Time Difference Between Ramstein, Germany & California

Ramstein is located within the German state of Rhineland-Pfalz. The city is a part of Kaiserslautern county and it adheres to the Central European Time Zone. In the month of March, the clock moves ahead one hour due to daylight-saving time. California is in the western United States and falls within the Pacific Time Zone. Like Ramstein, California's clock also moves ahead one hour during the early summer months.

Time Difference

• Ramstein's Central European Time Zone is nine hours ahead of California's Pacific Time Zone. So when it is 5 p.m. in Ramstein, it is 8 a.m. in California. When it is 2:35 a.m. in Ramstein, it is 5:35 p.m. in California. The time of hour will always vary, but the minutes will not.

Coordinated Universal Time

• The world's clocks are regulated by a time standard known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Currently, the UTC is officially held at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. This time standard is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). All of the world's time zones are regulated in terms of positive (+) or negative (-) hourly offsets from the UTC. Ramstein's Central European Time Zone is listed as UTC+01:00 when daylight-saving time is not in effect. This means that the time in Ramstein, Germany, is always one hour ahead of the time in Greenwich, London. During daylight-saving time, the Ramstein clock moves ahead an hour, changing from UTC+01:00 to UTC+02:00. California's Pacific Time Zone is listed as UTC-08:00 when daylight-saving time is not in effect. Therefore, California is always eight hours behind Greenwich. When daylight-saving time is in effect in California, the Pacific Time Zone moves to UTC-07:00.

Time and Dates

• Due to the nine hour time difference in Ramstein and California, dates can vary. The difference allows for it to be a Tuesday morning in Ramstein when it is still Monday night in California. When it is 4 a.m. on June 25 in Ramstein, for example, it is only 7 p.m. on June 24 in California.

Daylight Saving

• Ramstein's Central European Time Zone skips an hour ahead during daylight-saving time. Since 1996, this change typically occurs on the last Sunday in March. Central European Time becomes known as Central European Summer Time. The time switches back in Ramstein on the last Sunday in October. Since 2007, daylight-saving time comes in California on the second Sunday in March. Pacific Standard Time becomes Pacific Daylight Time, and the clocks move forward an hour. Daylight-saving time ends in California on the first Sunday in November.

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Campgrounds Near Riverside, California

Riverside, one of California’s largest cities, allows your visit to blend cultural attractions with the soothing nature of gardens and surrounding mountains and hills. The city’s elaborate architecture hearkens back to the turn of the 20th century, when citrus was king in Southern California and Riverside was its throne. The Mission Inn, a Spanish-revival hotel turned museum, is the city’s crown jewel, while the California Citrus State Historic Park preserves a slice of its orange grove days. The Riverside Art Museum shares an architect, Julia Morgan, with Central California’s Hearst Castle; technology museums include the UCR/California Museum of Photography. With mild winters and hot summers, visitors and residents alike enjoy camping year-round.

Urban Camping

• About 10 minutes from downtown Riverside, Rancho Jurupa Regional Park offers outdoor fun for all, including a rock-climbing playground, aquatic zero-depth playground, disc and miniature golf courses and two fishing lakes -- anglers 16 years of age and older need a California fishing license. Hiking and mountain biking trails crisscross the 200-acre park, and it’s a 1-mile walk to the Louis Robidoux Nature Center. Cottonwoods and waterfalls add to the relaxing beauty of the park. Outdoorsy types enjoy Lakeview Campground and its campfire rings; Cottonwood Campground provides RV campers with full hookups, WiFi, cable and other conveniences.

Nearest Lake Campground

• About 20 minutes from Riverside, a 2,000-acre reservoir awaits. Lake Perris Recreational Area has two swimming beaches -- one also used by scuba divers. You'll find trails for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians; a big rock with several climbing routes; boating; and fishing -- rainbow trout, Alabama spotted bass and catfish are on the main menu. A California fishing license is required of anglers 16 and over. The Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum shares the area’s past. The campground includes 264 RV 30-by-30-foot sites with full hookups, 167 tent sites and a campfire ring at each site. Water, restrooms, showers, a first aid station and accessible restrooms, boat dock and campsites are on hand. Lake Perris’ campsites are booked months ahead for holidays and summer weekends.

Alpine

• Drive about 75 minutes north of Riverside to the San Bernardino Mountains, where Big Bear Lake awaits. Tents and RVs up to 55 feet are accommodated at Serrano Campground, which sits on the alpine lake's quieter north shore but within a few minutes of the south shore's marina. Motor boating, paddling, fishing -- with a California fishing license -- and swimming are among the activities at Big Bear, as well as hiking and horseback riding. Inland Empire Fodor’s Choice Sights gives a nod to the Big Bear Discovery Center, which sits about a mile from the campground. Open March through December, Serrano has 92 campsites with fire rings. A camp host, drinking water, showers, full hookups and a dump station make it a nice family campground for tent and RV campers. Leashed pets are welcome.

More Lake Campgrounds

• Frank G. Bonelli and Yucapia regional parks are open year-round and within about 30 minutes of Riverside. Bonelli, with its Puddingstone Reservoir, has seasonal swimming and year-round boating, fishing, hiking and mountain biking. Concessionaires rent boats, provide horse tours, manage a hot tub resort on the hill and run the year-round campground with 517 RV sites and 25 wilderness tent sites. Perks include campfire rings, a pool, showers, restrooms and 24-hour ranger service. The seasonal water park, Raging Waters, provides thrills next to the lake. L.A. Fair vendors book for September a year in advance. Yucaipa’s lakes have a seasonal swimming beach with water slides and year-round boating and fishing. Hiking trails honeycomb the hillsides. You can reserve one of nine tent sites and 42 full hookup RV sites, all with campfire rings. Restrooms and hot showers are among the conveniences.

Considerations

• Check the campground’s website for special events that might mean reserving early or choosing a different campground. Prepare for the wilderness, even the urban wilderness, by storing food securely. Coyotes, bears and rattlesnakes are among the critters that might share the campground with you, so also check the website for safety tips.

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Family Campgrounds in Southern California

Southern California sprawls across high mountain peaks, river canyons, beaches, deserts, lakes and rolling hills – all with opportunity for adventure and connecting with nature. Visitors and city dwelling families find respite and refreshment at hundreds of Southern California campgrounds, from county and state to private parks, from primitive trail camps to RV resorts. The best all-around family campgrounds offer activities and settings that entice nature-loving, and even the most camping-resistant, kids. Introducing children to camping can leave a lifetime impression, and a family-friendly campground can help make it a good one.

Mountains

• Southern California's mountains offer campgrounds amid pine trees and under starry skies. Most with family-friendly conveniences, such as restroom and showers, sit in the San Bernardino Forest, including Serrano Campground on Big Bear Lake at about 7,000 feet elevation. Big Bear Valley has more activities than you can shake a hiking stick at. Marinas rent motorboats, kayaks and canoes. The lake is stocked with trout, and there's a swim beach with floating docks. Rock-climbing, bouldering, mountain biking and hiking opportunities abound. A horse stable caters to beginning buckaroos. Big Bear Discovery Center displays flora and fauna and hosts family and kids' activities, from gold panning and animal tracking to weaving and kayaking. Serrano has campfire rings, restrooms, hot showers and a host. On the opposite shore, supermarkets and sporting good stores are handy, and Big Bear Village entices with specialty shops and eateries.

Desert

• According to PBS, only 20 percent of the world's population have seen the Milky Way, and in the 1990s when a power outage darkened Los Angeles, 911 received calls from residents concerned about a "strange cloud" in the sky. The edge of our galaxy, along with a thick blanket of stars, is seen almost every night in desert areas far enough away from the cities to be free of light pollution. If your family is interested in stargazing, as well as exploring rock formations, head to Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert. Many of its campgrounds are surrounded by rock formations, and the large Skull Rock is sure to impress. Cottonwood and Black Rock campgrounds offer flush toilets, running water and RV dump stations. Bring a solar shower bag and layers of clothing for cool nights around the campfire. Due to high daytime temperatures, the best time to camp in the desert is fall or spring.

Coast

• About a dozen campgrounds dot Southern California's coast. In Malibu, camp under shade trees in an RV or tent at Leo Carillo State Park where rangers provide children's summer programs. Conveniences include showers, restrooms and a small store. Walk down the path to Malibu Lagoon Beach, a classic surf spot with swimming, sea caves, tide pools and a pier. There's also a dog beach for the canine friends welcomed to the campground. Canyon trails lead to view points and shaded glens. At Doheny State Beach Park in Dana Point, RVs and tent campsites include oceanfront sites with campfire rings on the sand. Restrooms, hot showers, a marine education center, volleyball and picnic areas, bicycle paths, a pier and the sandy beach -- a favorite of surfers -- make Doheny a good pick for families. Catch a whale-watching cruise at nearby Dana Point Harbor.

Hills, Lakes and Canyons

• Family campgrounds can be found at many of Southern California's hills and canyons and along lakes. At Yucaipa Regional Park in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, families experience all three. Hillside and canyon multiuse trails invite hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. At the lake, rent pedal boats, zoom down water slides, play at the sandy swim beach or fish. The campground's conveniences include restrooms, hot showers, tent and full hookup sites. At Frank B. Bonelli Regional Park, a 250-acre reservoir provides a lifeguarded swim area away from the boats and anglers. Raging Waters, California's largest water park, has a park adjacent to the lake. Trail rides in the hills above the lake are offered. East Shore RV Park overlooks the lake and has a wilderness tent camping area in addition to 500 RV sites. In addition to restrooms and hot showers, the park has a pool, sports facilities, laundry and store. Puddingstone Hot Tub Resort sits above the campground and lake.

Considerations

• Fishing, unless otherwise stated, requires a California Fishing License. When camping in the mountains or desert, prepare for cool nights, with as much as a 40 degree difference from daytime temperatures. Coastal areas are more temperate. Wherever you camp in Southern California, store food and other scented items in wildlife-proof containers away from the tent. Keep an extra close eye on children near the water and in areas visited by wildlife.

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Fun & Cheap Ideas to Do With Kids in Hemet, California

About 45 miles west of Palm Springs, Hemet is a desert city in the San Jacinto Valley, at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. According to the City of Hemet website, Hemet has lost its "retirement community" reputation, as many young families have settled in the city. Hemet's public parks, businesses, and community buildings provide several options for activities with kids that are inexpensive and fun.

Science Saturdays

• Spend a Saturday morning at the Western Science Center, a museum that was built to house nearby Diamond Valley's artifacts and fossils. One Saturday per month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can delve into hands-on science experiments in geology, archaeology, and natural history with museum staff. Admissions is free. Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults.

Outdoor Play

• The National Arbor Day Foundation named Hemet a Tree City USA for committing to care for its parks and forests. Spend an afternoon with kids visiting some of the city's well-known parks. The four-acre Weston Park dates from 1921 and has shuffleboard courts, a playground, basketball court, and turf area. Gibbel Park, an 11-acre park, also has a play area, a half basketball court, tennis courts, a bowling green, horseshoe pits and picnic areas.

Fingerprints Museum

• The Fingerprints Museum was designed especially for kids to participate in real-life scenarios. More than 20 interactive exhibits allow kids to work and play in a television station, a bank, an archeological site, a grocery store, a doctor's office and others. There is also a craft room. The Museum offers family memberships and a special activity and discount program, the Curiosity Club. There is a general $5 entry fee.

Skating

• Take the kids rollerskating at The Wheelhouse, a skating arena, video arcade and party hall. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are geared to kids and include skating games and fitness activities. Admission is $6 and skate rental is $3 per person. Check their calendar often, as The Wheelhouse offers free skate-rental nights and family discounted packages.

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Champagne Sunday Brunch Restaurants in California

Considered the most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, California offers residents and tourists many world-class attractions. Some of California's most popular to-go places include SeaWorld San Diego, Disneyland, Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood sign, The Queen Mary and off course its beaches. With a multicultural populous and a constant flow of visitors, California offers many culinary options. If you are in California and want to enjoy a champagne Sunday brunch, your options are many.

The Queen Mary

• Used in the 1940's as an ocean liner for war, today The Queen Mary is a retired ship serving as a historic attraction and tourist destination. Aside of offering tours, a hotel and several banquet rooms and restaurants, The Queen Mary hosts a Champagne Sunday brunch with live entertainment in its first class dining room, The Grand Salon. Served buffet-style, the Brunch menu offers 50 different all inclusive world-class entrees such as carving stations for cooked meats, Asian stir-fry, assorted pastas and sauces, Mexican food, breakfast favorites, salad bar, seafood and of course many deserts. Brunch is served from 9:30 a.m. through 2 p.m. and the dress code is firmly set as smart-casual attire. The Queen Mary offers a special buffet island for children, but strollers are not permitted within the dining area.

  The Queen Mary
  1126 Queen's Highway
  Long Beach, CA 90802
  562-499-1657
  queenmary.com

Riptide Sushi

• Riptide Sushi offers a wide array of choices for its Champagne/Hawaiian Brunch. Dishes include traditional favorites like eggs Benedict, NY steak, breakfast burritos, omelettes, Belgian waffles, pancakes, stuffed French toast and a variety of toppings such as fruit, chocolate and peanut butter. Vegetarian options like the "health nut" (egg whites, cottage cheese, fresh fruit) are also available. Being a sushi restaurant, Riptide offers a generous array of sushi as well as bottomless champagne and mimosas plus a live Hula show. Special prices for children 10 and under are conveniently offered to families. Champagne Brunch at Riptide Sushi is available Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  Riptide Sushi
  27741 Crown Valley Parkway #325
  Mission Viejo, CA
  949-282-0182
  riptidesushi.com

The Beach House

• Located in Dana Point, The Beach House restaurant offers Sunday Champagne Brunch with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Starters on the Champagne Brunch menu include apple walnut mixed greens, lobster bisque, filet satays and jumbo prawns. All entrees available are served with champagne, fresh fruit and pastries. Traditional items like egg dishes, breakfast potatoes, eggs Benedict as well as assorted salads, hamburgers and seafood are also included. If you have a sweet tooth, some of the desserts to look forward to include the apple crumb tart, cheesecake and crème brulee. Champagne Sunday Brunch at The Beach House is served from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reservations are accepted.

  The Beach House
  25001 Dana Drive
  Dana Point, CA. 92629
  949-496-7310
  thebeachhouse.com

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Top Things to Do in Gilroy, California

Thanks to the city's ambassadors rumbling along neighboring highway outlets -- big rigs overflowing with mounds of fresh, local garlic bound for the rest of the nation -- you can smell Gilroy, California, before you see it. Though the scent of the "stinking rose" welcomes you to this small city near the central coast, there's plenty to keep you coming back to the area.

Garlic Festival

• If there's anywhere in central California you're most likely to spot a celebrity, or a guy dressed like a giant clove, it's the annual Garlic Festival. This massive event that draws more than 100,000 people can be considered the toast of California's legendary agricultural fairs, and serves up 2 tons of local garlic in every creative way imaginable, from garlic-fried zucchini with garlic ranch to garlic ice cream. Go with an empty belly, because you'll pass several dozen food booths dishing out delicacies. In 2012, garlic lovers bought 12,262 servings of garlic bread, along with more than 4,000 serving of garlic calamari and nearly 10,000 garlicky pepper-steak sandwiches. You'll also be entertained by live music and stroll past more than 100 arts-and-crafts vendors. Breath mints are thankfully included with admission.

Outlet Shopping

• You've been on the road for a while, whether climbing up U.S. Highway 101 or crossing the Coast Ranges on State Route 152, and welcome a nice refuge to stretch your legs and shop. The Gilroy Premium Outlets greet weary travelers and area bargain hunters alike in an outdoor setting just east of the 101 in two segments north and south of Leavesley Road. Stroll around the 145 stores, ranging from Coach to the Disney Store, and enjoy a shop-and-stay package offered by most of the local inns. There are also plenty of places to eat nearby, from chains such as In-N-Out and Applebee's to local favorites such as the Black Bear Diner and Tasso's Old House Restaurant.

Casa de Fruta

• Just 14 miles east of Gilroy in the Pacheco Pass, you'll find a California road-trip institution -- the isolated but never empty Casa de Fruta. This roadside staple sprang up from a humble cherry stand on the highway in the 1940s, and now includes a farmer's market, a wine and cheese shop, a restaurant, a candy shop, and a motel along with an RV resort. For the kids, there's a carousel, a train and gold panning. Every shop and attraction is fittingly prefixed like the fruit stand -- the train, for example, is Casa de Choo Choo. If you get home and find you can't live without the pomegranate wine, habanero pistachios or chocolate-covered blueberries, you can shop online and have some of the Casa's delights shipped to your door.

Wine Tasting

• The Santa Cruz Mountains house a unique collection of wineries guaranteed to tempt the palate of any connoisseur. Wine-making is not just an art but a relaxing retreat at Gilroy's Fernwood Cellars, where guests are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy with the wine made only from grapes grown in its vineyards. Fernwood also hosts events at the historic Redwood Retreat Road location, including Oktoberfest and a lobster boil. Solis Winery in the picturesque Hecker Pass offers tastings and a tour of the of the vineyards as you're walked through the old-world wine-making process. Be an intimate part of the tradition as you chat with the family owners and enjoy gourmet food at one of Solis' events.

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Things to Do in Los Altos Hills, CA

Los Altos Hills may not have a lot going on – guides to the town always highlight the fact there is only one business, a bookstore – but there is a reason some of the highest-paid individuals in the country call it home. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the wooded hillsides of this town afford visitors expansive views of the San Francisco Bay and a peek at rural life in Silicon Valley before the industrial revolution.

Picking Apricots

• In the 1800s and 1900s, Santa Clara County was a major producer of dried apricots, due to its perfectly dry summers that allowed apricots to be dried naturally outdoors. The only remnants of this empire today lie in the orchards preserved through bequests, stands of a few dozen trees scattered around town. But one 70-acre orchard still is in operation and produces bags of dried apricots for purchase: the former home of Hewlett Packard founder David Packard. Named for the Taaffe apricot ranching family who owned the entire area of present-day Los Altos Hills, Taaffe House and Orchard at the end of Taaffe Road pays homage to the original kings of Los Altos.

Hiking

• Whether you’re looking for a strenuous mountain hike or a casual stroll through nature, Los Altos Hills’ numerous public and private reserves offer so many trails, it would take years to explore them all. The area is full of low-profile trails for easy hikes, such as the Canyon and Bella Vista trails at Black Mountain, and the Arastradero Preserve and Hidden Villa loop trails. Serious hikers should head up the 2,800-foot-high Black Mountain, laced with a variety of trails from the Black Mountain Trail summit hike to the Ewing Hill, Hostel, and Creek Trails that connect to the Hidden Villa area.

Organic Farming

• Even though Los Altos Hills is replete with wooded areas and protected open spaces, Hidden Villa still comes as a surprise. As you drive down a residential road and turn into the driveway, it’s as if an entirely new – and decidedly different – valley unfolds before you. Once home to the pioneering Duveneck family, who dedicated their lives to protecting people in need -- including Japanese-Americans during WWII and Cesar Chavez -- and local natural resources, the entire area was willed as a permanent wildlife sanctuary. Today, Hidden Villa’s activities center around educational programs exposing urban and suburban families to nature and farm life.

Poor Clares Convent

• Part of the order named for St. Clare, the female companion of St. Francis who established an order of nuns that reject materialism and live in communion with nature as St. Francis taught, the Poor Clares of Los Altos have operated a monestary in Los Altos Hills since 1921. After securing $3 million in donations to rebuild their crumbling home in 2002, the Clares opened a visitors’ room chapel allowing visitors to take part in their six daily prayers from the other side of a wall, preserving the nuns cloistered existence. Through a small door in the wall of the visitors’ room, you can submit prayers to the nuns, who pray for and respond with a written letter to each inquiry, or purchase their handmade blankets, quilts and greeting cards.

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Free Things to Do in Solvang, CA

Solvang, California, is known for its proud display of Danish cultural influences as well as for the hundreds of wineries that seem to be everywhere throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. The small town was established early in the 20th century by Danish teachers, and the Danish heritage is honored today, clearly evident in festivals, architecture and unique food. Seasonal celebrations are often free, and many museums, parks and wineries in Solvang or around the valley charge no admission. Solvang is about 125 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Stroll Through Town

• The architecture, landscape, interesting shops and friendliness of the people of this small town make for a pleasant stroll along the streets of Solvang. For a good overview, start your walk at the corner of Mission (Highway 246) and Alisal Road, head south on Alisal, turn west on Oak and north onto 5th, where you'll meet Mission again. Along the way look for the four windmills in the village, a tower and the half-timbered buildings and brick structures. If you decide to spend a little, stop in the downtown shops that sell both Danish and American goods, or visit a restaurant offering Danish specialties. Don't miss trying the ebelskivers at one of the bakeries in town; they're Danish-style filled pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Explore the Culture

• Explore the Danish heritage of Solvang with a visit to the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art. Wander into the Book Loft, an independent bookstore downtown, and go to the third floor where you'll find the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Photos, memorabilia and stories describe the life of this famous author. At Old Mission Santa Ines in town there is an admission charge, but visitors can study the architecture of the mission, walk the surrounding grounds and attend the parish church for free. The site has life-sized stations of the cross, and the lush landscaping includes roses, cactus and mature palms with the valley, hills and mountain range in the distance.

Visit Surrounding Countryside

• Follow a babbling brook at Nojoqui Falls Park, up a short, gradual climb where you'll cross a bridge and come to a 100-foot waterfall that varies in flow -- from a trickle to a full waterfall -- depending on the season. It pools at the bottom at about 8 feet across in spring. Dogs are allowed on the path and in the park where you'll find ball fields, a playground, restrooms, barbecue grills and picnic tables. Follow Alisal Road south of town to the park. The country roads around Solvang are pleasant to drive and in spring you'll be treated to a native wildflower show. Try heading north out of Los Olivos -- a town about 5 miles north of Solvang on Highway 154 -- onto Figueroa Mountain Road. Fields of purple lupine and orange California poppies spread out across the valleys, surrounding massive, mature oak trees set against jutting red-rock formations.

Taste the Wine

• You don't have to pay a fee to visit the wine-tasting rooms or admire the art of wineries located near Solvang. Wander among ivy-covered bridges and rose-covered archways, enjoy the public lawns and gardens, then seek a picnic table where you can rest or have a bite to eat. At Buttonwood Farm Winery outside town, meandering gravel paths lead past lavender, a vegetable garden and a fruit orchard. Take time to appreciate the architecture of buildings that house tasting and production rooms. The Villa at Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez adjacent to Solvang is worth a stop; the 8,500-square-foot Tuscan-inspired center is constructed of reclaimed limestone and artifacts from France. It's usually OK to take a quiet walk through winery vineyards as long as you don't disturb the vines.

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Whale Watching in Long Beach, California

Long Beach, a major city at the southern end of Los Angeles County, is known for its large and busy port, one of the nation's most important maritime centers and the permanent home of the Queen Mary. Tourists and locals are also drawn to the port for boating excursions, including trips to spot seasonal populations of blue and gray whales, as well as dolphins and other remarkable marine life plying the coastal Pacific waters.

Seasons and Species

• Blue whales, the largest mammals on the planet, are seen in the Pacific Ocean off Long Beach mostly from June to October. The migration season for Pacific gray whales is from December to mid-May, when they make their annual journey from Alaska to Baja California in Mexico, often with calves in tow. Other whale species known to inhabit Southern California's ocean include orcas, minke whales, fin whales and the occasional humpback and sperm whale. Common and bottlenose dolphins, harbor seals, sea lions and sea birds are prolific. Whale watching tour boats also report occasional sightings of Pacific white sided dolphins, Risso's dolphins, elephant seals and mola mola, the heaviest bony fish in the world. Among infrequent shark sightings off Long Beach are great white, basking, blue, mako and thrasher sharks, and in 2008 an Ocean Breeze whale watching tour boat reported seeing a hammerhead shark. Leatherback sea turtles are also spotted on rare occasions.

Tour Providers

• Whale watching tours departing from Long Beach are available through Harbor Breeze, which has been in operation since 1990. The company has six tour boats and offers three-hour-plus tours to spot blue whales from early May to the end of September; and two-hour gray whale watching tours from November until the end of April. The tours are available directly through Ocean Breeze, based at a dock adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific, or through the aquarium. The boats used for whale watching tours are double-decker sightseeing vessels with indoor seating as well as plenty of deck space for prime visibility. The boats also feature snack bars and toilets on board.

Typical Excursions

• Although it's impossible to guarantee whale sightings, you do have a good chance of seeing whales, especially at the peak of the blue or gray whale season. In 2012, Harbor Breeze passengers saw 565 blue whales, 447 gray whales, 384 fin whales, 191 orcas and 13 humpbacks. Common dolphins are nearly always seen, sometimes in pods numbering in the thousands. Dolphins like to surf in the boat's wake and frolic close to the decks, to the delight of passengers. An Aquarium of the Pacific naturalist will be on board to provide narration about the characteristics of Pacific marine life and whale migration patterns.

Tips

• Ocean Breeze recommends that you book tickets for whale watching tours as early as possible, especially during migration seasons. The Aquarium of the Pacific offers money-saving combination tickets that include admission to the aquarium and a whale watching excursion. Expect temperatures to be considerably cooler out on the water than they are on land, and dress in layers accordingly. Even if it's a little chilly, the Southern California sun is powerful, so bring sunscreen and wear sunglasses and a hat that won't blow away. You'll be standing on deck for up to three hours, especially if you're vigilantly watching the ocean, so wear comfortable, nonskid shoes. Binoculars and a camera will be useful.

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Snorkeling in Southern California

The oily yellow-brown fronds of giant kelp float in a tangle on the surface while below, brilliant yellow and orange California Garabaldi dart through the stalks, leopard sharks skim across the bottom and Dungeness crab skitter through the sand. Typical of much of Southern California’s rocky shorelines, kelp forests, the sea life they support, and the clear blue water surrounding them make snorkeling in California a unique experience.

Catalina Island

• Some of Southern California's best snorkeling is at Catalina Island, a desert island about 26 miles off the coast from Los Angeles. The island's best snorkeling area, Lover’s Cove, is south of Avalon, Catalina's only town. The area features shallow water with a rocky entry accessible along a walk path from town. Lover’s Cove is an underwater sanctuary, so the abundant fish, including the bright yellow Garibaldi, Calfornia’s state fish, and other denizens swimming through the kelp forests off the rocky points aren’t timid and often eat out of a snorkeler’s hands. Visibility is quite good, sometimes up to 40 feet or more in depths from 10 to about 25 feet. The water can be quite chilly, however, so a wetsuit might be needed. Several charter companies provide both sea and air transportation from the mainland to Avalon on a regular basis.

Topaz Jetty

• About 13 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles is the Topaz Jetty in Redondo Beach. When the ocean swells are running from the south, conditions on the north side of the granite boulder, man-made jetty are ideal for snorkeling. The area has a sandy beach entry. Depths range from about 12 feet to nearly 40 at the tip of the jetty. On calm days, visibility can be quite good, and the rocks abound with sea anemones and sea stars. A whole variety of different crabs cluster near the rocks on the bottom along with an occasional Pacific lobster or octopus. About 100 yards northwest of the jetty are the remnants of Redondo Beach Pier number three. The remaining pilings are about 40 feet down. Street parking is plentiful on the Esplanade above Topaz Street Beach.

Malaga Cove

• On the southern tip of the Santa Monica Bay between Torrance Beach and Palos Verdes Estates is Malaga Cove. Although the beach entry into the water is over loose rocks that can be treacherous, the area has clear water with visibility up to 40 feet. Kelp forests and mermaid’s-hair sea grass line rocky bottoms that occasionally break into sandy patches in depths of 15 to 25 feet. Garibaldi abound in this area, as do leopard sharks, sea stars, sand bass, calico bass, decorator crabs and bat rays. There are a lot of small schooling fish to swim through, and loads of octopi hiding in the rocky crevasses. Free parking is in a lot on Palos Verdes Drive South, and a sloping foot path leads down to the beach.

La Jolla Cove

• La Jolla Cove is a small beach between two sandstone cliffs a short walk from downtown La Jolla in San Diego County. Due to the clarity of the water, ease of entry and its inclusion as part of the 6,000 acre La Jolla Underwater Park, the cove is extremely popular with snorkeling enthusiasts. Since the clear, shallow waters and kelp forests the area contains are under the constraints of an ecological preserve, the abundant sea life isn’t shy. Garibaldi, half moon, yellow tail, rockfish and schools of sardine are common. From June to November, the shallow bottom entertains large numbers of leopard sharks that come to La Jolla Cove to spawn. Fascinating to watch, leopard sharks are not dangerous to snorkelers. Parking is plentiful in town, and the beach is just a short walk away.

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Interesting Places to Visit in Ojai Valley, California

Life in Ojai Valley, California -- located about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles -- revolves around both the small, artsy village of Ojai and the surrounding rolling hills dotted with oak trees that lead to the backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains. The village of less than 8,000 residents attracts artists and musicians who bring their talents to town on a regular basis. For enthusiasts of the outdoors, Lake Casitas sits in the 10-mile long valley, which enjoys a Mediterranean climate. All told, Ojai Valley offers an array of opportunities for year-round outdoor adventure and cultural exploration.

Parks and Recreation

• Lovers of the outdoors will find ample room to hike, bike and skate at the city's seven parks. A couple of the city's most visited parks are particularly popular because of the amenities they offer. The Ojai Skateboard Park is a 12,500 square-foot park that comes complete with everything a skateboarder needs, including concrete bowls, ramps and rails. It's free to use and open year-round from dawn to dusk. At Libbey Park, there's a playground for tots and tennis courts, as well as benches to take a break and enjoy the quiet. The multi-use Ojai Valley Trail takes cyclists, joggers and dog walkers on a nine mile trek through the valley. The trail also has a parallel path for horses.

The Arcade and the Arts

• Ojai's old-fashioned downtown encourages pedestrian traffic, particularly through the area known as the Arcade and Arcade Plaza. Take time to stroll through more than 45 shops offering clothing, jewelry, home decor and art; many galleries feature works by local artists. The plaza encourages visitors to contemplate the bronze poppy fountain while enjoying a respite on the surrounding benches. At the weekly Ojai Certified Farmers Market you'll discover fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetables and locally produced foods such as jams and honey. The market is also an excellent place to listen to music and people watch. In addition, take time to appreciate the artistic side of the town by exploring venues and events such as the Ojai Center for the Arts, the Summer Art Stroll, the Ojai Studio Artists Tour and Art in the Park. These events are held throughout the year.

Lake Casitas

• Fishing, boating, camping and playing at a water park are the main attractions at Lake Casitas, a recreational area with 32 miles of shoreline and 3,100 acres of rolling hills. Anglers will most likely catch bass, trout, crappie, sunfish bluegill and catfish. While motor boats, canoes, kayaks and some inflatables are allowed on the water, swimming is not permitted because the reservoir supplies drinking water to the community. While at the lake during the summer, check out Casitas Water Adventure. One of this water park's playgrounds is geared to a younger crowd, with age-appropriate waterfalls, bridges, slides and a lagoon. The other section features a lazy river for floating on an inner tube. At the end of the day, campers at Lake Casitas will find sites for tents and RVs, picnic tables, fire rings and restrooms with showers. The lake is located in the valley adjacent to Ojai; the city provides trolley service to and from the park on Saturdays during the summer.

Music and Wine

• Music lovers should head to Ojai's Libbey Park for music and dancing. Summer brings free concerts to the park, with local musicians performing. The biggest event is the Ojai Music Festival, an annual 4-day classical music festival held in June featuring internationally acclaimed musicians and dancers. Sometimes the event takes to the streets, with extra concerts, films, discussions and social dancing taking place around town. Also in June, wine and beer connoisseurs gather for the Ojai Wine Festival held at Lake Casitas. More than 60 vintners come from nearby California wine-producing regions in order to share more than 250 selections of wine.

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