Water Sports at the Malibu Pier — one of the top surfing spots in the world Right along the Pacific Coast Highway up a way from Santa Monica — or over the mountains from the 101, a bit south of Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road — is the Malibu Pier, Surfrider Beach, and the Malibu Surf Shack.
[clearboth] The Malibu Surf Shack is pretty much across the street from the Pier. This small, friendly shop is chock full of hanging surf boards and wet suits. Outside are large stashes of Surfboards, Boogie Boards and Stand Up Paddle Boards awaiting rental. In a truck across the street is a selection of single and tandem kayaks. [clearboth]
Kayaking in Malibu’s Pacific Ocean
If you’ve never kayaked in the ocean it can look a bit daunting. Unlike a lake, there are waves many months of the year. (I’d forgotten that fact when I set out to do this.) The guys from the Surf Shack allayed my fears. The first bit of water, about 1/4 way out to the end of the pier has the waves, but then you’re quickly behind them. To get out there, you wait as the waves pass. They come in sets, so after a set you get into your kayak and paddle out quickly. From there on there are no worries. The staff at the surf shop will tell you about the number of waves in a set and give you directions. In December the water is smoother, so you won’t even have to think about waves.
Soon it struck me that I was on the other side of the pier, out in the ocean, behind a bunch of surfers, watching as the waves formed between our kayak and the surfers, enjoying the show as they rode in on the waves. (There was some fancy doubles-riding going on, too!)
If you rent the kayak for two hours you can head up the coast enough to see some nice kelp beds. The water is particularly clear in the winter months. You may also be treated to a show of playful dolphins.
While there, the owner and staff talked me into some more adventure —Stand Up Paddle Boards! (I’d never even heard of these.) Apparently they’ve been known in Hawaii for ages but are new to the US just in the past few years. These are large boards on which you can lie down, kneel, sit, or stand. As with the kayak, you get out past the wavy part. I did this by paddling out on my knees with my butt resting on the board, as did the others I saw. Once past that point, you can get up on your knees and then stand. The paddle is one-sided and has a long handle. You paddle a bit on one side then the other.
wasn’t up to standing up fully, but not for fear of falling into the water. (In fact, the water was so inviting that I went in after bringing my board in.) Several others were on the water, out behind the surfers and proceeding up the coast, making it seem effortless.
[hr]
Food by the Malibu Pier
Malibu is also a great place to enjoy a great meal. One of my favorite casual places — The Fish Grill — is right there, right below the Malibu Surf Shack. There’s also the Beachcomber on the pier. They have a nice brunch, and a great clam chowder. You can sit inside, sit on the boardwalk, or sit by the bar. And if you bring a group you might love their private tiki room. If you prefer a casual burger and shake, there’s Ruby’s Dinner at the end of the pier. [hr]
Lessons, Pricing & Location

If you’re not familiar with a water sport, you can always learn. The Malibu Surf Shack has lessons — and guided kayak rides. Activities/Rentals — Summer Rates 2010 (EDIT) Surfboard Rentals: $xx for the day Boogie Board Rentals: $xx for the day Stand Up Paddle Boards: $xx for 2 hrs. Single Kayaks: $xx for the day Tandem Kayaks: $xx for the day In addition to rentals, the Malibu Surf Shack has group activities: Guided Stand Up Paddle Group, Stand Up Paddle Board Lessons, Guided Kayak Group, and Surf Lessons. Malibu Surf Shack Group Activities Guided Stand Up Paddle Group Sunday mornings at 10 — $45 Guided Kayak Group Saturday mornings at 10 — $35 Surf Lessons $100 for 1 1/2 hours including wet suit and board Stand Up Paddle Board Lessons $100 for 1 hour including board and paddle Activities/Rentals — Winter Rates ’09 Surfboard Rentals: $25 for the day Boogie Board Rentals: $15 for the day Stand Up Paddle Boards: $40 for 2 hrs. Single Kayaks: $20 for the day Tandem Kayaks: $25 for the day[clearboth]
Other coastal sport areas

Big Bear Lake: A Perfect Summer Break
Cooler air, wakeboarding or touring, and so much more
About 2½ hours from Los Angeles…
by Deborah Shadovitz with Muna Deriane When the Los Angeles area’s summer heat gets to you, or you simply need an easy vacation, consider a trip to Big Bear. The air’s about 20 degrees cooler and it’s only about 2½ hours away. The tree-lined mountains are magnificent scenery and the lake is beautiful. You’ll get to breath deeply and truly relax. You can’t help but feel rejuvenated up there and the variety of activities may surprise you. [clearboth] With 22 miles of shoreline and a south side that expands into the mountains, there are plenty of accommodations to choose from. We opted for the charming Adirondack-inspired, full service hotel, the Northwoods Resort, conveniently located close to the lake and most of what we planned to do. Big Bear was larger than we expected. We realized that because being great for both summer and winter sports, the homes and guest accommodations are not just around the lake but extend to the feet of the mountains.Wakeboarding! with Designated Wake Sports
Planning to water-ski, we contacted Desi Hauer, owner ofDesignated Wake Sports, and although he rents water skis, he suggested we discover wakeboarding — a cross between water skiing, surfing, and skateboarding.
Want to try wakeboarding? Designated Wake Sports operates out of Pleasure Point Marina. Best value is the half-day (four hours) with five riders. They also offer other tow-behind rides. Call to inquire or book, even day-of, as the office is not always staffed. Designated Wake Sports 603 Landlock Landing Road Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 909-556-3345 DesignatedWakeSports.com[hr]
Water Slide, Alpine Slide, GoCarts and More
We both find water slides alluring, but not the long lines at large water parks, so we appreciated getting our water slide fix here on the Magic Mountain Alpine Water Slide. Also here, is the quarter-mile Alpine Slide, pretty much a bobsled, but you ride a wheeled dolly down the long, winding track. When was the last time you went speeding downhill, hugging banked curves, simply enjoying speed without worry of crashing? Speaking of speed without crashing, we had a blast speeding around on the 5.5 horsepower Go-Cart rides. The Go-Carts are a fun driving experience for children of course, but I think Muna and I had just as much fun on them. As we sped around we noticed a family we’d met earlier was there too, enjoying the 18-hole miniature golf course and the small arcade. Big Bear’s Magic Mountain is fun for all ages. This moderately sized amusement park will keep you and your entire family entertained. Wanna ride? The hours vary by season and there are several pricing plans, so visit their site for info. Magic Mountain 800 Wildrose Lane Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 909-866-4626 AlpineSlideBigBear.com [hr]Scenic Sky Chair and Mountain Biking at Snow Summit

Want a Lift? Lift hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Snow Summit 880 Summit Blvd. Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 909-866-5766 BigBearMountainResorts.com[hr]
Surprisingly Excellent Theater

Big Bear Off-Road Adventures


Taking a land tour Big Bear Off-Road Adventures offers several tours. Our tip: Bring water and snacks. Big Bear Off-Road Adventures 909-585-1036 OffRoadAdventure.com[hr]
Kayaking, Paddle Boating, Motoring and more


Want to go boating? Kayaks come in single or double and are easy to use. Pontoon boats vary by size accommodating 4-12 people and the longer you rent it for, the better the deal. Split amongst a group of people, they’re pretty much the same per person cost as a man-powered boat. Heather and the crew are at the marina 7 a.m – 7 p.m. to answer questions or rent you a boat. Pleasure Point Marina 603 Landlock Landing Road Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 909-866-2455 PleasurePointBBL.com[clearboth] [hr]
Lake Tour on Miss Liberty Paddlewheel Tour Boat

Want to Ride? The tour runs at 2 p.m. daily. Call to learn of other tour times and of Twilight Cruises with music and appetizers. Ask for Captain Matt to arrange a special group package. (Sometimes children’s groups even have “Bugs Bunny” as a tour guide.) Miss Liberty Paddlewheel Tour Boat 400 Pine Knot Avenue Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 909-866-8129[clearboth] [hr]
Other things to do
There’s much more to do in Big Bear. Moonridge Animal Park is a unique sanctuary that takes in orphaned or injured animals and is home to over 89 species. There’s also the Big Bear Historical Museum, horseback riding, guided mountain biking, hiking, fishing, parasailing, a solar observatory, and even more. You can easily visit as a day trip. But with so much to do, and with hotel rates so reasonable, you’ll want to stay at least a couple of days. However long your visit to Big Bear, you’ll feel better for it.Learn more about vacationing in Big Bear, California
Learn more at BigBear.com. [hr] [clearboth]Where We Stayed & Ate
We stayed at Northwoods Resort, a 4-story hotel and beautiful conference center with onsite restaurant, heated pool and Jacuzzi, ample parking, and friendly staff. Our pool-facing room had double beds with benches at the foot of each, chairs, a small refrigerator and coffee maker, a separate bathroom area, a patio and plenty of space. (Some have fireplaces.) There are also video games and immediately accessible free wi-fi. Stillwells, the restaurant, has an upscale menu and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a short walk (.1mile) to the popular strip of shops and eateries where we had great burgers at Desi’s In The Village. (Yes, Desi, our wakeboarding instructor.) Pine Knot Marina is a nice .4 mile walk (east), the slides are just .6 miles (west), and Pleasure Point Marina is 2 miles (west). Northwoods Resort struck us as a great pace to book a large family gathering, wedding or business event. Northwoods Resort 40650 Village Drive, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 909-866-3121 NorthwoodsResort.comDesi’s In The Village 40766 Village Drive, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 909-866-3374]]>#LAAL
Kernville & Lake Isabella: Things to do besides rafting This is page 2 of 3 of our article about rafting on the Kern River. Kernville is a tiny town that borders the river. Aside from private homes that reach into the mountains, it’s pretty much a small town center and one other street. You won’t find large hotels or chains here. Think cabins, B&B, small eateries, and local-only businesses. Kernville is about getting away and experiencing nature. One business owner said, “one of the attractions of Kern County is that you can hurt yourself. It’s kind of wild and unregulated.”
Things to Do
On Lake Isabella
Lake Isabella lies between the Lower and Upper Kern. It is actually a reservoir with an ever-changing water level. Trying to get to the lake for recreation, you’re likely to drive right past it, puzzling over where the entrance to the activity is. This is not a built-up resort full of rental stands and food concessions. [caption id="attachment_674" align="alignright" width="357"]
North Fork Marina and French Gulch Owned by Bill and Deb Chase Northforkmarina.com Open year-round. (760)-376-1812 FrenchGulchMarina.com Open year-round. (760) 379-8774 Note: The marinas move, so phone for directions.
Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby
The 22nd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby will take place April 16-18, 2011 and offer over $250,000 in prizes. Derby.KernRiverValley.com[hr]A note about signage
Once you’re outside of Kernville proper — in the in the parks/camping/historic areas — signage is scarce because the US Forest Service wants to keep things natural. Be sure to get clear directions to all things that are off of main roads. For example, told about a mine to visit, we listened to directions, found the small sign on the side of the road and think we turned off at the correct point, but after that there were no signs. We never did find the mine.
Things to Do In Kernville
Our time in Kernville was too short so we didn’t get to experience as much as we could have. Thus, these are just a few things your family might enjoy right in Kernville.Kern Valley Museum
Kernville, originally called Whiskey Flat, was the true Wild West. The Kern Valley Museum, run by the Kern River Valley Historical Society, and located right in town, is full of items and stories from the days of prospectors and miners, saloon patrons, shootings, and outlaws. I liked the story of a bar fight that led to an Ore discovery and the creation of another mine, with both men becoming partners! The museum has mining equipment, stuff from old movie days, the story of the Isabella Dam, and even prehistoric artifacts.Admission is Free Open 10-4 Thursday-Saturday. If you can’t get there during museum hours, come over anyway and enjoy the items and info that are out front. Kern Valley Museum 49 Big Blue Road Kernville, CA 93238 KernValleyMuseum.org (760) 376-6683
Visit a Mine
This sounds like a fun thing to do with children. Be sure to get directions though. We can’t tell you about a visit because we never found one.Fish Hatchery
The Fish Hatchery on Sierra Way is also said to be an interesting visit. The river is known for its Rainbow and Golden Trout.Camp at Frandy Park
[caption id="attachment_670" align="alignright" width="347"]
Enjoy the Water
I can’t provide details of the water activities and water safety here, but Lorrie and I saw families enjoying the shores of the Kern, right in town and at Frandy Park. We were told there was a safe swimming area not far from the center of town. The KRV Novelty Company, located right in town, sold inflatables and can likely give advice. Please refer back to the bottom of our rafting article for info about them. [hr]Things to Do Near Kernville
The Kern Valley Golf Course
On the way into Kernville from Bakersfield — two miles west of Kernville on Highway 155 — you’ll pass a very unpretentious-looking entrance to a PGA rated, Par 72 course and driving range. It’s open all year, 7 days a week. Men’s Tees are rated as 68.0 / Slope 106 Women’s Tee are rated as 71.3 / Slope 116 Our golf columnists have not played this course yet. KernValley.com/news/kvgolf.htm (760) 376-2828Silver City Ghost Town Silver City Ghost Town
Silver City Ghost Town, a collection of historic local Kern Valley structures, is located south of Lake Isabella in Bodfish, California. We have not been there to tell you about it, but it may be fun for kids. 3829 Lake Isabella Blvd. Bodfish, CA 93205 LakeIsabella.net/SilverCity MapGiant Sequoia National Monument Trail of a Hundred Giants
45 miles northwest of Kernville is near the Southern Gateway to the giant sequoias. Some trails can be driven by car. Access depends upon weather. We have not been there to tell you about it. KernValley.com/news/trail100.htmHorseback Riding
Sorry we can’t shed any light on this but we can offer it as a suggestion that you can look into. [hr]Resources
#LAAL
White water rafting in Southern California!
About 21/2 hours north of Los Angeles, 60 miles NE of Bakersfield…
by Deborah S. Shadovitz As my friends and I meandered down a slower part of the River Kern on a warm summer day, I found myself thinking it’s a pity that every American doesn’t get to raft this beautiful river through this magnificent canyon. Rafting is a perfect shared experience: relaxation, flowing water, sun, great food, and the rewarding feeling of getting past hurdles because of teamwork. [clearboth] Since the mid 1970s, the Kern River has been a prime spot for rafting. One reason is Lake Isabella, which sits below the Upper Kern holding water to feed the Lower Kern. The River Kern rafting season begins in April when the snows atop Mt Whitney melt into the Upper Kern, filling it and making it an active adventure. It ends around the end of August, when the water in the Lower Kern becomes too shallow. There are several ways you can experience rafting on the Kern, water levels dictating your options and the specifics of your trip.- There’s the 3-mile Lickety Split out of Kernville.
- For experienced rafters there’s the Thunder Run on the Upper Kern in April/May while the snow melt creates fast-running water.
- There are half, full, or two-day trips on the Lower Kern.
White Water Classes
You’ll hear the water described Class I-VI. This refers to the amount of white water — the speed, height and challenge of the water. Class I is calm, II gives you a bit of a kick, and IV will have that foamy white water coming up and hitting you. (V requires experience and VI is not runnable.)Intro to Rafting with Kern River Tours
For my rafting introduction, I chose Kern River Tours because it’s the longest-running company there, it’s independently owned, and its managing owner Kenny Bushling is a Kernville native who began as a rafting guide himself in 1986.





“Adventure Swim”
After breakfast in the morning, instead of going to the boats, the guys started up a hill. “Are you coming?” they called to me and Lorrie? “Where?” we asked. “To swim a rapid,” they replied. Yep, they were about to jump into the ice-cold morning water right before some white water and go floating through it. My response was a certain no. And a short hike later I was on the shore receiving instructions for how to not drown in the foam. The water was cold, the foam was scary, I had a strange habit of floating the wrong way, but thanks to the very nice one-time strangers, I made it through and celebrated. (Our guide escorted Lorrie, who is not one to shy away from a challenge either.) [hr]Go Jump off a Cliff?


Camaraderie
The four former college-buddies in the other raft were doing this trip with KRT for the fifth year in a row and love this one weekend a year where they get to be boys again. As we traversed the water, I realized what a great experience this would be for families. It’s a perfect shared experience: relaxation, flowing water, sun, great food, and the rewarding feeling of getting past hurdles because of teamwork. I found myself thinking it’s a pity that every American doesn’t get to raft this beautiful river through this magnificent canyon. [clearboth] [hr]Rough Camping (and cell phones)

[hr]The Upper Kern Lickety Split
Although we’d intended for our two-day trip to be our maiden rafting voyage, Lorrie and I had a surprise initiation — in the Upper Kern as it ran fast! To learn about the area, we met with the one-and-only legendary Chuck Richards, who is commonly consdered the first to take people down the Kern in rafts. The water was running fast, and Chuck was in the mood for some excitement. So he had a talk with his pal Janet Sharp, the nice co-owner of Eagle Rafting, and after a short bus ride, we “put in” at the top of the Lickety Split run. The first time I realized we were heading directly into waves of white splashing water — and stopping to get out wasn’t an option —I thought, “what am I doing here?!” But we were with Chuck Richards — the living legend of the Kern River, the old-hat rafter who loved the thrills and excitement — and certainly knows what he is doing. “Go! Go!, Go!” Chuck commanded. Per Chuck’s instruction, we kept on “paddling though.” When our paddles could reach the water that is! Half the time we were on such a crest that our oars couldn’t reach the water, even as we perched on the edge of the raft and tried to lean. Then the wave would dip, our oars would reach below the surface and we’d feel our strokes propel us. Soon we reached calm — well calmer — water. How exhilarating! Forty mostly breathless minutes later, we stepped up on the Frandy Park beach and said “wow!” We headed to our hotel, the Kern River Inn, to shower and then to the Kern River Brewery for a much-needed burger and home-brewed beer.