Family Adventures in California

TRIBUTARY WHITEWATER TOURS
California rafting trips make great family adventure vacations! We have offered safe but fun adventures for 30+ years, with trips from half-day to 4+ days. On our Family Special rafting trips, kids 4-17 years raft from HALF-PRICE on certain selected trips and dates.

AdventureSmith Explorations AdventureSmith Explorations is the global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. Aboard smaller yachts and vessels, families are free of the bells-and-whistles distractions and onboard diversions of large vessels. The focus instead is on guided off-ship adventure excursions such as hiking, sea kayaking, wildlife viewing, and cross-cultural opportunities.

BACKROADS
Join Backroads, the world's #1 active travel company, for a family trip of a lifetime.

----------------------------------------------------------------

MARBLE MOUNTAIN RANCH -1-800-552-6284
OARS - 800-346-6277
THE WORLD OUTDOORS - 800-488-8483

Adventure Connection -
Adventure Rents - 707-884-4386
AdventureSmith Explorations - 800-728-2875
Ammerican River Recreation - 530-622-6802
ARTA River Trips - 209-962-7873

Baja Expeditions, Inc. - 858 581 3311
Balloon Flights - 619-350-7620
Beyond Limits Adventures - 209-869-6060
Birch Circle Adventures - 415-459-7717
Coffee Creek Ranch - 530-266-3343

Cruise Stars - 818-226-5555
DESTINATION WILDERNESS - 800-423-8868
Echo: The Wilderness Company - 510-652-1600 cell:510-919-9241
Emandal - 707-459-5439

Environmental Restoration Adventures - 408-749-1816
Golden Gate Expeditions - 510-814-8256
Hike Bike Kayak San Diego - 858-551-9510
HUNEWILL GUEST RANCH - Summer - (760) 932-7710, Winter (775) 465-2201
Leelin Llama Treks -
Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - 760-934-2434
Marble Mountain Ranch - 1-800-552-6284
Mariah Wilderness Expeditions - 510-233-2303
Mother Lode River Trips -
Orange Torpedo Trips - 800-635-2925
Rankin Ranch - 661-867-2511
Sierra Club Outings - 415.977.5522
Sonoma Cattle Company - 707-255-2900
Swiss Golf & Ski Tours - 949-955-9459
Tahoe Trips & Trails - 530-583-4506
Travel Powers - 619-260-8446
Whitewater Connection - 530-622-6446
Whitewater Voyages - 510-222-5994
Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions - 1-800-431-3636

Articles

FAMILY RAFTING TRIPS IN CALIFORNIA

By Lorraine Hall

There are wonderful, scenic, river rafting trips in California suitable for children as young as 4 years old and located close to Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, and further north in the Shasta-Trinity and Klamath National Forests. You can opt for a short half-day run, where you can bring your own picnic lunch, or a great family rafting vacation of 2 to 4 days or more. Some outfitters offer discounts up to 50% on multi-day trips on some of these runs. These trips are also suitable for seniors, so bring the grandparents. Child friendly meals are provided and prepared by professional river guides, who manage to produce sumptuous riverside meals even on wilderness trips, so parents can find time for more relaxation.

There are age limit recommendations, but children's capabilities vary considerably and the outfitter should be willing to discuss this to ensure the best possible experience for the family. Usual recommendations are a minimum age of 4 years old on Class 2 Rivers, 8 years on Class 3 and 13 years on Class 4.<<more>>

Baja

By Ken Streater

"Ballena!" came the quiet shout from our boat captain in the back of the panga. "Alli. Ballena!"

Sure enough, there was a whale, one hundred yards off the right side of our Mexican skiff, or panga. We watched the blow reach several feet into the sky as the big Blue whale cruised through the aqua waters of the Sea of Cortez. It disappeared with a wave of its tail, diving down deep into the warm sea that surrounds Baja. Given that we were only fifteen minutes into our adventure, and we had just passed an island with cormorants, pelicans, and Blue-footed boobies, it quickly became apparent that Baja was a nature lover’s paradise. Already this family adventure vacation was vastly rewarding and much more lay ahead!

Baja, California is truly an outdoor adventure wonderland.<<more>>