10 (Healthy) Things You Must Do on Your Next Trip to Cali

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There’s nothing more California than surfing, so rent a foam board (try for one at least 9 ft. long) and hit the waves. Don’t forget a wetsuit, though, unless it’s August and you’re in Southern California. The water is chilly just about every other time. A lesson can help you get the hang of it more quickly, but if you’re reluctant to spend the cash, you’ll probably be fine if you pick your spot wisely. Head to a place where the waves are breaking a ways from shore and you can try to pick up the white water as it comes in. Ideally it’ll also be sandy-bottomed and shallow.

In San Diego, Tourmaline Beach is an ideal beginner break, as is Old Man’s at San Onofre State Beach in the northern part of San Diego county (called North County.) If you’re further north in Orange County, head to Surfrider Beach in Malibu, perhaps the most famous surf break in the area. Up by San Francisco surfing gets a little more challenging and a little colder, but Cowell’s Cove in Santa Cruz is well protected and good for beginners. 

If the surf conditions are flat, it’s the perfect time to try SUP, or stand-up paddling. Done on longer and often wider boards than regular surfing, you’ll propel yourself with a paddle, so SUP feels a little like a combination of kayaking and surfing. Head to a bay or lagoon before trying the ocean, because you’ll want to make sure you know how to navigate before you get to choppier waters. Windy days can also be more challenging.

In San Diego, any spot along Mission Bay is terrific for SUP, while up in L.A., Marina Del Rey provides calm waters. If you’re just about anywhere in Lake Tahoe the SUP conditions are great, and back on the northern California coast, Richardson Bay has amazing scenic views.

If you’re feeling adventurous, California is the right state to give kiteboarding (a surfing-windsurfing hybrid) a go. The learning curve is steep – most places require multiple hours of lesson time before you even hit the water – but once you get past that, most kiters are completely hooked. Wind conditions are essential, so the best kiteboarding spots vary based on the conditions.

In San Francisco try Kite 415, while in Los Angeles, SoCal Kitesurfing is top-rated. If you’re visiting San Diego, call Mission Beach Surf School for lessons. 

Fish tacos are to California – especially Southern California – what bagels are to New York. They just taste better here. No matter which restaurant you choose, it’s likely you’ll have the best fish tacos of your life.

In San Diego, check out Oscar’s Mexican Seafood in Pacific Beach and Hillcrest, and while in L.A., Tacos Baja Ensenada or Ricky’s Fish Tacos. In San Francisco, head to Cholita Linda, and Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is a chain that has locations throughout California and in other states now as well.

Pronounced ah-sah-EE, these bowls are so tasty that you won’t even realize that açaí is a superfood too. Bowls traditionally come with some combination of açaí, fruit, juice or milk, honey and/or granola – and most açaí places have a full menu of options. It’s hard to go wrong with any combo. You may want to ask if it’s pure açaí or if it’s mixed with guarana, a plant known to have a high caffeine content. If it is, you could be getting a caffeine hit on par with a cup of coffee, so be ready for the buzz.

In San Francisco, try the Blue Hawaii Acai Cafe, and in Los Angeles, go to Beach Bowls in Redondo Beach. In San Diego, Turquoise Coffee or Nekter Juice Bar in La Jolla both make a great açaí bowl.

There are literally thousands of incredible hikes in California because of the varied vistas and climates. No trip would be complete without trying at least one – and because of all the variety, you can pick from ones that are challenging and ones that won’t require breaking a sweat.

In San Diego county the hikes at Torrey Pines live up to their reputation for striking scenery, though it is one of the few places where you’ll have to pay a parking fee, unfortunately. In L.A., Runyon Canyon is very well known, but often crowded for that very reason. Solstice Canyon is also a simple, high-reward trail in Malibu. In San Francisco, tons of moderate and difficult hikes abound, but the Lands End Trail won’t tire you out much and provides views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

California has vegetarian restaurants that really, truly, make you feel like you could give up meat. Native Foods is a chain with locations across Southern California from San Diego to Palm Springs and L.A. —  and now has spread into other parts of the country as well. Their healthy comfort food is simply awesome.

The Lotus Café and Juice Bar in Encinitas (northern San Diego) has both meat and non-meat options for a mixed group, and Greens Restaurant in San Francisco takes it up a notch with gourmet vegetarian cuisine that changes daily and relies on seasonal fare.

If it seems like everyone – men, women, and kids – does yoga in California, you may be right. You’ll see people doing downward dogs on SUP boards and in parks all over the place. If you’ve never attempted it, now’s your chance. Every city and town has multiple yoga studios to choose from, but if you can, go for an outdoor, drop-in class. Nothing beats listening to waves in an oceanfront class, or just soaking up the sun. Power Yoga, Ashtanga, and Bikram classes are often more strength-based if you’re looking for a solid workout as well.

Purusha Studio offers yoga in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on a donation-only basis, and NamaSteve in San Diego offers a donation-based class in Palisades Park overlooking the beach.  If you’re in Los Angeles, check out Beach Yoga by Brad, on Santa Monica Beach, for just $10 a class.  

It’s a proven heart-healthy activity, and California has some of the best vineyards in the world, starting with the well-known ones in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, but there are also wineries in places like Santa Barbara and Temecula in San Diego County.

In wine country, hire a car for the day (it’s not as pricey as you’d think, especially for groups) and go on a vineyard crawl. Some wineries pair their best with pizza, others with more traditional cheese trays. Either way, it’ll be a blast.

There are so many ways to camp in the Golden State. You can find both spots close to the cities and on the coast, and plenty that are in the middle of nowhere.

If you’ve got a little time to spare, two can’t-miss camping spots are Yosemite and Big Sur. Yosemite is about a three-and-a-half hour drive due east from San Francisco, and this mammoth, 1,199-square mile national park is known for its stunning waterfalls, giant sequoias, and rock formations. Many of the 13 Yosemite campgrounds require reservations, and you’ll want to book early.

Meander your way through Big Sur by driving up the famous Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from as far south as Los Angeles. Along the way, you’ll see a rugged, breathtaking coastline that you may not have known existed in the U.S.  Once you’re in Big Sur, campsites are all over the place, and you may well have a view of the Pacific from your tent.