HWY 1 HIKE/GOLF/SURF
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
San Francisco - Santa Barbara
HIKING
Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton
Within the Santa Cruz Mountains is the scenic Henry Cowell Redwood State Park. It contains the same trees like Muir Woods but far less people and a more beautiful and quieter vicinity. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is a 4.7 miles roundtrip for which you will need 2-3 hours. On your way you will walk through redwoods, pass a river and ascend up to a mountain with a scenic outlook over Monterey Bay. The terrain will be partially sandy. Under the following link you will find a detailed description: http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/henrycowell.html |
West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
The scenic hiking and biking promenade is 5.4 miles roundtrip and will take 2-3 hours. It runs between Natural Bridges State Park at Swanton Blvd and the Municipal Wharf in Santa Cruz. |
Pacific Grove Coastal Trail, Pacific Grove
The 4-mile (roundtrip) coastal promenade starts directly behind Monterey Bay Aquarium and ends at Point Pinos Lighthouse. You can explore the trail in sections or spent 2-3 hours hiking the whole distance. In particular scenic are Lover’s Point, Perkins Cove and Point Pinos. Walking the shore keep your eyes open since it is popular with seals, otters, and many sea birds. |
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Carmel
Point Lobos State Reserve is located south of Carmel just before the beginning of Big Sur Highway. It offers a beautiful coastline with several trails along the rough shore, where you will see a busy sealife and stunning rock formations that stick out the ocean. Moreover you have scenic views towards Carmel. A must do are Cypress Grove and Sand Hill Trail plus the Whaler’s Cove. More info is listed under: http://www.pointlobos.org/ |
Pinnacles National Park, 5000 California 146, Paicines
The National Park is located in the Central Valley about 10 miles north of Soledad between HWY 101 and 25. It offers an amazing and beautiful landscape, whose trails are running through an extinct volcano and past rough rock formations. The High Peaks are separating the park into a Western and Eastern side with two different entrances. Because of very high temperatures in summer I recommend visiting, hiking or climbing Pinnacles either in spring, fall or winter. Coming here keep looking for the Californian Condor. This species was re-established in the 1980s within the park and by today grew to a decent population. More info about trails, rockclimbing, and admission is available at: http://www.nps.gov/pinn/. |
Channel Island National Park
Taking the boat from Ventura or Oxnard you are able to discover five mini versions of California: the Channel Islands. http://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm Since they are only reachable by boat or plane you will encounter a fully preserved landscape. The National Park is a paradise for hikers, snorkelers, and kayakers. Please visit the National Park’s website to retrieve further info about each single island. Island Packers, a company with boats in Ventura and Oxnard, offers rides to the Islands for $46-58 per person (roundtrip): http://www.islandpackers.com/index.html |
GOLFING
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Pacific Grove Golf Links, 77 Asilomar Coastal Trail, Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove is the cheap alternative to all three Pebble Beach courses along 17-Mile Drive. While the first 9s are running through a residential area, the back 9s go along the ocean and through a beautiful dunes landscape. Green fee and tee times are listed under: http://pggolflinks.com |
Pebble Beach/ 17-Mile-Drive, Carmel
Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach Golf Links If you can afford it don’t miss to play here! The current rates are $260, $350 and $495 per person/round and do not come with a cart. All info is available under: http://www.pebblebeach.com/golf But as I said Pacific Grove is not bad at all… |
Sandpiper Golf Club, 7925 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara
The 18-hole-course is quite challenging and runs along the gorgeous ocean shore north of Santa Barbara. The club is located east of Goleta on HWY 1/101. For further information please visit the golf club’s webpage: http://www.sandpipergolf.com/home |
SURFING
Beginner:
If you want to learn surfing during your stay in San Francisco you have to go to one of the beach towns in the North or South. Since surfing is a “national” sport you will see people of all ages on their boards.
What you should know: good conditions depend on swell and tide and it only makes sense to learn surfing if there are waves. So looking for good tides and swell is essential. Most surf schools are taking care of that for you, but it doesn’t hurt checking it online yourself to avoid a lame experience: http://www.surfline.com/home/index.cfm
Please note that the water in Northern California is pretty chilly and the reason why surf shops will rent you a wetsuit with the lesson. And believe me you will need it! My tip: consider buying booties for your lesson since the wetsuit is not covering your feet!
Advanced:
What should I say: Most of you know the greatest spots in California.
The best spots are listed under: http://www.surfingcal.com/popular-surf-spots.html
If you want to learn surfing during your stay in San Francisco you have to go to one of the beach towns in the North or South. Since surfing is a “national” sport you will see people of all ages on their boards.
What you should know: good conditions depend on swell and tide and it only makes sense to learn surfing if there are waves. So looking for good tides and swell is essential. Most surf schools are taking care of that for you, but it doesn’t hurt checking it online yourself to avoid a lame experience: http://www.surfline.com/home/index.cfm
Please note that the water in Northern California is pretty chilly and the reason why surf shops will rent you a wetsuit with the lesson. And believe me you will need it! My tip: consider buying booties for your lesson since the wetsuit is not covering your feet!
Advanced:
What should I say: Most of you know the greatest spots in California.
The best spots are listed under: http://www.surfingcal.com/popular-surf-spots.html
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Cowell's Beach, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz’s Cowell’s Beach is by far the easiest beginner spot in Northern California. The ground is soft and sandy and you can stand almost all the time. In addition the waves are small and steady. There are several surf schools around the boardwalk and wharf that give lessons. My recommendation is Cowell’s Surf Shop. Make sure you call the shop some days in advance to assure a spot in the class: http://www.cowellssurfshop.com/ |
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Malibu - Del Mar
HIKING
Zumba Canyon, Malibu
Taking this trail you will have vantage points over Malibu’s landscape and ocean. You can decide whether you are taking the Easy Loop Trail (2 miles) or the more strenuous Ocean View and Canyon Trail (about 3.1 miles). More info is listed on the National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/zumatrancascanyons.htm |
Santa Monica Pier – Venice Beach Fishing Pier/ Marina del Rey Yacht Harbor
I recommend taking a long and ample walk along the beach and boardwalk from Santa Monica Pier down to Venice Beach Fishing Pier. You will cover a distance of 3.1 or 4.1 miles (walking up to Marina del Rey) per direction but I promise you will see many different people, great homes, sealife and neighborhoods during the walk. |
El Moro Canyon Trail, Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach
7 miles roundtrip, moderate hike with 700 ft elevation gain. There are two ways to start the hike. For the best views take the El Moro Canyon route. The park is charging a $15 parking fee. More hike details under: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25110 |
SURFING
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Malibu
Surfrider Beach Adjacent to Malibu Pier is the Surfrider Beach, one of the best beginner spots in this area. The waves are rolling in softly and the ride is quite long, a reason why many surf schools are giving lessons here. Surfing L.A.: Single- and group lessons (2-6 people): http://www.surfingla.com Malibu Surf Shack, on the opposite of Surfrider Beach: Board rental and surf school http://www.malibusurfshack.com/ Next to Surfrider you are able to surf the whole coastline if the conditions are good enough. The spot at Neptune’s Net for example is popular with locals. |
Huntington Beach
The best beginner spot is located at the northern side of the pier (on the right-hand side if you are facing the pier) One of the schools teaching groups and individuals is Mahalo Surf School. More info is available under: http://www.mahalosurfschool.com/?file=kop1.php |
San Onofre (south of San Clemente)
The Dog Patch and The Point are also known as beginner spots in SoCal. They are located down the coast south of San Clemente’s city limit. A local surf school is offering lessons in this area: http://www.sanclementesurflessons.com/ |