Growing up in the Monterey Bay, especially during my teen years, I never really appreciated how lucky we are to live in an area that allows for so many activities to be conducted outdoors. Like most teens, I relied on my parents to drop me off at the Del Monte Mall or the local fairgrounds to hang out with my friends. I occasionally did small hikes at Point Lobos or walks at the wharf but often steered away from when my parents went cycling or participated in races. I never really considered myself an outdoorsy person or adventurous. However, after leaving Monterey for 10 years, living in the concrete jungles, commuting in overly trafficked areas, and thriving in a career that often had me sitting in an office for extensive hours, I started to crave being outdoors and missing home.
When we relocated back to the area, I had to admit it felt good to be back in a coastal European-esque environment that encourages walking and biking to run errands instead of vehicles. The views, of course, are breathtaking, and there are natural and manmade running paths to be explored. I appreciated returning to our weather, which mostly offers year-round 60-degree weather with fog rolling in and out most mornings and evenings.
A place like this encourages and entices one to go outdoors. As a working parent, I appreciate how it balances me from the demands of routine parenting and stressful workdays. For my family and me, when we take our bikes down the recreational trail from Pacific Grove to Monterey, we tend to relax more. We talk about the history of the area and childhood memories for me. The kids point out their favorite ice cream spot on Cannery Row, and my daughter tells me about her field trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Biking around town allows us to reconnect and appreciate living in paradise, while also getting the physical activity I need after sitting at a desk all day.
While on the trail my son enjoys watching the surfers and kayakers explore the water. He often asks when we’ll get a chance to dive in. While I personally haven’t been brave enough to plunge into our cooler waters, I know many families and parents who have. For instance, Kaleia Akaka, a Hawaiian native who recently resided in Monterey with her family, expressed her deep appreciation for our water activities, specifically kayaking.
Kaleia states, “I’ve paddled in many parts of the Pacific and even the Atlantic, but the Pacific has always felt most like home. Each time I launch in Monterey Bay, it’s familiar and rewarding. I like to paddle out to the red bell buoy just beyond the aquarium-it’s a favorite route. There’s often a strong current to push against, giving me the kind of challenge I crave, and the wildlife in the distance-sea lions, otters, birds-remind me why I come. The return is always a thrill, riding the bumps back toward shore, carried by the same water that’s tested me. Every trip out is different, but it’s always worth it.”
Similar to how I feel about biking, Kaleia emphasizes the benefits of taking advantage of an outdoor activity. Kayaking provides a unique and intimate way to explore the vibrant wildlife throughout Monterey Bay, but it also provides a boost of physical activity that would also be beneficial to health enthusiasts.
As you look around the bay area, you’ll see people, whether locals, health enthusiasts, or tourists, taking advantage of outdoor activities. While they might be biking to work, paddling to explore marine life, or running trails to prepare for an upcoming race, it’s hard not to be motivated to take up one of these pastimes yourself or with your family while watching others engage in these readily available activities.
LOOKING FOR A RENTAL ?
MONTEREY BAY KAYAKS offers rentals, group tours, classes, and kayak fishing.
INFO: montereybaykayaks.com
ADVENTURES BY THE SEA also offers kayaks as well as bike rentals. They have multiple locations, provides locks and helmets with bike rentals, and provides information for self-guided and group guided tours.
INFO: adventuresbythesea.com
PACIFIC GROVE ADVENTURES offers bike and kayak rentals. They provide lessons and offer easy access to a 17-mile drive tour and Lover’s Point.
INFO: pacificgroveadventures.com
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