No matter where you live, sometimes it’s easy to forget to venture out and explore new places. Luckily, Southern California offers some of the most beautiful scenery, oceans, and forests right in our own back yard. From taking road trips to planning scenic hikes, here are some resolution ideas for you to try this year.

  1. Venture out to one of Southern California’s many pristine beaches and soak in the sun and waves.

Cristina Kikkert/All Trails It’s easy to take the beach for granted when you live so close, but don’t forget to pack up your beach bag and hit the sand once in a while. It’s even better if you can find a secluded spot, like 1000 Steps Beach, to beat some of the crowds.

Address: 1000 Steps Beach, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

  1. Go see all of the beautiful spring blooms at the flower fields.

The Flower Fields/Facebook You won’t want to pass up your chance to see some of the famous flower fields that pop up in the spring. The Flower Fields® at Carlsbad Ranch has some of the most gorgeous blooms from March-May. This trip is sure to brighten your year.

Address: 5704 Paseo del Norte Carlsbad, CA 92008

  1. Spend a day at a National Forest breathing in the fresh air and getting out into nature.

Nick Thompson/All Trails It’s a known fact that nature is good for our well-being and offers a wide variety of benefits. That’s all the more reason to pack up your car and head out to one of the many national forests and enjoy some of your favorite activities. May we suggest the San Bernardino National Forest? With 24 miles of land to explore, you’re sure to find activities to enjoy.

Address: San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear, CA 92314

  1. Take a day trip to one of the charming small towns and enjoy a peaceful day in the mountains.

Don Graham/Flickr Escape the bustle of the city and head out on a drive to one of the small towns nearby. Enjoying coffee at a café, chatting with locals, and taking photos sounds like the perfect, relaxing afternoon. May we suggest a trip to Idyllwild, CA? This small mountain resort town offers a peaceful getaway from urban life.

Address: Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549

  1. Discover a new hiking trail in Southern California.

Suzanne Jacobs/All Trails It’s exciting to find a new hiking trail and get to explore a whole new area on foot. If you’re looking for a leisurely hike, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve has 6 easy trails ranging from .8 to 2.3 miles with ocean views.

Address: Torrey Pines State Beach, California, USA

We hope the new year brings you more sun, nature, and time to reflect and explore. Which resolution would you like to try this year?

Cristina Kikkert/All Trails

It’s easy to take the beach for granted when you live so close, but don’t forget to pack up your beach bag and hit the sand once in a while. It’s even better if you can find a secluded spot, like 1000 Steps Beach, to beat some of the crowds.

Address: 1000 Steps Beach, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

The Flower Fields/Facebook

You won’t want to pass up your chance to see some of the famous flower fields that pop up in the spring. The Flower Fields® at Carlsbad Ranch has some of the most gorgeous blooms from March-May. This trip is sure to brighten your year.

Address: 5704 Paseo del Norte Carlsbad, CA 92008

Nick Thompson/All Trails

It’s a known fact that nature is good for our well-being and offers a wide variety of benefits. That’s all the more reason to pack up your car and head out to one of the many national forests and enjoy some of your favorite activities. May we suggest the San Bernardino National Forest? With 24 miles of land to explore, you’re sure to find activities to enjoy.

Address: San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear, CA 92314

Don Graham/Flickr

Escape the bustle of the city and head out on a drive to one of the small towns nearby. Enjoying coffee at a café, chatting with locals, and taking photos sounds like the perfect, relaxing afternoon. May we suggest a trip to Idyllwild, CA? This small mountain resort town offers a peaceful getaway from urban life.

Address: Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549

Suzanne Jacobs/All Trails

It’s exciting to find a new hiking trail and get to explore a whole new area on foot. If you’re looking for a leisurely hike, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve has 6 easy trails ranging from .8 to 2.3 miles with ocean views.

Address: Torrey Pines State Beach, California, USA

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Address: 1000 Steps Beach, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, USAAddress: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USAAddress: Big Bear, CA 92314, USAAddress: Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA, USAAddress: Torrey Pines State Beach, California, USA