Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/674878
10 LIVE IT UP! FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 W ith warmer weather comes the desire to get outdoors. This is the best time of year to be active and maybe take up a new sport or activity. Santa Cruz County alone, with its mild temperatures and beautiful scenery, offers so much to see and do. Love to walk? How about taking up hiking? According to Santacruz. com, the area boasts some of the best hiking trails in the Bay Area. "From the coastal cliffs and Pacific views off Highway 1 in the north, to hills and waterfalls in the south, the area offers every kind of terrain," according to the website. Scenic locales like Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and Castle Rock State Park are sited. Biking is another great activity for kids and adults. John Brown, owner of Family Cycling Center in Santa Cruz, said he is often asked where to go once someone buys or rents a bike. "It depends on what type of bike you have," said Brown, who opened the store almost 30 years ago. "If you have a cruiser, there's East Cliff, Capitola and along the coast," he said. For mountain and road bikers, Brown recommends riding in the hills and in Eureka Canyon above Watsonville. There's also the Flow Trail in Demonstration Forest, he said. With several golf courses in the area, you can try your had at a hole in one. Check out places like Delaveaga Golf Course & Driving Range and Spring Hills Golf Course. If you love the water, take advantage of Santa Cruz' miles of coastal beauty and natural waterways. There are plenty of local destinations for taking up water sports like surfing, paddle boarding and kayaking. Kayak Connection, with two locations, offers rentals, lessons and tours for beginners through pro status. One of their most popular services is kayaking tours and rentals through Elkhorn Slough. "[This area] offers the best wildlife viewing on the west coast," said Larry Wagner, general manager. Wagner said kayaking is a great way to get up-close-and-personal with native birds and animals, such as harbor seals and sea otters. The sport is also great exercise. "It builds great upper body strength," said Wagner. During the summer months, their harbor store provides classes and gear for stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking, "when the conditions are right," according to Wagner. No excuses. Walk, run, ride or play and have fun in the great outdoors! Enjoy the Great Outdoors By Susan Pascal