We appreciate it when our guests share their stories, comments and photos with us and allow us to post them on our blog. Bonnie and Morris Papich, from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, traveled with us on our Ireland Dingle Way Walking Tour and wrote us this quick letter about their trip:
Dear Lee
I want to stress how much we enjoyed our hiking of the Dingle Way in Ireland. We met the nicest people, who were so friendly and helpful and stayed in lovely little towns, in great B & Bs. The scenery was spectacular! If you ever get the chance to do this hike we highly recommend it.
Bonnie and Morris Papich
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Scenic path in the Irish countryside.Walking tour in IrelandWalking is a great way to see and experience Ireland!
Spring has sprung and what better time to visit Ireland, “Land of Green” than now. On our bicycle and walking adventures, you’ll travel down country roads past neolithic stone ruins, medieval castles, Iron Age forts, and prehistoric burial sites. Ireland has rugged mountains, sea-battered cliffs, quiet woodlands and beautiful lakes, and each time you turn a corner the scenery changes. In this fairy tale environment, it’s not hard to imagine that a leprechaun is watching you from just behind an ancient stone fence.
The mild climate, quiet country roads and wandering trails make bicycling or walking perfect ways to explore this colorful island country, where there are no language barriers, and the friendly Irish people make you feel at home. Whether walking or cycling we spend our nights at small family-run hotels and charming B&B’s and, of course, we enjoy the music and good cheer of Ireland’s famous pubs.
Walking through the beautiful Irish countryside.California Native president Lee Klein bicycling through Ireland.Poulnabrone, a megalithic passage tomb in the BurrenAfter a fun day of travel you’ll enjoy traditional Irish food and drink.So many amazing castles to see in Ireland!Friendly Irish people make you feel at home
Traditional Irish cottageTraditional Irish “Step Dancing”Many beautiful and tranquil places to visit in Ireland
We appreciate it when our guests share their stories with us and allow us to post them on our blog. Jan Okumura, from Placerville, CA, wrote us this short letter about her recent bicycle adventure in Ireland:
The bike tour was incredible and met my expectation for challenging and beautiful rides. The people in the group were far more interesting than I expected. We cycled through amazingly beautiful country scenery. I loved the challenging rides. I greatly enjoyed the tour guide. It also, turned out to be a fabulous group of people on the bike tour. The weather was great! Our guide Danny was great. He was very helpful and had a delightful sense of humor. He was, also, an extremely knowledgeable person which made for great dinner table conversation. Danny was truly wonderful, I got such a kick out of him. The people in my group and the amount of time that we spent with our guide. The accommodations far exceeded my expectations. The owners of the B&B’s were wonderful. I extended my trip for 5 weeks and fell in love with the Irish people and the country’s amazing geography!
Jan Okumura Placerville, CA
Bicycling through the beautiful Irish countryside.
California native founder, Lee Klein, at a Mayan ruin in Mexico's Yucatan. What a way to make a living.
This June we are celebrating our 30th Anniversary—30 years of leading fantastic trips to exotic destinations around the world.
This anniversary comes as a proud moment for our company’s founder, Lee Klein, who continues to scout new locations world-wide in search of new destinations for the active traveler. Klein, who holds an MBA in Management and a BS in International Marketing, spent more than two decades as a corporate manager and college professor until, in 1983, while climbing Ayer’s Rock in the Australian Outback, he decided to drop out of the corporate world, take off his suit and tie, and create an adventure travel company based on the lessons he taught his students on how to succeed in business: “keep the quality high, keep it affordable, and treat people the way you would like to be treated.”
Lee and Ellen Klein hiking on Patagonia's Perito Moreno Glacier.
The initial offering from The California Native was a tour billed as “The Other Los Angeles.” This day-long excursion traced the route of the San Andreas Fault from the Mojave Desert to the San Gabriel Mountains without ever leaving Los Angeles County. The tours became so popular that colleges in three California counties offered them as part of their community-education programs. From this, the company expanded its offerings to include tours to the Channel Islands, Death Valley, Yosemite, and other uniquely California destinations, as well as white-water rafting, ballooning, spelunking (caving), sailplane gliding, and other outdoor adventures. “My family has lived in Los Angeles for generations,” writes Klein in the company newsletter, “hence the name The California Native.”
Lee rappelling in Argentina. Hey, this is research.
Satisfying the growing client base led to the development of The California Native’s most popular destination—Mexico’s Copper Canyon. These escorted and independent tours feature the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad (labeled as one of the most spectacular train rides in the western hemisphere) and highlight one of the most primitive indigenous cultures still subsisting in North America—the Tarahumara Indians. The California Native has become a leading source of information on this remote area and the company and it’s guides are known throughout the area for their work with the Tarahumara.
The economies of the world’s countries are slow. Travel and tourism are down. Hotels have plenty of space. Crowds are down. Now is the perfect time to take that trip you have been dreaming about for so long. Travel now before the crowds come back and the prices go up. Join us on a trip to one of the exotic destinations around the globe that we specialize in. Whether it’s Mexico’s fabulous Copper Canyon, the magical Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, or the rainforests of Costa Rica we are ready for your call.
Always wanted to come eyeball-to-eyeball with a flightless cormorant or a giant tortoise? Then the Galapagos is for you. How about enjoying a fantastic cruise through the Straits of Magellan, hiking on a glacier and sipping whiskey over-the-rocks of ancient glacial ice? Patagonia is the place, or travel back in time to visit the mighty empire of the Maya—the Yucatan is your destination. Perhaps you prefer to stroll or bicycle through the green hills and friendly villages of Ireland? These are just a few of the adventures that we have lined up for you.
Wherever your dream destination is, now is the best time to travel. When the times are slow it’s time to go.
Top o’ the morning to ya! Spring has finally sprung and it’s a perfect time for a bicycle trip in the Emerald Isles.
Ireland has so much to offer—rugged mountains, sea-battered cliffs, quiet woodlands and beautiful lakes, and each time you turn a corner the scenery changes. Bicycling through the countryside, along quiet country roads past scores of castles, Iron Age forts, and prehistoric burial sites, you are constantly reminded of the country’s ancient past. In this fairy tale environment, it’s not hard to imagine that a leprechaun is watching you from just behind an ancient stone fence.
The mild climate and wandering trails make bicycling the perfect way to explore this colorful country, where there are no language barriers, and the friendly Irish people make you feel at home.
Our tours start each morning with a hearty breakfast. Then, a few hours of leisurely cycling brings us to our lunch stop, where we relax and swap stories. Continuing on, we explore the countryside at our own pace. There is plenty of time to stop, make a detour, or grab a pint in a village pub. We bicycle about 30 miles a day and our guide is always on hand in case we want a lift.
We spend our nights at small family-run hotels and charming B&B’s and, of course, we enjoy the music and good cheer of Ireland’s famous pubs.
Launched in June 1983, our company is celebrating its 25th year leading wonderful trips to unique destinations. This silver anniversary comes as a proud moment for our company’s founder, Lee Klein, who continues to scout new locations world-wide in search of new destinations for the active traveler. Klein, a graduate from Loyola Marymount University with a MBA in Management spent more than two decades as a corporate manager and college professor until, while climbing Ayer’s Rock in the Australian Outback, he decided to venture into the adventure travel business. As he did, he took to heart the lessons he taught his students on how to succeed in business: “keep it simple, and learn to do it right before adding new products and services.”
The initial offering from The California Native was a tour billed as “The Other Los Angeles.” This day-long excursion traced the route of the San Andreas Fault from the Mojave Desert to the San Gabriel Mountains without ever leaving Los Angeles County. The tour became so popular that colleges in three California counties offered them as part of their community-education programs. From this, the company expanded its offerings to include tours to the Channel Islands, Santa Barbara Wine Country, Death Valley, and other uniquely California destinations, as well as white-water rafting, ballooning, spelunking (caving), sailplane gliding, and other outdoor adventures. “My family has lived in Los Angeles for generations,” writes Klein in the company newsletter, “hence the name The California Native.”
Satisfying the growing client base led across the border to the development of The California Native’s most popular destination—escorted and independent tours of Mexico’s Copper Canyon. These tours feature the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad (labeled as one of the most spectacular train rides in the western hemisphere) and highlight one of the most primitive indigenous cultures still subsisting in North America—the Tarahumara Indians. The California Native has become a major source of information on this remote area of Mexico, and it’s guides are known throughout the area for their work with the Tarahumara.
silver anniversary comes as a proud moment for our company’s founder, Lee Klein, who continues to scout new locations world-wide in search of new destinations for the active traveler. Klein, a graduate from Loyola Marymount University with a MBA in Management spent more than two decades as a corporate manager and college professor until, while climbing Ayer’s Rock in the Australian Outback, he decided to venture into the adventure travel business. As he did, he took to heart the lessons he taught his students on how to succeed in business: “keep it simple, and learn to do it right before adding new products and services.”