IPNL TAYHE
72 South Bay Accent
FROM TOP: COURTESY OF HALF MOON BAY KAYAKING COMPANY; BETH HAMEL; OPPOSITE: RONAK GANDHI
Kayaking is another great way to see the
boardwalk and beaches of Santa Cruz
from the water. Venture Quest Kayak
rentals and tours (santacruzkayak.com)
are offered right from the Santa Cruz
wharf, enabling you to check out the seals
and otters near the Lighthouse Point on a
safe and easy paddle through the Wharf
Nature Tour (offered from April through
October). Venture Quest also offers a
year-round tour at the National Estuarine
Reserve in Moss Landing, where you can
DUNES
do some bird watching and see seals in a
calm estuary. Tours are recommended for
children 5 years and up.
The seaworthy folks at Half Moon Bay
Kayaking Company (hmbkayak.com) offer
rentals or a more guided approach; a kidfriendly
three-hour jaunt that starts off
with a launch among harbor seals and
birds. A paddle across the protected harbor
will end up at Pillar Point, where you
can explore the tide pools before heading
back to the starting point.
And thanks to a gradual slope and calm
waters protected from the ocean waves,
Schoonmaker Beach in Sausalito is a popular
spot to launch kayaks and SUPs for
exploring Richardson Bay between Sausalito
and Tiburon. Kayak and SUP rentals,
lessons, and guided trips are available
through Sea Trek Kayak & SUP right next
to Schoonmaker Beach (seatrek.com).
KPAAYDADK&LE
With more than a mile of soft,
snow-white sand, the beach at
Pajaro Dunes in Watsonville is
as pristine as it is serene and
is a popular strand for shellcollecting,
long walks, building
sandcastles, or just soaking up
the sun.
The Dunes are nestled between
Monterey Bay and the
wildlife-rich wetlands of Watsonville
Slough, near the mouth
of the Pajaro River. Whether
you’re looking for a family vacation—
renting in the adjacent
community—or a bird-watching
retreat, there’s no better place
to get away, clear your mind
and let your spirits soar. Situated
between ocean, estuary
and slough, and hosting more
than 225 species of shorebirds,
songbirds and waterfowl, the
idyllic dunes have become a
renowned destination for birdlovers.
In season, you may also
be lucky enough to spot whales,
dolphins, otters, seals and sea
lions frolicking just offshore;
occasionally you’re privy to
a closer look when the latter
come ashore to sun themselves.
Half
Moon Bay
Kayaking
Company
Great Egret
takes flight at
the Watsonville
Slough
