Page 29 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

SAILING in the Santa Barbara Channel
off the Ventura coast, right; snorkeling
at Van Damme State Park, Mendocino
County, center; mountain biking at Lake
Tahoe, bottom.
On Land
California has some of the world’s best golf,
including the legendary seaside Pebble
Beach Golf Links, home of Bill Murray’s
favorite annual event, the AT&T National
Pro-Am tournament. Or try any one of the
hundreds of public and private clubs scat-
tered across the state. If you aren’t into the
clubs, grab a frisbee and try some disc golf at
one of the more than 200 California courses.
Mountain and road biking are great ways
to get a workout while experiencing the
state’s landscape, whether it be from tricky
single-track downhill trails around Lake
Tahoe, flatter cross-country trips or perhaps
an urban ride using San Francisco’s Bike
Share program. Skateboarding is practically
the state sport, with skateparks seen every-
where from the sport’s birthplace at Venice
Beach to the smallest inland town.
For a different sort of ride, make like
native son John Wayne and saddle up for
some horseback riding on trails near cities,
around dude ranches or on multi-day wilder-
ness journeys. If desert sands don’t appeal to
you, try those on the beaches of Southern Cal-
ifornia that are lined with volleyball nets for
pickup games and professional tournaments.
California sunshine is also good for year-
round tennis, be it on public courts or at a
posh resort. And the fitness-crazy culture of
California provides plenty of opportunities to
join outdoor workout “bootcamps” and yoga
sessions in city parks.
In Water
California has more than 840 miles of
coastline along the Pacific Ocean, a prime
launching spot for every manner of water
sport, including surfing, sailing, SCUBA and
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 27