Page 47 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

CA.SPORTS & OUTDOORS: SUMMER
BY BILL FINK
Get Outside and Play
Pristine beaches, majestic landscapes and glorious weather
create an unbeatable summer playground
SKATEBOARDING
A long time ago it was called
sidewalk surfing, but no matter
what it’s called, no one can
question the popularity of
skateboarding among
California’s youths. Skateparks,
like this one in Venice Beach,
above, have been built in
communities all over the state to
give kids a place to show their
stuff. Still, it’s just as common to
see teens making their way
around town by skateboard,
expertly avoiding obstacles.
The California ideal of sun, surf, and sand
has been popularized in decades of film
and TV shows, from Beach Blanket Bingo to
Baywatch. But visitors to California in the
summer can discover even more of the
state’s natural beauty heading inland to
majestic national parks.
Sports
Take a walk to the pier in Manhattan Beach
in Southern California on any given day
and you’ll see surfers whipping around the
waves, volleyball players diving in the
sand, bikers and rollerbladers cruising the
Strand and sailors out at sea. Drive the hills
near San Francisco on a sunny day, and in
a matter of minutes you’ll pass pelotons of
road bikers, and hikers, horseback riders
and mountain bikers launching onto
trailheads. In the shadow of the Golden
Gate Bridge, the wind powers kite surfers
and wind surfers into acrobatics, while
mellow joggers enjoy the scenery along
shoreline paths with their dogs. North and
south, young and old, Californians love
their sports, and the state provides
limitless opportunities to ply your favorite
or try a new one.
2014 T R AV E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 45