Hike Bike Kayak Adventures, San Diego

San Diego isn't too far away, but the water around La Jolla is a city in itself—at least for marine wildlife. Throughout the year, a variety of species call the warm waters, caves, and coastal bluffs home, including sea lions, harbor seals, Brandt's cormorants, brown pelicans, leopard sharks, dolphins, and more. As such, Hike Bike Kayak Adventures hosts tours and rents equipment in order to cultivate an appreciation of wildlife and provide firsthand examples of the need for ecology and conservation. Here are a few of the activities available with HBK Adventures:

• Year-round kayak tours along the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, during which, guides educate groups on the biology and history of the area. Visitors who want to explore the waters on their own can also rent a kayak or paddleboard.
• Bike rentals and tours such as the La Jolla Plunge—a downhill trip from the Mt. Soledad Cross down to the coastline and the entrance of the Sunny Jim Sea Cave.
• Snorkeling in La Jolla Cove to see underwater rock formations and brightly colored sea cucumbers. Or, a trip to get a water strider's–eye view of (harmless) leopard sharks during their mating season.
• Winter whale-watching tours to spot gray whales migrating south from Alaska, where the shorter daylight hours interfere with their bedtime reading.