Can’t travel far? Don’t miss these SoCal region venues, events

Between the resurgence of the Covid pandemic, natural disasters in some of our favorite vacation destinations, and the uncertainty of airline schedules, it’s not easy to plan getaways these days. That goes double during the end of the year when traveling to celebrate the holidays can really be risky and anxiety-producing.

Luckily, there are some San Diego and SoCal venues and events worth experiencing, don’t require way-ahead reservations, and may be staged outdoors.

Put these happenings on your possible-things-to-see-and-do list:

Highlander Adventure – If you like distance-hiking in a mountain setting, check out this event to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 2 in and around Big Bear Lake. Participants can choose from three levels: a five-day, 60-mile course; a three-day, 30-mile course; and a weekend, 15-mile course. Participants will hike portions of the Pacific Crest Trail, and organizers provide camping food, which is distributed at checkpoints.

Also at the checkpoints: activities like lectures, yoga classes, book presentations. A non-competitive event, Highlander was founded in Croatia in 2017 by three friends who had a passion for long-distance hiking. Highlander has since spread to 15 countries, including Morocco, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates. Big Bear Lake is the first location in the United States to host the event.

For more travel talk, visit www.facebook.com/elouise.ondash.