孩子们总是希望 某物 to bring home from vacation. But instead of picking up yet another stuffed animal or sweatshirt, get the kids a cool new experience—perhaps even a new hobby—instead. California is packed with opportunities to learn sports that offer both bragging rights and possible dividends for years to come.

Take skateboarding, a classic SoCal sport, which kids can pick up pretty quickly. At Orange County’s Etnies Skatepark, “kids get to experience a world-class skate park with an amazing family-friendly atmosphere,尼克·盖茨说。, the park’s senior recreation supervisor. “In the first lesson or two for those new to skateboarding, we cover safety and etiquette in the park, basics such as how to push, 在坡道上下车, and making sure everyone is having a good time. And there is always the chance of seeing your favorite professional skateboarder.” 

Here are eight cool activities that your child can learn on your next trip to the Golden State. 

用假蝇钓鱼,太浩湖

Plenty of ponds near the Truckee River are stocked with rainbow trout—a fun way for kids to learn to fish. Get hooked up with an outfitter like 马特·赫伦飞钓, which does a Creek Creatures class on these ponds, where kids get three hours of fly-fishing or spin fishing instruction, 关于苍蝇系和, 作为一项取悦大众的红利, an exploration of the aquatic bugs that thrive in this area.

Mountain biking, Mammoth Lakes

During summer, Mammoth Mountain sheds its ski persona and becomes a mountain-biking hotbed: 猛犸自行车公园 covers 3,500 acres, with 80 miles of single track. Kids can take a group class where they’ll learn the finer points of balance, 自行车控制, 体定位, and braking technique; if Mom or Dad wants to try too, they can book a parent-child package that includes bikes, 头盔, 公园通过, 还有一个可选的2.5小时的课. 已经有了一些技能? Then boost your game with a group lesson that includes technical trails, 跳, 和过弯技巧.

Scuba diving, Monterey Bay Aquarium

It’s one thing to visit an aquarium and look at the marine creatures through the glass. 但与此 Underwater Explorers program, held during summers at the legendary aquarium, kids ages eight through 13 can get a first-time introduction to scuba in the aquarium’s Great Tide Pool, 邻近的蒙特雷湾. In a class of no more than 12, 孩子们可以穿干衣, 监管机构, 空气罐, 和面具, as well as an introduction to basic scuba practices as they explore. Keep an eye out for the sea otters that frequent this part of the aquarium.

Stand-up paddleboarding, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s curving coastline offers a buffer against the northerly winds, making it a mellow place to learn the balancing-act sport of stand-up paddleboarding. 租用冲浪板和冲浪板 在圣巴巴拉港, or sign up for a lesson from a company like Channel Islands Outfitters, which offers two levels of no-experience-necessary 教训: one on extra-calm enclosed waters, and another on exposed waters with a chance of small swells—but no breaking waves.

Snowboarding, Bear Mountain

This resort in the San Bernardino Mountains is a great place for kids to learn snowboarding. In addition to the three age ranges for 教训 (3-4, 5-7, 和8 - 12), the terrain parks run parallel to groomers, so that family members of different skill levels can stay together all day. 在课, the first level focuses on the basics, while helping kids make 转s and control their speed.

Rock climbing, Joshua Tree

For a kid who never saw a rock that she didn’t want to scramble over, 约书亚树国家公园 is like a dream, with more than 400 climbing formations and 8,000 climbing routes. And a few outfitters offer 教训 right in the park. 在为期一天的, 小组课, Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School covers knot tying, 绳子管理, 用绳索下降, and “belaying” (getting back down safely). 从十月到五月, tour operator Cliffhanger Guides, 以公园为基地, also does a family-friendly, five-hour group lesson that includes a picnic lunch.

Skateboarding, Orange County

Located in Orange County’s Lake Forest, Etnies溜冰场 is the largest public skate park in California, and is known to be a favorite of pint-size skateboarding dynamo Bella Kenworthy. 没有惊喜, it offers very kid-friendly classes: Just bring your own board, 垫, 和头盔, and you can learn how to balance, 转, and even do an ollie (a pop-up jump). 

冲浪,圣地亚哥

With its wide beach and easy access, La Jolla Shores makes a welcoming place for kids to try surfing. 冲浪学校 冲浪天后 first launched here to offer surf 教训 geared toward women, but has broadened to offer instruction for the whole family, welcoming kids as young as five. 私人课程, lasting one to three hours (and including use of both a board and wetsuit), 很适合男孩, 女孩, and all kinds of beginners who want to learn to stand up on the board, 打一两波, and gain some new confidence.