Page 48 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

CA.SUMMER SPORTS
CLIMBING in Southern California, above;
surfing a big wave in La Jolla, right.
bordering lakes and the ocean. Catalina
Island and the kelp forests of Monterey
Bay are popular diving spots, but be sure
to wear a wetsuit in the chilly Pacific
waters. Surf breaks range from 50-foot
monster waves in Half Moon Bay to more
gentle rollers around Manhattan Beach.
Marinas dot the coast from north to south,
where experienced sailors can rent power
yachts for deep-sea fishing or sailboats to
ride the winds.
» FIND
YOUR FUN
Biking
bikecal.com
labikepaths.com
sfbike.org
Boating
dbw.ca.gov
Climbing
rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America
/United_States/California
rockclimbing.org
Disc Golf
pdga.com
Horseback Riding
horseandtravel.com /states/california
Surfing
surfline.com/travel
surfingcalifornia.com
46 2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
Moving inland, gentle streams and scat-
tered lakes provide fertile sport-fishing
grounds, while melting mountain snow
can create raging rapids for kayaking and
rafting enthusiasts, but those looking for a
gentle river float on an inner tube with a
beer cooler can still find their spots.
Boating is popular with waterskiers and
wakeboarders across the Sacramento Delta
and at a huge number of marinas on lakes
and reservoirs throughout the state.
The Great Outdoors
California boasts 32 national parks,
seashores and monuments, 279 state parks
and a plethora of wilderness areas, nature
preserves and other outdoor playgrounds.
With landscapes ranging from the sheer
cliffs of Yosemite to the searing deserts of
Death Valley and the scenic shorelines of
the Channel Islands, California offers a
lifetime of outdoor opportunities for the
visitor. Exploration options range from
multi-day backpacking trips for the hardy
in remote areas such as Lake Tahoe’s Des-
olation Wilderness to relaxed hour-long
walking tours through the gentle winding
paths of Muir Woods, easily accessible
from nearby San Francisco.
A trip to the bubbling volcanic pools at
Lassen Volcanic National Park or to the Dr.
Seuss-like trees of Joshua Tree can make
visitors feel they’re on another planet,
while sunset in Yosemite Valley with views
of towering waterfalls can make you feel
like you’re in heaven.
California’s many mountains mean
climbing is a popular activity, be it a hike
up 14,505-foot Mount Whitney (the highest
point in the continental U.S.) or technical
rock climbing routes from the easy to the
extreme in legendary areas such as
Yosemite, Joshua Tree and Pinnacles
national parks.
California’s state flag features a bear,
and you may see some among the wildlife
during your outdoor journeys. Black bears,
mountain lions, rattlesnakes and coyotes
put the “wild” in California wildlife, but
careful visitors should have no problem
with them. Abundant migratory and native
birdlife makes California a prime birding
destination, while at sea, whale watching
is a perennial tourist favorite. Even
without an organized tour, visitors can
walk to view sea lions on San Francisco
and Santa Cruz piers, and observe sea
otters playing in the surf at Monterey.
JOSHUA RAINEY PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK; KAT CARNEY/SHUTTERSTOCK