25 Ways to Get Off the Couch
and Get the Adrenaline Pumping

by JENNIFER RUFF WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JAMIE MENAKER

Summer is officially here, and with the warm weather comes the impulse to make the most of each and every day before the season’s gone again for another whole year.

This summer, we’ve jumped, climbed, swam, surfed, sailed, soared, and raced our way to the most exciting adventures within driving distance of the Central Valley. Some are local San Joaquin excursions, and some are a little farther in pursuit of thrills, but all are guaranteed to kick-start your summer and leave an unforgettable memory in its wake.

6. Yosemite Rock Climbing

Ah, nothing better than the Great Outdoors, and Yosemite National Park is one of the most stunning incarnations of our beloved Mother Nature, located right in our own backyard in the Sierra Nevada mountains. What better way to see the breathtaking span of Yosemite than at the top of a rock face 3,000 feet above the ground? Okay, maybe you won’t be climbing Half Dome or El Capitan on your first try, but the rock climbing possibilities in the park are endless, and the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service offers a range of instruction, from beginner Go Climb a Rock lessons, to guided climbs, to multi-day climbing excursions.
www.yosemitepark.com

9. Swimming with the Sharks

Adrenaline-junkies listen up: Great White Adventures offers cage diving excursions where you can get up close and personal with nature’s most-feared predators—on their turf. View the largest Great Whites in the world at the famed Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco, with trips departing from Emeryville. Scared? GWA happens to be rated as the number one Great White shark diving company here in the States. Not only do they have a spotless safety record since their founding in 1998, but GWA is also a sponsor of the Shark Research Institute, promoting the conservation and protection of Great Whites. Schedules run September through November for one-day Farallon Islands trips. www.greatwhiteadventures.com

19. San Joaquin County Fair

It’s that time again, when all your friends and neighbors will turn out at the Stockton Fairgrounds for some good ole’ festival fun. June 24 through 28, enjoy five days chock-full of twist-and-twirl carnival rides, prize-winning carnival games, livestock, food and drink, and big-name concert acts (past performers have included Lee Ann Womack, Faith Hill, the Gin Blossoms, and REO Speedwagon, to name a few). Wednesday June 24, admission is only $5 for anyone at the fair before 5 p.m.
www.sanjoaquinfair.com

 

 

 

For the full list of 25 Ways To Get Off The Couch pick up June’s San Joaquin Magazine Today!