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Health . Fitness . Outdoor for the Central Coast

FLOAT SPA LASIK Q&A channel Island KAYAK In Search of the Big D

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fitness trainer Mikki Reilly SKIN CARE

Photo by Kevin Steele

S PA D AY

Santa Barbara’s

Secret Garden By Bonnie Carroll

ushing to dinner at the Wine Cask or to an opening at the Lobero it is easy to zip by Float Luxury Spa, one of Santa Barbara’s great bliss zones, without knowing it’s there. Located at 18 East Canon Perdido, the popular venue offers a milieu of healthful and relaxing treatments and services that live up to the literal meaning of its name. Following treatments at this peaceful and beautifully designed sanctuary it is likely you will begin feeling as detached as a leaf drifting in the calm current of a peaceful lake. The first thing that strikes visitors when entering Float is the quiet atmosphere, the second is the strikingly beautiful design of the facility, and third the cleanliness throughout. Natalie Rowe and her partner Stephanie Phelan have left no stone unturned to create their vision of spa bliss at Float. The three

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story building has an extremely deceptive exterior, and actually is quite spacious within, offering separate dressing rooms with showers for men and women, as well as a bevy of unique treatment rooms and a comfortably chic waiting area, where healthy tea and snacks are served. The interiors showcase clean graceful lines and are done in beige, white and blue. Everything at Float is easy on the eyes and restful to the spirit. There is a private garden with a pond available for special wedding parties and groups visiting the spa that is simply the most beautiful ‘secret garden’ venue for a group spa day experience, and Float will arrange for catered lunches if a guest requests it. The treatments here were designed to provide visitors with a de-stress experience, an opportunity to find balance, feel light and just float. Their menu features a variety

of facial and massage treatments, as well as special ritual packages that combine facial and body treatments. Couples can enjoy a massage together in rooms designed with side-by-side tables, and during my visit I saw two couples relaxing in the lounge looking fairly blissed out. The Pacific Paradise, a delightful Papaya Pineapple exfoliating body scrub followed with a mist of passion fruit and coconut emulsion was my pleasure of the day. The sensational ending for the ritual is a full body massage with warm coconut & Kukui Nut oil, given at the clients desired pressure level. Simply Outstanding! Float also offers a Champagne treatment that seems rather intriguing, and visitors are encouraged to ask about it. Their facial menu has you covered with everything from pigment balancing to gel peels and the ultimate in nurturing treatments

for women and men of all ages. The Collagen Boost facial is done with rich vitamin serums and left my skin ‘glowing’ according to friends who saw me later. The therapist was a skilled skin specialist who knew how to thoroughly hydrate my skin, leaving it soft and vibrant. The items available in the Float shop include the best in fine skin care products, including a new skin care line for men called Jack Black. Epicuren, SkinCeuticals and Dr. Dennis Gross are just a few of the quality products for women available for home use or as gifts. Float also offers gift certificates that can be purchased online. Clearly, a day of floating is a gift worth giving to yourself or anyone you care about. For menu and pricing information visit www.floatluxuryspa.com FLOAT 18 East Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 845-7777.

Precision + Expertise “After 15 years with the hassle of wearing contacts, I decided to have laser eye surgery. The results are incredible – my vision is perfect, and Dr. Katsev was amazing! He was extremely attentive, both before and after the surgery. I don’t think you could find a better person to trust with this procedure. It’s the everyday things you appreciate most, like clearly reading road signs or enjoying the morning paper. I’m a very active person and now my vision doesn’t get in the way.” — Richard Scibird, U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Cycling Team alumnus

Call now to find out how you too can have perfect vision again.

(805) 681-8951 Laser Eye Care Center 29 West Anapamu Street

Sansum Clinic’s unified, patient-first approach to healthcare is built around you. Our multi-specialty team of physicians and clinical staff work together, supported by the latest equipment and technology, to ensure quality care for you and your family throughout all stages of life. We are driven by the principles of compassion, teamwork and innovation to keep you in good health. Learn more at our NEW website at www.SansumClinic.org

medicAL

Thinking about LASIK? Q&A with Dr. Doug Katsev, corneal specialist and Laser Eye Surgeon

r. Douglas Katsev, a board-certified

ophthal-

mologist at Sansum Clinic’s Laser Eye Care Center trained in cornea refractive surgery at the presti-

gious Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA and has been offering his expertise and specialized skills to the Santa Barbara community for more than twenty years. He introduced the IntraLase™ laser to Sansum Clinic patients which allows a flap to be made in the cornea without a blade and is the only such device in the area. He also uses the DSEK laser which is the most popular procedure among refractive surgeons in the United States. Dr. Katsev enjoys discussing the rapidly advancing field of eye surgery and the expanding range of options he is now able to offer his patients.

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Q: What are some of the basics to understanding laser eye surgery? A: Most people are familiar with the term LASIK, an acronym for laser-assisted intrastromal in-situkeratomileusis. LASIK is a way of reshaping the cornea using a laser so light rays can focus more precisely on the retina, improving vision. Q: Who can benefit from LASIK? A: Just about everyone can benefit - especially those with nearsightedness, farsightedness and those with astigmatism. Also people that find they cannot read if they have successfully used monovision contact lenses can have LASIK to read without glasses. It is preferred that patients are at least twenty years-old, have a stable refraction, and are not pregnant, although each case is different. I corrected both of my daughters at ages less than 18 because of special needs for sports activities. Q: Is there an alternative for people with a cataract? A: Yes, the intraocular lens. With the newer lens available, we can remove the cataractous lens and replace it with intraocular lens that corrects the patient’s vision at the same time. Lenses have improved such that you can correct them so they see both distance and near. Most patients can read and drive without glasses which most people are excited about. It is called a multi-focal lens and I put one in my on mother about six years ago and she has been very happy but it does cost extra. Q: What is IntraLase®? A: It is a computer-guided, bladeless laser used to achieve precision before we do

the laser procedure to reshape the cornea. It makes the flap, which is very important for quick recovery of vision without scarring. Surprisingly some people in our progressive town still use the blade to do this important part of the procedure. I have used Intralase for seven years and have had great success . Patients can drive the next day and do not have to miss work or more important their favorite activities. Safety and stability are improved with Intralase Q: I understand you have a new procedure for cornea transplants. A: I am the only surgeon in our area currently performing the DSEK procedure for cornea transplants. With it, I have typically seen my patients’ vision return within 6 weeks versus 6 months with traditional techniques. Q: What is the DSEK technique? A: DSEK, or Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty, is a cuttingedge procedure for a cornea transplant in which only the innermost layer of cells in the cornea is replaced and swelling is reduced which leads to clearer vision. The procedure is completed through a smaller incision with fewer stitches, which decreases recovery time and lessens the risks associated with the procedure. Q: Is there anything else new in cornea transplants? A: There is a new procedure called the big bubble that can be used during corneal transplant. It essentially allows the surgeon to not replace the whole cornea, which we presently do, but only remove the diseased part and preserve the part that is useful. It allows for quicker recovery and a better post-operative refractive result. Q: What makes you unique? A: I speak at events across the United States and abroad on laser surgery, which allows me to be current on what is going on in laser refractive surgery. Companies come to me first to evaluate new ideas, equipment and procedures. We are able to bring things to Santa Barbara quickly and instead of following the lead, we are in the forefront of the industry, applying the best technologies available. Also, I like to operate in the evenings, because afterwards, it is good to close your eyes for about twelve hours and let things heal. This way, people can leave the surgery, go to sleep and wake up healed the next morning. They do not have to miss work and can enjoy a quick recovery.

Lyndon Lambeth DDS PERSONALIZED DENTAL CARE Serving Santa Barbara County Since 1993

Gentle • Caring Professional

“My goal is to provide personal, comfortable dental care in a relaxed atmosphere. I believe providing high quality care with an awareness of your concerns and needs is the most important part of my commitment to you.”

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Q: What can readers do to save their sight? A: People need to get checked for glaucoma, especially if they have a family history of it. Certain vitamins are good for everybody especially if you have a history of macular degeneration. I would not smoke because it affects your heart and the vessels in the back of your eye and can make macular degeneration worse. Q: What is the best part of your job? A: I love making people happier. Often I meet somebody who is scared and thinks they are losing their vision, and I am able to give that back to them - plus more than they anticipated. Their positive reaction is very satisfying for me. I have such a great time at work. Nowadays, there is almost nothing we cannot improve on whether it is cataract, corneal transplant or just wanting to get rid of glasses. Q: What makes Sansum Clinic special? A: We are the only local ophthalmology group that has specialists in multidisciplines. That allows us each to excel in our specialty and gives us access to other top specialists. I make myself accessible to all patients and they have my cell phone, which I always answer, so I am easy to track down. Dr. Katsev can be reached at Sansum Clinic Laser Eye Care Center 29 West Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara. (805) 681-8951

Be well... look radiant... live better

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T R A ININ G

Getting Personal A moment with fitness trainer Mikki Reilly

ike many trainers, Mikki Reilly derives her sense of purpose from helping people get fit, and she is very good at it. The former Iron Maiden Body Building champion and award-winning coach definitely does her homework, and her research has developed into a training approach using HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and Metabolic Resistance Training to burn fat while gaining muscle and improving cardio fitness. She believes that the quality of foods consumed on a daily basis is the largest determining factor in what we look like, what we feel like, and how long we live. Her book Your Primal Body: Lean, Fit and Pain-free at Any Age is due out later this year. For more information, go to www.fitnesstransform.com —Victoria Woodard Harvey What gets you out of bed in the morning? My 6 a.m. clients. Ever been less than fit? Not really. I grew up with two brothers in New Jersey, played hard and never stopped. Breakfast today? I had my usual, grass-fed beef and plant foods: zucchini, carrots, broccoli, green beans. with coconut oil and avocado. Ideal meal plan? The high-protein, low-carb diet of our Paleolithic hunter/gatherer ancestors was whole foods found in nature, like wild game, fish, vegetables, wild fruits, eggs and nuts. It’s an excellent model. What’s your “beef”? Wild game was naturally grass-fed and organic, high in omega-3, the anti-inflammatory fatty acid, and low in omega-6, the pro-inflammatory fatty acid. Look at what kept early humans functioning opti-

5 Tips for Eating Paleo: 1. Focus your meals on high quality animal protein foods from natural sources, such as fresh meat, fish, and poultry. Whenever possible consume local, grass-fed, free-range, organic, antibiotic, pesticide and hormone-free meat, which has a healthier fat profile. 2. Eat an abundance of plant food, such as brightly colored vegetables, berries and low glycemic fruit which are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients 3. Include fresh, raw nuts in your diet, including walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans, filberts, Brazil nuts, and pistachios. 50

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4. Eliminate all grains and legumes (beans) Grains and legumes are a source of anti-nutrients, such as lectins and saponins, which wreak havoc with hormonal and immune systems and increase intestinal permeability, raising the risk of inflammatory diseases, such as celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. 5. Avoid vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, corn oil and peanut oil, as well as mayonnaise, margarine and shortening. Increase omega-3 fatty acids, especially from fish.

mally for millions of years. If we returned to the dietary needs and physical activities dictated by our DNA, we could eliminate many cancers, Alzheimer’s, obesity, poor metabolism, low stamina. Nightmare job? Anything sedentary. Greatest fallacy in fitness training? That doing a ton of cardio is the way to get fit. Nothing could be further from the truth. Any pet peeves? The lack of standardization in fitness training is just crazy. Anyone looking for a trainer should know whether the trainer has a science degree or just got an online certificate in a weekend. One thing you can’t live without? Kettlebells. I’ve weightlifted for 20 years, but kettlebells put me in the best shape in my life. I recently completed the RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge) certification training. Qualifying means snatching 35-lb kettlebells overhead 100 times in under 5 minutes. Pavel was sending home very buff Navy guys— it was austere. Most underrated fitness tool? The foam roller. I’ve seen clients increase range of motion and improve mobility in less than five minutes. Selfmyofascial release is more than just “mushing out” adhesions in muscle, it signals the brain from tiny sensors in joints and muscle to regulate the amount of tension in tissue. I can take anyone to a pain-free state in 99% of my cases. It is truly amazing. Gyms of the future? I imagine more functional training including foot-based primal movement patterns, using fast twitch muscles, with plyometrics, cable machines and medicine balls. Any vices? This cup of coffee.

Five Exercise MRT Circuit using only your bodyweight and one kettlebell: Perform this circuit three times with two minutes of rest between each round, and rest as little as possible between exercises within the circuit (no more than 15 seconds). 1. Prison Bodyweight Squats (20 reps) 2. Kettlebell Swings (30 seconds) 3. T Push Ups (10 reps per side) 4. Mountain Climbers (12 reps per side) 5. Lateral Lunge (20 reps per side)

S U P P L EMENT S

In Search of the Big D  By David C. Dodson, M.D.

itamin D has come a long way in a short time. When I was a medical student in the 1970s, all that was known about this nutrient was that it helped to absorb dietary calcium. It was necessary for forming bones, and lack of the vitamin gave rise to the bone diseases of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Both conditions cause bones to hurt, bend, and break. We now know that every cell in our bodies contain receptors for vitamin D and that vitamin D modifies the activity of about 10,000 genes, or about one third of the human genome. Vitamin D, it seems, does an enormous amount of work in our bodies. Once it was thought that vitamin C helped prevent everything from the common cold to cancer. That notion was largely eminence-based: the eminent Linus Pauling, winner of two Nobel Prizes (chemistry in 1954, for discovering the molecular structure of vitamin C; a peace prize in 1962) widely promoted this idea. Today in this era of evidence-based medi-

cine, good evidence supports the idea that vitamin D not only boosts the immune system, helping to prevent colds and flu, but also helps regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, protect from many of the most common forms of cancer, and even possibly to help fight depression. And it still helps to make bones and muscles stronger, probably accounting for its proven role in helping prevent falls in the elderly, an often devastating and sometimes deadly problem. Indeed, a recent study showed that lower vitamin D levels are associated with higher death rates in the elderly. Many surveys have documented the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in people who live in more northern locations and in people with darker skin. Indeed, pale skin allows the body to make more vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, the reason why vitamin D is sometimes called the sunshine vitamin. Our skin makes vitamin D when it’s exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun. Unfortunately, north of Atlanta, the ultraviolet light is filtered out by the atmosphere during the winter, and, as a result, vitamin D levels tend

to drop as one heads north. The deficiency increases in people with dark skin, which protects from the sun’s harmful effects such as wrinkles and skin cancer, but at the same time reduces our skin’s production of vitamin D. Few foods naturally contain vitamin D, although it’s added to some foods including milk and some brands of orange juice. Other sources include small fish eaten whole, such as anchovies and sardines, and cod liver oil. I’m a major advocate for vitamin D supplements. While moderate sun exposure certainly

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can and does boost vitamin D levels, it does so at the cost of aging the skin, which means not only wrinkles but also the possibility of skin cancer. So while moderation in all things may be a reasonable policy with regard to sun exposure, it’s easier and safer, especially at northern latitudes, to take a vitamin D supplement. It costs pennies per day and is an excellent investment in your health. How much is enough? This should be determined in consultation with your doctor, based upon your actual vitamin D level, which can be measured by a simple blood test. Because vitamin D is fat soluble, it builds up in our body’s fat stores, and one can overdose on it. But doses as high as 10,000 units daily have been shown to be safe, and typical recommended doses range from roughly 1,000 to 4,000 units daily. So overdose is unlikely. For pennies per day, this substance can help reduce falls and fractures in the elderly, prevent colds and flu, help control blood pressure and glucose levels (diabetes), and may help prevent some of the most common forms of cancer such as lung, breast, colon, and prostate. Also, African Americans suffer higher rates of such illnesses as high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes – all conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency. As vitamin D can help reduce the incidence and severity of many conditions and disease, it could therefore help control health care costs – a major national concern. With all of its potential benefits, vitamin D is certainly worth a closer look. For more information, read the American Public Health Association’s policy statement on vitamin D at www.apha.org. David C. Dodson, M.D., a primary care physician with Sansum Clinic, is Chair of the Committee on Men’s Health and a member of the Committee on Nutrition and Physical Activity of the Massachusetts Medical Society. 52

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Manscaping The Final Frontier

en used to be able to bask and revel in all their hairy masculinity, with furriness reaching it’s zenith in the 1970’s. Not anymore! Countless men are now holding themselves to a higher beauty standard, just like the ladies. The Final Frontier in new grooming regimens for men is called Manscaping. It takes on many forms, but one of the most effective technological revolutions for Manscaping is Laser Hair Removal. The media is constantly broadcasting the well-groomed man, free from hair on their backs, chests and well, nether regions. Men are getting on board and visiting Medical Spas in droves to achieve the slick and glossy finish of the male models in the magazines. Many men who are dramatically endeavoring to attain this look shave their chest and back, but the prickly porcupine feel is not the most desirous of Manscapes. And don’t even think about waxing! Ouch! Not all women love the lustrous, creamy, skin palette of a silky smooth man, but for those who do, Laser Hair Removal is the golden ticket. To be properly Manscaped, a series of 5 - 10 laser treatments are required with time and cost varying by the size of the area to be treated and the thickness and color of the hair. Dr. Kathleen Griffin, Medical Director of The G Spa says, “We use the revolutionary Elos technology by Syneron which uses a combination of Bi-Polar Radio Frequency and Light Energies that targets and destroys hair follicles. Hair removal is one of the most popular uses of laser for patients of all ages: young adults love hair-free upper and lower bodies, men love to be less hairy in general, and older women need it for those unwanted dark hairs that appear after menopause. Although hair removal is never guaranteed to be complete or permanent, it comes close enough to both, to be appreciated by anyone who is willing to give it a try.” The great news for all the hairy bears out there is that this service is available to you, so if you are one of those men who want the velvety, shaven look and feel for your Manscape, Laser Hair Removal may just be your golden ticket to freedom from shaving and waxing. —Cynthia Grancourt

Cynthia Grancourt is a freelance health writer and manager for the G Spa in Santa Barbara. thegspasb.com.

Oil from the Gods…

This amazing massage oil features infused carrot oil and vitamin E and has benefits for all skin types. In addition to toning and revitalizing the skin, this oil is a powerful detoxifier and liver booster. Vitamin E plays a role in the protection of skin cells while helping the skin look younger and smoothing out wrinkles and lines. Made from 100 percent natural botanical ingredients the scent has a mild finish as opposed to a pungent garden smell found in some oils, all making it a wonderful way to treat your tired and exhausted body. Botanical Massage Oil can be purchased at Pure Vita Botanical. 6 East Valerio St. 805-563-8432. www.puravidabotanicals.com

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OUTDOORS

Island

Adventures

Exploring the Channel Islands National Park is like a trip back in time to untouched California By Chuck Graham

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stepped off the Island Packers ferry onto the sturdy dock at Prisoners Harbor, primed for a hilly, 13-mile trail run back to my kayak and campsite at Scorpion Anchorage located at the southeast end of Santa Cruz Island. The largest of California’s Channel Islands at over 60,000 acres and part of Channel Islands National Park, the mountainous island is also the most unique with flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. I was running then paddling in what is also known as “the Galapagos Islands of the north,” a archipelago that’s close to the mainland of teaming Southern California, yet worlds apart in biodiversity and population — only about 80,000 people a year set foot on the islands, and most of those land at Scorpion Anchorage. Once I reached the narrow spine of Montanon Ridge my legs were burning, the ocean beckoning three miles below. The island’s highest peaks rise more than 2000 feet. I opened up my stride and followed an old, rutted ranching road descending swiftly into the broad mouth of Scorpion Canyon. Clever ravens croaked and a peregrine falcon buzzed the cliffs scattering flocks of western gulls into hysteria. A tiny, housecat-sized island fox had beat me to the kayaks and foraged through the empty boats for food. It was time to cool down. A quick dunk in the cobalt blue water and I was off paddling in and out of the honeycombed cliffs of Santa Cruz, sampling the many sea grottos along the wavebattered coastline.

San Miguel Channel ‘Tossing’ Sitting just off the coast of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, the volcanic island chain is one of the best kayaking locales in the world, with sea caves aplenty and beautiful camp spots, and traversed by winding trails that invite hikers and runners to explore. I was in the midst of a 10-day solo circumnavigation of the four northern islands of the five islands in the national park — Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel, often referred to as the outer islands, and Anacapa, closest to the mainland. The fifth, tiny Santa Barbara Island is isolated many ocean miles to the south, off the coast of 56

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Malibu, closer to Catalina Island. After three balmy days on windswept San Miguel Island, which sticks furthest out into the Pacific, I made a dash for Santa Rosa Island, paddling three miles eastward aided by 25-knot northwest winds whipping up the channel. (Santa Rosa is 32 miles off Santa Barbara.) Swell was building from the south and steady wind swell bumped up out of the northwest, colliding in the channel like mighty titans, enhanced by those perpetual winds sweeping down off Point Conception on the mainland north of Santa Barbara. Halfway across the turbulent channel, the seas grew larger and the winds intensified, and before reaching the safety of an anchored down kelp forest I capsized in the frothing cold water. A yard sale ensued as some of my gear bobbed in the chop while I scrambled back into my sit-on-top kayak. After retrieving my last dry bag I made a beeline for the dense canopy of kelp extending off Santa Rosa. It forced the wind to lie down, a much needed reprieve from the challenging sea conditions.

Anacapa Showdown Anacapa Island, closest to the mainland, possesses some of the best paddling within the entire national park. The small, narrow island actually consists of three tiny islets (East, Middle and West Islands) nearly five miles long. The island has several breathtaking arches to paddle under, an array of sea caves to explore, and spindly pinnacles of volcanic rock jutting 20 feet high, where brown pelicans and Brandt’s cormorants perch and preen and black oystercatchers forage at their base. There are also a couple thousand raucous California sea lions congregating around the southeast end. Normally you don’t see too many big sea lion bulls at Anacapa. You’ll find them brawling over females and territory on remote sections of Santa Barbara and San Miguel Islands. But on this occasion, near the end of my 10day solo circumnavigation of the islands, there was one big brute sharing a crag with some western gulls and cormorants in Cathedral Cove. Territorial bulls will challenge intruders if their space has been breached. Most charges are of the bluff variety, but this was no bluff. I envisioned it breaching and landing on the bow of my kayak catapulting me and my gear into the water, leaving me exposed to gnashing teeth and its thumping girth, my precious gear sinking to the bottom. I quickly stashed the camera away in my dry bag.

Gratefully, the hotheaded bull was defused when a pair of female sea lions entered the fray, quickly diverting his attention away from me. A deep sigh of relief, several quick strokes, one look over my shoulder, and I could’ve sworn one of those females winked at me. Chuck Graham is a freelance writer and photographer based in Carpinteria, and leads kayak tours at the Channel Islands National Park. His stories and photos have appeared in Canoe & Kayak, Sea Kayaker, Trail Runner, Backpacker, Men’s Journal, Outdoor Photographer and The Surfer’s Journal.

Channel Islands National Park Getting There: Island Packers is the boat concessionaire to all five islands in the national park. Call (805) 642-1393, or go to www. islandpackers.com. Camping: A campsite on any of the five islands goes for $15 per night. Go to www.recreation.gov for reservations. Kayaking: For kayak tours, contact Channel Islands Outfitters, www.channelislandso.com or call (805) 899-4925, ext. 1.

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