OUTDOOR INNOVATORS AND ACTIVITIES
Surfing for Amputees
Dana Cummings is the founder of AmpSurf, a non-profit organization in Pismo Beach that provides adaptive surf therapy, certification and other outdoor activities for people living with disabilities. The inclusive Learn to Surf Therapy Clinics have served thousands of disabled veterans, first responders, adults and children who otherwise would not have experienced the fun of surfing under the California sun.
Napa Valley Vine Trail
Vintner and philanthropist Chuck McMinn founded the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition to create the Napa Valley Vine Trail, a European-style bike trail that promotes sustainable living and provides a safe, accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists. Twenty miles have been completed and another 8 miles are underway from St. Helena to Calistoga. When completed, The Napa Valley Vine Trail will stretch 47 miles and will connect the entire Napa Valley from Vallejo’s Ferry Terminal to Calistoga.
Lover’s Leap
Lover’s Leap is one of the most iconic climbing areas in El Dorado County that dates back to the 1950s, boasting over 150 established routes. M. “Petch” Pietrolungo, the owner and lead guide of Lover’s Leap Guides, created several of these routes. For nearly 15 years, he was a one-man show guiding newbies and experts alike from all around the world. He’s since expanded to a team of experts that offer guided trips for visitors and locals of all levels.
Don Hansen, Dana Point Legend
Don Hansen founded Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, the first business to operate in Dana Point Harbor in 1971. Hansen operated a fleet of over 17 vessels that took thousands of people to view dolphins, whales and other marine life. He also introduced sportfishing to the harbor, inspiring locals to learn to fish while advocating for sustainable fishing. Hansen was recognized for his community involvement with the renaming of a plaza in Dana Point Harbor to Don Hansen Plaza. He also started the Festival of Whales and helped get Dana Point named The Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World in 2019.
Influential Fly Fishing and Extreme Legends
It’s no surprise that Siskiyou County, known for its outdoor adventures, is home to outdoor innovators. Rush Sturges is one of the world’s most influential pioneers in extreme kayaking and the creator of eight award-winning whitewater kayaking films. Ted Flay of Ted Flay’s Fly Shop, is a fly fishing legend who has operated his store since the 1950s. Flay became a legend for inventing a method that uses two flies at once with short casts. Each trout season, fishers mimic Flay’s technique across the world.
FOOD PIONEERS
Giving Back with Farm to Pantry
Farm to Pantry, led by chef and executive director Duskie Estes, provides weekly fresh produce to Sonoma Country’s most vulnerable communities who lack access due to systematic marginalization. By doing this, the organization not only gives back to a community in need but also helps reduce global warming and eliminate food waste.
Michelin Star Chef Josiah Citrin
Synonymous with Santa Monica’s gourmet dining scene, Josiah Citrin, is the owner and chef at two-star Michelin restaurant Melisse; including Citrin and his newest restaurant, Augie’s. Recently, Santa Monica and Brighton & Hove in the United Kingdom became “Friendship Cities,” and Citrin flew to the UK to provide a taste of Santa Monica, demonstrating a California farm-to-table meal to entice U.K. residents to visit Santa Monica – not just for the beaches but for the amazing fare as well.
PRESERVING NATURE AND HISTORY
The Nat and Automotive Museum in San Diego
San Diego Natural History Museum (aka The Nat), has focused on the natural history and unique biodiversity of San Diego since 1874. The Nat takes an active role in advocacy and conservation work, including bringing back a local species from the brink of extinction, vocalizing environmental issues, and making local canyons accessible to underserved communities. Also in Balboa Park,the San Diego Automotive Museum features a rotation of 35 automobiles, 38 motorcycles and five vintage soapbox derby cars, and houses a vast collection of rare cars from the infancy of the automotive industry of the 1920s. The museum aims to tell a story of the social and technological past, present, and future of motorized vehicles throughout its collections, exhibitions and educational programs.
Santa Barbara Dive History
Before the 1960s, commercial abalone diving was extremely popular. Dan Wilson, a Channel Islands diver, wanted to take things to the next level by diving beyond the limit of 250 feet. With the help of a Santa Barbara Radiator (a company still exists today), Wilson soldered a scuba regulator mouthpiece inside his dive helmet that allowed him to breathe air, an oxy-helium mix, once at the bottom. He dared and successfully completed a 400-foot plunge, setting a world record for the deepest commercial dive. Today visitors can learn about Santa Barbara's rich diving history and see Wilson's gear at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
Blue Ox Millworks
Eric Hollenbeck, a master craftsman and the star of “The Craftsman” on the Magnolia Network, continues to innovate with the preservation of the past. His Eureka business, Blue Ox Millworks, creates custom millwork for homes and commercial buildings across the U.S. His work includes a redwood table for President Clinton, now in the Clinton Presidential Library, and custom exterior moldings for the Carson Mansion, one of the most photographed mansions in the nation. Eureka has a long history with the lumber industry, and craftsmen like Hollenbeck breathe life into the woodworking trade for younger generations.
Terranea Resort’s Indigenous Excursions and Educational Immersions
Terranea Resort is dedicated to protecting the coastal resources that define the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The resort is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint by integrating transparent eco-friendly practices throughout the resort, including those that protect open space. Terranea occupies one-quarter of its 102-acre site, allowing guests to enjoy more than 75 acres of natural landscape. Guests and the community are invited to learn, get involved, and give back through a variety of partnerships and special events that continue to expand and evolve each year.
STEP INTO THE FUTURE
New Meta Store Experience
Facebook’s parent company, Meta, recently opened its first physical retail experience in Burlingame in Central San Mateo County. Located on the new Meta campus grounds, the in-person Meta store provides a hands-on experience for visitors. Play interactive demos of Meta’s cutting-edge tech products with virtual reality Meta Quest, try the VR headset with a large wall screen display of what the player sees, and learn about the metaverse in the birthplace of the tech revolution.