Healdsburg, CA Outdoor Activities

Picking a criminal out of a lineup is hard, but at Bodega Bay Sailing Adventures, the staff knows that picking a plant out of a lineup is even harder. On the company’s naturalist tours, naturalist Katja Svendsen arms passengers with comprehensive ID cards, printed with pictures and descriptions of local flora and fauna. As they identify the plants as well as the whales and seals native to Bodega Bay’s hamlet, Svendsen explains topics such as the causes of tides and human’s impact on the bay. Meanwhile, US Coast Guard-licensed captain Rich Crumley steers the sailboat. Crumley can also captain the 33-foot vessel during traditional tours, supervising passengers while they steer to ensure they don’t turn in a tiny circle forever.

There isn’t just one way to skate around the rink at Cal Skate. In the morning, kids unsure on their wheels can learn as their parents walk by their side, the midday open skate welcomes folks of all ages, and couples and adults can spark romance or freestyle under the glowing lights during the evening. The center is also home to the Resurrection Roller Girls, who dare both adults and youths to tap into their inner warriors at age-appropriate derby-training sessions. For birthday parties, the staff can set up a party room for you and your guests, complete with snacks and free gifts, and the DJ will play your birthday song request—as long as it’s not “The Song that Never Ends.”

The sun slowly dips on the horizon, glazing the waters of the Russian River with a rippling coat of light as the water snakes through the forest to the coast. High above the tips of the ancient, sunset-drenched trees, the hum of a small airplane piloted by Rob Clark—a seasoned commercial pilot with 33 years of experience under his belt—punctuates the bird song emanating from their branches.

The natural world feels closer than the altitude would suggest on North Coast Air’s scenic air tours, which fly high above the coastline from San Francisco to Sonoma County. When they aren’t regaling passengers with anecdotes about the land’s natural history, Rob and his team of FAA–certified pilots share their passion for flight during individualized flight-instruction programs. Dedicated to helping students to become aviators in their own right, the team patiently teaches the skills necessary to attain a pilot’s license or complete the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.

Underneath the sky-blue rafters of Rockzilla's spacious indoor gym, a veritable mountain range of multicolored walls challenges climbers of all experience levels. Sheer-faced cliffs challenge the top-roping and lead-climbing techniques of both beginners and experts, and a mushroom-shaped structure builds skills in bouldering and reveals the fossil record of ancient screws and bolts. The mat-lined floor, harnesses, and dedication to belaying skills ensure every visitor's comfort and safety. In addition to hosting hangouts, parties, and team-building exercises onsite, Rockzilla crashes entire tectonic plates into customers' backyards, forming portable climbing walls available for rent.