Did you know that the La Jolla coastline plays host to four completely different underwater habitats? Or that Theodor Geisel (Dr. Suess) based Whoville from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas off the craziness of Pacific Beach? These are some of the tidbits I picked up during the Kayak and Snorkel Tour with Everyday California. A perfect mix of education and wholesome fun, the tours provide locals and tourists with a new way to appreciate and interact with the La Jolla coast.
Everyday California has a team of laid-back, knowledgeable guides who are living, breathing proof that San Diego surfing culture is alive and well. They will help to usher you through the check-in process inside the La Jolla Shores store, which also doubles as a well-stocked rental and apparel shop. After suiting up in a life jacket and grabbing a snorkel, helmet and fins, our group of 15 walked down to the nearby beach where the kayaks and paddles were waiting.
Now the fun really begins. Sea Kayaking is a different kind of beast, but an enjoyable one. Getting past the gentle waves and out into the open water was exhilarating. Both my friend and I were happily drenched in seawater by the time we made it out to the buoy and joined up with the rest of the group. From there, we paddled our way along the shore and over to La Jolla Cove, with our guides occasionally pointing out different types of wildlife and sharing interesting facts about the area.
After working up a bit of a sweat under the San Diego sun, we all joined our kayaks together and maneuvered into our snorkel gear before hopping in the water. We dove down to the ocean floor, swam alongside garibaldi (AKA big goldfish), took a peek into the Sunny Jim Sea Cave, and were constantly on the lookout for sea turtles and dolphins. You may get lucky and see a leopard shark, but don’t worry – their mouths are only the size of a quarter so you’ll be completely safe.
If you’re feeling adventurous, ask one of your guides to bring you through the small, circular tunnel carved naturally under the cliffside by the ocean. We made our way through the dark tunnel and found a giant sea lion happily sunning himself on the rock right next to us on the other side. What a thrill to be so close to wildlife in their natural habitat!
Eventually we all clambered back into our kayaks and made our way back to “kayak surf” the waves back onto shore.
As a local, I often skip over activities where a lot of tourists are present. But with Everyday California, I was exposed to a new and exciting way to see and appreciate my city in a way that was completely different than anything I had done before. Their team’s mission is to share the California lifestyle with both visitors and natives, and the Kayak and Snorkel Tour proved itself to do just that while simultaneously creating a perfect San Diego summertime activity.
A few tips to know before you go:
- Get there 30 minutes in advance. The tour gathers together outside about 10 minutes before your time slot, so make sure you’re there and ready to go.
- Take note that everything you’ll bring on the kayak will get soaked – so prepare by bringing a waterproof case or underwater GoPro if you want to take pictures.
- It was a workout! Completely doable, even for the kiddos in our group, but maybe you should skip Arm Day at the gym the day of your tour 😉
- After you’ve worked up an appetite on the water, check out the neighboring Galaxy Taco to refuel. When in doubt, the Mushroom Taco is a fan favorite.
The Kayak and Snorkel Tour starts at $59 per person and lasts around 2 hours. For more information on different types of tours and to book yours, please visit www.everydaycalifornia.com.
