Our first stop in California will be in Sequoia National Park, where we’ll walk along the Congress Trail in the Giant Forest, home to the world’s largest tree, General Sherman. We’ll volunteer for about four hours with the park rangers in Sequoia, giving back to this unique ecosystem with trash clean-up and other beautification projects. Next up on this five-day tour is Yosemite National Park, internationally recognized for its colossal granite cliffs and towering waterfalls. A frolic in the green meadows in front of El Capitan offers unobstructed views of this monumental, 3,000-foot-tall monolith and the nearby Cathedral Rocks. A cliff perhaps even more impressive than El Cap, Half Dome sits just a short ways away—this is often the mascot of Yosemite Valley. Just south of Half Dome, we’ll admire Nevada Fall, whose powerful mist can be felt far away from the 600-foot-tall falls. We’ll wrap up our tour with a hike around the verdant Tuolumne Meadows and picturesque Cathedral and Tenaya lakes.

There’s no better bonding time with your new best friends than spending two days on the secluded Middle Fork of the American River. This section of the river is a must-do for anyone wanting to experience thrilling class IV rapids. Perhaps the most exciting section of the river is the Tunnel Chute, so named because of the blasting done by gold miners in the late 1800s. After an 80-foot drop, you’ll find yourself in an underground tunnel for 90 feet before bouncing back out to daylight. We’ll camp under the stars on the shoreline at night, and have splash wars in our rafts during the day. Calmer sections lend themselves to rock and cliff jumps into deep pools!

Known by locals as the most beginner-friendly surf spot in the area, we’ll spend two days on Stinson Beach receiving professional surf instruction. You’ll learn techniques, water safety and awareness, and etiquette before paddling out to watch for the perfect line. These mellow waves are so reliable, it’s not unusual to catch 20 to 30 lines in a day!

We’ll finish our Bold West adventure with a two-day tour of historic landmarks, including the infamous Alcatraz Island. See reminders of the American Indian Occupation carved into the stone of “the Rock,” and walk in the shoes of notorious criminals like Al “Scarface” Capone during a prison cell tour. We’ll see friendlier sites as well, like the West Coast’s oldest operating lighthouse and the beautiful Gardens of Alcatraz. Then we’ll walk the entirety of the 1.7-mile-long Golden Gate Bridge before admiring Ghirardelli Square (possibly picking up some namesake chocolate!) and Fisherman’s Wharf. We’ll give back to this scenic and well-traveled area by spending four hours removing invasive species in Marin County Parks.