In Collaboration With
Nature Picnic & Swing Experience
Santa Monica Mountains
MALIBU | THOUSAND OAKS | OAK PARK | SIMI VALLEY
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SPONTANEOUS PHOTO SESH: Feeling super sexy? You know you want some stunner shots like this in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve
Experience Overview
The very first thing you notice when your feet leave the pavement in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains is just how remote it all feels. . .
Nestled in the heart of northern Los Angeles County between the world-famous, star-studded beaches of Malibu and the Conejo Valley with its rich history of native Chumash Indian Tribes (and now the Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks), this place immediately feels special. Like you just discovered a secret you don’t want to share for fear of spoiling it.
The pastoral landscape will soon fill your imagination with bucolic reveries and the simple delights of a sunset framed by old-growth Live Oaks and brilliant poppy blooms.
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A bike path extends towards the sunset in Thousand Oaks, California
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Focus on just being a kid again…
Nothing says carefree like a swing in the golden sunset glow. . . #fire
There exists a place so near yet so far that the sprawling city - and even time - forgot. It's a place where the grass is always greener. The valley ever wider. And sunsets just a little bit brighter for just a few moments longer.
They call it the land of a Thousand Oaks. But just a single glance will take your breath away. And leave the kind of impression that lasts a lifetime.
A beautiful multi-use hiking / biking trail sweeps up a grass-laden hillside in Cheeseboro | Palo Comado Canyon.
For it is here that single tracks stretch farther than six-lane freeways. And even the locals swing by to say hi in their very own special way.
So slow down. Take a ride or a stroll. Come explore every nook and cranny. Every twist. Every turn. All the bends and every bump.
Because if you stay here long enough, you just might discover an ancient and secret space. Or perhaps, the very best version of yourself.
Sunset + Charcuterie & Malibu Wines Syrah = Perfect Combo
Ever dream of having a real picnic in the park? Now’s your chance to let the savory varietals from locally-sourced Malibu Wines titillate your tastebuds. . .
You may think you’ve had a picnic in the park before, but I bet it wasn’t like this.
And don’t let the word “remote” scare you. It’s just the perfect way to describe the sort of spot you’ll find yourself - away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Deep in the heart of the experience…
Want an epic drone video too?
Deep in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains NRA you will discover the kind of peace and tranquility you’d look for on a week-long vacation.
So now you might be wondering what exactly is a “Remote Nature Picnic?”
Well, we’ve all heard of a picnic in the park, so think of this sojourn as an ideal opportunity to have a sophisticated selection of charcuterie paired with the perfect locally-sourced varietals that will titillate your tastebuds and stimulate your imagination. . .
Invigorate your senses with a sophisticated assortment of highly delectable delights!
Experience Itinerary
Sunrise | Sunset Drives, Rides, Hikes, Picnics & Swings
Rendezvous at Trailhead | Get Geared Up | Journey to Viewpoints | Snack & Skill-Share or Picnic & Swing | Back to Base
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Ready to go?
A heavy layer of morning fog blankets the landscape as the diurnal shift sets the tone for the day in the Conejo Valley.
Morning Sunrise Excursions
7:30AM - 11AM
Morning Sunrise Excursions: The Santa Monica Mountains, especially in the canyons of the Conejo Valley, are known mostly for what wine aficionados call the “diurnal shift.”
As the sun rises and sets, the barometric pressure swings rapidly in coastal ranges - the warmer air rises through the canyons and is replaced by much cooler air flow from the ocean. This typically leads to heavy layers of fog that blanket the landscape and facilitate healthy, highly-saturated fruits.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area looks more like the Serengeti than Southern California. . .
But while the region does have a variety of micro-climates that host some vineyards like Malibu Wines (which is a great place for brunch by the way!) it is not primarily known for its local cellars.
Mountain bikers delight in the springtime wonders around every bend in the trail in Palo Comado Canyon.
Want a Pooch Pal?
These rolling hills and old-growth oak forests are very similar to what you might find on California’s Central Coast - only they’re right here in sunny Southern Cali!
When you slow down and take the time to watch and listen, you will soon see the landscape reveals its hidden mysteries in surprising ways. . .
A nesting pair of Golden Eagles display their fortitude while stalking a late-afternoon snack in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA.
California poppies bloom along a springtime trail in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA
Hikers idle the afternoon away under endless waves of gorgeous green grasses in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve
Afternoon Sunset Excursions
2PM - SUNSET
Afternoon Sunset Excursions: Mid to late afternoon in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is when you get to enjoy “Golden Hour” at its finest.
As the shadows get longer, the sun seems to get even brighter…
A lone Live Oak stands like a silent sentinel overlooking the sunrise in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve.
A favorite staple food of the indigenous Chumash peoples, wild wheat is the first to sprout early in every springtime.
Want to stay overnight?
Listen to the wild wheat rustle your senses awake - or take a lazy nap in the late afternoon breezes of Palo Comado Canyon Preserve
Other photo shoot ideas…
About Your Host/Guide
CERTIFIED TOUR GUIDE
Dan Smarg leads an expedition in Lander, Wyoming
National Outdoor Leadership School
Wilderness First-Aid Trained
Expertise | Access | Connection
When I’m not producing commercial content, I’m in the backcountry blazing new trails in my Jeep Rubicon, “Dollie Madison.”
Overlanding is like life: Not every road leads where you want to go, but it just might take you exactly where you want to be.
So let’s roll!
Dan Smarg leads groups of any number - from individuals seeking solitude to full-size families and even entire tribes of friends!
Gear & Services
OPTIONAL RIDE: Rent a Rad Rover eBike equipped with 26-inch x 4-inch “Fat” tires to enhance stability and traction control in backcountry conditions.
Included with an eBike Experience to help you explore every twist and turn of these majestic paths, you will have access to a brand new mountain or eBike. If you plan to adventure with a partner, you can easily rent a second eBike at POWER-UP Electric Bikes in Calabasas.
Need help transporting your bike(s)?
Multiple Options Available
Peace of Mind
Rest assured, I will guide you to all the coolest spots on my own full-suspension mountain bike or eBike so you never get lost or stranded with a flat.
REQUIRED PERSONAL GEAR
Weather-Appropriate Clothing
Full/Partial Wardrobe Changes for Photo Shoots
Sturdy Footwear
Special Dietary Foods
Personal Care Items
PROVIDED GEAR & PROVISIONS
Swing on 11mm Tactical Paracord
OR
Photo-Optimized “Shabby Chic Rustic Rope”
OPTIONAL TERRAIN & VISTAS
Old Growth Oak Forest
Sweeping Rolling Hills
Coastal Ocean Cliffs
CLICK TO VIEW RENTALS
INCLUDED WITH ALL RENTALS
Helmet(s) for All Riders
Knee & Elbow Pads
Small Backpack
Water Bottle
All Bike Recovery Gear (Tubes, Air Pumps etc.)
FREE Hammock for “Tree Naps”
OPTIONAL SERVICES
Professional Photography Shoot
Professional Drone Shoot
Professional Video Shoot
Multimedia Shoot
OPTIONAL POOCH PAL(S)
Available Upon Request
OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPING | GLAMPING
Location & Weather-Dependent
