When I gave my Everest Base Camp trek lectures at several NOCAL REIs, in August, I discovered the lovely Sanctuary Beach Resort
in Marina, CA.
The nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular tourist destination with the Secret Lives of Seahorses as the newest special exhibition. From the resort, it's only 10 minutes away.
This resort is comprised of individual cabins on a protected beach, with sand dune or ocean views. Every room comes with its own private golf cart to minimize dune damage, and binoculars to spot the barking sea lions from your porch.
I stayed in the Deluxe 612, and was told that 612 and 613 were the best and most private rooms. The resort has a 2 Night Romance Package where you're greeted with a welcome bottle of champagne and scattered rose petals, but since I was traveling solo for one night only, I thought that might be a little awkward.
The room has complimentary L'Occitane bath products, and a classy mini bar with local chardonnay and artichoke salsa with fancy tortilla chips. Since my room had a fireplace and wine glass-sized shelf next to the bed, finding a great bottle of wine was a must.
It's a short drive to Moss Landing, and I stopped at The Whole Enchilada Marketplace which has a decent selection of local wines as well as tasty deli sandwiches I highly recommend, such as the Powerplant, a delightful tri-tip with chipotle mayo, and the chicken sandwich El Clucko with roasted red peppers and avocado on ciabatta bread.
Marina Dunes Preserve
After cruising to the Marina State Beach on my golf cart, I learned all about the fragile California sand dune ecosystem. Sand dunes are compacted soil that take thousands of years to form. In 20 years, the dunes have eroded more than 50 feet due to foot traffic, dune buggy vehicles and dogs.
The dunes have three different habitats - the Fore, Mid, and the Back Dune.
The Fore Dune houses the heartiest of the plant and animal species that can survive strong winds and salt spray like the snowy plover.
A creature found in the Mid Dune sheltered by avian predators is - the black legless lizard. (I'm still not sure why they just don't call it a snake.)
The Back Dune is where the most fragile species can be found such as the Coast Buckwheat, Smith's Blue Butterfly and Menzie's Wallflower. These species depend on the dunes to protect them against sea spray and wind.
Hangliding and the Coastal Condors
One sign stood out more than all that other stuff - "Hanglider Set-up & Landing Area". I hopped up on the Glider Launch Ramp and knew I had to find a way to do this. I spotted another sign that said "Home of the Coastal Condors Hangliding & Paragliding Club".
Luckily, I was able to contact the President of this hangliding/paragliding club - Dennis Bowman, and unfortunately, classes are no longer offered at the site, so I knew I'd have to search elsewhere for lessons.
Dennis explained that hangliding at the Marina State beach is a unique and thrilling experience. The rising air holds up the glider, and the ocean winds strike the dune and create a wave of rising air. The steeper the sand dune, the better the lift.
We spoke about the beach erosion, and he told me that the club has an unique relationship with the park service, and that the Rangers couldn't be happier to have the gliders at the beach, mostly because of the enormous steps the club takes to preserve the Dunes. The Association installed plastic fencing to deter foot traffic, and built wooden barriers to block the wind. The club most recently planted over 1,000 native plant species to stabilize the blowing sand.
Talking to Dennis got me pumped about hangliding. He told me that when he pilots his glider in the Sierras, it's a whole different experience. He flies with a GPS so he knows where the heck he's going, and a lightweight oxygen tank for the higher elevations. Just like climbing a mountain, a pilot is subject to hypoxia or altitude sickness, and some pilots fly as high as 18,000 feet. (A hanglider is considered aircraft, and there are FAA regulations that prohibit you from flying above 18,000 ft.)
Dennis glides with a ham radio, with a speaker and mic inside his helmet so that he can communicate with the truck on the ground when he's ready to land. One of the biggest challenges is landing in unfamiliar territory, where you might not see the barbed wire until it's too late. How exciting!
I was hooked, and he was kind enough to direct me to one of the oldest and most respected schools in the country. Stay tuned for my LA Hangliding Adventure...
Oh yeah, Marina, CA -
This Holiday season, there's a shindig at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for New Year's, and last time I checked, there are still rooms available at the Sanctuary Beach Resort. Let me know if you go.
Dennis explained that hangliding at the Marina State beach is a unique and thrilling experience. The rising air holds up the glider, and the ocean winds strike the dune and create a wave of rising air. The steeper the sand dune, the better the lift.
We spoke about the beach erosion, and he told me that the club has an unique relationship with the park service, and that the Rangers couldn't be happier to have the gliders at the beach, mostly because of the enormous steps the club takes to preserve the Dunes. The Association installed plastic fencing to deter foot traffic, and built wooden barriers to block the wind. The club most recently planted over 1,000 native plant species to stabilize the blowing sand.
Talking to Dennis got me pumped about hangliding. He told me that when he pilots his glider in the Sierras, it's a whole different experience. He flies with a GPS so he knows where the heck he's going, and a lightweight oxygen tank for the higher elevations. Just like climbing a mountain, a pilot is subject to hypoxia or altitude sickness, and some pilots fly as high as 18,000 feet. (A hanglider is considered aircraft, and there are FAA regulations that prohibit you from flying above 18,000 ft.)
Dennis glides with a ham radio, with a speaker and mic inside his helmet so that he can communicate with the truck on the ground when he's ready to land. One of the biggest challenges is landing in unfamiliar territory, where you might not see the barbed wire until it's too late. How exciting!
I was hooked, and he was kind enough to direct me to one of the oldest and most respected schools in the country. Stay tuned for my LA Hangliding Adventure...
Oh yeah, Marina, CA -
This Holiday season, there's a shindig at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for New Year's, and last time I checked, there are still rooms available at the Sanctuary Beach Resort. Let me know if you go.
____________________________________________________________
The Sanctuary Beach Resort - 3295 Dunes Drive, Marina, CA 93933 (877)944-3863 Click here for the Secret Sand Lovers Promo available online only. Hurry and book for New Year's before it's sold out!
The Whole Enchilada Marketplace - 7990 A Highway 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039 (831)632-2628
The Monterey Bay Aquarium - New Year's Eve Party- Silver Fishes & New Year Wishes 12/31, 9PM-1AM, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 (866)963-9645
Coastal Condors - Marina, CA http://coastalcondors.org/
Coastal Condors - Marina, CA http://coastalcondors.org/
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