CalActive.com Activities Blog

There have been so many fantastic ‘firsts’ since coming to live in the great US of A, but one of the most unnerving was at my first Orange County Fair, where my carniverous husband returned to the caveman within when confronted with an entire table of turkey legs…viewer discretion advised when looking at the photo below, as it is not a pretty sight. I was reminded of the interesting phenomenon of ‘Fair Food’ on another blog earlier today, and it prompted me to go and dig out some of our pics of the fair last year - such fun and a real experience in Americana. More recently we visited Disneyland - a first for me - and that was absolutely fantastic. I had been debating whether to go to Knotts Berry Farm or Disney and in the end I’m really glad that we chose Disney, as although I don’t doubt that Knotts is brilliant too, I admit to being a bit of a nerd when it comes to those humungous rollercoasters and preferred the sound of a chance encounter with Eeyore followed by an Indiana Jones ride and Splash Moutain - although even that was a bit scary at points, notably the 50 foot drop into a large plunge pool…Space Mountain was everything I had heard it would be, and I would have gone again had the line not been over 2 hours long by that stage. The Fast-Pass is a stroke of genius and meant that we got to do all the rides we wanted to during the course of the day. Another incredible thing was seeing ‘ASIMO’ the robot strutting his stuff - Honda’s Humanoid Robot. He can walk, dance, ascend and descend stairs and even run - it was really hard to believe that there wasn’t a wee person inside that little robot body. All in all it was a brilliant day and we even got a free pass to go back to California Adventure park within the next 30 days, so maybe I’ll pluck my courage up and get to go on one of those terrifying rollercoasters after all.

It’s that time of year again! The 37th Annual Festival of the Whales Parade is this Saturday and Sunday, March 1st and 2nd as well as next weekend, March 8th and 9th. Come celebrate the return of the once endangered California Gray Whale! Take a whale watching and dolphin cruise aboard a catamaran and get up close and personal with these incredible creatures. You can bet the harbor will be packed with visitors since this annual celebration draws more than 100,000 visitors from around the world during the whale watching season. Click here for more information.

See you there!

Thank heavens for all the surfers, beachgoers, environmentalists, and other concerned individuals and organizations for standing up and being counted, for it is thanks to them, the Californian Coastal Act and brilliant organizations such as Surfrider, that Trestles and the San Mateo campground in San Diego county have been saved from destruction by the proposed 241 toll road extension, following what was referred to as a “David vs. Goliath” battle.

According to Surfrider’s Save Trestles website, surfers across the country were asked in a recent poll which surf spot they would most like to have in their own back yard. Over a quarter of those who responded said that they would choose Lower Trestles – just behind Australia’s Snapper Rocks and ahead of such legendary breaks as Pipeline and Macaroni’s. Yip, it’s that good! Check out the Save Trestles blog for all the latest news including a very thoughtprovoking article on the 10 reasons why the Foothill South Toll road extension failed.

Some of you may remember the big swell that came through SoCal last April – here are some snaps that I took, thinking that maybe it would be one of the last chances I would get. I am so very thankful that this is not the case.

Today I received the “Havasupai Falls Trip” email from a friend of mine who plans an annual hiking and camping trip to this pristine location in Arizona. Not long ago, this name was completely foreign to me. I remember staring back at him with that odd look on my face…“Have…Hava what?”

Havasupai Falls, better known as Havasu Falls, is by far one of the most amazingly beautiful waterfalls located in the Grand Canyon. There are three main falls in the Havasu Canyon; Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls and Navajo Falls. Unlike some waterfalls in Arizona, the Havasu Creek ones are good year-round. Although I have yet to experience this hike, I’ve been told it does take a great deal of effort to get there, but it looks as though the reward is definitely worth it. Our standard plan is to begin the hike around 3am (night hiking is not recommended unless you’re familiar with the terrain and area) since the strong Arizona heat can zap the strength right out of you (even the most seasoned of hikers). But, as I was checking out some other blogs and websites, I found some great stories and more helpful information.

You need to make a reservation well in advance, and be sure to keep that confirmation number handy as they will ask for it upon check in. To get to Havasu Falls, you drive to Hualapai Hilltop, which can be reached at the end of Indian Road 18 just 68 miles north of Route 66. The parking area is at Huakapai Hilltop and is also the beginning of the trail that takes you through a narrow canyon as you make your way to the village. From here, it’s an 8 mile hike to the village of Supai and then another 2 miles to the beginning of the campground which stretches along Havasu Creek. Campground sites are on a first come first serve basis and are rich with towering cottonwood trees and lush vegetation. It seems the best time to go is April/May since the temperatures in the summer can get quite extreme. Either way, you have the option of plunging into the crystal clear waters for a refreshing swim. If you’re going for the weekend you can explore Havasu Falls on the first day and have enough time to explore Navajo Falls and Mooney Falls on the second day, each having its own special and distinct character.

For anyone who wants to escape the daily rat race, what better way to spend two days then by camping for a couple of nights by the river and playing in GORGEOUS Water falls!!! You can bet I’ll be taking the annual trip this year.

Besides being Copperchick in my next life, I am also going to live on Catalina Island (or Santa Catalina Island, as she is officially known). Having lived in Laguna Beach for almost two years and vowing, every time the sun set behind the Island (every night, strangely enough), that THIS would be the week I would pull finger and book a trip to the island, I finally got around to it last weekend. My excuse is that there is just too much to do in California, a view shared by many. Anyway, I took the ferry from Newport Beach and after a stunning hour and a quarter trip (very smooth – no seasickness, despite a few glasses of wine the previous night), we arrived in Avalon. No whales to be seen en route, although the captain kept pointing into the middle distance and insisting that they were ‘just over there’ (I think he was just keeping himself amused, watching all us tourist-types craning our necks to see the non-existent mammals).

Immediately upon disembarking from the ferry, there was a flurry of activity as passengers shouldered each other out of the way in an attempt to be first in line to hire a golf cart - the main method of transportation in Avalon are these small gasoline-powered motorcars. Interestingly, it is very difficult to get a permit to have a full sized vehicle in Avalon, which translates into a 10-year-long wait list to bring a car to the island. The city has its own strict permit program with which local vehicle owners must comply, in addition with the usual requirements imposed by the statewide Department of Motor Vehicles. I couldn’t help but think how much more advanced this is when compared to Laguna Beach, for example – another quaint seaside village just across the water which is crying out to have at least some of the town pedestrianized, and in which this golf-cart policy would surely work wonders to go some way towards reducing the congestion in the town, if carefully planned and managed…

Avalon itself is a very charismatic rural waterfront town with the usual tourist-oriented businesses and services lining the coastline – more reminiscent of a Spanish or Greece village than a Los Angeles county town (I’ve checked: it is the southern-most city in Los Angeles County). After an hour of sightseeing on our golf cart (there are a number of scenic drives that you can take to get a quick overview of the town and what’s on the other side of the hills that surround it), we took to foot and pounded the pavements for a few hours, exploring every little nook and cranny of the town, including the beautiful Art Deco dance hall, the Casino, which was constructed in 1929. Apparently William Wrigley, Jr. (of chewing gum fame) was a major force in the development of Avalon as he bought controlling interest in the Santa Catalina Island Company in 1919 and devoted himself to preserving and promoting it, investing millions in needed infrastructure and attractions.
We then hired a couple of single kayaks and took advantage of the beautifully glassy and crystal clear water. This was definitely a highlight of the trip – reminded me of kayaking on the Sea of Cortez, so calm was the water.

After a well-earned lunch of some very fresh fish and chips and a shared bottle of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, we were summoned back to the ferry by the rather rude but very effective foghorn they blast to get you running back to the port, and then we were heading back to the mainland. I insisted on sitting outside and it was cold but well worth it as we were treated to the most spectacular sunset as the sun (once again) set over the Island, and this time I felt very content in the knowledge that I had experienced at least a sampling of what this special island has to offer. Next time I am going to go for longer (and I found some ideas for itineraries on another blog) so that I can explore the rest of the island, camp on the west side where the rocky cliffs are supposed to be spectacular, visit Two Harbors, check out the bison that were supposedly first imported in 1924 for the silent film version of Zane Grey’s Western tale “The Vanishing American” and then left on the island. So much to see, so little time…

I recently blogged about the questionable outfits that seem to be de riguer for those wanting to play golf, however I have just seen something even more alarming on this blog. Called the “Lady Knicker”, this strange looking outfit is apparently the new must-have of the female cycling world. I can absolutely understand the necessity for comfortable, stretchy and breathable clothing when you are hunched over a racing bike for a few hours, and appreciate that Swiss biking company Assos has put a lot of research into creating this suit that is ‘designed to anatomically contour the female body’, however it seems to me that it leaves the delicate and, let’s face it, potentially bouncy upper region of said female body dangerously unsupported. Oh, hold on a second, it’s not that you aren’t supposed to wear something under/over the ‘Lady Knicker’, it’s just another case of ‘Sex Sells’. Silly me.

As an afterthought: having seen the photos of the LK, I knew that I had seen something like this before, and finally the penny dropped when I checked out this blog . At least Borat is getting the support he so badly needs.

I’m planning a trip to the Ne Pali coast in Kauai next month and was checking out a really helpful blog for some info on the Kalalau hike (I’ve heard so much about it) when I got sidetracked by another great blog that referenced another thing I have heard a lot about: Summit For Someone, a charity fund raiser sponsored by Backpacker Magazine to assist the Big City Mountaineers organization.

If you choose to join a Summit For Someone climb, you’ll get to select from one of 24 classic North American mountains, such as Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta, or Mt. Hood. To join one of these adventures, you simply make a monetary pledge to Big City Mountaineers, with that pledge varying depending on the mountain you choose to climb. From there you can elect to donate the money directly, or raise the funds yourself. They’ll even provide you with a fund raising kit.

Rock climbing trips can cost as little as $2900 while expedition alpine climbs run closer to $7500. Those prices include the necessary gear, although you can take a discount if you decide to use your own equipment. That money will help send as many as five at-risk teenagers on a wilderness adventure of their own later in the year (thanks for the info, Adventure Junkie).

What a win-win situation for anyone who loves hiking or climbing and who wants to do something worthwhile for disadvantaged children. I’m inspired to start something like this in my home country of South Africa where I first fell in love with mountain climbing (when I was a revolting teenager my father dragged me up and down numerous peaks in the Jonkershoek Valley, near Stellenbosch, before I stopped whining and realised that I was actually having a blast). It is a country with no shortage of incredible peaks to summit as well as a distressingly large number of disadvantaged, at-risk youth, so my mind is just starting to whirr with all the possibilities that this could present - as well as the logistical challenges for someone like myself who has never attempted something like this before. I’m going to have to do some research…

I took advantage of an absolutley gorgeous Saturday afternoon this past weekend and ventured out for some Stand Up Paddle Surfing. My first attempt at this sport was a couple weeks ago where I was forced to learn amongst the choppy waters during a extremely gusty day. Not recommended. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t paddle consistently and vowed I would never do it again. For all those who have had a similar experience, DON’T GIVE UP! Second time around was much better.

I departed from an enclosed beach within the Dana Point Harbor where the conditions were perfect. May I add, a great place to depart from beacuse you get to look at the cool boats and yachts as you paddle out of the jetty. This spot is a good start for beginners, but for those wanting a little more adventure, I discovered another cool blog where you can find some fun spots to paddle surf, or anything else you want to know about this sport. A new favorite of mine, this site has inspired me to head down to San Onofre this weekend and surf the ‘Dog Patch.’ Thanks for the information John!