California Official Visitor's Guide 2024 - 39

ULTIMATE
PLAYGROUND
29
SANDBOARDING
IS A THING
You've heard of surfboarding.
Just replace barrel waves with
rippling mountains of sand, and
you're sandboarding. Climb up
Death Valley National Park's
Mesquite Flat or Saline Valley
dunes, wax up your board, and
slip-and-slide downhill. Can't
get enough? Surf more dunes in
Mojave National Preserve.
30
Every Family Member
Can Be a Rock Climber
Even grandma, as long as she's spry and up
for the challenge. It's all made possible by the
mountaineering magic of Via Ferratas. These
protected climbing courses-you climb under
your own power while safely hooked into
steel cables and anchors-allow novices to
experience the exhilaration of rock climbing in
a very safe setting. Iron rungs and footholds
aid your ascent, and an experienced guide
accompanies you every step of the way.
Anyone who meets the height and weight
requirements can inch their way up 800-foothigh
Tram Face at Palisades Tahoe, and
Mammoth Mountain off ers six diff erent
routes-three easy, two moderate, one
diffi cult-for ages 12 and up.
31
Our Craft Beer Is More Fun
Than Your Craft Beer
Never mind that California spearheaded
the craft beer movement (which it did). And
forget that the Golden State boasts more
craft breweries than any other state (which
it does). We'd rather point out that our beer
leads the pack with its fun-loving spirit. San
Diego's Belching Beaver Brewery, for instance,
doesn't just have a great name, it also boasts
the genre-busting Peanut Butter Milk Stout,
an easy-drinking crowd-pleaser that has won
more than a half-dozen
awards. We're also keen on
21st Amendment's Hell or
High Watermelon; The Lost
Abbey's Duck Duck Gooze;
Bagby Beer's Gotta Pay
the Pils; Stone Brewing's
Arrogant Bastard Ale; and
Fall River Brewing's Numb
Numb Juice Hazy IPA.
32
Our Ghosts and Ghouls
Will Entertain You
The Hotel del Coronado has a seriously
spooky side: In 1892, 24-year-old Kate
Morgan checked into this luxurious waterfront
resort and then ended her life on the hotel's
staircase. Since then, many
guests have experienced strange breezes,
fl ickering lights, and phantom footsteps
believed to be evidence of the young woman's
afterlife unrest.
The equally spooky Queen Mary is one of
the " Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America, "
according to Time magazine. The after-hours
Ship Walk Paranormal Tour is a perfect way to
get your shiver on.
San Jose's Winchester Mystery House
made the same prestigous list. Sara
Winchester's macabre mansion features stairs
that lead nowhere and doors that open to brick
walls-presumably to disorient the departed.
San Francisco's Alcatraz Night Tour
is another spine-chilling option, and not
necessarily for the faint of heart. Paranormal
expert Richard Senate once volunteered to
be locked in a punishment cell in Alcatraz, an
experience he calls " the most terrifying 15
minutes I ever spent. "
33
We Have 3,600 Pickleball
Courts... and Counting
Montecito resident Ellen DeGeneres is
obsessed with the sport. Los Angeles Lakers
forward LeBron James is also hooked-and
has even invested in a professional pickleball
league. Orange County native Will Ferrell is
an avid " dinker, " as are Billie Eilish, Leonardo
DiCaprio, and the Kardashians.
You'll fi nd pickleball courts pretty much
everywhere, including many hotels and resorts.
In San Diego County, Rancho Valencia Resort
& Spa has four dedicated courts and free
access for guests; Omni La Costa off ers a
weekly Pickleball 101 class; and the Fairmont
Grand Del Mar off ers weekend clinics. But we
like West Hollywood's take best: The Kimpton
La Peer Hotel has a rooftop pickleball setup
that transforms into a " Disco Court " on
weekends. You can practice your fl apjacks and
falafels while listening to a live DJ and sipping
cocktails.
34
We Invented Tiki Bars
World War I veteran Donn Beach
fell in love with Polynesian culture and wanted
to bring his passion for rum-fueled drinks to
the states. He opened Don's Beachcomber
(later renamed Don the Beachcomber) in
Hollywood in 1933, sparking a trend that
continues to this day. Tiki-Ti in Hollywood was
founded in 1961 by a Don the Beachcomber
bartender and serves 94 tropical cocktails.
Bakersfi eld's Tiki-Ko is a classic of the genre,
serving up concoctions like the Lady Monsoon
and Tequila Guavolution. False Idol is a San
Diego speakeasy that's hidden behind a
stainless steel door inside Little Italy's Craft
& Commerce. For the ultimate in mai tai
mayhem, head to the Tonga Room & Hurricane
Bar inside San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel.
At this 1945 watering hole, the Island Groove
Band plays from a thatched-roof barge on an
aquamarine pool, and surprise thunder-andlightning
storms steal the show.
35
NOBODY
CRUISES
BETTER
Driving isn't always about getting from point
A to point B. At Monterey Touring Vehicles,
you can rent a 1954 Chevy Bel Air Convertible,
a 1981 DeLorean, or dozens of other vintage
rides. Recommended route: Start on 17-Mile
Drive and then head down Highway 1,
cruising along two of the state's
most scenic thoroughfares.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY MUSEUM OF NEON ART; ALCATR/GETTY IMAGES; COURTESY THE BUNNY MUSEUM; DANA NEIBART/GETTY IMAGES; COURTESY MONTEREY TOURING VEHICLES; COURTESY BELCHING BEAVER
BREWERY; AMANDA FRIEDMAN; MATTHEW MILLMAN/THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX; AMANDA FRIEDMAN; COURTESY MOXI; COURTESY OF LAWS RAILROAD MUSEUM; MARK ALBERTAZZI/COURTESY MARITIME MUSEUM

California Official Visitor's Guide 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2024