Adventure

Anaheim and the surrounding area offer many types of adventure – from the tame to the wild: skiing; 4wheeling (Off-road/ATV); surfing; Air Combat; Glider Rides; Canyoneering; just to name a few. This section will provide information about all of those activities and more.

Here is a list of my favorite adventure activities and places in the area. You may have to drive an hour or more to get to some of those locations, but they are worth the time and the effort. See the specific pages for more details about those places.

4wheeling (Off-road/ATV) (ATV Rentals):

• Palm Springs area: Ocotillo Wells ...info
• -book your ATV Rental here
• Victorville: Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area ...info
• Barstow: Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area ...info
• Central California: Oceano Dunes ...info.
• Off Road - Hummer or Jeep -book a Jeep adventure here

Books about adventures in California:

• Anza-borrego Desert Region: A Guide to State Park & Adjacent Areas of the Western Colorado Desert
• Fodor's Southern California 2009: with Central Coast, Yosemite, Los Angeles, and San Diego (Fodor's Gold Guides)
• Southern California SUV Trails: A Rough-road Guide to Thirty-two Interesting Four-wheeling
  
• Excursions in the Western Mojave Desert
• Where to Go Really 4 Wheeling in California

Wild Adventures:

You can also find organized activities allover the southland. Many companies offer rentals and guided tours, but my favorite is kijubi. Go to www.kijubi.com to see the long list of available adventures. Here is a partial list:

Two Hour Coastal Zeppelin Flight: This 2 hour coastal aerial tour starts in Long Beach and follows the coast highway South along the varied vistas of the Seal, Huntington and Newport Beach areas. Depending on the weather and season, you might see kite surfers, kayaks and whales! Around Laguna Beach are the inspiring dunes and wetlands of the wilderness parks and Crystal Cove State Park with the lovely Laguna Hills in the distance. Dana Point and San Clemente mark the turning point for our journey back to Long Beach. Book this Zeppelin flight here.

Air Combat: experience what it's like to be engaged in real aerial combat - right here in Southern California. What a fun thing to do, flying over sunny California in a retro fighter aircraft. Two locations Fullerton and San Diego. -book an air combat adventure here

ATV Rental: Be a daredevil for a day and experience the California desert like never before. Chose from a variety of ATVs. You can also find ATVs for the young ones. See the detailed article about 2 of my favorite places for ATV fun (Ocotillo Wells and Oceano Dunes) then -book your ATV Rental here

Airplane Tours: Relax in your seat and enjoy an aerial view of the most famous landmarks, cities and beaches. Your expert tour guide will tell you everything you want to know about the views. -book an airplane tour here

Balloon Rides: This is a must in my opinion. Nothing beats the feeling of floating up slowly and watching the land recede under you. The excitement grows as you gain altitude and your horizon expands. -book a balloon ride here

Bike Tours: If you are willing to drive a little away from Anaheim, you get to chose from several guided tours in the San Diego area. Some tours are geared towards families with young children and others are more adenturous. My favorite is the La Jolla Plunge Bike Tour (mostly downhill). -book a bike tour here

Canyoneering: Imagine hiking up a mountain trail that parallels a deep canyon, where down below you hear water flowing over the rocky canyon bottom. You reach a point where the trail crosses the stream. After dressing for the descent, you begin following the watercourse down canyon, dealing with obstacles as they come. Ropes, harnesses, and specialized training become the method of travel as you rappel off waterfalls. You may swim, wade or down-climb as you hike your way through the canyon. -book a canyoneering adventure here

Dirt Bikes: Enjoy the thrill of zipping along desert dirt trails and jumping over hills. You can just rent a bike at Ocotillo Wells (or other locations) or you can join one of the guided adventure tours to Baja. -book an dirt bikes here

Glider Rides: After you go soarin' over California at California Adventure, you may want to experience the real thing. Here is your chance to soar over San Diego county. Set, relax and enjoy your quit -book an glider ride here

Helicopter Tours: Here is another way to experience Southern California from the air. Take of from downtown LA and head towards Hollywood or enjoy a bird's eye view of the coast. If you are really adventurous, ask for your turn to fly the bird. -book a helicopter tour here

Indoor Skydiving: Ever wanted to jump out of high flying airplane and experience the sensation of falling? Well, now you can experience most of the thrill of skydiving without the risks. You first take a quick skydiving lesson, then you get outfitted with your gear, then you jump into virtical wind tunnel. The wind pushes upwards giving you the feeling of flying. Instructors are on hand to help achive your flight. This is a family friendly adventure. Bring the kids to enjoy their first flight. -book your indoor skydiving here

Jet Skis: It is like riding a motorcycle or an ATV but on water. On hot summer days, being on the water might much more attractive than the desert. -book a jet skis here

Paragliding: This is the ultimate in human flight. You get to wear your wings, give yourself a running start, then jump and soar using the wind as your only motor. This adventure is dependent on weather conditions, so call ahead to confirm that your flight is on. -book a paragliding adventure here

Snorkeling: Step into an alien world and get close and personal with the creatures that live under the sea. Seaworld in San Diego is a great way to get introduced to sea life, but if you want real interaction take a snorkeling guided tour. -book your snorkeling adventure here

Surfing: Learn surfing from the pros. Take a private class, group class or join a surf camp. Many locations to pick from including the world famous Huntington Beach. For beginner waves head to Dana Point or San Clemente. -book a surfing here

Rock Climbing: Another adventure that can be enjoyed by the whole family. You can start by taking a class at an indoor climbing facility. Then head to one of the most popular rock climbing spots in the world: Joshua Tree National Park. -book your rock climbing adventure here

Ocean Fishing: Going ocean fishing is not easy when you don't have the right equipment. So leave to the pros to set you up with your gear and find the right location for you. Some of the best fishing can be had around Catalina Island, Newport Beach and Dana Point. -book an ocean fishing adventure here