Seaplanes of Los Angeles, Santa Ana

He soars nimbly through the air; he skims the surface of the water; finally, he lands on the ocean itself. Michael Steel—owner of Seaplanes of Los Angeles and a known human, not a marine bird—has been doing this for more than thirty years. His Helio Courier whisks Californians on air-and-water tours of the state's rugged scenery. On Whale Watching excursions, passengers snap shots of the annual gray whale migration off the coast of Los Angeles. On other trips, guests enjoy a Seaplane flight paired with a gourmet dinner, or guided kayak tours for an even closer look at the gentle waves.