加利福尼亚的西部边界四周是海洋, 海湾, 和 other tidal waterways—all populated with their own colorful residents. 取决于位置, you can see popsicle-orange garibaldi (California's state marine 鱼), 叫象海豹, 海狮, 或海葵, 还有迁徙的鲸鱼和成群的海鸟.
The best way to experience these remarkable habitats is to visit one of the state’s 120-plus protected sanctuaries or preserves—not just to see wildlife, 但是为了好玩, 太. “There are places underwater 和 along the water to play, 可以划独木舟的地方, 水肺潜水, 冲浪, 潮池, 看着你的孩子在沙滩上堆沙堡,Rikki Duns更多的说, 项目经理 加州海洋保护区基金会.
We asked Duns更多的 和 her colleagues to pick 10 preserves that offer outst和ing—和 varied—ocean experiences. Some spots are in or near state 公园 with coast-hugging campsites. (储备 well in advance for these choice spots, especially in summer.) Before you go, check the National Oceanic 和 Atmospheric Association’s 潮汐表 对于你计划访问的地区也是如此. 珊瑚礁和海滩区域可能会在涨潮时消失, 留下你在海浪中戏水, 或更糟的是, 涨潮时搁浅了. Low tide, meanwhile, offers the best views 和 mellow fun. 以下是从北到南列出的10种选择:
十英里的海滩,奇诺县
You’ll have plenty of use for binoculars at this stretch of rugged, 未被破坏的海岸线是大量栖息地的家园. 大约18英里以北 奇诺, 该地区实际上包括四个保护区, including one of California’s least developed estuaries 和 one of its longest dune systems. 鲸鱼在太平洋喷水, 海豹懒洋洋地沿着岩石海岸游来游去, 水獭在河口安家, 这里生活着90多种鸟类, 巢, 或者每年都会在这里作短暂的停留. It’s easy to visit, 太—there’s plenty of parking at Ten Mile Estuary. (更多的)
云顿州海洋保护区,奇诺县
这片荒野和岩石仙境点缀着海蚀洞穴, 这使它成为皮划艇爱好者的绝佳目的地. 当地的运动用品 Kayak奇诺 在附近租你需要的一切 云顿州立公园; book a 90-minute guided kayak tour to get a close-up look at the caves 和 the resident seals 和 seabirds, 还有岩石上鲜艳的海星. Or, explore the area’s 10 miles of hiking trails to see such intriguing oddities as the Pygmy Forest, 长满了矮至六英寸的柏树. (更多的)
盐点州海洋保护区,詹纳
Sea stacks 和 breakers abound along this shoreline within 索诺玛县’s 盐点州立公园-包括岩石海滩 Gerstle湾它也是国家海洋保护区的一部分. The swaying str和s of bull kelp make this area popular with wetsuit divers, but everyone can enjoy the 潮池s teeming with colorful 海星, 奇怪的石鳖, 和疾走的螃蟹. 盐点州立公园 contains about 20 miles of spectacular coastal trails, 太. Be sure to visit the wooden deck at Sentinel Rock for ultra-scenic views of wave-washed sea stacks. (更多的)
法拉龙岛马林县附近
大约30英里以西 金门大桥这个群岛是一个名副其实的海洋伊甸园. 巨大的一部分 大法拉龙国家海洋保护区, the uninhabited 法拉龙岛 are comprised of rocky outcroppings surrounded by pods of porpoises, 海豚, 海狮, 还有海豹(以及迁徙的鲸鱼), 视季节而定). The refuge also protects the largest seabird rookery in the contiguous U.S., with 巢ing species including tufted puffins, rhinoceros auklets, 和 pigeon guillemots. While the archipelago is remote, it’s not inaccessible: From May through November, take a full-day 海洋社会 野生动物游船，从 旧金山 or 索萨利托. (更多的)
菲茨杰拉德海洋保护区、苔藓海滩
这 圣马刁县 这里有加州最好的潮汐池. 在退潮, 你可以看到螃蟹, 海星, 摇曳的海葵, 还有离岸的天然岩礁上的蝙蝠星. In the shallow pools, look for bright-yellow sea lemons, algae-hoovering chitons, 和 turban snails. 记住，作为一个 海洋保护区 (MPA)，游客可以看，但不能触摸. 如果涨潮了? Take a stroll through the nearby grove of wind-carved Monterey cypress. From December through March, scan the horizon for the spouts of migrating gray whales. (更多的)
鹿角泥沼蒙特利县
You’ll hardly need binoculars at this expansive estuary in 蒙特利县例如很容易发现苍鹭, 白鹭, 和 white pelicans—all part of the 更多的 than 300 species found here. Explore by foot along five miles of hiking trails that wind by tidal creeks, 淡水沼泽, 和橡树林中. Or, see it from water: Watch for birds 和 sea otters from a 27-foot open-air pon太n boat with 鹿角Slough狩猎或划船旅行 Kayak连接. (更多的)
Point Lobos州立自然保护区,卡梅尔
Walk a poppy-trimmed path to the dramatic, limestone point at this 蒙特利县 下面的储备:, 你会看到蓝绿色的海水, 一长串的海带在波浪中摇摆, 可能还有海獭, 港海豹, 海狮, 和, 更远, 喷射鲸鱼. 这 is also a wonderful place for scuba diving—it’s an underwater tapestry of kelp, 鱼, 海蛞蝓, 海星, 和海葵. Just reserve well ahead of time; dives are limited to protect the delicate ecosystem. (更多的)
毛孢子菌病布兰卡圣西缅
这 under-the-radar refuge is an amazing wildlife experience—和 as a nice bonus, it’s free. 离海岸五英里远 赫斯特城堡, 到17,000 walrus-like elephant seals pile up on the narrow strip of rocky beach just steps from Highway 1. 如果你是一个动物爱好者, get ready to spend hours in this l和-based seal rookery, 西海岸最大的鳍足类动物在哪里繁殖, 出生, 换毛期, 休息和释放独特的, roaring bellows that cut through the sound of crashing 冲浪. Peak season is December through May; you may see smaller numbers of seals during other months. (更多的)
娱乐场角海岸公园,卡特琳娜岛
一小时的渡船从 长滩, 卡特琳娜岛 提供了岛屿城镇魅力, as well as this undersea world of enormous black sea bass, 明亮的橙色加里波第, 还有两次历史性的沉船事故. 位于岛上bc365app性的赌场建筑旁边, 赌场点是一个受欢迎的潜水和浮潜地点, where you can also look for spiny lobsters 和 harmless horn sharks. 等地方旅行 卡特琳娜潜水员供应 offer scuba 和 snorkeling rentals, as well as guided trips. If you don't want to get wet, take a ride in the one of the isl和's 半潜式. (更多的)
水晶湾州海洋保护区拉古纳海滩
这条三英里长的海潮带 水晶湾州立公园 海葵、海星和寄居蟹居住在这里. 为你的访问安排时间 拉古纳海滩 退潮泊地, then head to Reef Point 和 Pelican Point to search for critters among the rocks 和 pools. Head into the water to look for 明亮的橙色加里波第s, 蝙蝠鱼, 和其他本地鱼类, 和—if you’re lucky—an octopus hiding in a rocky crevice. 你可以在公园里的一个小旅馆里逗留 历史街区别墅 (准备提前预订)或在那里搭帐篷 营地. (更多的)
圣地亚哥-斯克里普斯海岸保护区,拉霍亚
这 圣地亚哥 complex of marine sanctuaries—some of the oldest in California—protects habitats ranging from s和y flats 和 rocky reefs to submarine canyons. 这也是一个观赏海狮的好地方, 海豚, safe-to-swim-with豹鲨, 以及从12月到4月迁徙的鲸鱼. Rent kayaks to nose along the rocky coast 和 look for sea caves: 等地方旅行 拉霍亚Kayak 带领游客参观海洞和浮潜. 走到隔壁去 桦树水族馆 以便更近距离观察海洋生物. (更多的)
