If lying on a sunny California beach isn’t enough for you, there are plenty of heart-pounding things to do in the Golden State. From facing off with great white sharks in San Diego, to getting in the passenger seat of a Nascar motor at the Auto Club Speedway, here are Culture Trip’s best activities for adrenaline junkies on America’s West Coast.
Strap up and abseil down California’s largest cavern. This dark, vertical chamber will require you to rappel 165ft (50m) from top to bottom. Once at the floor, you can choose to continue the adventure by squeezing through narrow burrows on a two-hour cave adventure. Be prepared to get on your stomach and wriggle through tight, claustrophobic passageways with suitably labeled nicknames such as Meat Grinder and Pancake Squeeze.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. This Nascar experience is the perfect treat for fans of the motorsport, or any speed demons who want to feel the power of one of these ferocious machines. The cars can reach up to 200mph (322kph) and accelerate from 0-60mph (0-97kph) in 3.5 seconds. You can choose to get behind the wheel of one of the beasts yourself, or let a professional show you how it’s done and brace yourself for the ride ahead.
It’s not quite jumping out of a plane, but this unique experience will get your pulse racing as you fly in the air above a giant vertical propeller. The wind tunnel is appropriate for anyone over the age of three and is the perfect chance to show off some mid-air acrobatics. Push yourself and see how long it will take to perform your first somersault.
Ever wondered what it’s like to be Tom Cruise? Well, now’s your chance to find out in this Top Gun experience. Climb into the cockpit of an Extra 330LC and feel the G-force as you twist and turn upside down in either an acrobatic flight or a dogfight race against a friend. Fly the plane yourself – with the assistance of a trained pilot – or take to the passenger seat and embark on the craziest airborne roller coaster ride of your life.
This boat really does go as fast as the flame painted on the bow might suggest. It’s a 30-minute wild ride from Fisherman’s Wharf, jetting at speeds of up to 60mph (97kph) around San Francisco Bay, past Alcatraz, underneath the Bay bridge, alongside Oracle Park. You’ll get stunning views of the city’s skyline – if you’re able to see through the wind being blasted into your face, that is.
Stare Jaws in the eyes as you come head to head with one of the deadliest killers in the ocean. Take the long, beautiful boat journey out into Mexican waters towards Guadalupe island, renowned for being one of the most popular destinations for great white sharks in the world. A metal cage will be the only thing between you and Jaws as you submerge into the Pacific Ocean.
Get to race a formula car around the professional circuit Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey County. You can have your very own personal instructor to teach you the ins and outs of the carbon fiber machine, then put the pedal to the metal and unleash your inner Lewis Hamilton as you fly around this nail-biting track.
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