Mt. Hermon's Zip Line Tour Gives You a Whole New Perspective

If you’re like most people visiting California, your list of must-sees includes a visit to the state’s towering groves of coast redwoods. While walks on soft trails beneath the redwoods are undeniably awesome, there’s another thrilling way to experience these skyscraping trees—one that might make you feel more like a monkey or bird than a human. The Mount Hermon Adventures canopy tour , just inland from Santa Cruz, uses six ziplines and two sky bridges to let you safely travel through the trees up to 150 feet above the ground. Certified guides lead tours of up to eight visitors along the route, sharing fascinating information about the forest and the region’s history throughout the two-hour adventure. It’s a safety-first operation, with equipment that’s suitable for anyone weighing between 75 and 250 pounds (ages 10 and up). Smaller kids (ages 6 to 11) can still get a dose of forest fun monkeying around on the ropes, mini-zip-lines, and platforms in Mount Hermon’s Discovery Grove.

Afterward, get your land legs back on with a walk around the tiny tree-shaded town of Felton. The blueberry pancakes at Rocky’s Cafe (6560 Hwy. 9; 831/335-4637) will fuel you up for your next adventure.