Page 30 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

SUMMER SPORTS
YOGA AT BACARA BLUFF, Santa Barbara,
above; the final stretch of the climb of Half
Dome at Yosemite National Park, right.
sea kayaking. California has fully embraced
stand-up paddle boarding, with many
rental shops bordering lakes and the ocean.
Catalina Island and the kelp forests of Mon-
terey Bay are popular diving spots, but be
sure to wear a wetsuit in the chilly Pacific
» FIND
YOUR FUN
Biking
bikecal.com
labikepaths.com
sfbike.org
Boating
dbw.ca.gov
Climbing
mountainproject.com/v/
California/105708959
rockclimbing.org
Golf
pga.com/golf-courses/details/CA
Disc Golf
pdga.com
Horseback Riding
horseandtravel.com/states/california
SCUBA
Californiadiver.com
Surfing
surfingcalifornia.com
28 2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
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.
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, 280 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 life-
time of outdoor opportunities for the
visitor. Exploration options range from
multi-day backpacking trips for the hardy
in remote areas such as the Marble Moun-
tains 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 it seem 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.
SANTA BARBARA CVB; ONNES/SHUTTERSTOCK