LAND ADVENTURES
Trail Time
With over 225 miles of trails, and more being added, hikers, bikers and runners will find plenty of paths to adventure in Redding. Redding also hosts the annual Lemurian Classic mountain bike race every October, as well as a wild Chainless Downhill, where chains are removed from the bikes resulting in a mad dash down the mountain.
Get Your Glow On
Family fun awaits at the new Desert Glow Entertainment Zone at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. Offering the ultimate gaming and lounge experience, the atmosphere is high energy and action-packed. Get the whole family involved with virtual reality games, classic arcade games, an escape room or duckpin bowling.
Sidecar Sidewinder
What could make a tour of Temecula’s wine country better? Doing it by sidecar of course. Grab your sweetie or bestie and jump in the tandem sidecar for a motorcycle wine tour, or opt for a food, brewery or scenic tour of the area. Sidecar Tours is the only tandem sidecar experience in Southern California.
OMG OHV Trail
Recognized as the premiere OHV route in the United States, the 22-mile Rubicon OHV Trail cuts across the Sierra Nevada, between the gold rush town of Georgetown and pristine Lake Tahoe. Considered the crown jewel of all OHV trails, it features stunning panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada, fields of boulders and interlocking flat stone, and sweet-smelling pine and fir trees. Due to its narrow passages, rocky climbs and occasional mud holes, it is rated the most difficult of trails.
Equine Adventures
Get a new perspective on Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, near Visalia, seeing it from the saddle on a mountain trail ride. Whether riding through the giant sequoia trees, exploring the Kings River, trotting through bucolic meadows or ambling in the foothills there’s an adventure for every rider.
The Climb
Popular in Europe, you can now experience a Via Ferrata climb in beautiful North Lake Tahoe. The Via Ferrata combines climbing, hiking and scrambling in a way that makes it possible for even novices to scale an 800-foot vertical cliff.
WATER ADVENTURES
Rapid Adventure
Grab a kayak or a raft and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime on the Smith River in Del Norte County. With over 300 miles of runnable whitewater, the Smith is California’s only undammed free flowing river. The annual BoatSmith Whitewater Festival challenges experienced paddlers to tackle the class 4 and 5 rapids every February.
Hang Ten
Huntington Beach is all about surfing, and through a new Adaptive Surf Program everyone can experience the thrill of riding a wave. Local board shaper and surf instructor Rocky McKinnon designed a carbon fiber 15-foot “chair board” to give those with mobility issues or cognitive function disabilities a chance to experience surfing. Hour-long adaptive surfing lessons take place year-round at the Huntington Beach Pier and are accompanied by a safety escort. Each surfer is provided a wetsuit and a board tailored to their body type and skill level.
Shark Dive
Thrill-seekers dreaming of diving with sharks can cross it off the bucket list with a five-day adventure by San Diego Shark Diver. Offered seasonally for both certified and non-certified divers, the experience lets the brave cage dive with great whites off the volcanic island of Isla Guadalupe. All dives are hosted by certified and extremely knowledgeable staff who educate divers on the migratory habits and characteristics of these highly misunderstood sharks.
SKY ADVENTURES
Soaring High
Get a bird’s eye view of California’s stunning Central Coast on a Skyrider Ultralight ride. Soaring above the ocean you’ll glide low and slow to truly take in the nature and views of the Camarillo and Ventura County coastline.
Circus City
Remember watching the high flyin’ trapeze artists at the circus when you were a kid? Now thanks to the Trapeze School New York at the Santa Monica Pier, anyone can live out a childhood fantasy to soar through the air with their flying trapeze class. After learning the basics, you’ll have the chance to experience flying from your bar to the waiting arms of an instructor on another trapeze.
Hanging Around
If you’re an experienced hang glide pilot, soaring over iconic Mt. Diablo is a must-do experience when staying in the Northern California town of Concord. As you soar over the area, you’ll enjoy gorgeous vistas of Mt. Diablo while nimbly maneuvering its rocky peaks, deep canyons and more. The Mt. Diablo area has four launch areas and eight landing spots.
Get Your Kicks in California
With oceans, mountains, deserts, forests and more, California offers up the backdrop for all kinds of adventures for thrill-seekers and outdoor-loving travelers. From Palm Springs to Sacramento and at all points in between, the Golden State is a playground waiting to be discovered.
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