I grew up in San Luis Obispo, and I moved to San Diego for college. I love any chance I get to go back.
Covid made me love it even more. Everything slowed down, and a lot of my time there was with my family, getting outside in ways that felt safe and social. We walked, we hiked, we found new corners of a town I thought I already knew.
It made me realize how much you appreciate your own backyard once you really use it. You don't need a big trip to feel like you've gone somewhere. Sometimes it's a trailhead ten minutes from the house you grew up in.
Here are my eight favorites. The first four are the easiest to start with, and the last four are more of a workout.