Page 23 - 2018 Travel Guide to California

SURFERS IN SANTA CRUZ, right;
kayaking in Morro Bay, center; hikers take
a break after climbing Half Dome in
Yosemite, 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 the San Francisco Bay
Area’s Ford GoBike program. Skateboarding
is practically the state sport, with
skateparks seen everywhere 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
wilderness journeys. If desert sands don’t
appeal to you, try those on the beaches of
Southern California that are lined with vol-
leyball nets for pickup games and
professional tournaments. California sun-
shine is also good for year-round tennis, be
it on public courts or at a posh resort. And
the fitness-crazy culture of California pro-
vides plenty of opportunities to join
outdoor workout “bootcamps” and yoga
sessions in city parks.
In Water
California has more than 840 miles of coast-
line along the Pacific Ocean, a prime
launching spot for every manner of water
2018 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 21