So. Calif. Wilderness Adventures
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Discover California's natural wonders when you explore to a scenic backdrop of amazing desert, mountain, islands and coastal terrain.
Southern California features many exciting high wilderness adventures opportunities for
rock climbing, mountaineering, ocean sailing, camping, hiking and more.
Empress Hotel Of La Jolla
The Empress Hotel of La Jolla is a 73-room European style boutique hotel located in the heart of the charming seaside village of La Jolla.
The property is within walking distance to shopping, restaurants, art galleries and museums and a short stroll to the beach and La Jolla Cove.
La Jolla Grande Colonial Hotel
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and located in La Jolla, the "jewel" of Southern California's majestic coastline,
the Grande Colonial offers guests an elegant home from which to enjoy the region's near-perfect climate.
Built in 1913, this historic hotel is just steps away from the beach or the bustling "village" with its shops, restaurants and art galleries.
The guestrooms are distinctively unique, many offering breezy ocean views.
Torrey Pines Hilton Resort
Discreetly tucked away in the Palisades, with commanding views of the rugged
Southern California coastline and the Pacific Ocean on the horizon, the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines offers an experience of luxury, relaxation and gracious, personal service.
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pine's 394 guest rooms each contain a work desk, three telephones (one with a data port), an in-room safe and a self-service mini bar. All guest rooms have balconies and the majority have views of both our beautifully manicured gardens and the Torrey Pines Golf Course
Tour Oceanside California
Scenic coastal city with major fishing pier, harbor village, beaches, watersports,
and an historic early California mission.
More La Jolla Vacation Links
Dreambook La Jolla - blog
Angelfire La Jolla - backup directory
La Jolla Shores Sea Lodge - San Diego
Bathed by salt air breezes, the Sea Lodge is one of the select few hotels in San Diego situated directly on the beach.
This two acre oceanfront property is located in the charming enclave of La Jolla Shores on the edge of the La Jolla Underwater Park.
La Jolla Marriott Resort Hotel - San Diego
Located in the heart of La Jolla's Golden Triangle business district opposite University Towne Center Mall,
the hotel is just one half mile from Scripps Hospital and the University of California at San Diego.
Sorrento Mesa Country Inn & Suites - San Diego
Located in Sorrento Mesa also nick-named the "Golden Triangle", home to a multitude of biotech, communications and software companies in the United States.
Southern California Outdoor Adventure
Astronomy - Observatories * Clubs
Aviation - Airports & Airshows
Beach - Adventure Guide
Biking - Trails * Clubs
Birding - Best parks and nature refuges
Boating - Rivers, Lakes and Marinas
Scouting - Youth Outdoor Groups
Camping - Campgrounds
Fishing - Guides & Outfitters
Ghost Towns - Trails * Clubs
Golf - Courses & Tournaments
Pacific Crest Trail - Trails * Clubs
Guest Ranches - Trails * Clubs
Equistrian - Horse Racing & Etc
Kayaking
Marathon - Road Races & Competitions
Recreation - Outdoor Recreation & Sports
Rock Climbing -
Scenic Trails -
Spelunking - Cave Explorers
State Parks - Recreational Programs
Summer Camps - Sports & Academics
Tennis - Courts & Tournaments
Watersports - Pools & Competition
Wildlife - Nature Preserves
San Dieguito River Park
Partially completed Coast-to-Crest wilderness trail follows the path of the San Dieguito Rivier.
The Park will someday extend from the ocean at Del Mar to Volcan Mountain, just north of Julian
and may even connect with the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park just beyond.
It will wind past Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, Escondido, Lake Hodges and Lake Sutherland.
San Dieguito County Park - Del Mar CA
The four reservable picnic areas at this park are set among towering eucalyptus groves that characterize this part of the county.
Only minutes from the ocean, this park is cooled by the sea breezes during warm summer months.
A ball field, basketball court, play areas, and hiking trails are nearby for picnickers to enjoy.
California Coastal National Monument
Established in 2000, the California Coastal National Monument runs the entire length of the
California coast (1,100 miles) between Oregon and Mexico, extends 12 nautical miles from the shoreline, and encompasses
thousands of BLM administered islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles above mean high tide.
These provide forage and breeding grounds for significant populations of coastal birds and sea mammals.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography - UCSD
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (founded in 1903) is one of the oldest, largest, and most important centers for marine science research, graduate training, and
public service in the world. Ongoing investigations include the topography and composition of the ocean bottom, waves and currents, and the
flow and interchange of matter between seawater and the ocean bottom or the atmosphere. Scripps's research ships are used in these investigations
throughout the world's oceans. As many as 300 research projects may be underway at any time under that guidance of the 1300 staff members.
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Encompasses 2000 acres of coastal bluff, home to the protected rare Torrey Pines trees.
The Torrey pine is the rarest native pine in the United States. This preserve has oer eight miles of
trails that take you to the coastline and coastal lagoon.
Tour Mission Bay
This large aquatic recreation area has miles of shoreline and small boat marina. Home to Sea World
and Belmont Park.
San Diego - La Jolla Underwater Park
Park Info;
Created in 1970, the underwater park is a continuing community project to preserve the natural ecology, reestablish the underwater sea life and
maintain the natural beauty of the shoreline. Within the Park there are two special areas created by the California Fish & Game Commission;
the Ecological Reserve and the Marine Life Refuge.
City Beaches of Solana Beach
There are 1.7 miles of city maintained beachfront bordered on the north by Cardiff State Beach, and on the south by the City of Del Mar.
It is divided into four main Beach Parks: Fletcher Cove, Tide Beach Park, Seascape Surf, and Del Mar Shores.
These beaches provide a wide variety of recreational activities for City residents and visitors.
This is the big lake between Rancho Bernardo and Escondido on the San Dieguito River that the I-15 freeway cuts across (built in 1981). Located in a coastal canyon, Lake Hodges offers an environment that serves as a pleasant backdrop to a variety of recreational uses, including fishing, boating, sailing, bike and horseback riding, and picnicking.
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
This 4000 acre park stretches some seven miles protecting two major coastal canyons.
Los Peñasquitos Canyon and its tributary, Lopez Canyon, are characterized by perennial streams and steep slopes rising from flat, densely vegetated canyon bottoms.
Visitors can find wilderness trails and evidence of prehistoric cultures.
Bike Trails
Rose Canyon Bike Trail - Rose Canyon - University City
Marian Bear Park Trail - San Clemente Canyon - Clairemont Mesa
La Jolla Beach Tour
One of the best scenic tours in all of San Diego takes you to
a small hidden beach cove tucked in between sea cliffs and tide pools
making it a frequent stopping place for visitors such as sea lions
and harbor seals.
Buena Vista Audubon - South Oceanside
The Nature Center is located on the edge of Buena Vista Lagoon, which straddles the Oceanside-Carlsbad city line.
This fresh-water lagoon which had a natural outlet to the ocean which was closed by paved road and railroad construction.
Dozens of varieties of waterfowl can be seen on the lagoon, both migrant and resident. The center provides guided tours, field trips, nature exhibits and more.
Cleveland National Forest
420,000 acres woodlands and mountains with many camping sites
and hiking trails.
Palomar Mountain
One of the best outdoor locations in San Diego and home to formerly the
largest astronimical observatory in the world.
Tour Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. During winter months
it is home to over four million birds (representing over 400 species).
It is located at about 228 feet below sea level below sea level.
Tour Imperial Valley Dunes
Eastern rim of Imperial Valley -
Wildlife viewing area and home to several unique species of plants and
animals. Very popular area for offroad vehicle activity.
Other East County Communities
Santee /
Julian - Mountain retreat getaway
Mission Trails Regional Park - Outdoor Recreation
Santee Lakes Regional Park - Outdoor Recreation
Campo - Outdoor Recreation and Railroad Museum
Santee - Outdoor Recreation
Arco Training Center
U.S. Olympic Training Facility for archery, rowing, soccer,
kayaking, cycling, field hockey, tennis and track & field. Located
8 miles east of I-805 on Telegraph Canyon Rd in Chula Vista.
Chula Vista Nature Center
1.5 mile trail, observation deck and hands on exhibits help you to explore the
surrounding marshland. See unique flora, fauna and migratory birds.
Access is by shuttle bus running every 20 minutes from E Street parking
lot just west of I-5.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon
Both a nature encounter area and watersports (jet ski) area.
California Watersports
- Beside regular Boat and WaveRunner rentals, this facility manages a youth summer camp operation
with many exciting activities including wakeboarding, waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, peddleboating, waverunners, oceanography, beach games
San Diego Youth Aquatic Center
SDYAC, 1750 Fiesta Island Road, San Diego, CA 92109;
Youth watersports and marine biology camp facility owned by City of San Diego located
on the eastern shore of Fiesta Island. It is home to Camp Fiesta Island (a boy scout summer camp),
SeaCamp oceanography youth club and San Diego's Kayak Team. It is adjacent to
Enchanted Cove which is a popular for non-motor based watersports such as Kite Surfing, Small
Sailboats, Boardsailing and Kayaking.
BSA Camp Fiesta Island
SDYAC, 1750 Fiesta Island Road, San Diego, CA 92109;
BSA Camp Website;
Located in Mission Bay at the San Diego Youth Aquatic Center - this facility
hosts weeklong summer camp programs for visiting boy scout troops with classes in
Sailing, Boardsailing, Motorboating, Kayaking, Model Rocketry, Swimming, Oceanography and other
classes not available at a typical boyscout mountain camp. Popular activities also
include racing the Dragon Boat (a giant 24-man canoe) and night hikes to Sea World to
watch the fireworks up close. Youth camp along the bayfront where they can splash
in the warm Mission Bay water (75 degrees or better in summer).
Fiesta Island Youth Camp
SDYAC, 1750 Fiesta Island Road, San Diego, CA 92109;
BSA Camp Website;
Camping facilities at the SDYAC. There are some 30 group campsites available for use by youth group organizations year round.
A centrally located restroom has drinking water and rinsing showers. Overlooking the bay is an amphitheater and bonfire ring, which is great for large group campfires.
SeaCamp San Diego
SDYAC, 1750 Fiesta Island Road, San Diego, CA 92109;
Camp Website;
Immersing Students in the World of Marine Science since 1987 -
Seacamp San Diego is a marine biology education camp for school groups and indivdual students.
At SeaCamp students learn about all aspects of marine biology, snorkel, kayak, boogie board, tidepool and even SCUBA dive.
Summer camp programs are available for Grade 7-12 students that stay
in two large dorm rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys, equipped with bunk beds.
Students participate in on-site lab activities or head out to field sites.
- Trip Odometer - tracks your distance traveled between start and finish.
- Trip Timer - Used with the Odometer it can calculate your average trip pace. Some have pause feature.
- Electronic Compass - Never get loss again.
- 3D Location - Display position by Latitude, Longitude and Elevation.
- Battery Size & Life -
- Watch Size and Weight -
- Route Track - Customized Trip Map with waypoint markers.
- Lap History -
Key GPS features to look for:
GPS Gear
Popular for Runners, Boaters, Hikers, Bikers and Adventurers
Recent technology updates have made readily affordable for outdoor adventures a nifty item -
the GPS Watch. It uses 3D Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology to triangulate your position and elevation to
within 20 ft accuracy. Prices and great quality GPS watches now run less than $100 from quality manufactures such as
Garmin and Navman. This equipment is popular for athletes to track their race and training trip progress.
Adventurers like these to track their position or do geo-cache exploration.
