I saw families that brought their stroller, little toddlers and much older people hiking here. Just stay on the trail & do your research before hand. OTHER THINGS: - Don't pluck the flowers, its a $400 fine :) - I did not see any trash here (YAY). Please practice leave no trace. - There are rattle snacks, watch your step & surroundings. - There are restrooms in the parking lot. - Wear shoes that have good grip, there are certain areas where you can easily slip. read more

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I think parking is actually $15 per car and not $20... I'm also sad to see the devastation of many of the Torrey Pines and prickly pears...I think drought and bark beetles have caused this...I'll have to ask the nature center staff about it. We did see a good film at the nature center about the Torrey Pines, which I'd highly recommend. The center carries many helpful books and unique gifts from local artists. I've been purchasing the beautiful Torrey Pines mugs from Connie Beardsley for decades! We also recently went on the longest trail (North Fork?) and it was just as lovely as ever...it's a loop that you can take down to the beach (I skip that part during high tide). read more

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THE PERFECT HIKE FOR NON-HIKERS If the idea of hiking makes you groan, panic, or show aversion --you're not alone. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve benefits every soul. You don't have to be fit. You don't have to be a "hiker." It's healing for mental health. It's rewarding for a neurobrain lift. You can bring your babies, your grandma, your partner - or just yourself. And all will be well. 5 Reasons Why You Need to Get On The Bandwagon 1. It's stunning with almost no effort. Even the easiest, flattest paths give you ocean views, blooming flowers, unique bluffs, and greenery --without actually breaking a sweat. 2. You can choose your own adventure. Want to stroll? There's a trail for that. Want to climb a little? There's a trail for that too. Want to sit on a bench and just bask in nature, cool. Nothing is too long, too scary, or too overwhelming. 3. It's mental health magic. Salt air, sunshine, breeze, beauty, & soft wind --if you don't come out thinking and feeling better after marinating in natural peace, joking aside, consider psychiatric assistance. 4. Parking is tricky. Parking is $20. Several lots in the reserve. Or you can park on the street, rarely available parking. Or you can park half a mile up street parking, $4 per hour. Or you can park on the opposite side of Torrey Pines, street is free or the other paid lot. It'll be a 10 to 15 minute walk to the reserve. 5. It's beautifully inclusive. Toddlers. Teens. Groups. Bikers. Elderly. Canes. Runners. Walkers. Hikers Dogs are not allowed. And should not be. But I know you sneak in early, bring dogs, & leave all their poop on the trails. So disrespectful!! Torrey Pines isn't a place you have to conquer. It's a place that carries you. HOT TIPS *If walking is not your thing. Hang out at the beach. *The City Transit drops you off right in front of The preserve there are no excuses. *Visit the visitor center *Bird watching best early morning or before sunset "Take a list of good things you want to multiply and symbolically submit them to the ocean." read more

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TORREY PINES STATE RESERVE @ LA JOLLA THE BEST place for hikes! I've always went on all the trails here, it's always clean, a beautiful walk and such a great view from everything in nature! There is indeed a parking lot for $20 per car, or you can easily find street parking on the side of up the neighborhoods, I'd recommend it, it's short and free. The trail itself can be short to long, depending on which ones you choose. I went on the Guy Fleming which was a beautiful view and it was about a mile or so. Not too bad, you do go up hills so prepare for it. It does get busy, but it's nice to see everyone else getting their steps in for the day! Overall, i'd recommend everyone to come here for a hike. It's a must in San Diego! read more

Torrey Pines State Reserve - Parks Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Going to Torrey Pines has always been one of my favorite things to do in SD. It's beautiful and there's not much to say except don't miss it, if you're visiting from out of town. You can walk along the beach, or hike along the cliffs, and if you pay to go into the reserve it's $15 for a day rate and it's fully worth it. You can drive to the top of the hill and hike around from there. Beautiful day to be out there when we went! read more

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I recently met some tourists from the east coast who flew into town to see John Scalzi speak at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore (which I highly recommend, and heck, that's a great reason to come to San Diego). Excellent reason to come to San Diego. They were going to go hiking in Annies Canyon the following day, along with a few other "todos" of the San Diego variety. I recommended them the hiking along Torrey Pines, as while Annies is a certain type of beauty the views from Torrey's can't be beat. Even better - you can do both in the same day. If they were looking for that "real" California experience, well...when the tide is low at Annie's it can smell a little, and I would prefer to leave them with something a bit more refreshing, so to speak. I adore going hiking at Torrey Pines. Its an easy hike, and a great way to just, well, relax. If a few tourists who say "isn't that the golf course?" end up in this place of beauty, well, I think that's ok too. Sharing is caring, and they need to take the views back with them. read more

I'm a little late on my reviews but I had such an amazing hike at Torrey pines National Park in January! Parking lot in park charges $20 for all day parking. (Park hours) The trail we went on was moderate and there's plenty of different trails throughout the park you can choose to hike. The weather was perfect in January for a hike. The weather was around 60 degrees but body started warming up 20 minutes into the hike. I really suggest wearing hiking shoes or shoes with good grip. I wore running shoes (ASICS Gel- nimbus) and busted my butt walking down a few steps near the beach. read more

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I absolutely love the combination of hiking and beach views available at Torrey Pines State Reserve. Sometimes I just want a beach walk. If the tide is high, I might choose to hike up the hill. If I'm short on time, I might just drive up the hill and do a quick trail. No matter what, the views are spectacular and will always make you happy you came! I love the state beach parking pass because sometimes we just go for a beach picnic and see the sunset. We don't feel like we need to stay a long time to get our money's worth. We've used it in Coronado, Carlsbad, Cardiff, etc. So, it's really convenient to park at state beaches. read more

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Definite worth the visit - with breathless vistas and incredible biodiversity - I'll be back to check out more trails. If you opt to do the beach trail to flat rock- it's is a gradual descent ... but be prepared for 100 plus steps (in particular the narrow staircase type steps at the end to flat rock) and some gradual switch backs... but it's so worth it!! The staff at the visitors center are super helpful and will let you know what trails might suit the distance and hiking ability you are seeking. They also provide a junior ranger program and a guided hike in the morning. The store also has interesting educative geological/ historical info and souvenirs reasonably priced. Parking was $25 on the weekend but it gives you access to the parking lot near the beach or drive further up to hiking trails. Well worth it for the adventures! read more

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Beautiful area to go hiking! The Guy Fleming loop trail is recommended for nice, scenic views by the coast. After the loop, continue on to Beach trail, but make sure to stop by the other points of interest along the way! read more

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Beautiful vibes beautiful times! The views are so nice here! We came here to do a family shoot and enjoy the outdoors! There is a parking lot at the bottom and you can take the walk up to any of the trailheads to hike. Alternatively, you're able to drive to the start of a trailhead and then do the hike. We had our dad with us who struggles with steps, so we appreciated being able to drive to the bottom and take a trail that didn't have too many steps. Definitely worth the hike and plan to spend some time! read more

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Absolutely beautiful place to hike and spend time. You can either walk up the large hill (pretty good workout!) or pay to drive to the top with parking spots. A lot of the trails are accessible and we were able to bring my 90 year old grandma to enjoy the scenery. My favorite spots are the red butte and the beach trail which leads from the top of the cliffs down to the beach. We bring everyone who visits San Diego to Torrey Pines Reserve! It's a lucky day when sharks or dolphins can be spotted from the cliffs read more

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I can see why this is such a popular hike! The ocean, the rock formations, the stone beach, and the easy trails around the cliffs makes for a spectacular hike and experience. It was a cold day in December but there were so many people out still. We did the reverse hike route, starting with the rocky beach and I think it was a good idea. The rocks were challenging and we got through that part first and took our time with the amazing photos. I would do this hike over and over again. There are easy portions that anyone can do. There were docents out explaining the wild life also. We were lucky to find street parking. Otherwise there is a paid lot. Please come out and create your own adventure. read more

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Looking for something to do when in the San Diego area. Check out Torrey Pines its a great place to get away for a few hours and bonus it's by the beach. Plenty of trails to choose from or experience all of them. Parking is $20 weekends. Walk the trails and make your way down to the beach. It's ok to be a novice to enjoy Torrey Pines. People of all ages are enjoying the trails. Experience this place at least once. You'll feel recharged after. read more

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This is an amazing place for you to come and enjoy nature, and experience the Earth! And I mean it; There was sand inside my socks! Easy hike on the Guy Fleming Trail. Cool breezes, clear skies, and amazing views! We parallel parked in the street with the first row of houses. Plenty of spaces, easy parking. Then we walked along the beach and looped once around the Guy Fleming trail. It was total 2 hours. I wish we had more time today to visit the other trails and the visitor center up there. Restrooms are located on the beach by the parking, at the beginning of the preserve. The beach area has picnic tables for you to have lunch at. I will definitely come back to check out the other trails read more

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This is pay to enter state park. Restrooms and tables and walking loops. A nice pleasant way to walk a little, watch the surfers and maybe have a sandwich. Pelicans and dolphins can be seen from the beach. Waves were small under 4 feet. Great spot read more

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Such a scenic hike. North side was closed so we parked at the south reserve parking.parking is 20$ all day. We went on parry grove trail which was short but had 118 steps. The stone steps were steep at some points but not impossible. This was our second trail. We did the north grove fleming a few months back. Now left is Yucca trail which is supposed to be the best as it goes down to the beach. A must when in San Diego. read more

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A beautiful park! Wish we had more time there. Came here in a recommendation by other conference goers and it was a great relaxing getaway

The most challenging part of our hike was figuring out where to park. The website indicates South Beach entrance and North Beach entrance. We tried both lots and they are far from the trails. We finally made our way to the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve at 12600 N. Torrey Pines Rd., and then went up a hilly road to the 2 parking lots by the lodge. There's a QR code you scan to pay for your parking ($20 a day). Maybe you can get away without paying, but we didn't want to risk a $70 ticket. From this location, you're at the start of all the trails. Once situated with parking, we find a large map of all the trails. Their website showed a large section that was closed for repair, but turns out there is only a very small path that's closed now (9/28/24, see pic). We met a ranger as we were looking over the map, and she recommended: Trail head to Flat Rock, down to beach, back up to Broken Hill Trail, slight detour to Broken Hill Trail overlook, then back down to Southfork Trail, then paved road back to parking lot. This was a great 3+ mile hike with lots of gorgeous views of canyons and ocean. The trails where well marked and maintained from all the repairs they did over the summer. Lots of stairs, but nothing difficult at all. The views were spectacular, and some of rocky parts reminded me of Arizona. We saw lots of native plants along the way, including yucca trees, cactus, and of course, the Torrey Pines (very rare pine tree only in San Diego.) Totally worth the $20 parking. read more

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This is not my favorite natural area in SD, nor do I consider any of the paths to be actual "hiking trails", but it is a beautiful location nonetheless. Parking is hectic and pricey; I have been here many times with friends. We have paid to park along the beach and up the hill. I'm frugal; I'd rather park-and-walk from across the 5 freeway for free. There's a safe passageway to get to the beach-side. The trails are fairly well-maintained, but I did see so much garbage all over. Whhhhyyyy can't people stop littering?! I'm sure it would be worse if dogs were allowed here; I am actually thankful they're not as I suspect poo bags would be everywhere. All the walks are pretty easy; there's narrow steps and rails in some places. The terrain is a bit uneven; I recommend walking poles. Overall, this is a nice way to spend a few hours but no matter the day or time, the paths are crowded and people are loud (and obnoxious- I saw many upset red ants where people poured water on their homes). Pros: - location and views - restrooms up the hill and below - easily walkable - modest loops and short paths Cons: - narrow paths - trails not always open - people litter - expensive parking - no shade or trees - loud ambience; many obnoxious people - if your intention is a good workout, this is not the place for you read more

Torrey Pines State Reserve - Beach path was open! Lovely views! - Parks Near Me - La Jolla, California

We found this beautiful spot while driving by. We ended up stopping to take a walk and look at the view. We parked along the street and paid for parking at the parking pay station. We did not go down to the beach here, but we had fun walking along the trail leading up to the beach and of course stood by an outlook area to oversee the amazing beach view from above. Next time, if we are back and have more time, we would definitely make a trip down to the beach here. read more

This park is not far from the grand Del Mar about 10 minutes. The drive is beautiful and there is a lot of parking outside of the park for about a quarter of a mile as well as in the park which comes at a cost of $20 per vehicle. They have lots of parking right at the entrance and you can also drive up And park at the top to have a short walk to the overlook. The trails are super well-maintained and the views are incredible. I would recommend the beach loop trail which is about 2 1/2 miles. It takes you through the visitor center the overlook the broken hill trail, which has the iconic Torrey Pines Vista. There are signs that say hike at your own risk and I think it's referring to going down the steps which are totally doable. He just have to take it slow because it could get slippery. You also do touch the beach so you might get your toes wet if you go during high tide read more

Torrey Pines State Reserve - Parks Near Me - La Jolla, California

Love the hike. Parking was a little tricky. Had to park on the other side of the freeway since the gates were closed. Otherwise, one we got to the start of the trail my kids loved it. Ending the hike on the beach is just amazing every time read more

Torrey Pines State Reserve - Beach Trail - Parks Near Me - La Jolla, California

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National Park area. The only way to access the park is through the ranger booth by the beach area. Entry is $15. You can park in the private beach lot or drive up the mountain to trailhead parking. I parked by the trailhead which is right by the former lodge turned welcome center. The Welcome Center has a mini museum with exhibits on local animals, insects, plants, and flowers. There is also a small gift shop. The trails all begin at the same trailhead across the street. The trails are sandy for 90% of the trails. You don't have to worry about getting lost because most of the trails are roped off. To get down to the beach on the beach trail you will need to descend about 100 randomly placed steps. It was not that difficult. The beach is more dark sand and large stones. You can swim but be careful with the rip currents. Yucca point and Razor point offer some absolutely gorgeous views. Check out red bluff as well. You do not need any fancy gear for this hike. I saw a lot of people doing it in flip flops and sandals. Definitely bring water. Also there are no garbage cans on the trails so take your trash with you. I did the beach trail, Yucca, Razor, and Red Bluff and it was about 3 miles which took me 1 hour 30 minutes at a leisurely pace with photo stops. read more

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this may be one of the most beautiful sunset views on earth. the entire planet yes. the elevation of torrey pines over the pacific coast makes it a pretty unique place to view the sunset, and theres tons of open space to hike and/or walk around undisturbed by humans for the most part. the main parking lot at the gliderport is usually pretty busy around sunset but throughout the day usually has spots if youre looking to park there and hike down any of the trails to the beach (or vice versa). the beach is also super nice since its not easily accessible tbh, and its never really that crowded. the views are pretty insane and I think its hard to top especially in the states maybe besides hawaii. san diego is top tier as usual and this is definitely one of the places that make it so good read more

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We had such an amazing time at the Torrey Pines State Reserve. We went there and were amazed at the beauty of it. We paid the entrance fee because it seemed way too far and steep to walk up the hill. You can park for free at the beach but I am too old for that. We drove all the way up to the top and easily parked but it was crowded even on a Thursday! We first went to a little fun area that volunteers had set up to learn about the wildlife, do a puzzle, and match animal cards to skulls. It was fun and the docent was such a nice, friendly guy. Then we began hiking. It is steep but easy enough even for a lazy person like me. We went walking up and down to the beach and stopping to enjoy the views. It was a wonderful time with my son. I highly recommend it. read more

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What's better than a walk on the beach after a long day's drive? Sand beneath my toes, the cold kiss of water at my feet. It was scenic, it was pretty epic. read more

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