California Dreamin'.... The Top Ten Reasons Why California is One of the Best Places in the World to Go Kayaking

Its been almost two months since my California summer ended and I returned home to the Southeast. With little rain here and little rain in sight, I often find myself daydreaming about California and just how awesome it is. That got me thinking, what exactly is it about California that makes it so great?

Here are the top ten reasons why I think California is one of the best places in the world to go kayaking:

10) The Granite- There are many beautiful places in this world, but what makes California different is the breathtaking granite landscape, referred to as the “granite planet” by many. Witness it once and you’ll understand why.

9) Guaranteed flow- Snow on the mountaintops means water in the rivers, its as simple as that. Okay, maybe its not that easy, but while California’s season may be unpredictable, it's also guaranteed to some extent. It might be long or short, early or late, but show up in the late spring/early summertime and you will go kayaking, just be flexible and don’t expect to get every river on your list.

8) The California Culture- Californians are generally laid back, fun loving people and this culture definitely shows on river trips. Expect to fish, nap, party, and take your dry top off at lunch while kayaking in California.

7) Expedition Trips- This is what California is best known for; high sierra, multi-day expeditions. With miles of wilderness rivers and creeks flowing throughout the state, there are a plethora of opportunities to pack your boat with overnight gear and learn what its like to live on the river.

6) Multi-Sport Options- Whether you’re running Cherry Creek in the morning and surfing Santa Cruz in the afternoon, or skiing Tahoe one day and running Love’s Falls the next, California provides the ultimate in multi-sport opportunities. Kayaking, surfing, skiing, mountain biking, kite boarding…. It’s all possible in Cali. So get out there and add some variety to your life.

5) The Suffer Factor- Okay, so everyone may not agree with me on this one, but one reason I love California so much is because the goods aren’t just handed to you on a silver plate, you have to work for them. Hiking your loaded boat in 12 miles to the river or doing lots of long and sketchy portages; its just the price you pay for seeing some of the most pristine places in the world. So put that boat on your shoulder and suffer a bit, its good for you.

4) Wildlife Sightings- There are bears, there are rattlesnakes, there are small rodents… More so than anywhere else in the world I have been, California has provided me with lots of close-up wildlife sightings. Take your time, look around and you might just see some pretty cool animals. Just don't make them mad.

3) The Epic Factor- Having epic adventures, while sometimes not so fun at the moment, are a big part of why we go kayaking. I speak from experience when I say that California has no shortage of opportunities for epics.

2) The Weather- Sunny, hot and dry, that’s Cali in the summer. Don’t worry about setting up your tent, just sleep under the stars cause its probably not going to rain. Take a “Cali lunch” (which means taking all your gear off at lunch) and enjoy the phenomenon of putting dry gear on 20 minutes later.

1) The Big Rapids- The rapids in California are big. Big waterfalls, big slides, big water. While they may not always be the hardest rapids in the world (though some certainly are), their visual size alone makes them special from other places. They certainly do the job of getting the adrenaline pumping!

California Dreamin'.... The Top Ten Reasons Why California is One of the Best Places in the World to Go Kayaking

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