El Cajon, CA Outdoor Activities

Staff members at Rick's Rent-A-Boat outfit water-riders with the necessary safety equipment before sending them off for a ride on a professionally maintained jet ski, kayak, or boat. During excursions, riders safely glide over the ripples and spray of San Diego Bay's coastal waters atop a Kawasaki or Honda jet ski, kayak, or Triton ski boat. Sporting a provided life vest and drawing on operating instructions included with each rental, riders cruise atop their seafaring stallions, skimming over foamy waves and leading schools of local fish in a Hamlet lecture. Depending on Mother Nature's mood, guests can make waves 8 a.m.–8 p.m. every day of the week.

Pacific Nature Tours' experienced captains and their crews navigate a seaworthy 70-foot, US Coast Guard–inspected vessel—the Eclipse_—through Mission Bay waters in search of friendly marine life and ambivalent birds. As the _Eclipse safely sails around island coasts, knowledgeable naturalists narrate the expeditions, which include two whale-watching excursions. Aquatic creatures ranging from dolphins and sea lions to pool noodles can be spotted in their natural habitats from the ship's spacious deck or from within the interior viewing area, which is equipped with satellite TV. As the Eclipse navigates Mission Bay, passengers can feast on the galley's appetizing offerings, including Chris's world famous clam chowder, served with 4.5 hour tours. Meals are also included in longer trips and items available à la carte for all voyages. All tours operate out of Seaforth Sportfishing.

With 20 years of experience working with horses, Anna Baker makes her equine expertise available to the public through an array of riding services. Students as young as 5 can receive a proper introduction to horses through a firm hoof shake followed by private lessons in the English and Western riding styles. Baker also trains horses, offering their owners packages that include room and board for their equine friends as well as trailer parking.

Parks, restaurants, and eye-catching vistas stretch for 34 miles across San Diego's waterfront. SailTime San Diego's proprietors, Ian and Gill Bossenger, find that the water itself is the best way to take in the sights. With a fleet of three sailboats docked at the bustling Harbor Island Marina, the husband-and-wife team help open up a coastal world of breezy adventuring along with the bay's dolphins, whales, and thriving submarine populations.

In sailing classes, U.S. Coast Guard–licensed captains and ASA-certified instructors guide prospective sailors through the operation of basic keelboats and large cruising boats alike. The already-certified can hop aboard a late-model Hunter 38 to captain their own charters along the coast or to Catalina Island about 70 miles away or join as members to enjoy sailing without the hassle and expense of being a full-time boat owner or the neck aches of being a full-time stowaway.

At the age of 7, Darcy Edwards would shout for her pony, Fiddlesticks. She still remembers rides on the back of her diminutive steed, though she now has more than 25 years of experience and a forest of colorful ribbons and medals to show for her abilities. In lessons she works to pass on the skills she has accrued in western, dressage, and jumper riding. Darcy, who has been profiled in California Riding Magazine, teaches equestrians of all ages the importance of grooming techniques and accounting for daylight savings time when riding off into the sunset. She also leads day camps for young children in hopes of sparking their equine interests, just as Fiddlesticks sparked hers.

Kayakers glide past ice shelves in the glacial waters of Patagonia. A continent over, hikers pose for a picture at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro—the highest point in Africa—before looking out onto the Tanzanian landscape. The Southern Terrain's team of licensed, bonded, and insured outdoor enthusiasts coordinates once-in-a-lifetime trips like these to storied destinations around the world.

To facilitate safe and memorable experiences, fitness experts arrange adventure-training programs so that explorers arrive ready not only to climb, hike, and kayak, but also to handle elevated altitudes. The professionally guided excursions typically maintain a traveler-to-guide ratio of eight to one. To support eco-friendly travel, The Southern Terrain partners with the nonprofit program iJourney Green, which helps adventurers to sustain the parts the world they visit.