WATER FUN

Marine Getaways

Six fun ways to get on the water this summer. BY MATTHEW POOLE

Kayaking Tomales Bay

If you live in Marin County this should be on your local bucket list: paddling around Tomales Bay in a sea kayak. People, there’s no excuse not to. Even if you’ve never paddled before, these boats are very steady, and the tour guides at Blue Waters Kayaking are very experienced at helping beginners. Besides, you’ll be too busy marveling at the scenery — harbor seals, osprey, pelicans, Sasquatch — to recall any concerns. If you’re a new or novice sea kayaker, I recommend Blue Waters Kayaking’s Inverness morning paddle, which is ideal for beginners (and the safest weather-wise).

COMPANY Blue Waters Kayaking WEBSITE bluewaterskayaking.com LOCATION Inverness LENGTH 3 hours BRING See “What to Bring” on website

PARKING Free KIDS 13 and older can be on a public tour

Ferry Trip to Angel Island

You’ve always wanted to do it, and this is the summer it happens: riding your bike around Angel Island, soaking in the beautiful scenery. But first you have to get there, and lucky for you the Angel Island Ferry company only charges $1 per bicycle after the fare. Here’s the plan: load up two small backpacks with snacks, drinks and a blanket, rack the bikes atop the car, park at one of the nearby all-day lots (additional cost), then buy two $15 round-trip ferry tickets (cash or check only). After the short, scenic trip across Raccoon Straight, you have more than 8 miles of biking trails to explore. End the ride with a picnic at Angel Island’s pretty Ayala Cove and hey, you just had yourself a wonderful day.

COMPANY Angel Island Ferry WEBSITE angelislandferry.com LOCATION 21 Main Street, Tiburon LENGTH 12 minutes BRING Warm clothing, cash for ferry ticket and parking PARKING Paid parking lots, downtown Tiburon KIDS Yes; ages 2 and under free

Sailing on the Bay

It’s probably the smartest $45 you’ll spend at Pier 39 — taking a leisurely sail around the bay on a giant catamaran, getting Instagramworthy views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the city. Adventure Cat’s big catamarans are the Roll-Royce of sailboats, super stable, with large cabins that protect you from the elements. The more adventurous members of your group can sit on the deck trampolines and watch the waves pass underneath. The optional $60 sunset tour is muy romantico and includes two complimentary beverages (beer, wine, soda) and light snacks. Be sure to bring a jacket and camera.

COMPANY Adventure Cat Sailing Charters WEBSITE adventurecat.com LOCATION Pier 39, Dock J, San Francisco LENGTH 90 minutes BRING Warm clothing, soft-soled shoes PARKING Pier 39 garage KIDS Yes; 5 and under free

Stand-Up Paddleboard Lessons

What a great answer to “Did you do anything fun this weekend?” You: “I sure as heck did. I took a stand-up paddleboarding lesson in San Rafael and it was a blast!” The staff t 101 Surf Sports are the best in the Bay Area at teaching you the basics of the sport, from terminology to proper technique. The calm waters behind the shop are ideal for learning how to paddle, and the water’s warm enough that you won’t need a wetsuit. 101 Surf Sports offers a discounted hour-long group lesson every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in San Rafael, including all the gear you’ll need, and you’re free to paddle as long as you want after your lesson.

COMPANY 101 Surf Sports WEBSITE 101surfsports.com LOCATION 115 Third Street, San Rafael LENGTH 1 hour BRING Towel, sunscreen, change of clothes PARKING Free at lot KIDS Minimum recommended age for kids is 10

Golden Gate Whale Watching Tours

It’s been a banner year for spotting whales in the bay, which is way easier than heading out into the open ocean. Every March through October San Francisco Whale Tours offers $59 whale-watching trips departing from Pier 39. Think of it as a scenic bay cruise with a chance of spotting humpbacks tossed in. At a minimum you’ll see harbor seals, sea lions, seabird colonies and possibly porpoises. Marine naturalists are always on board to narrate the trip and answer questions. It’s the kind of spiritually uplifting excursion that makes you realize that we Northern Californians are very lucky to be living in one of the most incredibly diverse regions on earth.

COMPANY San Francisco Whale Tours WEBSITE sanfranciscowhaletours.com LOCATION Pier 39 LENGTH 2.5 hours BRING Warm clothing, binoculars PARKING Pier 39 garage KIDS 2 and under free, $35 ages 3–15

Deep Sea Fishing

If you’ve never angled for rockfish from a Bay Area charter boat, be forewarned that it is an extremely complicated four-step process: 1. get on the fishing boat; 2. grab a pre-rigged fishing pole; 3. lower your line into the water when everyone else does; and 4. reel in the fish. Everything else, from taking the fish off he hook to cleaning, filleting and bagging it, is taken care of by the friendly deckhands, which makes deep-sea fishing pretty much idiot-proof (tip: alert the deckhands before you depart that you’re a newbie). New Rayann skipper Johnny "Fresh" Atkinson loves taking first-timers out fishing, so give him a call, then dust off our cioppino recipe.

COMPANY New Rayann Sport Fishing WEBSITE newrayann.com LOCATION Clipper Yacht Harbor, Sausalito LENGTH 4-6 hours BRING Fishing license, cooler for fillets, cash for tip PARKING Free at Clipper Yacht Harbor lot KIDS Bring ’em