Orinda, CA Outdoor Activities

Seated in your kayak, you're surrounded by cerulean waters that stretch out into the horizon. To your left, the San Francisco skyline looms in the shimmering afternoon sun. You drift by a raucous Giants game, a village of houseboats, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Led through undulating waters by American Canoe Association– and Wilderness First Aid–certified guides, San Francisco Kayak & Adventures' nautical tour groups traverse the San Francisco Bay or Sausalito waterfront during the day, at sunset, and under the light of the full moon. The guides lead their groups through calm costal waters in sturdy, closed-deck tandem kayaks, which keep legs dry and don't require typical Flintstone-style paddling. The guides regale their group with area history while pointing out local marine life. They only shepherd about eight paddlers to keep tours intimate and personal and customize paddling instruction to the ability levels of the group.

Guides also help visitors explore the natural world on land during hiking excursions between redwood trees in Muir Woods, along a coastal trail in the Tennessee Valley, and past ghost-town buildings at China Camp Village. To expand visitors' wilderness exposure, they also lead adventures such as sailing, rock-climbing, cycling in the city, horseback riding on the beach, and sleeping in phone booths.

Captain Dennis Garrison always felt more at home in the water than he did on land. He was born in the beach town of Playa del Rey, where he spent his days fishing, jet-skiing, and sailing along the coast of Southern California. His love of the open sea and knack for navigation eventually led to stints with the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

Unable to ignore the roaring of the surf and the call of gulls after retirement, Garrison founded his own sailing company—Imagine Sailing Tours. Drawing on 30 years of nautical experience, he shuttles passengers towards scenic coastlines and popular sites throughout the San Francisco Bay area. He helms a majestic Irwin Citation 34 yacht, pointing out passing dolphins and seals as he steers towards Angel Island, Half Moon Bay, or AT&T Park. Upon arriving at destinations, Garrison leads activities such as snorkeling trips in Monterrey Bay, wine tastings on Treasure Island, and pottery-spinning classes on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. The skilled seafarer also offers sailing lessons for passengers who’d like to try their hand at steering the ship themselves.

Sailing is in Pam Power's blood. After cutting her teeth chartering small boats in Minnesota, she moved to San Francisco, met her yacht Glory Days, and the rest was history. Alongside her experienced crew, she steers the 51-foot luxury yacht on sailing cruises through San Francisco Bay. The fiberglass vessel carries between 6 and 30 passengers in its spacious upper decks and cozy interior salon. During excursions, the ship cruises past the city skyline and historic Alcatraz and Angel Islands before traveling back in time via the wormhole beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

After publishing the first edition of her guidebook, Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour, writer and artist Victoria Colella organized tours to showcase the sites and narratives she expertly examined in print. Boating, walking, and one-hour mini tours traverse the shipways and wooden-boat center that initially inspired Victoria to pen her book and swear off land. Guides discuss historic WWII vessels, the Arques School wooden-boat collection, and boats owned by celebrities such as Jack Benny. In addition to guided excursions, Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour brings nautical history to life with treasure hunts and kids' sessions that combine walking jaunts with sea chanteys, slideshows, and model-houseboat building.

Pure Water Sports owner Tim Haines goes whichever way the wind blows him, especially when he's skirting across the water on his kiteboard. If he says he's a waterman, it's because he's spent most of his life on the waves. Sharing his seaside passion with others, he holds lessons in the emerald beauty of Marina Bay and rents out equipment to encourage others to explore. For an additional challenge, SUP Yoga classes allow participants to test their strength and balance out on the water. During lessons, students keep warm in rented wetsuits or stay cool in sequined board shorts.

The high-end fleet of Hornblower Cruises & Events fills ports up and down the California coast, as well as in New York, with similar eco-friendly extravagance. Founded by environmental engineer Terry MacRae, Hornblower puts its luxe navy to use hosting dining, entertainment, special-event, and sightseeing cruises, as well as journeying to such storied landmarks as Alcatraz Island and the Statue of Liberty. Beyond these cruises, Terry's team champions green practices through the Respect Our Planet initiative, which works to develop and promote earth-considerate practices such as using hybrid boats that draw power from the sun.