Los Padres National Forest encompasses nearly two million acres in the beautiful coastal mountains of central California. Stretching almost 220 miles from the Carmel Valley area to the western edge of Los Angeles County, it provides the scenic backdrop for many communities including Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ojai. It's a great place to escape winter snowfall. In the dead of winter, you'll find the climate here to be temperate and benign. Don't let yourself get too annoyed by the flocks of tourists you're likely to encounter—for the most part, they stick to the roads and developed recreation areas. There are plenty of great trails, so you can hike far from the maddening crowd. Trust us, it'll be worth it. Read More »