Ocean and waterborne pursuits call groups to convene along the Central California coast, and the region also holds various unique inland adventures to add a wow factor to any meeting agenda.
From paragliding in Santa Barbara to sea kayaking in Ventura, memorable meetings await attendees throughout this gorgeous portion of California.
There are also some intriguing retreats in the area that may tempt planners who’d like to hold a meeting or networking event off the beaten path.
San Luis Obispo County
The Highway 1 Discovery Route is a road any dreamer/adventurer would like to travel.
“San Luis Obispo County is known for its beautiful scenic drives, including the famous Highway 1,” says Kylee Jepsen, spokeswoman for Visit San Luis Obispo County.
En route, groups will discover local beach towns that offer great food, history and fun activities, from kayaking and whale watching to wine tasting.
“You can experience a variety of group activities along California Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County,” Jepsen says.
Things get revved up a notch in Pismo Beach, where groups can take dune tours on California’s only drive-on beach.
According to Courtney Winters, spokeswoman for the Pismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, groups can ride ATVs, dirt bikes, dune buggies and more throughout the rolling sand dunes.
“Many of our groups particularly enjoy the thrill of a guided tour in a real military-style Hummer,” she says, adding that kayaking through the Dinosaur Caves in Pismo Beach and visiting the Monarch Butterfly Grove are two other fun, though less adventurous, activities groups can enjoy here.
And in Paso Robles, according to Danelle Sherman, spokeswoman for Travel Paso Robles Alliance, ziplining at Ancient Peaks Winery with outfitter Margarita Adventures and horseback riding with Outback Trail Rides are two of the area’s most popular outings.
Sherman adds that Rancho Dos Amantes has the necessary amenities for a private meeting or event.
“As a rustic farm stay-style bed-and-breakfast, groups will have the opportunity to stay, gather and learn while enjoying the calm, relaxing environment,” she says, adding that hands-on workshops and cooking classes are available.
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara is a great place to book a sailing regatta via a local outfitter like the Santa Barbara Sailing Center. Catherine “Cat” Puccino, national sales manager at Visit Santa Barbara, says a regatta is great for teambuilding, as groups are divided into smaller teams and each person is given a specific job aboard their assigned sailboat.
While sailing seems a natural choice for visiting groups seeking a fun outing in Santa Barbara, paragliding at Elings Park, which is known as one of the best places in the world to learn the sport, ups the adventure gauge a bit.
Groups of two to 12 will share in the excitement as they paraglide with a local school that is trained in teaching beginners, such as Fly Above All Paragliding.
“They’ll learn in the sky above with beautiful Santa Barbara as the backdrop,” Puccino says.
Planners looking for an untraditional meeting space should check out Good Land Organics, a farm in Santa Barbara County that grows crops including coffee beans, cherimoyas and finger limes.
“Pre- or post-meeting, groups can take an educational walking tour of the farm—with a fresh cup of joe in hand—taste a coffee bean right off the plant and savor a finger lime, all while enjoying scenic views,” Puccino says.
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And groups that would like to set aside the comfort of a standard hotel can experience “glamping,” or glamorous camping, at El Capitan Canyon, where overnight guests check into cedar cabins or safari tents, and meeting space is available in a yurt.
“After a day of meetings, they can participate in teambonding over a campfire with s’mores,” Puccino says, adding that optional canyon activities include a llama hike and a ropes course.
Visiting Oso Flaco Lake for a guided eco tour/birding excursion is one soft adventure awaiting groups convening in Santa Maria, according to Gina Keough, director of the Santa Maria COC and Visitor and Convention Bureau.
“Serenity awaits as you enter the beautiful grounds of Oso Flaco Lake and take a walk over the boardwalk bridge out to the Pacific Ocean, lead by a docent from Dunes Center,” she says.
Groups that prefer excitement a la Hunger Games vs. serenity can meet up with local archer Riley Royce Smith, who holds archery classes at Riverbench Vineyard & Winery and other Santa Maria venues.
“He’s a great teacher who makes learning fun and challenging,” Keough says.
Santa Maria Valley wineries offer some of the most interesting meeting spaces in the area, including the tasting room at Presqu’ile Winery, the newest Santa Maria winery where the team can bond over wine tasting and bocce ball, and the wine caves at Cottonwood Canyon Winery.
And in the quaint and picturesque town of Solvang, known as “California’s Little Denmark,” the adventures are, well, quaint and picturesque, including a a “skattejagt,” which means “treasure hunt” in Danish, and a delicious culinary event.
“We’ll provide treasure hunt maps tailored to groups who can roam the village discovering authentic Danish bakeries, chocolatiers, art galleries, unique boutiques, statues like the Little Mermaid and Hans Christian Andersen,” says Tracy Farhad, executive director at the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau. “Then using social media to broadcast their finds, they’re rewarded with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception at one of our 18 tasting rooms or a dinner at one of our 30 restaurants.”
According to Farhad, another popular group activity in this Danish-American enclave is Sweet on Solvang, during which attendees can a take a break from a meeting to learn from a local baker how to make Danish pastries or gingerbread houses.
Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort, Farhad adds, has been a hideaway meeting spot since 1946. Situated on 10,000 acres, features include two golf courses, a spa and horseback riding.
Ventura County
Perhaps the most picturesque of all Central California outings is an exploration of Channel Islands National Park’s caves and coves via kayak. Local businesses in Ventura and Oxnard, including Channel Islands Kayak Center, set groups up with everything they need.
“You can explore these world-class sea caves and let yourself glide among the marine wildlife and intricate beauty,” says Suzanne Baird, spokeswoman for Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau.
A local land adventure involves biking Sulphur Mountain, an 11-mile downhill trek that affords cyclists beautiful views of Lake Casitas and Ojai Valley, according to Baird, who adds that Ventura Bike Depot will supply gear, transportation and lunch.
The area is also home to the Ventura-based, adrenaline-pumping Jim Hall Kart Racing, which hosts races that are great for teambonding as well as group gatherings.
Another adventurous activity is the new Oxnard-based FootGolf at River Ridge Golf Club.
“Groups can have tons of fun playing this new activity,” says Susan Smith, president and CEO of the Oxnard CVB, explaining that River Ridge’s new course is unique to the area.
“While regular golf uses a golf ball, FootGolf utilizes a soccer ball that is kicked into the hole,” she says.
And according to Rebekah Evans, executive director for Ventura County West, Camarillo Ranch fits the bill for planners seeking an interesting off-site venue in a lovely setting.
The historic site’s signature, and decidedly rustic chic, space is the 5,200-square-foot Big Red Barn. There is also a lawn and garden for outdoor events.
